WELLESLEY, Mass. — It can be hard to stand out as an underclassman at the NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase.
With four games being played simultaneously, coaches have to make decisions on who they want to see. Last weekend at Babson, the school’s main basketball gym was used, and the games there featured mostly all Class AAA, AA and other top programs in the region. It was naturally a popular destination for college coaches, understandably so; those programs boast a significant number of recruits in the 2026 and 2027 classes, and they’re more of a priority for colleges right now. That gym was a big draw.
Babson’s adjacent rec center housed the other three courts for the showcase, featuring mostly Class A and B teams. Those courts were naturally less crowded throughout the weekend. But if you watched closely enough, those teams boasted some of the most promising underclassmen in the region, names we’ll be hearing more of in the coming years.
I did my best to find some undercovered gems, and I was successful. I’ll likely find more at this weekend’s second NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase at Avon Old Farms, but here are five who caught my attention at Babson.
Jack Charchaflian, Nobles
Class of 2028, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
I saw a good amount of Charchaflian during his standout sophomore season at Winchester – he landed on our All-MIAA third team after averaging 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game – and it looks like he’s already fit in seamlessly with Lambros Papalambros’ young Nobles squad. He was terrific in their victory over Tabor; he’s calm with the ball in his hands, never sped up and knows how to effectively attack defenses, force stress and draw fouls with his change of speed and direction. Charchaflian showed to be a capable shooter, including a sweet pump fake into a pull-up, and made timely passes over and over again, including one three-quarter-court pass he delivered on the money. He also had a great sequence where he split two defenders in transition for a bucket, then moments later, got a steal in the backcourt, tipped a loose ball over a defender to gain control and scored. He had at least 15 points in a strong NEPSAC debut.
BABSON NEPSAC SHOWCASE TOP PERFORMERS: 2026 backcourt standouts | 2026 frontcourt standouts | 2027 standouts
Kyle Delves, Mount St. Charles
Class of 2028, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
An All-NEPSAC honorable mention as a freshman, Delves is the engine for a young Mount St. Charles squad that made noise in Year 1 in Class AA, and he looked ready to be louder as a sophomore. He looked good against Bridgton. Delves’ athleticism and feel for the game are noticeably better than his peers. In the span of two possessions, he swatted away two incredible chasedown blocks off the backboard. He also threw down a one-handed dunk in transition and showed off his touch with a couple of floaters while keeping the Mounties organized as their leader on the court.
Chance Finlayson, St. George’s
Class of 2029, 6-5 forward
Hometown: Newport, R.I.
The first game of the weekend I saw was St. George’s against MacDuffie, and I had to do a double-take when I realized that Finlayson was a 2029 recruit. He’s that physically mature and athletic, and the incoming freshman just kept making plays as part of the Dragons’ starting group. He hit 3s, was active on the glass and made two incredible spin moves for scores in transition over the weekend. He has advanced touch and feel, he's mobile and fluid for his size and he was effective as an on-ball defender. Finlayson should continue to add height to his frame, and he has the early look of a special prospect.
Jackson Perri, Roxbury Latin
Class of 2028, 6-2 guard
Hometown: West Roxbury, Mass.
It almost looks too easy at this level for Perri, who just couldn’t be stopped in RL’s victory over St. Sebastian’s. It’s impressive how calm and confident Perri is at his age. He’s never rushed and almost always makes the right play. He’s a balanced downhill scorer, a confident outside shooter, and when that isn’t there for him, he finds the open man. Perri scored 10 points in a two-minute stretch, then hit a teammate for a transition bucket on a pass from half court. He also has some sneaky athleticism, which he showed in a tough up-and-under layup off a broken play. Perri is mature and poised beyond his years, and after a standout freshman season when he averaged 17 points and 4.5 assists per game, it looks like he’s ready to make another leap.
Michai White, Brewster
Class of 2028, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Newark, N.J.
Already ranked 22nd by ESPN nationally in the 2028 class, White looks like he’s about to establish himself as one of the best sophomores in New England upon his transfer to Brewster. He has all the tools you’d look for in a guard – he’s highly skilled, crafty and quick, and he has great vision as a passer and a confident shot from both the mid-range and deep. He plays with a lot of joy, too; his smile and personality throughout the weekend was contagious.
