Another NEPSAC boys basketball season is upon us, and this one will look a little bit different at the top.
NEPSAC officially ruled in October that teams competing in the New England Basketball League (NEBL) will not be eligible for the postseason in March. That means several of the teams that are annually in the mix at the top of our rankings will be impacted, including Newman, Cushing and Darrow, and change the championship picture.
But those teams didn’t leave NEPSAC. While they’ll be ineligible for the playoffs, they’ll remain NEPSAC members, play a NEPSAC-heavy schedule and be eligible for our rankings.
As usual, the talent level in NEPSAC is heavy at the top in Class AAA and AA. That’s where our rankings start. Here’s our preseason Top 10 ahead of what should be a fascinating NEPSAC winter.
1. St. Thomas More
Last season: 25-13, lost in NEPSAC Class AAA quarterfinals
On paper, the Chancellors have the most talented team in NEPSAC. Their projected starting five of Patrick Otey (Westwood, Mass.), Declan Griffiths (Simsbury, Conn.), DJ Hawkins (Farmington, Conn.), Greyson Pierce (West Hartford, Conn.) and Dillon Callahan are all in the top 25 of our updated 2027 rankings, with the first four in the top 10. Then there’s a deep bench that includes exciting newcomers Jayden Johnson, Nagi Soto, Toby Gass and Filip Raicevic, which gives longtime coach Jere Quinn plenty of options and versatility.
If there’s nitpicking to be had, STM doesn’t boast a dominant inside presence. But their offensive pace, 3-point shooting and talented depth should wear down most teams.
TEAM PREVIEW: Is this St. Thomas More's year?
2. Newman
Last season: 38-3, won NEPSAC Class AAA championship
There was almost a feeling of inevitability that Newman would win last season’s NEPSAC title as it also swept the NEBL and national prep championships. It’ll be hard for the Cardinals to match that feeling of superiority this winter after losing their top six scorers, but they’ll still be in the national title hunt and among NEPSAC’s top tier. I’m eager to see how this roster – under new head coach Justin Perron – fares with players in much bigger roles than they were last year, including Marquette commit Philipe Ndong, Vermont commit Davon Maloney and top 2028 recruit Luka Kuqo. This version of the Cardinals should be one of the best defensive teams in the region with its length, size and activity.
TEAM PREVIEW: What's next at Newman following national title season
3. Cushing
Last season: 28-6, won NEPSAC Class AA championship
The Penguins will look much different without Ryan Moesch and Theo Edema, arguably the best guard-big tandem in NEPSAC last season, but there's still some familiarity here. Several players return from their NEPSAC championship team, including much improved players like Nate Blenman, Anthony Vick (Boston, Mass.) and Coley Mark (Brookline, Mass.). There will be a two-way edge in the backcourt with newcomers Sam Brigham (Springfield, Mass.) and Josh Charlot (Fairfield, Conn.). There are two players I’m especially excited about: Elliot Erickson (Gardner, Mass.) and Eli Prince. The former missed most of the last nine months from injury and has looked great in the preseason, while Prince, who committed to Colgate, has a chance to be the next Cushing star. Expect this squad to play deep into March again as a national prep title contender.
TEAM PREVIEW: How Cushing is reloading in 2026-27
4. New Hampton
Last season: 20-17, lost in NEPSAC Class AAA semifinals
There are a lot of fresh faces at New Hampton, including some of the best young talent in the region, but the Huskies have the talent to win now, too. Buffalo commit Stetson Merritt is in front of the charge as a talented lead guard and scorer, and 2027 newcomers Niko Christofilis, Brennan Williams and Temi Olafisoye will make an immediate impact. But coach Andrew Gale's program is also positioned for years to come as top 2028 recruit Derek Swartz (Portsmouth, N.H.), 2029s Luke O’Connell (Bedford, N.H.), Ryan O’Rourke (Bedford, N.H.) and Finn McCauley (Portsmouth, N.H.) enter the fold in addition to the return of 2029 Brandyn Clarke. There’s a little bit of everything on this roster, including playmaking, scoring and frontcourt size.
5. Darrow
Last season: 14-19, lost in Class AAA quarterfinals
Coach Antonio Anderson believes this is the deepest team he’s had at Darrow since he took the job in 2023. Good luck in the paint against these Ducks. They have seven players at 6-foot-8 or bigger including 2027 newcomer Ty Lewis and 2028 newcomers Abraham Taiwo and Marc Etienne, and most of them have multiple offers at every level of Division 1. Boston University commit Nalajah Christopher (Worcester, Mass.) is back and controls the offense with his do-it-all playmaking, and I’m excited about 2028 newcomer Braylon Washington (Easton, Mass.), who’s a big-time shotmaker.
6. Brewster
Last season: Competed in Nike EYBL Scholastic
It’s a new era at Brewster after longtime coach Jason Smith left for Masters Academy International. The Bobcats are now back in NEPSAC Class AAA under new head coach Luke Rosinski, but don’t expect a big drop-off in success and talent at the New Hampshire prep school. Rosinski went to work on the recruiting trail, bringing in Division 1 recruits in Alex Pace, Kelvin Anderson, Maxx Tjongondjoza, James Minlend and Trey Edwards. There might be a learning curve with so many fresh faces, but they should be among the best regional preps.
NEW ERA: How Luke Rosinski is putting his own stamp at Brewster
7. Tilton
Last season: 7-22, missed NEPSAC Class AA playoffs
The Rams joined the NEBL, which means they’ll also be ineligible for the Class AA postseason, but I would have pegged them as a serious title contender if they were eligible. There were growing pains in coach Marcus O’Neil’s first season back, but their young talent is a year older and better and he brought in some impact recruits. Dartmouth commit Samuel Owusu-Aduomi is a Swiss Army knife offensively, and there’s great excitement about the development of 2028 big man Salim Diaby, as well as 2028 Wiji Dak (Bedford, N.H.) and 2029s Anthony Daniels (Milford, Mass.) and Oliver Curley (Kingston, Mass.). But look out for 2029 newcomers Alex Weaver (Windsor, Conn.) and Darian Proctor; they might be too good not to start right away in the Tilton backcourt.
8. St. George’s
Last season: 27-4, lost in NEPSAC Class AA semifinals
Coach Dwayne Pina has his program at a stage of great sustainability. Dywane Chess and Casey Bazzano graduated from the Dragons’ second consecutive ISL championship team, but they bring back plenty of experience with guards Ethan Njenga (Lowell, Mass.), Adriel Cantave (Carver, Mass.), Jelani Middleton and Otis Crosby (Barrington, R.I.) in addition to Chance Finlayson (Newport, R.I.), who’s the best 2029 prospect in the region right now. This could be one of Pina’s deepest teams, with a slew of newcomers like 2029s Ege Cakmakkaya and Roman Allen ready to contribute right away. With Cushing and Tilton ineligible for the AA playoffs, St. George’s is on the short list of title favorites.
TEAM PREVIEW: Is St. George's primed for another ISL repeat?
9. Winchendon
Last season: 19-6, lost in NEPSAC Class AA quarterfinals
Coach Alex Popp returned to the region and assembled a group that experienced immediate success as a top-four seed in Class AA, and he brings back several of those players while adding even more talent to the mix. Le Moyne commit Tavin Penix and Albany commit Treddy Faison headline one of the best backcourts in NEPSAC that also includes Columbia commit Lucas Lau and electric returner Jayse Johnson (Waterbury, Conn.). This group has tons of versatility, size, shooting and high-effort players, many of the same ingredients of last season’s breakout winter.
10. Cheshire
Last season: 21-5, lost in NEPSAC Class AA championship
Cheshire was the biggest surprise of last season, but there’s no sleeping on the Cats now after they nearly pulled off a Class AA championship upset of Cushing. Key players John Spinoso, Justin Brown and James Caldarella are off to playing college basketball, but a core that includes All-NEPSAC guard Aidan Maguire, Mercyhurst commit Christian Zarzycki, who’s one of the best 3-point shooters in the region, Chase Leonardo and big man Lorenzo Spence are back, and Jim McCarthy remains as one of the best coaches in NEPSAC. They should have plenty to build on last year’s momentum.
