At the beginning of August, we updated our Best of New England rankings for the Class of 2027. But that only begins to tell the scope of the talent in New England.
Beyond those Top 50 rankings, there are hundreds of seniors still chasing their college basketball dreams. We’re starting to see more names make their commitments to the next level right now, but even more – as they head into their final scholastic seasons – are trying to make one final impression on college coaches.
Our Under the Radar series aims to highlight some of those prospects we feel deserve a little more love and recognition. Maybe we think they should be getting higher recruitment than they’re currently getting, or they play in a lower class in NEPSAC and don’t typically get the same publicity that others do. All of these names have had some form of notable success for their school and grassroots teams and we believe will make a future college program very happy.
We’re starting with the guards of the 2027 class. This list does include one name that appeared in our Top 50 rankings in August, but I still believe he's flying under the radar. Here are 10 prospects to know.
Sam Brigham, Cushing
6-3 guard
Hometown: Springfield, Mass.
The 2,000-point scorer from Pope Francis is going to be a critical backcourt piece for the defending Class AA champions at Cushing this winter, and he made a strong first impression at June’s NEPSAC Showcases. His scoring ability translated, he brings consistent effort on defense and he has some sneaky athleticism, too. He’s a scholarship prospect who earned his first Division 1 offer from Mercyhurst earlier this month when open gyms began, and I think he’s just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. I think he’ll make some serious noise this season.
Teddy Cyr, Deerfield
5-11 guard
Hometown: Hadley, Mass.
Cyr earned some love in our NEPSAC offseason coaches’ survey this summer when we asked about the most underrated prospects in the league, and it’s hard to argue. He’s as tough as they come from the lead guard spot, wins battles against contact and he’s a terrific tablesetter for his teammates with high IQ and vision. He’s a gamer, and his winning intangibles were a big reason for Deerfield’s breakout season last year. I can see Cyr thriving at a Division 3 program.
Ty Grudzień, Woodstock
6-2 guard
Hometown: Uncasville, Conn.
Every time I watch Grudzień, he impresses me. He has a bunch of intriguing tools, including lead guard creation skills, athleticism and suffocating defensive pressure and high-level instincts. Alongside MVP CJ Farrell, he was vital to the Middlesex Magic’s run to the Hoop Group championship with his defense and reliable playmaking. He’s got great wiggle off the bounce with strong touch and a really mature feel for the game. Grudzień doesn’t have any publicly listed scholarship offers but I think he has that potential.
Jakare Innocent, Tilton
6-1 guard
Hometown: Taunton, Mass.
The lone member of our Best of New England rankings on this list, Innocent checked in at No. 47 in our August update, but he’s still not getting the level of recruitment I think he should be getting. He averaged 14 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game last season at Tilton and earned team MVP honors for the Rams. He’s undoubtedly one of the best defenders in NEPSAC with a 6-foot-7 wingspan and elite instincts that help him consistently disrupt passing lanes for steals and deflections, and he’s a consistent 3-point threat that he’s demonstrated with both Tilton and BABC. Innocent may need to be patient for his opportunity, which I think is a scholarship spot at a low-major Div. 1 or Div. 2 school.
Jayse Johnson, Winchendon
5-10 guard
Hometown: Waterbury, Conn.
The Winchendon backcourt of Le Moyne commit Tavin Penix and Albany commit Treddy Faison will demand most of the attention, but Johnson should be part of the chatter, too. With Faison out during the NEPSAC Showcases in June, Johnson shined in his absence with his diverse scoring catalog. He possesses a uniquely special combination of slashing ability and 3-point shooting ability that makes him almost impossible to guard. Because of his size and the current recruiting landscape, he’s only garnering Division 3 interest right now, but in a different world I think he would be a scholarship candidate.
Chase Leonardo, Cheshire
6-1 guard
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Some people may not realize that Leonardo was Cheshire’s leading scorer in the Cats’ NEPSAC championship loss to Cushing, which is impressive with the 2026 talent that was on that roster. Leonardo finished his junior season with averages of 10 points, three rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from 3-point range, then carried that momentum into a strong spring and summer with Team Northeast as he picked up a Division 2 offer from Roberts Wesleyan. Leonardo is a premier shooter who should garner much more responsibility at Cheshire this winter.
Ethan Njenga, St. George’s
6-2 guard
Hometown: Lowell, Mass.
It shouldn’t be overlooked how much Njenga contributes to winning while consistently playing against the best competition there is locally between St. George’s and BABC on the grassroots circuit. He helped the Dragons win their second consecutive ISL title while winning 26 games as the No. 2 seed in Class AA, and he was terrific on the Adidas circuit with averages of more than 15 points and three assists per game. Njenga is a smart playmaker who consistently creates advantages with his drives and makes the right reads while also being a pest on the defensive end; he averaged more than two steals per game this summer. He’s firmly on the Division 1 radar after receiving an offer from Navy in August.
Dom Taylor, St. Andrew’s
6-2 guard
Hometown: Somerset, Mass.
Taylor is one of my favorite prep transfers to watch this year after a dominant run in the MIAA, where he led Somerset Berkley to the Division 2 championship in 2025 before having a standout individual season as a senior. He comes to St. Andrew’s as a postgraduate after another strong summer with Team White Mamba, where he was one of the best shooters and defenders on the MADE Hoops circuit. He’s worth a long look for Division 2 and 3 college coaches.
Chris Vinson, Worcester Academy
6-3 guard
Hometown: New Orleans, La.
I haven’t really had a chance to write on Vinson much; that’s on me. He was terrific as a junior last season with Worcester Academy before joining Kevon Looney Power 5 late on the Adidas grassroots circuit this summer and shooting 45.5 percent from 3-point range over the final two sessions. His shooting ability alone should get him college looks, but he’s also comfortable and shifty as a lead guard who can make tough finishes at the basket.
Jonathan White, BB&N
5-10 guard
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
If you’ve noticed a theme on this list, it’s that there are a handful of undersized guards who are electrifying the region. Put White in that category. An All-NEPSAC honorable mention in Class A last season, the point guard put up monster numbers on the EYCL circuit this summer, including 27.6 points, 5.7 assists and 3.0 steals per game while shooting better than 51 percent from 3-point range. He has elite quickness, burst, vision and a high feel for the game that’s hard to teach. White has a Division 1 offer from Chicago State in 2024, but he’s more likely a Division 2 or 3 prospect with his size. Still, he’s one of the most impressive 2027 guards in the region.
