The girls Class of 2027 in New England includes a talent pool that Div. 2 and Div. 3 college coaches should covet, as I've written and said for several months.
That's even more apparent when we get to the wings and forwards in this class. These positions include some of my favorite players to watch right now, both in prep and high school. The positions here are so deep with future Div. 2 and Div. 3 players that none of the 10 names listed below even cracked our Best of New England rankings.
We're moving through our Under the Radar series, which highlights some of the best players who I believe are under-discussed in various aspects of the New England girls basketball discourse. By not including them in my latest Top 50, I've kind of brought this upon myself. So I wanted to cover some bases with names I expect to impact the upcoming winter season and go on to have productive college careers.
These players range from current leaders of their respective scholastic teams to deeper cuts who I've scarcely written about before. But I'm a believer in each of their respective skills.
MORE UNDER THE RADAR:Â 2027 guards
Meg Allbee, Northfield Mount Hermon
5-10 wing
Hometown: Westminster, Vt.
NCAA: Daemen
Allbee gave a great showing this summer at the NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase. She's someone I'm eyeing as a key player to step up offensively as NMH chases a Class AA title. Allbee has long been a stellar off-ball shooter, but she's a better driving threat than I've given her credit for and is still improving there too. Allbee's length makes her tough to contest at the rim and helps her jump some passing lanes on defense. I expect Allbee, star guard Zariah Ottley and Kiki Gable (another underrated wing) to be impact perimeter players for NMH, along with some intriguing newcomers.
You could also consider Allbee a guard, as she is the closest to a guard on this list, and I would have no qualms. Position labels can often be up for interpretation, as you'll see with some players here.
Alex Cassidy, Norwell
5-11 forward
Hometown: Norwell, Mass.
Cassidy is rock-solid as a paint presence. She averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 47.6 percent from the field on the Mass Huskies' 17U EYCL team and was consistent throughout the grassroots spring and summer. That built on a strong junior year at Norwell, where Cassidy ascended to the new frontcourt leader for the Clippers. She brings consistent effort with her rebounding, cutting and scoring around the paint. Cassidy has also shown some potential stepping out and hitting 3s. She'll be one of the better forwards in the MIAA this winter.
Maeve Early, Marianapolis
5-10 wing
Hometown: North Brookfield, Mass.
Early has always been an enjoyable watch for me because of her versatility. She can bring the ball up and drive one-on-one, she can post players up, she can space the floor or she can cut. Early is a consistent rebounder and high-motor wing who uses strength and a solid handle to win her matchups. Teams can plug her into almost any role and she'll find a way to be successful. I expect Early to help lead Marianapolis in Class AA contention this winter.
Genesis Grimes, Springfield Central
6-0 forward
Hometown: Springfield, Mass.
I have written a lot about Springfield Central's star duo of Zi'Yan Wallace and Giavanna Mars. The Golden Eagles are the early frontrunner in MIAA Division 1, so it's worth getting to know Grimes, an additional core member. Grimes is probably the best interior defender on the squad, an athletic forward who can move well against drives and protect the rim at a high level. She doesn't score a ton and is mostly a putback scorer and play-finisher, but her rebounding and defensive impact stand out.
Alexa Huckaby, Hamden Hall
6-1 forward
Hometown: Bristol, Conn.
Hamden Hall must replace the impact of graduates Tessa Porch and Reilly Chernovetz to earn a third consecutive championship, and I think Huckaby is primed for a senior breakout as a slashing 3-4-type forward. She impressed me again at the Scholastic Showcase with her speed, hard cuts and buckets through contact. I really like Huckaby's combination of long arms, quickness and intensity on defense, too.
Maddie Keough, Worcester Academy
5-10 wing
Hometown: Norfolk, Mass.
I fear I've underrated Worcester Academy's senior class on the whole. We know Gracyn Barnes is a star, but players like Keough, guard Jazzy Mora and forward Addie O'Connor can all help the Hilltoppers get back to the Class AA title game. Keough is a strong 3-point shooter who can quickly set herself on the move and fire away with range. Her size at her position makes her a tough cover for smaller guards, and Keough possesses a nice feel for the game overall.
Annabelle Lally, Smithfield
5-11 forward
Hometown: Smithfield, R.I.
Lally will be among the elite RIIL players this winter after putting up 18.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.1 steals per game as a junior. When I've watched Lally, I've appreciated how confident she is with her footwork on drives and out of the post. She has step-throughs and spin moves she can get to and has great touch scoring at the rim. Her size and power make her a matchup problem at the high school level.
Eileen Lowther, Hingham
6-0 center
Hometown: Hingham, Mass.
Lowther logged some monster performances as a junior, averaging a double-double (11.2 points, 13 rebounds) with a whopping five blocks per game. She is that good of a rim-protector with her length and solid mobility around the paint. Practically every Div. 3 college coach I talk to stresses a need for post player talent, so they should be looking at Lowther on the recruiting trail. I also expect her to be one of the most impactful MIAA stars this winter.
Izzy Rotondo, Braintree
5-11 forward
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.
Speaking of impactful MIAA post players — Rotondo is a rebounding machine and a big reason why Braintree should remain among the best Bay State Conference programs. She fights for boards with a consistent high motor and is quicker than some of the post players she battles against. Rotondo has improved as a paint scorer as well and was one of Braintree's better defenders last year.
Reign Whiteing, Lincoln School
5-10 forward
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Whiteing's athleticism and power helped her thrive in leading Lincoln School to last year's RIIL Division II title. She's unafraid to initiate contact in the post and fight through it for layups, and she can often outleap opponents, leading to rebounds and big blocks. Whiteing swatted 3.3 shots per game last year and landed on the Providence Journal's girls basketball All-State team.
