In the latest edition of ‘P.I. Pulse’, Pro Insight’s Philip Kirsch and Ian Riaf tackled a large chunk of the ever-growing New England high school basketball landscape for a slightly broader take on our third-annual Open Gym Tour (check out our 2023 and 2022 renditions, for reference). This year, the tour spanned over 20 open gyms, Pangos All-East Frosh/Soph Camp, NERR E75, and more. This endeavor lasted multiple months; however, our coverage is ongoing, so be on the look out for continued New England basketball content throughout the 2024-25 season.
And just like that, basketball season is here. Sandwiched between open gyms, showcases, local tournaments, and even a return home for AJ Dybantsa in The Grind Session, Pro Insight ran back its third year of the New England Open Gym Tour. We accumulated multiple touch points throughout the summer and into the fall in a variety of contexts in addition to the aforementioned New England-specific open gym evals over the past few months, but due to a variety of reasons we were unable to stop by Brewster (NH), New Hampton (NH) and Bridgton (ME), among several other schools that we hope to intersect with over the 2024-25 season. With that, let’s dive in.
What’s so special about open gyms, in particular? Why not go to practices, showcases, or games? Simply put: open gyms provide an organic basketball atmosphere. Prospects are learning by doing. It’s an opportunity to watch high-level hoops at lower-level stakes. The stakes help establish a rotation’s hierarchy, but open gyms also allow for experimentation in a game-like setting. New faces are always added as players start to gain a feel for the tendencies of their new teammates. Leaders and alphas emerge, and returners continue to strengthen their voice.
In this article, we will outline several of the many notable northeast names to know, spotlight high-level guard play, and discuss several positionless prospects. Later on, we will address the influx of international talent and discuss how the future looks for the 2027 and 2028 classes (and beyond).
National New England Names
We’ll start with the guards, transition to the wings, and finish with the bigs:
Guards
For New Hampton to achieve their lofty goals this season of winning a National Prep Championship, Keyshuan Tillery will be called upon to orchestrate the offense. The Cincinnati-bound Tillery is a hard-nosed, two-way guard who consistently impacts both sides of the ball. Offensively, he puts pressure on the rim. He is always generating paint touches while using his body to create space to get to his spots. Tillery is a true leader and we expect him to be one of the best players in the Northeast, this season.
Junior Abdou Toure saw his national ranking explode after a jam-packed summer with Guinea’s FIBA U17 squad. Returning to Notre Dame-West Haven (CT), he has high aspirations of reaching 1000 points and running back another high-level season. When we checked in with Toure remotely in September (see below), he told us he wants to improve his ball handling and three point shooting. But he also wants to continue to grow as a leader. To be seen as an approachable presence, both on and off the court. While Toure’s already a nationally known name, keeping tabs on his journey throughout New England hoops will be a fun story to watch.
It was a big year of winning for Worcester Academy’s (MA) Amir Jenkins. He began his first season of prep basketball after winning back-to-back state championships at Worcester North along with a Gold Medal for the United States in the U18 3X3 in the FIBA World Cup. In an open gym setting, Jenkins excelled in transition, always remaining in attack mode while showcasing the ability to finish with either hand. He’s an advanced passer who’s eager to push the ball in transition. In the half court he is prone to look for back doors and alley oops at a variety of difficult angles. A vocal leader in a new setting, Jenkins is always talking and directing the game on both ends of the floor.
Wings
What does leadership mean for St. Thomas More (CT) forward and recent Alabama commit London Jemison? For starters, it means being a vocal presence on defense. This call to action will be crucial as STM has a roster full of new faces and some transfers that we’ll touch on later. The versatile senior is coming off a strong summer playing AAU for Expressions and standing out at NBPA Top 100 Camp in Florida. We expect him to continue to build off this momentum and find ways to grow as a leader and creator, exploring even more development opportunities with additional playmaking and shooting reps.
Another piece of the talented senior class for New Hampton is Penn State commit Mason Blackwood. Blackwood is a strong, versatile wing who has the frame to match. He creates havoc on the defensive end, generating steals both on and off the ball. Offensively, he uses his frame and strength to create space and attack the rim. Blackwood is continuing to gain consistency with his outside shot, but excels operating in the midrange.
Already feared as a shotmaker, Providence commit and Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year Jaylen Harrell was a scoring force over the summer. His blend of perimeter shooting paired with post presence was on full display. But in 2024-25, Harrell will be primed to showcase other elements of his game outside of sheer scoring production. Using his gravity to create for others will be an important development datapoint. He’ll enter his senior year at CATS (MA) with a squad full of new additions from across the country and globe and will be tasked with making it all mesh together.
At Lawrence Academy (MA), Alexander Egbuonu comes into his junior campaign fresh off a productive summer with BABC (MA) where he earned high-major offers from the likes of Marquette, Auburn and Xavier. He is a talented barrel-chested wing who continues to expand his game. Throughout the years, he has played a variety of positions, allowing him to grow in different settings. Already one of the better shooters in the region, he excels at using his frame to attack and get to the rim. Throughout our open gym viewing, he hit catch-and-shoot threes, created his own shot off the bounce, and attacked the rim with force.
Two national names at Brewster Academy are Dwayne Aristode and Sebastian Wilkins, whom we last saw this summer at the NEPSAC showcase. Arizona-bound Aristode is elite athletically and has the physical tools to match. Defensively is where he makes a difference with the ability to shift his feet laterally while also remaining active in passing lanes off the ball. He primarily uses his advanced frame to assist in driving to the paint. Wilkins, who is a plus-rebounder, is entering his junior season. He is a well-built forward who can play either the three or the four. Scoring-wise, he likes to operate out of the post and has recently shown improved passing both on the dribble and from the low post – he’s also continuing to make strides as a floor-stretcher. Wilkins brings switchability and a high motor on defense and will be a name to track closely throughout Brewster’s difficult EYBL scholastic schedule.
Bigs
Newman (MA) junior Collins Chidera Onyejiaka is a name that continues to stand out, regardless of the eval setting. Illinois, West Virginia, Iowa, and Alabama have all offered the 6’11” big man from Nigeria. He uses his size and frame to create deep interior position but once established, he can also make high-level passes out of the post. In an open gym, we saw Collins space the floor and knock down catch-and-shoot threes. It remains to be seen whether he will have opportunities to shoot during the season, but it will be an interesting development point to track for this year and next.
From Putnam Science (CT), Ben Ahmed is an offensive hub for a talented squad. The Miami-bound big is the unquestioned leader of the Mustangs as they look to reclaim their National Prep title. When watching PSA, Ahmed pops as a high-motor vocal leader, calling out defensive rotations, instructing guys where to be and fully taking ownership of the team. Ahmed brings an old-school game to the court, remaining a force inside using footwork and strength to get to his spots.
Additional Names to Follow
There are even more seniors, and nationally-known names to keep tabs on as they all return from various injuries. South Kent (CT) and recent Iowa commit Badara Diakite will be an essential leader as he ramps up his role within a new offense.
Another versatile retuner on a team with many new additions, Northfield Mount Hermon (MA) and George Washington commit Vincent Chaudhri will also have opportunities to increase his usage.
Even while sidelined, St. George’s (RI) and recent URI commit Barrett Loer told Pro Insight that he continues to train, stay in shape and add strength in the weight room. He draws inspiration from recent NBA draft pick Tyler Kolek, who, like Loer, played for St. George's, the Middlesex Magic and started his career off in the A-10.
By way of Astoria Queens, Elijah “Eli” Small will be another name to watch as he comes back into the fold for Vermont Academy (VT). Last season, the versatile lefty earned CHSAA All-League 3rd team honors at the esteemed Archbishop Molloy (NY).
Impactful Guards
In this section, we will spotlight some of the rising guards throughout New England. From floor-spacing, to playmaking to defensive intensity, these guards all bring something different but special to the basketball court.
Recent URI commit Jalen Harper and Chase Geremia both bring unique but exciting styles of play to Newman. Both are fun watches, play well off each other's strengths and positively impact the game.
Harper is always attacking downhill, constantly using his frame and footspeed to get to his spots. He’s always making sharp, twitchy cuts on his rim attacks and can finish above the rim with both hands. On defense, Harper is mobile and physical at the point of attack, constantly sliding his feet to wall off drives.
Geremia on the other hand is always optimizing out of the pick-and-roll, making advanced reads and picking apart the defense with varying pace of play. Using the threat of his shot as a weapon, the junior operates off the ball really well. In an open gym, he showed the ability to convert on movement looks from deep within the flow of the offense. He was a core starter on last year's 3SSB BABC squad, a stacked team with a starting lineup of Sam Fleming, Alex Egbuonu, Amir Jenkins, and Collins Chidera Onyejiaka.
At CATS, Desmond Bellot, Jr. wins with intensity and effort. Bringing the ball up against the junior guard is no easy task. Pro Insight’s Zach Welch spotlighted his intensity last year on our 'Differentiating Motors' section. We saw Bellot in multiple settings throughout the pre-season and it’s evident that he rarely takes a possession off. There is an unmatched kind of pride he takes in his ability to generate stops and pressure the ball handler. The physical guard played up last year on a loaded Expressions 17U squad where he contributed in meaningful minutes while taking on a lower usage role. With defense as the foundation, this year it’s all about expanding his offensive skill set. He told Pro Insight that he wants to improve on using his physical tools and strength to generate high quality shots against smaller matchups, which we’ll be watching for as the season progresses.
Standing at 6’4”, Tabor’s Adrian “AJ” Shepard is an explosive, quick-twitch combo guard who can also space the floor and move off the ball. When asked about his favorite player to watch, the junior gave a popular answer but with a unique explanation. It was Steph Curry, not for his scoring and shooting prowess, but for his ability to move off the ball, “his off ball movement is all I watch – he never stops moving – he creates opportunities for everybody…he knows how to use screens, he knows when to cut backdoor, when to curl, he just knows when to do everything.” In an open gym, it’s evident he puts that watching into action as he knows exactly how to space the floor off the ball and find open shooting pockets. Praised by his coaches for his work ethic, Shepard will be a fun name to track as he enters his first season at Tabor.
One of the most exciting guards we saw during the open gym season was Ryan Moesch at Cushing Academy (MA), Moesch comes to Cushing by way of Chittenango (NY) where he was the state’s leading scorer as a sophomore, last year. He’s a shifty left-handed guard and a terrific creator who can get downhill at will. He’s a terrific passer in transition, isolation and in pick-and-roll situations. He does a great job of picking his scoring spots within the flow of the offense. Moesch is a must-watch player for anyone who likes high octane, dynamic passing.
Versatile Prospects
Confining talent into positional boxes can be destructive for development. We do it all the time, we even did it in this article. But the game is shifting away from traditional positions. Two-way players who can toggle between different spots on the floor are becoming increasingly more valuable. These are some versatile and mostly uncommitted names that popped throughout our tour.
At CATS, Jaxson Terry continues to add layers to his game. His strength paired with intensity on defense and lateral quickness make him one of the more versatile players in the region. His lateral quickness was on full display during the Beantown Slam and throughout CATS’s open gym. Terry will pick up 94 feet but also switch onto a big and relentlessly seek out contact on his box out efforts. He continues to explore the mid-range studio space as he looks for more reps to create off the dribble. Terry is also starting to blossom as a leader, constantly communicating and calling in-game huddles together. He was by far the loudest on defense during open gym.
Staying at CATS we turn to Boston native and rangy wing Jaylin Williams-Crawford. He joins this loaded squad with an already established track record of winning. He spent his last three years at Charlestown (MA) and last year helped lead them to both Boston City and State Championships. In 2023-24, he was named the Boston City Championship MVP and played up a level with Expressions on 17U. After talking with his past head coach at Charlestown, Hugh Coleman, there is a belief that Williams-Crawford can guard the one-through-four and continue to do so even at the next level. He constantly finds himself around the ball, generating steals, deflections and blocks, and moving well laterally to stay in front of his matchup. On offense, he makes precise cuts and doesn’t shy away from contact at the rim. When we caught up with him he specifically mentioned that he wants to improve his handle and shotmaking.
A junior transfer from Iona Prep (NY), Lucas Morillo is versatility embodied. He spent a portion of his summer playing for the Dominican Republic’s FIBA U18 National Team and also has experience playing for their U16 and U17 squads. He was an offensive engine on all three of those teams and will have ample opportunity to handle the ball for Newman, this season. He does a great job of creating space off the catch and playing off two feet. Morillo is always making the right play within the flow of the offense and competing on the other end of the floor.
In the heart of Boston at Newman School, Quinn Costello has seen his recruitment pick up, receiving offers from schools like Stanford, St. Louis, Columbia, and Harvard. Costello is a lanky stretch-4 and a terrific shooter who’s combination of floor-spacing, size and fluidity continues to draw interest from college programs.
Iron sharpens iron, and getting open gym reps guarding London Jemison will only help Brandon Benjamin grow as a prospect. The fluid, 6’7" senior transfer joins St. Thomas More from Link Academy (MO). At Link, he competed in the EYBL Scholastic almost exclusively as a small-ball five. For the hybrid wing, his motor is always on and he consistently wins the 50-50 battle. In an open gym setting you see a lot more from a skillset standpoint: elements like handling in the open floor, attacking closeouts off the catch, constant effort leaking out in transition, and even glimpses of live-dribble playmaking. When we touched base with Benjamin, he told Pro Insight that he wants to improve these areas of his game and that he’lll be empowered this year to do so.
New Hampton standout and Wyoming commit Naz Meyer is another positionless threat who can leverage his athletic tools and elite basketball mind to create efficient offense. His versatility transcends just offense. He is constantly navigating on and off ball screens with agility and flexibility. Meyer has impressed with his ability to defend jitterbug guards at the height of 6’6” and will be a fun watch this season for a talented New Hampton team.
At Vermont Academy, senior Daye Kaba and junior Isiah Rose have their own blends of versatility on a team full of new faces. Kaba brings athleticism and fluidity on offense along with intensity and activity on defense. He plays with a non-stop motor and always seems to be winning the 50-50 battles. He has a knack for finishing through contact and with touch at the rim, but can also space the floor off movement.
By way of Albany, NY, Isiah Rose is a physical and bruising forward with a tight end-style build. He was a standout in their competitive home-opener against Ridley College (CAN). It’s clear he has a smart and patient basketball mind and already assumed a leadership role on this squad as one of only three returners. His motor transcends scoring numbers as Rose plays with an unmeasurable intensity. He is constantly setting physical screens and cutting with intention. He lets the game come to him and rarely forces ill-advised shots. With the foundation of a well-rounded skill set, we will enjoy checking in on Rose throughout the year as he looks to add even more creativity to his offensive arsenal.
After a summer on the UAA Circuit with a talented 16U Middlesex Magic team, St. George's guard Dywane Chess will be a name to keep tabs on throughout the high school season. He recently picked up offers from URI and BU and will continue to make a name for himself as one of the more versatile players in the region. There is very little wasted movement with his on-ball game as he does a great job of leveraging his strength and frame to get to his spots and finish through contact. Off the ball, he moves and cuts with intention, and always gives maximum effort. A quick twitch athlete with great physical tools, Chess was another name who made the ‘Differentiating Motors’ list last year and rightfully so. As time goes on, expect him to continue to take on more offensive development reps.
Also a member of that same Middlesex Magic team, BB&N wing Cole Blackburn is just starting to scratch the surface. Hailing from a basketball family, Blackburn grew up playing against his sharpshooting cousin and recent Binghamton commit Jake Blackburn. The 6’6” wing has smooth movement skills, above-the-rim finishing capability and he can score at all three levels. He plays with an exuberant confidence that infuses energy amongst his team, however he also seems to be very reflective about improvement areas. He told us that he wants to work on slowing the game down and making better decisions with the ball. Blackburn will have ample reps this year to make those gains as he continues to grow as a versatile prospect.
Back in Boston at Reason Prep, Vincent Osazee physically stands out. The 6’8” Osazee is a plus-overall athlete who can get downhill quickly and does a commendable job of using his frame. He can use his handle to get to his spots in the mid-range and continues to add skills to his offensive toolbox.
With his ability to defend, initiate the offense and do the little things well, 2025 Jacob Davis is the ultimate glue guy for Cushing Academy. He primarily plays under the rim, but is adept at understanding angles and footwork to generate space. During Cushing’s open gym, we saw Jacob initiate and operate as a distributor within the flow of the offense. He hit backdoor passes and even showed some live-dribble passing. Defensively, Davis is light on his feet, with the ability to stay in front of smaller wings and bigger forwards but also has the requisite strength to defend on the block.
2026 Chad Cook of New Hampton is another versatile prospect who has shown flashes of handle and positive passing moments from the post and elbows. Cook’s value is layered in the way he plays, especially in pick-and-roll situations where he can effectively pop, roll, finish down low and be trusted to make the right passing reads.
While the list is long and continues to grow, a few more versatile names to keep tabs on as we head into the 2024-25 season include: MacDuffie (MA) forward and recent URI commit Javon Perry, Tabor junior wing Sage Baptise, Brooks (MA) junior forward and small-ball five Noah Walker, Darrow (NY) senior forward Teshaun Steele and Newman junior guard Louis O’Keefe.
New England: International Basketball Hub
The international influx of talent traveling stateside is a clear testament to the continued high quality of New England basketball. Making the choice to leave home is no easy decision, but the quality of basketball in the region instills a trust in that choice. For these international prospects, adjusting to the American game along with playing against bigger and stronger athletes was a common thread when deciding to leave home for the U.S.
Headlining this international class is senior and FIBA U20 Icelandic National Team member Leo Curtis from CATS Academy. After returning from recent official visits to West Virginia and Indiana, Curtis picked up his eighth high major offer in just under three months. That said, there is still work to be done. He told Pro Insight that he wants to improve “finishing around the rim through contact” and get experience “playing against bigger players.” Not only is Curtis always sprinting out in transition off the ball, but he can also make high level passes out of the post and short roll settings.
CATS Academy’s international talent doesn’t just end with Curtis, as returning senior Julian Kabori (Congo) adds a high level of defensive versatility, 2026 Nelson Mboudjika (Senegal) will bring even more rim protection, and junior wing Abraham “Abu” Chol Mabor (Australia) might be the team’s defensive x-factor – he already holds an offer from Fairfield, can space the floor and finish above the rim, but it’s his motor and willingness to win the 50-50 balls that will help him earn minutes on a talented roster.
Putnam Science continues the theme of international talent with 2025 Sam Osayi (Nigeria). Osayi is a high-flying force with the lateral agility to guard down against guards and wings. It doesn’t just stop there – also look out for 2026 Adama Tambedou and 2025 Abdou Yadd, both of whom hail from Senegal. Tambedou, who played with RI Elite over the summer, is a physically imposing forward with elite athleticism in the form of highlight reel blocks and rim destroying dunks. His high motor and continued development will draw even more interest from college programs seeking a high-energy, high-motor, versatile player. Yadd, who recently came over from Spire (OH), is a skilled big with an advanced handle for his size. Yadd does a great job of reading double teams out of the post and always seems to be making the mature read.
Moving to Hoosick, New York, with EuroLeague streaming in the gym lobby, ISA Hoosac boasts an almost exclusively international roster which spans all corners of the globe. Coach Nemanja Maric, a former Serbian pro player himself, has assembled a squad with positional size, playmaking ability and depth. The roster is headlined by 2025 Serbian stretch big and vocal presence Aleksa Vlajic. A member of the Serbian U16 and U18 teams, Vlajic moved to ISA Hoosac to improve his athleticism and general feel for the American game. Hoosac will also get help from returner and 6’6” Spanish lead guard Unai Fernandez (2025), 6’7,” Swedish sharpshooter Leo Ryott (2025), and two seven-footers with different skill sets in 2025 Maruan Cicic (Montenegro) and 2026 Brewster transfer Nicolas Mitrovic , who has Serbian roots. There will likely be even more international names that will pop as this crew battles it out in NEPSAC AAA.
Drive 40 minutes south to the Darrow School and you will meet another rising international prospect from New Zealand, junior Hunter Te Ratana. The sharpshooter has a basketball bloodline stemming from his father who played professionally down under. Te Ratana got reps over the summer playing for New Zealand's U17 team in the Basketball World Cup. He takes a certain kind of pride in both his defense and willingness to create for others. He told Pro Insight that as he settles into his role with Darrow, he wants to work on improving his mid-range game.
NMH’s recent Lehigh commit, Canadian sharpshooter Andrew Urosevic, comes to New England from Canyon International Academy (AZ). He competes with a fiery swagger and a noticeable edge. He will get under his opponents’ skin, but has the game to back it up. He moves with intention off the ball and has a quick trigger on his shot. Urosevic will light it up from deep but should also continue to expand his game as a playmaker at NMH.
Underclassmen to Know
Who are some of the rising underclassmen looking to make their mark over the next few months?
One of the top young bigs in the Northeast is 2027 Theo Edema. During our open gym tour, Edema picked up offers from Creighton, Clemson and Cal. He’s still relatively new to the game, but has continued to show improvements with each viewing. There are even moments of floor spacing in late-clock settings. He has consistently been a difference-maker on the defensive end and his extra effort and quick second bounce on the glass allow him to differentiate himself as a rebounder. Edema's progression over the past year-plus has been dramatic, and he will remain a name to track closely, long-term.
At Milton Academy (MA), 2027 Reece Ayala will be one of the main options for a young roster. Ayala is a big, lefty guard who looks to use quick dribble combos to get to the rim. In our open gym viewing, he consistently generated paint touches while playing off of two feet before making his decision to pass or shoot. Ayala’s main goal is improving his three-point shooting, which would add yet another wrinkle to his offensive scoring package.
Brimmer and May’s (MA) LaDanion Payne is a confident ball handler who brings energy in the form of scoring and creation. The sophomore guard is becoming an advanced three-level scorer. Payne can also finish with authority when he has a runway. Once the shot opens up within a game setting, he can get to a variety of dribble moves and always generates space between his defender. He’s constantly around the ball on both ends, and excels off the ball defensively, staying active in passing lanes to gather steals and deflections. He’s a great rebounder for a guard and will continue to blossom alongside 2026 Windston Legentus.
2028 Kyle Delves from Mount Saint Charles Academy (RI) was a clear standout at NERR’s E75 event in Mansfield, MA. He has a knack for creating separation as he impressed with his bursty athleticism and explosive finishing around the rim. It wasn’t just scoring and athleticism that stood out – he also made several high-level, live-dribble, one-armed skip passes that bent the defense and yielded high quality results. It’s clear that he reads the game at a very mature level and will be a top name to know in the freshman class.
On a loaded CATS team, 2027 Josiah Adamson-Hardwick will look to make an impression in his first year playing NEPSAC basketball. JAH is a strong guard with a good understanding of how to use his frame. At this stage, his primary offense is attacking the basket in transition as he adjusts to playing against bigger players at the NEPSAC level. Defensively, he hounds the opposing player at the point of attack, walling up to prevent drives and generate steals.
Brewster Academy’s crafty, poised 2027 guard Antonio Pemberton understands how to find his footing while surrounded by other elite talent, as he’s always played “up” whenever we’ve evaluated him. He thrives within the pick-and-roll setting with his creative passing and keeps the defense honest as a shooter. Pemberton also brings some toughness to the defensive end, which we saw in action at the NEPSAC Showcases.
St. Thomas More's DJ Hawkins is a lanky junior wing with developing guard skills. During our interview, he told us that he liked watching bigger guards who can create and score the ball. His game and fluid movement skills lend themselves to some untapped potential and exploration in these areas. His defensive activity, especially off the ball, is impactful, as he uses his wingspan to disrupt passing lanes and make timely off-ball deflections. Practicing against London Jemison and Brandon Benjamin in practice all season will only provide Hawkins with more ample development reps.
Yet another Vermont Academy transfer from NYC, Kamari Whyte, comes to Saxtons River by way of Harlem and St. Raymond’s school. He was a volume scorer there and looks to bring that same high intensity scoring punch to Vermont Academy. A clear standout at E75, he was constantly getting to the rim, leveraging his strong frame and drawing fouls at the basket. But it didn’t just stop there, Whyte can operate off the ball, relocate to open space and convert on spot-up and movement looks from deep. He is an active body on defense and seems to have a knack for anticipating passes while guarding off the ball.
2027 Jalen Rogers of Beaver Country Day (MA) is entering his first season of prep school basketball after coming over from Boston College High. Rogers is a fluid mover who likes to operate on the perimeter and in the mid-range. This season at Beaver, he will get quality reps in the frontcourt and will continue to add different elements to his scoring package. At Pangos All-East, Beantown Slam and a Beaver open gym he showcased a good understanding of how to get to his spots via footwork, deception and quick dribble moves.
2027 Elliot Erickson of Cushing is a fluid mover with a strong build. He constantly finds ways to make an impact off the ball. He takes the right shots within the flow of the offense and showed positive lateral movement skills against smaller guards in our viewings. Given his size and willingness to space the floor, Erickson feels very scalable at the next level as his usage and offensive role will be an interesting data point to monitor this year.
2027 Ethan Njenga from Lowell is another guard that will continue to break into the fold for St. George’s. He told us that his focus this year will be on improving his movement shooting. He already has high quality reps going up against older players as he played up with the 16U BABC squad, backing up Amir Jenkins and Chase Geremia on the 3SSB circuit this past summer. Njenga will continue to build on this foundation as he starts to gain more responsibility this season.
Pro Insight also saw 2027 guards Jonathan White from BB&N and MacDuffie’s Keyshon Joyner in open gym and Pangos All-East Frosh/Soph settings. White is a jitterbug guard, with quick feet and hands. He’s always optimizing the offense through change of pace and deception. It makes sense that he draws inspiration from Kyrie Irving as he constantly uses his dribble as a weapon to create shots for himself and others. White, who played for Team Spartans (MA) over the summer, made the Pangos Top 70 Cream of the Crop Game and already holds an offer from Chicago State. Joyner is another guard who draws inspiration from Kyrie, but also included on that list was Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler. This makes sense when you watch him play. Joyner, who played with the Mass Rivals over the summer, plays with a certain kind of toughness that won’t show up in the box score. On offense, he plays with a controlled cadence, always finding ways to maximize a possession. He showcased a consistent floater game and will continue to grow on both ends of the floor.
A freshman who already has two years of NEPSAC experience is Jackson Perri from Roxbury Latin (MA). Perri is a fluid, confident shooter with the ability to space the floor and hit shots off the dribble, in transition and in spot-up situations. He’s a table-setter on offense, consistently making the right reads with a mature understanding of when to pick his spots. He also brings a competitive, fiery spirit with a high level of energy on each possession.
Rounding out the list is sophomore guard Raul Cruz, Jr. from Noble and Greenough (MA), a cerebral guard who can break down a defense off the dribble. He put up multiple 20-point games throughout the Beantown Slam which helped him earn First Team honors there. But it’s more than just scoring with Cruz – it’s playmaking, communication and a general sense of how to play the game. He has a unique blend of physicality and paymaking acumen, constantly reading different levels of the defense, problem solving with the ball, but also leveraging his strong frame to carve out space at the rim. Even as a sophomore, Cruz is already stepping into his own as a leader.
Additional Notable Names
Class of 2025 (Committed)
💡➡️ High-level feel and scoring
💡➡️ Dynamic shotmaking
💡➡️ Scoring and off-ball gravity
💡➡️ Catch-and-shoot prowess, defensive versatility
💡➡️ Elite shooting
💡➡️ Athletic rim finishing and connective playmaking
💡➡️ Offensive versatility
💡➡️ Playmaking, smooth scoring and competitiveness
💡➡️ Physicality and creation
💡➡️ Tough shotmaking and creative passing
💡➡️ Pick-and-roll playmaking
Javon Perry | Forward | The MacDuffie School (MA) *Rhode Island
💡➡️ Vertical athleticism and rim running
💡➡️ Self-creation, physicality and movement shooting
Connor Swider | Wing | Tabor Academy (MA) *Youngstown State
💡➡️ Movement shooting
Killyan Toure | Guard | Brewster Academy (NH) *Iowa State
💡➡️ Speed and pick-and-roll creation
💡➡️ Positional size, playmaking, shooting, and leadership
💡➡️ Creative passing and tough shotmaking
💡➡️ Floor-spacing and athletic rim finishing
Class of 2025 (Undecided)
Nate Brazil | Guard | South Kent School (CT)
💡➡️ Shifty handle and a knack for scoring
Luke Brown | Forward | Vermont Academy (VT)
💡➡️ Floor-spacing and athletic pop
Daniel Delgardo | Guard | Darrow School (NY)
💡➡️ Scoring and playmaking
Ibrahim Gati | Big | Darrow School (NY)
💡➡️ Functional two-way athleticism
Will Goode | Big | New Hampton School (NH)
💡➡️ Powerful rim finishing, off-ball impact and defensive effort
Jeremiah Ibeziako | Wing | Taft School (CT)
💡➡️ Physicality and creation skills
💡➡️ Two-way physicality
💡➡️ Floor-spacing and versatility
💡➡️ Polished slashing and shooting
Carson McDonald | Big | The Newman School (MA)
💡➡️ Screening, rebounding effort and physical rim finishing
Kieran Mullen | Big | St. Thomas More School (CT)
💡➡️ Mobility and rebounding presence
Jakye Rainey | Guard | Vermont Academy (VT)
💡➡️ Scoring and movement shooting
Jamari Robinson | Guard | Belmont Hill School (MA)
💡➡️ Handle and defensive intensity
💡➡️ Creative passing and downhill speed
Zack Scherler | Big | Vermont Academy (VT)
💡➡️ Rim protection and floor-spacing potential
Jared Smith | Wing | Redemption Christian Academy (NY)
💡➡️ Athletic tools and transition effort
Rashawn Tibby | Forward | South Kent School (CT)
💡➡️ Mid-range scoring and polished footwork
Tim Walker | Guard | South Kent School (CT)
💡➡️ Primary playmaking and floor-spacing
💡➡️ Consistent playmaking and floor-spacing
Class of 2026
Chris Birden | Wing | South Kent School (CT)
💡➡️ Vertical pop and transition effort
Timmy Bollin | Wing | The Newman School (MA)
💡➡️ Defensive toughness, intensity, connective passing
Parrish Edmond, Jr. | Wing | Putnam Science Academy (CT)
💡➡️ Athletic pop, physical rim finishing and defensive intensity
💡➡️ Movement shooting and feel for the game
💡➡️ Connector skillset and defensive versatility
💡➡️ Confident scoring and rebounding
Jah Hatchett | Guard | Putnam Science Academy (CT)
💡➡️ Defensive presence, effort and intensity
Jayden Harrington | Guard | New Hampton School (NH)
💡➡️ Movement shooting
Will Higgs | Big | Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA)
💡➡️ Rebounding effort and read-based passing
Jaylen Hunter-Coleman | Guard | Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA)
💡➡️ Defensive and rebounding effort, rim finishing
💡➡️ Downhill scoring, creative finishing package
Yeshua Kesse-Beda | Wing | CATS Academy (MA)
💡➡️ Quick twitch, athletic pop and defensive versatility
💡➡️ Tough shotmaking and confidence
💡➡️ Scoring and primary creation
Evan Mitchner | Guard | Lawrence Academy (MA)
💡➡️ Handle and POA defense
Trevor Payne | Guard | Tabor Academy (MA)
💡➡️ Athleticism paired with movement shooting
Tahlan Pettway | Guard | St. Thomas More School (CT)
💡➡️ Footspeed and handles
Jaeden Roberts | Guard | Putnam Science Academy (CT)
💡➡️ Tough shotmaking and crafty finishing
Lino Sanchez | Guard | Beaver Country Day (MA)
💡➡️ Tough shotmaking and PnR creation
Bentley Shelton | Guard | St. Thomas More School (CT)
💡➡️ Floor-spacing
Aiden Smith | Guard | Tabor Academy (MA)
💡➡️ Playmaking and effort
💡➡️ Playmaking consistency and floor-spacing
Class of 2027
💡➡️ Self creation
Sonny Batchelor | Wing | Westminster School (CT)
💡➡️ Off-the-dribble scoring and playmaking
Michael Bradley | Wing | East Catholic HS (CT)
💡➡️ Motor and playmaking
💡➡️ Physicality on defense, downhill attacking
Johnny Bol | Big | The MacDuffie School (MA)
💡➡️ Rim protection and floor-spacing potential
Spencer Booth | Big | Milton Academy (MA)
💡➡️ Range shooting
Nalajah Christopher | Guard | Darrow (NY)
💡➡️ Open floor creation and playmaking
Idy Fall | Guard | Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (MA)
💡➡️ Floor-spacing and playmaking
Emmanuel Fosu | Guard | Proctor Academy (NH)
💡➡️ Playmaking and hustle
Ji Gary | Guard | Windsor HS (CT)
💡➡️ Defensive impact and strong finishing
Coley Mark | Big | Cushing Academy (MA)
💡➡️ Range shooting
💡➡️ Shooting and defensive instincts
Tyson Robinson | Wing | Brimmer and May School (MA)
💡➡️ Rim protection and floor spacing potential
Milos Vasic | Forward | The Hotchkiss School (CT)
💡➡️ Shotmaking potential and fluid movement skills
Class of 2028
Modu Abdulrahman | Forward | South Kent (CT)
💡➡️ Defensive motor
Brayden Buckley | Guard | Thayer Academy (MA)
💡➡️ Shooting and playmaking potential
Adriel Cantave | Guard | St. George’s School (RI)
💡➡️ Handle and playmaking
Pat Costello | Wing | The Rivers School (MA)
💡➡️ Physicality and well-roundedness
💡➡️ Physical strength and playmaking
Jayden Gibson | Guard | Brooks School (MA)
💡➡️ Post centric guard, strength and mid-range creation
Kayden “KJ” Hurd | Guard | Noble and Greenough School (MA)
💡➡️ Point-of-attack defense and physicality
Will Nunes | Guard | Austin Prep (MA)
💡➡️ High feel playmaking paired with floor spacing
Maxxwell Thorpe | Forward | Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA)
💡➡️ Vertical athleticism and rim running
💡➡️ High motor and playmaking
Class of 2029
Marshall Boniface | Wing | Rectory School (CT)
💡➡️ Rim finishing, hustle and physicality
💡➡️ Shot creation and rim protection
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