2025-26 NEPSAC Class A Postseason Nears

Nick Cozzolino | Wednesday, February 25th, 2026

NEPSAC Class A is as good as it gets in New England basketball. This division is loaded with high level coaches who have college and pro experience, rosters full of college prospects across all three NCAA divisions, and academic environments that prepare student athletes for what’s next. Every night is a battle, and there are no easy wins. Take a look at where the top teams currently stand and what makes each of them a contender.

The Top 8

Nobles and Greenough (13-2)

Nobles has been one of the best teams in Class A all winter. The Bulldogs started off a long win streak to open the season and showed early they are a force. Midseason, they hit a few speed bumps with tight losses to Brooks School, Middlesex School, and St. George's School, but they’ve consistently bounced back. Wins over Thayer Academy, St. Sebastian's School, Roxbury Latin School, Phillips Academy Andover, and most recently Groton School show this group responds well when tested. Nobles is guard-driven and plays with an edge under Coach Lambros. Sophomore KJ Hurd has been an offensive spark with multiple 15+ point games, while senior Zach Baum gives them perimeter shooting and leadership. Jack Mullins adds versatility on the wing, and underclassmen Adam Malima, Jack Charchaflian, and Michael Leese provide depth and long-term upside. They finish up their season with games against Governors Academy and Milton Academy as they get ready for playoff positioning.

Hotchkiss (13-3)

Hotchkiss has caught a lot of momentum heading into the stretch run. After a January 31 setback to Williston, the Bearcats flipped the switch in February, going 7-0. The stretch is highlighted by a wild road win at Dexter Southfield when postgraduate guard Jordan Ghee buried a corner three at the buzzer to steal it. They followed that with strong performances against Berkshire, Avon Old Farms, and a convincing win over Choate. This group is deep and experienced. Senior guards Owen Zabel and Walker Allen bring nonstop energy and toughness every night. Ghee is the offensive engine, while fellow returning starters Preston Merrick and Milos Vasic give them balance inside and out. Hotchkiss plays a smooth, free-flowing style, spaces the floor, shoots it well from the perimeter, and gets production in the post. Coach Busacca’s group has shown late-game composure. With Kent and Loomis Chaffee closing out the month, Hotchkiss is one of the hotter teams in Class A right now.

Deerfield (10-3)

Deerfield has built good momentum after last year’s season, putting together a strong midseason stretch in Class A. The Big Green won six of seven from mid January through mid February. Statement wins against Nobles and over Andover, plus a gritty overtime road win at Taft. Deerfield leans on its size and experience, playing through its frontcourt and tightening up defensively late in games. Andrew Rivera, Jonathan Ocasio, and Teddy Cyr control the backcourt, while Harrison Miles, Liam Simpson and Elijah Webb offer inside/out versatility, giving them enough scoring to be tough to plan against. They can start slow at times, but once they settle into the game, they control tempo well and make teams work in the half-court. They are hoping to continue to gain confidence late in the season with tough upcoming matchups against St. Paul's, Dexter Southfield, and Choate.

Milton (9-3)

Milton has once again been one of New England’s most consistent and balanced teams. The Mustangs knocked off Belmont Hill and Middlesex in late January and picked up an important road win at Andover, with a late run to pull away. Coach Reddicks’ veteran group mixes inside strength from forwards Colin Laurence, Connor Noel, and Spencer Booth. Elite perimeter play from co-captain guards Cole Simmons and LJ Reddicks. Devan Williams and Ryan McLaughlin add scoring punch and defensive pressure. Milton pounds the boards, shoots well from deep, and defends aggressively. Younger pieces continue to grow into bigger roles, giving them depth to turn to heading into late season matchups with St. Sebastian's and Noble & Greenough.

Suffield (14-6)

Suffield has continued to grow showing flashes of being an elite Class A crew. They lost a tight Hoop Hall game to Deerfield and fell at Holderness, but they’ve also notched solid games with wins vs Noble & Greenough, St Sebastians, Avon Old Farms, Deerfield Academy, and Williston Northampton. The Tigers lean into a traditional offense that runs set plays and pounding the boards. Senior captains Jakub Lomička and Markus Maxwell-Grimes set the tone along with Parris Moses, Ethan Jarrett, Alijah Johnson, and more. Maxwell-Grimes stands out as a three-level scorer who can shoot off the catch or the dribble and finish downhill. Suffield’s size helps them execute in the half-court. They’re most comfortable when slowing the game down and hitting high percentage shots. They wrap up the regular season with games against Salisbury and Trinity Pawling. Suffield’s mixture of experience and toughness keeps them competitive in a loaded Class A playoff picture.

Phillips Andover (9-4)

Andover has put together another strong winter. In late January, they dropped a tight game to Noble & Greenough, but bounced back with an emphatic win over Loomis Chaffee School and over Tilton, showing great response from a veteran group. Andover plays a compact, defense-first style under Coach Ivory. They guard, they control tempo, and they make you earn everything in the half-court. Senior guards Ollie Velez and Jake Marcone provide leadership and shot-making, Nick Hailey, Miles Clanton, and Jabari Edmonds bring a strong scoring punch, while Zion Williams and Jaylen Edmonds have been major pieces with their high IQ and creation abilities. Offensively, they like guard penetration and kick-outs, while defensively, they are super disciplined. They look to finish the league strong against Phillips Exeter Academy and want to position themselves to stay right in the mix for the Class A crown.

Phillips Exeter (9-5)

Exeter has been one of the hottest teams in Class A, riding a 9-game win streak into the final week of the season. They held it together through January, winning all but one game at Choate. January also featured big offensive nights, performances vs Concord Academy, home win over St. Sebastian’s, and tight overtime wins at Governor’s Academy and Loomis Chaffee. The offense has been balanced all year. Sophomore Cole McClure has been putting it all together, Juniors Jayden Duverne and Christian Chartier have carried big scoring loads at times, and senior guards Josh Belcher and Shawn O’Neil keep the attack flowing. Exeter’s up-tempo style keeps the defense on its heels, and they mix pressure looks on the other end with strong rebounding to fuel transition. The Big Red head into their final regular-season test, a rivalry game at Phillips Academy Andover.

St Paul’s (7-5)

St. Paul's School has hovered right above .500 and has shown flashes of being a tough out in Class A. After a loss to Hotchkiss, they responded with strong league wins at Tilton School and over Brewster Academy Prep, and later added wins against Groton School and Thayer Academy. They dropped a tight Hoop Hall game to Suffield Academy, fell to Holderness, plus road losses at Phillips Exeter Academy and New Hampton. Coach Gordon’s group plays fast, switches defensively, and leans on effort every night. Patrick Ricca controls the pace and creates for others. Mekhi Simmons brings downhill pressure and playmaking. Trey Miller gives them interior scoring, rebounding, and even perimeter range. Liam Henaghen, Ray Farmer, and Tighe Arache add depth into a roster that buys into multiple roles. They have upcoming road tests at Deerfield Academy, Buckingham Browne & Nichols, and St. Sebastian's to close out their regular season stretch and see what this team is all about.

Rounding Out A

Dexter Southfield (7-6)

Dexter has been one of the tougher teams to measure in Class A. They showed who they are as a team during the late January into February stretch, with explosive wins and competitive losses. They knocked off Winchendon and followed that with a road win at Suffield Academy, plus a 20-point statement over Loomis Chaffee. But they’ve also dropped some tight ones, a one point loss to Hotchkiss, a six point game vs Andover, and a competitive game at Tabor. Coach Droney’s group plays a college-style game, starting with Lateef Afolabi and Malik Adamson setting the tone. Both bring intense on-ball pressure, eye-popping athleticism, relentless when attacking the rim, and nonstop energy for a full 40 minutes. They’re backed by a strong senior core, Daniel Adams, Alexander Dudley, Owen Schuller, and Miles Terry, that brings leadership, toughness, and versatility across the lineup. Sophomore Liam Kilroy has been a nice piece with his length and outside shooting as well. With Deerfield Academy up next at home and a trip to Mount Saint Charles Academy to end the regular season, Dexter is the kind of dangerous team that top seeds don't want sneaking into the playoff picture.

Tabor Academy (7-6)

Tabor Academy has been putting together a strong midseason run in Class A. The Seawolves have knocked off Taft on the road, beat Brooks, St. Mark's, Rivers, and rolled Groton. More recently, they’ve shown they can grind out games with a one-point road win at Belmont Hill School and victory over Dexter Southfield. Senior point guard Aiden Smith's three-level scoring and quickness run the show. Sage Baptiste and Trevor Payne's ability to stretch the floor with their size and skill makes them a matchup nightmare. A.J. Shepard adds college-level athleticism and shooting to contribute a consistent scoring punch. Tabor plays an up-tempo, guard-driven style that forces turnovers and lets their perimeter defense control the pace. Upcoming games against Middlesex and Worcester Academy will test whether the Seawolves can surge into postseason play.