2025 #E75 Academic Experience - ‘25/‘26 Frontcourt

Tuesday, March 25th, 2025

The upperclassmen in the frontcourt stood out over the weekend in front of the NERR staff and the college coaches in attendance. A number of prospects with size came to put their talent on display heading into a pivotal point in their own respective recruitment.

Here are some standouts we saw.

Maksym Shepel, Putnam Science (CT) - The Ukrainian national team prospect was one of the top talent's in the gym over the weekend. Shepel's interior play at his imposing 6'8" stature was eyecatching as he was able to make a living on the interior when he was on the court. He threw down some big-time dunks, showed good patient and moves in the post, and rebounded the ball at will. His play was purely dominant at times.

Hunter Stoll, Choate (CT) - Stoll brings a great blend of fluidity and size out on the wing which was eye catching in this setting. Standing around 6'8", Stoll has a smooth handle that he uses well to get to his spots and get into shots. His athleticism is easy to see in the open court, especially when going to the basket and getting up to finish above the rim.

Jameer Reed, Notre Dame Fairfield (CT) - The 6-foot-6 forward was unstoppable attacking the basket. Reed frequently grabbed rebounds and took the ball the length of the floor for finishes through contact on the other end. On the defensive end he blocked shots and contested almost everything at the rim. The New Zealand product is a name to know in Connecticut if you don't already.

Jonathan Weir, Westwood Christian (FL) - Making the trip up from the state of Florida, Weir was a standout of the night at the forward position. Standing at 6'5" his interior presence caught our eye as he competed on the glass and used his length grab rebounds in bunches. Weir was able to finish in the post a number of times and is a high academic junior prospect to keep an eye out for in the south.

Ryan Rigamonti, Barrington (RI) - Fresh off a great season at Barrington High School where he was named to the RIBCA First Team for Division 1, Rigamonti did not disappoint. His 6'5" stature allows him to operate efficiently around the basket where he was able to make shots, as well as kick the ball back out to his shooters. Rigamonti showed some shooting potential too as he connected in the mid-range and knocked down a couple of three's.

Dante DesMarais, East Greenwich (RI) - DesMarais has consistently gotten better since we first got a look at his game in 2023. His ability to serve as a bigger playmaker on the perimeter and inside caught our eye, while his touch on the interior has continued to improve. The 6'6" forward has a big summer ahead of him.

Gabe Tesler, Hingham (MA) - We got our first look at the Hingham High School forward last fall at the New England Open Gym, and he once again looks like a solid college prospect in the class of 2026. Tesler was the leading scorer for his high school squad, excelling as a three-point shooter which was a clear asset to his game we saw in his outing. On the defensive end, the 6'5" forward protected the rim blocking and altering shots that came his way.

Mike Berry, Cape Cod Academy - Berry was aggressive getting into the lane in transition. He also made some great passes out to the perimeter after engaging help-defenders.

Stay tuned as we begin to preview the underclassmen from this past Friday's showcase in tomorrow's recap!