2025 Prep Profile: Albany/Cheshire

Friday, December 5th, 2025

To wrap up the Prep Profile Series for the NEPSAC’s AA class, we have a double feature with the NEPSAC’s newest member, Albany Academy, and Connecticut’s Cheshire Academy, two formidable teams looking to make their mark this season.

Beginning with Albany, Head Coach Jim Driggs has a pretty balanced squad to work with this season as they begin to navigate the landscape of AA.

Yale commit Jack Louridas leads the way as the 6’3” guard has really come into his own over the past 15 months, evolving from mostly a knockdown shooter, to an off-ball guard that scores well off the bounce and can really see the floor as a passer. Expect him to be on the radar for All-NEPSAC AA when the season is all said and done.

Seniors Cyrus Matia (Middlebury commit) and Jamar Macon (Daemen commit) have been focal pieces to the starting lineup this season, with juniors Logan Rodriguez and Daniel Smalls getting big minutes as well.

Matia and Macon bring some impressive defense to the frontcourt for Albany as Matia has some versatility, while Macon holds down the interior as a shotblocker. Matia’s got the ability to hit shots from outside while also scoring out of the post, and Macon is a threat to score from the post whenever he’s on the floor. The two complement each other very well.

Logan Rodriguez may have the highest upside of the group of prospects mentioned for Albany, and the big 6’8” forward has shown that through the first few games this season. Rodriguez brings face up scoring to the floor, while stretching it out to the three-point line as well. He’s a walking double double with growing Division 1 interest. 

Daniel Smalls stands out for the team running the point. His tight handle and ability to penetrate the lane to spray the ball out or take it himself is notable. 

Other assets to the team include 6’6” junior Antonio Fairley a solid wing scorer, Xavier Lopez who is known for his defense in the backcourt, and Josiah Hyman, an electric three-point threat. 

Albany has proved early on that they are playing to compete in February/March, and should not be taken lightly as a newcomer to the league.

Cheshire looks the part of a competitive team to keep an eye on in AA this season as well. 

Head Coach Jimmy McCarthy has brought in some talented prospects out of New York and Rhode Island that will make Cheshire a tough out as the season gets underway.

Air Force commit James Caldarella leads the way as the focal scorer for the team. The Rhode Island native has turned heads throughout his career with his ability to really get hot as a shooter and overall three-level scorer.

Cheshire boasts a combination of Trinity commits out of the Crown Basketball program in New York, who will be crucial for the team in Justin Brown and John Spinoso. Brown, a southpaw guard with good size, can both score it and make plays for others at a high level, while Spinoso is a playmaking wing that gets his own at multiple levels of the floor. 

Jeremiah Medor returns to Cheshire and will play a strong role with his athleticism in the backcourt and ability to finish relentlessly. Seth Pryor, a big forward out of New York City is another name to watch as he impresses with his motor and switchability on the defensive end. Christian Zarzycki a prospect out of Penfield New York impressed us this past June at the WNY Elite 75 with his smooth shooting.

Keep an eye on Cheshire as they look to compete in a well balanced AA this season.

Both teams will be competing this weekend at the Zero Gravity Prep Classic, and next weekend at the Scholar Roundball Classic as well!