2026 Q&A Series: Quinn Costello
In the past twelve months, Newman School and Middlesex Magic wing Quinn Costello has continued to build up his game, and his recruitment reflects this progress.
At 6’9”, Costello provides a consistent outside shooting threat with notable size at the four spot. His recent development has drawn Division One offers, and his strides in athleticism have been evident as he continues to refine his body. On drives to the basket, he’s shown a growing ability to absorb contact and finish strong with layups and dunks.
In our new series focused on what promises to be a deep class of 2026, I had the opportunity to ask Quinn a few questions for our first 2026 Q&A.
Take a look.
Quinn, thank you for taking the time to do this with me. I wanted to start by congratulating you on this wave of scholarship offers coming your way.
Question: What are some aspects of your game that you’ve really focused on improving over the past year?
First and foremost, I concentrate on shooting reps. There is no substitute for getting shots up consistently. I see myself as a stretch 4 in college, able to space the floor with my shooting. When the spacing is right, it opens up opportunities both for myself and my teammates.
In addition, I am working hard to continue to develop my guard skills. Taking the daily vitamins with ball-handling and attacking is a focus.
Last, I want to make sure that I am able to do battle in the paint. Whether that involves attacking the basket with the ball in my hand and finishing through contact, or fighting for rebounds, I am focused on getting stronger.
Newman has a great strength program, and I have been taking advantage of the opportunity to be in the weight room 5 days per week.
Question: Last year, it seemed like you bounced between the National and Prep teams at Newman, but you spent most of your time with the Prep team, playing as one of the top options. How do you think that helped your overall development?
Last year was a perfect spot for me in terms of my development. First of all, both of the teams are practicing together every day, so we definitely all benefit from that high standard of competition.
For games, I was a starter on the Prep team for Coach McBride, allowing me minutes to develop chemistry with my teammates and really begin to understand what leadership looks like.
The Prep team had a double overtime win at Tabor last year that really defined what chemistry and leadership in the face of adversity is all about.
At the same time, I was on the bench for most National games, and got spot minutes that allowed me to begin to acclimate to the AAA level. I wouldn’t trade last year for anything.
Question: I recently attended one of your open gyms, and it’s clear that Newman has reloaded despite graduating eleven prospects to college (if my math is correct). What are some of your goals this season, both as an individual and as a team?
For me, it’s team goals first and the rest will follow. We over me. My team understands that Coach Johnson has intentionally set us up for one of the most challenging schedules in the country this year.
We are playing at the very highest level available to us, without breaks in the schedule.
Our goal is to win the NEBL, to win the NEPSACs and to be well positioned to take home the National Prep Championship.
Question: Take us back a bit—you started your high school career at BC High, a powerhouse in the MIAA. Are you originally from Boston?
I was born and raised in West Medford. I started playing ball in the 2nd grade on a local in-house team.
The next year, I started playing in AAU with Fidelity House, the local gym in Arlington that produced Pat Connaughton. Coach Craig Moody taught me how to shoot in that gym, and I’m grateful for that.
When it came time to play travel ball in the Metrowest program, I played for Coach Pete Stefanopoulos and Coach Kevin White. That’s where I really learned the fundamentals of team basketball.
I started high school right in the middle of the pandemic, and I sought out BC High for its history of achievement in athletics. Coach Bill Loughnane selected me to swing JV and be a varsity bench player as a freshman. It was a real honor and an eye-opening experience to be fighting and learning in practice every day on a team that went 25-0 and earned the 2022 MIAA Div. 1 State Championship.
I truly appreciate Coach Loughnane for believing in me and helping me get to where I am today. I started for him as a sophomore and we had a good season before being knocked out in the sweet 16 in overtime in a road playoff game.
Those guys are still my brothers over there. I was recruited to Newman later that spring as a reclassed sophomore and the rest is history.
Question: This past year, you played with the Middlesex Magic 16U squad on the Under Armour Next Circuit. Tell us a little about that experience. And looking ahead, how excited are you for your final season with Coach Crotty and the 17U team?
I have been with the Magic since the 8th grade, and it's been a great program for me. I really enjoyed the Summer of 2023, when Coach Lambros Papalambros took us to the 16U HGSL title at Spooky Nook. He remains one of the best coaches I have ever had.
Playing for Coach Crotty has been awesome, as it is truly less of a typical AAU team and more of a family. We have found that the more connected we are, the more games we win.
We didn’t achieve our team goal of winning the UAA last summer, but I’m confident that we have a strong foundation in place for a great spring/summer ahead.
Question: Lastly, let’s talk about your recruitment. According to your social media, you’ve received twelve Division One scholarship offers, and most recently, your first high major offer from Stanford University. How does it feel to see all your hard work paying off with these opportunities? Is there a school you've always dreamed of playing for?
With respect to recruitment, I am super grateful to all of the programs that have shown interest in my potential as a basketball player, and as an addition to their community.
I am so early on in my recruiting process that I feel like there are still too many unknowns to account for in terms of predicting the future or narrowing down to favorites.
I will say that Newman is providing my teammates and I with an unmatched opportunity to showcase ourselves to college recruiters. We had an immense amount of coaches at all levels come through our open gym sessions in the last two months. There are not many other programs that can say that, and I do not take it for granted.
Catch Quinn live in action at the National Prep Showcase in New Haven, Connecticut, in just a month! The Newman School will face two national powerhouses: Sunrise Christian Academy (11/23 at 7 p.m.) and Massanutten Military Academy (11/24 at 2 p.m.) at Albertus Magnus College.
Quinn Costello