NEPSAC Class A Preview Part Four

Thursday, January 5th, 2023

This is the fourth and final part of our NEPSAC Class A preview. 

CATS Academy - Cary Herer heads into his second season as the head coach of CATS. 2023 big man Martinie Kamga is back. He can score on the block, kick out to open teammates, and make his presence felt as an offensive rebounder. After Kamga, this squad is primarily made up of underclassmen. 2026 guard Desmond Bellot Jr is already producing at a high level, including going for 28 points in a win during the Zero Gravity Prep Classic. Osa Idada is a 2025 forward who can score with a spin move when posting up, has touch finishing with hand, and a high motor/powerful frame to rebound well. Silas Etienne is a 2025 guard. His quick first step and creative handle make him difficult for defenders to keep in front of. Darrell Nderitu and Nelson Mboudjika are two 2026 big men who could also contribute. Nderitu has a nice early skill base and could rise as he sculpts his frame. Nelson Mboudjika is a Cameroon native who oozes upside. He has 6’9 size and a motor that is pretty steady throughout games. 

Dexter Southfield - The Crimson are currently 5-5 headed into their next game Friday. 2023 guard Andrew Mitchell returns. His versatility at both ends makes him impactful in several different ways. 2024 big man John Brigham has made the move to a NEPSAC team. He is intriguing as he can hit face-up fifteen-footers or find teammates for cutting layups when posting up. 2023 guard Christian Abrams will take on a good amount of the primary ball-handling duties. He has quickness at both ends and can make standstill treys when given space. Another prospect to watch on Dexter is Sam Hughes. He has moved into the class of 2025 after earning First Team Bay State League All-Star Honors last year at Needham. 

Deerfield Academy - After spending time at Middlebury as an assistant, Connor Merrill takes over the reins at Deerfield. 2023 forward Natrel Allen has stood out early with his improvement. He is an athletic and explosive swiss army knife who consistently contributes even if his shot is off. 2023 guard Travis Cobain is a tough as nails floor general. He defends, competes, has a good mid-range game, and gets others high-percentage looks. 2023 prospect Derek Long is a strong and athletic combo guard who can score in several different ways. CJ Williams is a monster of a man. The 2024 prospect is a 6’8” 330 lb offensive lineman. He could be playing power 5 football when it is all said and done. On the basketball court, Williams has great touch around the basket with both hands and is a big-time competitor. 2023 guard Chandler Dicks is going to Holy Cross for track and field next year. He is tough and scrappy with nice touch on his mid-range shot. 

Noble and Greenough School - Amherst commit Marc Garraud will be leading this squad at the guard position. He excels at hitting three-pointers off the dribble and uses his burst to create open shots for others. Another player for the Bulldogs with quickness is Hakeem Daphnis. He is a drive first player but has made strides with his three-point shot. Widmayer Trente Et Un contributes with his shooting ability at multiple levels. The 2023 off guard is a scoring threat from deep or in the mid-range. Nobles have a trio of underclassmen in Zach Baum, Coley Mark, and Raul Cruz who we look forward to watching in the coming years. Baum is an intriguing 2026 forward with his blend of physical tools, fluidity, and creation/shooting flashes. Mark is a 6’8 2026 big man who already has shotmaking ability from beyond the arc. Just a 2027, Raul Cruz has a chance to contribute early. His feel for the game and willingness to defend are not typically seen from 8th graders. 

Belmont Hill School: 2025 guard Isaiah Langham has been on our radar for some time now. He is a good sized playmaker who can finish crafty layups using either hand. 2025 Jamari Robinson is another guard who will be contributing. The southpaw is a regular threat to go for double-figure points with his scoring versatility. 2025 prospect Sampson Onuoha brings his toughness from the gridiron over to the hardwood. The 6’4 220 pound forward is originally from England. He was a member of their U16 team in the FIBA European Championship this past summer. 2024 forward Will Yakoobian is a consistent floor spacer. He makes treys when spotting up and can finish through contact using his solid frame. Adding to this program’s talented 2025 class is Giacomo Kaplan. The guard can hit open three-pointers, create for others in the half-court, and make heady rotations defensively. 

Austin Prep: This program is now in NEPSAC Class A and has a pair of 8th graders who are already on our radar. These two prospects are Antonio Pemberton and Hunter Peabody. Pemberton has already put up several performances over 20 points. He also has shown some passing flashes which hint at upside in that area. Similar to Pemberton, Peabody can score in bunches. He went for 37 points in their win over St. Mark’s last month. A 2024 prospect who has formed a nice trio with the two 8th graders is Will Cacciatore. The forward brings strength, toughness, and helps out on the defensive glass. While Austin Prep may take some lumps this season, they certainly will be interesting to watch in the coming years.