Prep Profiles 23-24 - Brewster Academy

Dylan Thayer | Monday, October 30th, 2023

Brewster Academy, the illustrious seven-time National Prep Champions, is gearing up for the upcoming high school season with a rejuvenated roster enriched with high-level talent. While the team doesn't boast an overwhelming number of returning players, it is notably populated with a significant influx of high-major recruits. The school has undergone adjustments to its arrangement and conference play, and we'll delve into those details in this profile. Join us as we explore the exciting lineup that Brewster Academy is set to unveil this season.

3 Things You Need to Know About This Year’s Team

Brewster Academy will play in the NIBC

In the past, Brewster Academy had two teams participating in the NEPSAC, but starting this year the school will have a national high school team competing in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference, and a prep team in the NEPSAC. The move to the NIBC puts Brewster against national powerhouses such as IMG, Long Island Lutheran, Montverde and Oak Hill. The NIBC is an elite basketball conference which boasts a number of top-ranked prospects and was founded in 2020. 

Superstar wing duo of Preston Fowler & Dwayne Aristode

The wings of the frontcourt appear to be in capable hands with the addition of 2025 prospects Preston Fowler and Dwayne Aristode to the squad. Fowler, already familiar with the New England scene, boasts two state championships from his time at East Catholic in Connecticut as an underclassman. During this summer's Peach Jam, Fowler showcased an efficient offensive repertoire, averaging 14.0 points per game on 53.1% shooting from the field, 35% from beyond the arc, and an impressive 91% from the free-throw line. He also contributed 7.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Aristode arrives from the Netherlands, where he gained recognition as a sharpshooter at FIBA's U16 level. With a 37.5% three-point shooting clip, he averaged 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists per game over seven contests. This dynamic duo has attracted the attention of numerous high-major coaches to Lake Winnipesaukee this fall, further strengthening the frontcourt alongside Georgia Tech commit Cole Kirouac and highly regarded prospect Daniel Jacobsen. Currently ranked 170th on 247Sports, Jacobsen has taken official visits to Minnesota, Purdue, and Wisconsin in recent weeks.

Big time guards head up to New Hampshire

In the backcourt, the dynamic duo of Nojus Indrusaitis, an Iowa State commit ranked 83rd nationally, and Elijah Crawford, who recently announced his commitment to Stanford and holds the 159th spot according to 247Sports, takes center stage. Indrusaitis has showcased his prowess by averaging an impressive 13.7 points per game with a 36% three-point accuracy at Peach Jam this year. Notably, he secured a gold medal with the Lithuanian U16 national team last year, leading the squad in scoring. His scoring finesse, spanning all three levels, combined with his deceptive agility and sneaky bounce, makes him a standout player. On the other hand, Crawford, having made his commitment to Stanford public, left a lasting impression during the EYBL sessions with his noteworthy scoring abilities on the national stage. Together, they form a formidable 1-2 scoring punch at the guard position, poised to challenge opposing backcourts. Adding depth to this formidable lineup is DJ Shine, an emerging guard who just arrived in New Hampshire this summer. Shine's official visits to Georgia Southern, Mercer, Murray State, and Queens underscore his potential, contributing to an impressive rotation alongside Indrusaitis and Crawford.

3 Questions Heading into the Season

Who will play in the NIBC and who will play in the NEPSAC?

We have a general idea of who will be competing with what team this year out of Brewster Academy, but we do not know for sure. One of the most prevalent rules in the NIBC is that there are no postgraduate players allowed to participate. So we can rule out all 2024 prospects who are completing a fifth year this season, but does that apply to those who have reclassified earlier, or are planning to postgrad in the future? We don’t know. However, the question will be answered at the National Prep Showcase next month when both teams play on consecutive days. 

Jeremiah Jenkins, David Ayles, Daniel Johnson, Harry Luo, Harris Jackson, Adam Fox, and Caleb Middleton are a few who we expect to see in the NEPSAC and NEBL this season, whereas Sebastian Wilkins, DJ Shine, Daniel Jacobsen, Cole Kirouac, Preston Fowler, Dwayne Aristode, Nojus Indrusaitis and Elijah Crawford we expect to see compete in the NIBC. 

Are Adam Fox and Mason Moses this year's sleepers?

Before enrolling at Brewster, players like Joe Sherburne and Robert Champion initially contemplated Division III schools. However, they later enjoyed remarkable careers at UMBC and Holy Cross, respectively. Last year, we anticipated that Will Franks and Reid Celestin would follow a similar trajectory, akin to Sherburne and Champion. This year, attention turns to Adam Fox and Mason Moses as two names with potential. Fox, a lanky 6'6" wing, boasts versatility, rebounding prowess, and shot creation abilities. On the other hand, Moses is a sharpshooter from beyond the arc, showcasing a diverse range of shot-making skills. Additionally, he excels as a lockdown defender, capable of guarding multiple positions.

How will the adjustment to the NIBC go?

As always, making adjustments to new things can come with struggles and growing pains, but if anyone is able to make the adjustment from the NEPSAC to the nationally touted NIBC, it’s Brewster Academy. Home to an astounding number of Division I and NBA players, the school is already nationally known and now gets to perform on the biggest stage. While playing a national schedule requires a lot of travel and time management for the players, we expect them to adjust seamlessly. We are excited to see the school take on the nation’s best this season.