Newman lost just once in NEPSAC Class AAA this season in its dominant run to a second consecutive championship. Expectedly, the Cardinals have several players represented in our awards.
But there’s plenty more to recognize for the highest class of NEPSAC basketball.
Our awards include two All-Class AAA teams of five players each in addition to Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and for the first time, Marksman of the Year, recognizing the best 3-point shooter in the class.
Let’s hand out our 2026 awards.
Player of the Year: Lucas Morillo, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-7 guard
Hometown: Mount Vernon, N.Y.
NCAA: Illinois
Morillo didn’t even make his season debut until Dec. 13 after recovering from an injury. It took him some time to reintegrate himself and return to full form, and when he did, there was no denying his all-around impact. The Illinois commit averaged 17.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range and holding a 2.92:1 assist-to-turnover ratio to lead Newman to the AAA championship, where he earned AAA tournament MVP honors. Morillo wins our Class AAA Player of the Year award for a second consecutive year.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kamari Whyte, Vermont Academy
Class of 2027, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Harlem, N.Y.
Whyte averaged 2.8 steals per game, and that only begins to describe his defensive impact as one of the best perimeter defenders in NEPSAC. A strong, physical and athletic guard, Whyte consistently wins at the point of attack, has the smarts to understand how to disrupt offenses with his angles and possesses a high motor to chase around ball screens and finish possessions. With a mature body, Whyte has positional versatility and has shown an ability to impact the game as a secondary rim protector who can hold his own against frontcourt players.
Coach of the Year: Paris Horne & Greg Hill, Bridgton
Tragedy hit Bridgton in early January when Whit Lesure, their legendary and beloved coach, unexpectedly died. Under unfathomable circumstances, Horne and Hill stepped in as co-acting head coaches in the middle of the season and led the Wolverines on an emotional and admirable run. They proceeded to beat St. Thomas More, Newman and Vermont Academy – ultimately the top three seeds in the class – during their home January schedule and ultimately finished 17-16 while grabbing the fifth seed in AAA and qualifying for the national prep tournament. Horne and Hill – both members of Lesure’s 2007 NEPSAC championship team – laudably honored their coach’s legacy.
Marksman of the Year: Chase Geremia, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Madison, Conn.
NCAA: Penn
Geremia was one of the most dangerous threats in NEPSAC basketball, capable of taking over games with his elite 3-point shotmaking. After a slow start to the season for his standards, Geremia went 43 percent from long range this season as he made 145 of his 335 3-point attempts. That included a program record 12 triples and a career-high 39 points in Newman’s win over Diamond Doves OTE in December. Geremia holds Newman’s program record of 222 career 3-pointers made in his three years at the school.
Class AAA First Team
Quinn Costello, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-10 forward
Hometown: Medford, Mass.
NCAA: Michigan
The McDonald’s All-American appeared in all 41 games for Newman and finished the winter as the Cardinals’ second-leading scorer at 17.0 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 37 percent (120 for 326) from 3-point range. His 697 total points this season set a program record.
Lucas Morillo, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-7 guard
Hometown: Mount Vernon, N.Y.
NCAA: Illinois
Our Class AAA Player of the Year also took over to lead Newman’s national prep championship run, averaging 21.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists in four games, including a dominant 28-point, 15-rebound, nine-assist effort in a comeback victory over the Academy of Central Florida. Morillo is all over the Newman program record books; he’s first with 1,135 career points and first with 605 career rebounds, including a program record 19 boards in a single game this season vs. Darrow.
Louis O’Keefe, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
NCAA: Princeton
After mostly coming off the bench last season, O’Keefe started every game in 2025-26 and took his game to new heights. He averaged 11.4 points and 7.4 assists per game as he broke Newman’s single-game assist record three times, topped with 16 dimes vs. St. Andrew’s. His leadership and poise as the Cardinals’ point guard – especially while Morillo out for the first month – was vital to their success.
Patrick Otey, St. Thomas More
Class of 2027, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Westwood, Mass.
In his return to New England, Otey averaged 21.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game to lead St. Thomas More to the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. His winter highlights included a 38-point eruption vs. New Hampton.
Kamari Whyte, Vermont Academy
Class of 2027, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Harlem, N.Y.
Our Defensive Player of the Year also took home Vermont’s Gatorade Player of the Year after he averaged 21.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game as one of NEPSAC’s premier two-way talents.
Class AAA Second Team
Chad Cook, New Hampton
Class of 2026, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Syracuse, N.Y.
NCAA: Richmond
Cook continued being one of the most dynamic threats in Class AAA as a 6-foot-7 forward who can play inside and out. He led New Hampton in scoring at 15.2 points per game and added 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 41.4 percent from 3-point range.
Colton Crowdis, Bridgton
Class of 2026, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Oshawa, Canada
Crowdis was one of the most exciting players in his first Class AAA season as he averaged 20 points, seven rebounds, 6.5 assists and three steals per game. He remains uncommitted with multiple Division 1 offers.
Dušan Erić, Hoosac
Class of 2026, 6-9 forward
Hometown: Cacak, Serbia
NCAA: Manhattan
Erić was a load to handle all winter as he averaged 20 points, six rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, and he saved his best for March as he led Hoosac on an improbable run to the Class AAA final, which included a 31-point, 11-rebound performance and the game-winning 3-pointer in an upset win over St. Thomas More.
Haisi Mayben, Darrow
Class of 2026, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Albany, N.Y.
Mayben led Darrow in scoring with 15.2 points per game to go along with five rebounds and 3.7 assists, including a 34-point, seven-rebound, six-assist performance vs. Vermont Academy on Jan. 28. He remains uncommitted.
Rokas Zilys, Vermont Academy
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Naperville, Ill.
Zilys was a consistent contributor for the No. 2 seed Wildcats as one of the best 3-point shooters in the class who also impacted the game with his defense and rebounding. His highlights included a 27-point performance on seven 3-pointers vs. Sunrise Christian. He remains uncommitted.
Honorable mentions: Chris Birden Jr. (South Kent), Mamadou Camara (Vermont Academy), Jayden Harrington (New Hampton), DJ Hawkins (St. Thomas More), Cheick Sylla (Bridgton)
