The quality and depth of New England’s boys Class of 2029 is growing.
I’m increasingly appreciating the variety of this class, which made a big step on the grassroots scene this spring and summer. Many completed their first 15U seasons, while several members of this class competed and excelled while playing age levels up, which is obviously a great sign for their long-term outlook.
There are elite shooters in this class, there is plenty of electric guard play, athletic wings and even some intriguing bigs, which are increasingly becoming more attractive to college coaches. We’re adding to this watch list from 15 prospects in April to 20 prospects now. We accounted for several prospects who reclassified to the 2029 class and others who emerged with standout grassroots seasons. Ultimately, we will start ranking this class next year.
Note: To be eligible for our Best of New England rankings and watch lists, a prospect must have completed at least one scholastic season in New England or be a native of the region. Out-of-region natives who play at New York-based NEPSAC schools are not eligible.
Here’s our 20-player watch list for New England’s boys Class of 2029.
Tighe Arache
6-4 guard
St. Paul’s/Mass Rivals
Hometown: Lawrence, Mass.
After a strong freshman season at St. Paul’s, Arache played an age level up on Mass Rivals’ 16U 3SSB team; he averaged 14.3 points per game during the circuit’s first and second sessions, including a 29-point performance vs. Compton Magic. He’s a long and skilled guard who can play on and off the ball and knock down 3-pointers consistently.
Brandyn Clarke
6-7 wing
New Hampton/Canada Elite
Hometown: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Clarke showed flashes of his potential during his first season at New Hampton and has strong creator tools as a wing who can get to the basket, draw fouls and finish well with his athleticism.
Oliver Curley
6-7 forward
Tilton/BABC
Hometown: Kingston, Mass.
A strong 3-point shooter, Curley also has a high feel and emerging winning attributes and skills in other areas. A core piece of BABC’s 15U team, he scored 29 points on five 3-pointers during the July live period and then a day later, he grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out eight assists in a game.
Anthony Daniels
7-1 center
Tilton/BABC
Hometown: Milford, Mass.
Daniels was immense for BABC in July, averaging 13.8 points and nine rebounds over a five-game stretch, including a 21-point, 13-rebound effort. He has tremendous size for his age, possesses high IQ and a good shooting touch that stretches to 3-point territory.
Diego Fernandez
6-10 center
Great Barrington Academy/PSA Cardinals
Hometown: Woonsocket, R.I.
A strong inside presence and skilled big, Fernandez is a member of the Dominican Republic national team and put up good numbers on the Nike EYBL 15U circuit this season. He averaged 10.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game at Peach Jam, including a 20-point, 12-rebound performance.
Chance Finlayson
6-6 forward
St. George’s/Expressions Elite
Hometown: Newport, R.I.
With a combination of athleticism, size and skill rarely seen for underclassmen, Finlayson projects as one of the best prospects in this class, and he’s gaining steam on a national level. He played at the 17U level with Expressions Elite and looked impressive with averages of 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in July. He picked up his first Division 1 offer from Providence.
Camden Hill
6-5 guard
New Bedford/Expressions Elite
Hometown: New Bedford, Mass.
As a freshman, Hill helped lead New Bedford to the MIAA Div. 1 Sweet 16 before a standout grassroots season with Expressions Elite. He was the team’s leading scorer as he averaged 15.8 points to go with 9.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. He also shot 34 percent from 3-point range and made more than two triples per game, including six in a July live period performance.
Oli Higgins
6-9 wing
Newman/Team Maine
Hometown: Brewer, Maine
Higgins reclassified to the 2029 class from 2028 in the spring upon his announcement to join Newman before playing a key role in Team Maine’s deep run in the MADE Hoops 16U tournament in July. He’s one of this class’ most intriguing long-term prospects with his unique size and skillset, which includes a high-level ability to score off the bounce that’s difficult to stop.
Michael Leese
6-6 forward
Nobles/Middlesex Magic
Hometown: Newton, Mass.
Leese missed the end of the spring and summer due to injury but showed glimpses of his great promise at the beginning of the grassroots season with the Middlesex Magic’s 16U team. A strong 3-point shooter, Leese has started to embrace physicality, win rebounding battles and play tough in the paint.
Lincoln Malcore
6-9 forward
St. Paul’s/Team Maine
Hometown: Wilton, Maine
Reclassified from the 2028 class, Malcore is one of the next great talents coming out of Maine, a walking double-double threat who combines strength with explosiveness and a great touch around the rim. He earned All-NEPSAC recognition with Kents Hill last season.
Finn McCauley
6-7 wing
New Hampton/Mass Rivals
Hometown: Portsmouth, N.H.
McCauley, who reclassified from the 2028 class, played an age level up for Mass Rivals’ 17U 3SSB team this spring and summer and played a key role in its run to the Adidas championship game. He boasts a high motor on both ends; defense is his calling card at this stage as a rim protector who rebounds at a high level and is capable of covering multiple positions.
Aidan McGrath
6-8 forward
Thayer/Middlesex Magic
Hometown: Quincy, Mass.
McGrath has continued to produce in several different environments. He played up on the Middlesex Magic’s 16U UAA team, joining midseason as he scored in double figures in eight of 12 July games before playing on the Ireland U18 national team and averaging double figures. He can play as a point forward who can make plays off the bounce, create for himself and shoot consistently from 3-point range.
Luke O’Connell
6-5 guard
New Hampton/Mass Rivals
Hometown: Bedford, N.H.
A state champion at Bedford last season, O’Connell reclassified to 2029 and played up on Mass Rivals’ 17U team and made timely shots and plays to help spur their run to the championship game. A lethal 3-point shooter, he’s a three-level scorer with above-the-rim athleticism and the size and quickness to defend multiple positions.
Teddy O’Neill
6-2 guard
Tabor/Team Sims
Hometown: Swampscott, Mass.
O’Neill proved to be one of the most electric scorers in MIAA basketball last winter at Swampscott and he carried that over into the grassroots season as one of Team Sims’ top scorers while playing a grade level up. He’s unafraid of physicality, lightning quick off the dribble and continuing to grow as a high IQ distributor.
Quinn Pelletier
6-5 forward
Madawaska High School/Team Maine
Hometown: Madawaska, Maine
Pelletier was a core member of a loaded Team Maine’s run to the MADE Hoops’ 16U semifinals in July. A strong, athletic scorer, Pelletier embraces physicality in the paint and is emerging as a reliable shooter. He possesses a variety of winning traits and intangibles.
Max Ryan
6-5 guard
Austin Prep/BABC
Hometown: Melrose, Mass.
Ryan is a matchup problem with the combination of his elite 3-point shooting and his skill to get into the teeth of defenses, find his spots and use his size and length to shoot over defenders. He has a quick trigger from deep but he has the ability to attack closeouts and finish well at the rim and through contact.
Evan Seitz
6-9 forward
St. Luke’s/NY Rens
Hometown: Stamford, Conn.
An under-the-radar gem in this class, Seitz averaged 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on the Nike EYBL 15U circuit and impressed for St. Luke’s at the NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase. He boasts a blend of power, athleticism and fluidity at 6-foot-9 with great creation skills off the dribble and a repeatable release from deep that he can consistently make.
Jake Stanger
6-2 guard
Milton Academy/Middlesex Magic
Hometown: East Greenwich, R.I.
Stanger was the second-leading scorer for the Middlesex Magic’s 15U UAA team, putting up 8.8 points per game as a constant threat from 3-point range.
Massa Toure
6-1 guard
Hamden Hall/BABC
Hometown: West Haven, Conn.
The younger brother of Abdou Toure, New England’s top 2026 prospect, Toure is making a name for himself as one of the best scorers locally in the 2029 class. He plays with great pace, skill and he’s mature beyond his years in the ways he can create with his change of pace, body control and understanding of how to get to his spots on the floor.
Alex Weaver
5-10 guard
Tilton/BABC
Hometown: Windsor, Conn.
After leading Windsor High School to the Div. 2 championship in Connecticut, Weaver exploded as one of the best scorers on the Adidas 15U circuit as he averaged 28 points, 5.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game in league games. A twitchy guard with creative offensive tools, Weaver should be one of the top newcomers in NEPSAC next season as he joins Tilton.
More thoughts: While we limited this to a 20-player watch list for now, there are several more 2029 names on my radar.
I didn't get a chance to see Xavier McCall (MacDuffie/BABC) this spring and summer, but he's a force as a rim protector. Rayan Taku (Tabor/Team Spartans) reclassified to 2029 after playing one season at Malden Catholic and should be an impact player in Class A with Tabor.
Maine has a bunch of young talent beyond Higgins and Malcore, including promising 2029s Carter Brathwaite (Cony HS/Team Maine) and Khaelon Watkins (Cheverus HS/Team Maine). Look out for Isaiah Richmond (Prospect Hill Academy/Team New England), who helped Prospect Hill reach the MIAA Div. 5 Final Four this winter. There's buzz building around the 6-foot-1 guard with a bag of moves and elite athleticism. Jayden Wilbon (Governor's/Team Sims) also impressed this spring and summer on the UA Rise circuit and during the NEPSAC showcases with Governor's.
A few more names I have my eyes on: Corey Hadden (CATS Academy/Expressions Elite), Chance Markowitz (Kingswood Oxford/BABC), Ishmael Odugbela (St. Andrew's) and TJ Espinosa (Woodstock Academy/BABC).
