Second NEPSAC Showcase: 7 of Saturday's Best Newcomers

This weekend, I'll be attending the NEPSAC Showcase at Worcester Academy in Worcester, MA. Games will be going all day Friday-Sunday, and I'll be in the gym throughout.   Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/06/second-nepsac-showcase-fridays-6-best-performers/" id="https://prephoops.com/2026/06/second-nepsac-showcase-fridays-6-best-performers/">Second NEPSAC Showcase: Friday's 6 Best Performers</a>   Below are the seven best newcomers to the NEPSAC I saw on Saturday.    Cate plays like a pro, and it's because he was one—the New Zealand native comes from his home country where he has been playing with the big boys for awhile, and you can tell. The 6-foot-6 wing is extremely strong and sturdy with the ball in his hands and makes quick, decisive decisions with the rock when he gets it. His shooting ability forces defenses to defend him on the perimeter, but his passing ability allows him to operate in screen and roll and as a closeout attacker, and then he can also use footwork and craft to finish in the paint. Cate is going to be a key player for Northfield Mount Hermon this season and should definitely be getting scholarship looks—he looks ready right now.     Walsh doesn't look the part at first, but he plays the right way and won me over by the end of the day. The 6-foot-5 wing can shoot from three and has great touch on little shots in the paint, whether they be jumpers or floaters or layups with either hand. When his own shot isn't there, he reads the game extremely well and makes excellent passes to shooters and cutters. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions because of his hefty body and decent athleticism.  Walsh comes from Georgia and plays the right way, so he'll be hard for Loomis to keep off the floor. High D3's should be all over this guy.     Dawson is electric. The 5-foot-11 guard lacks size but makes up for it with incredible heart and skill level. Defensively, he's a 94-foot pest who does an amazing job using his hands and sliding his feet to beat ball handlers to spots. Offensively, he gets into the paint at will with his quickness and strength, he makes really smart live-dribble passes to cutters and shooters on the perimeter, and he can even create his own shot from all three levels. The senior has D1 offers, but he'll pick up more if he runs the show for Putnam like he did today. Don't let his size fool you—nobody wants to dribble against him.     Gray is as efficient as it gets. If there's a good shot available, he'll take it and make it with confidence and poise. But if there isn't, he'll meticulously work through all of his options before consistently choosing the best one. Today, he shot the three ball extremely well and showcased some really impressive movement-shooting and footwork skills when coming off screens. He's also quite adept at attacking closeouts and making 0.5 decisions with the basketball, which bodes quite well for the next level and for Newman's movement system. He's a definite scholarship player who was made for NEPSAC hoops. Welcome to New England.     Johnson had a steller performance against Newman despite his Worcester squad's loss. The 6-foot-8 forward used his strength and athleticism to bang with opposing wings on the boards and in the paint on both ends, but he used his agility and handle to surprise opposing bigs and forwards on the perimeter. His highlight play was a throwdown dunk in transition on a Newman player, but he also showcased some more finesse finishes in traffic and a really solid handle for his size. Johnson plays extremely hard and is going to give himself a good chance to play scholarship ball if he keeps up this play.       Burley is an unbelievable addition in Winchendon's front court. After a late departure from Cam Blankenburg after he classed up to 2026, the 6-foot-9 incoming 2027 will provide much needed rebounding and rim deterrence on the defensive end. He slides his feet extremely well for his size, but he can also bang with opposing bigs in the paint and is very tough. Offensively, he moves fluidly and is a good finisher at the rim, but it's his motor and competitiveness that really makes him a winning player. He fights his behind off for offensive rebounds and makes multiple efforts consistently. Burley should be a D1 recruit and is going to LOVE playing with [player_tooltip player_id='2568392' first='Jayse' last='Johnson']—what a symbiotic relationship recruitment-wise for both of them.     Folk is so fun to watch. The 6-foot guard controls the pace of the game and makes excellent decisions off the bounce. He's special as a finisher in the lane—he uses slow-step footwork and great body control to move defenders off their spot and get easy looks at the rim. He simply has too much speed and quickness for anybody to stay in front of and too much strength to body whoever somehow manages to stay with him on his way to the paint. Folk seems like a D2 guard but might somehow go lower if coaches are too scared of his lack of size.    <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/luke-scarff/"></a>

This weekend, I'll be attending the NEPSAC Showcase at Worcester Academy in Worcester, MA. Games will be going all day Friday-Sunday, and I'll be in the gym throughout.