NEPSAC End-Of-Season Superlatives Part 3

The NEPSAC season has come to an end, and I got a chance to watch tons of games throughout the year. Over the next few days, I'll be rolling out my end-of-season superlatives, aimed at giving various players from a wide array of classes and teams some love for their performances this season. Each award will have a first, second, and third place.   Part 1: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/03/nepsac-end-of-season-superlatives-part-1/">NEPSAC End-Of-Season Superlatives Part 1</a>   Part 2: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/03/nepsac-end-of-season-superlatives-part-2/" id="https://prephoops.com/2026/03/nepsac-end-of-season-superlatives-part-2/">NEPSAC End-Of-Season Superlatives Part 2</a>   As always, it's impossible to see every team and player, so I will always miss some things. Coaches—always feel free to reach out with thoughts or things I missed! Final part below.   Breakout of the year: 1) [player_tooltip player_id='2568396' first='Jack' last='Charchaflian'] 2) [player_tooltip player_id='2571905' first='Will' last='Nunes'] 3) [player_tooltip player_id='2962602' first='Miles' last='Clanton']   Charchaflian got hurt towards the middle of the year, but he showed enough in the first half of the season to win this award. The sophomore guard doesn't have an offensive weakness and was a key cog for Nobles' attack; he can shoot from the mid range and the three, but it's his ability to handle the ball and get into gaps that really makes him effective. He's a cereal pain-toucher, and he makes amazing decisions for himself and his teammates once he gets there. Charchaflian will be Nobles' best returning player next season, and he should have a huge spring and summer with the Middlesex Magic.   Nunes was probably the most significant piece to Austin Prep's turnaround this season. The 6-foot-4 wing was key defensively and on the boards because his squad doesn't have much size and length, so he was forced to play the forward spot—he did a great job holding his own against bigger and stronger players, though. He also showcased a consistent outside shot and budding athleticism. He should continue to make strides next season. Clanton transferred into Phillips Andover and was relatively unknown, but he was arguably their best player this season and has made a case for himself as a scholarship player. He has great size, strength, and athleticism, and though his game can look a bit awkward at times, he got it done all season.   Next year's breakout: 1) [player_tooltip player_id='2868674' first='Nate' last='Blenman'] 2) Cooper Te Ratana 3) Micke Mera   Next year, Cushing will look a lot different. Without Moesch, O'Connell, and Hynes returning, they'll need a big boost offensively—and I think that could come from Blenman. The big man is sturdy and strong, but he has phenomenal footwork and touch in the post and can be pretty dominant down there when he wants to be. With more opportunities next season, I could see Blenman developing into an incredibly key piece for Cushing and someone they consistently dump the ball down to in the post.   Te Ratana looked like a different player when I watched him at the National Prep Championships this season—he was far tougher and stronger than he looked in the past. His improvements athletically are already happening, and the shooting stroke and feel for the game is quite impressive for his size and age. Mera played behind some important pieces on Holderness this season, but he impressed me whenever he got into the game. He has awesome feel and footwork for his size, and he can handle and shoot it better than you think. With more opportunity, he'll be a big riser next season.   Diamond in the rough: 1) [player_tooltip player_id='2563233' first='Dante' last='Baither'] 2) [player_tooltip player_id='2883064' first='Jordan' last='Maxson'] 3) Patrick Otto Mäe   Baither is the best player I saw in class C this season, but he gets less attention than he deserves because he's in a class without a ton of top-end talent. The 6-foot guard doesn't have an offensive weakness and consistently impresses me with his feel and command on the court. He has a wiggle to the way he handles it and is a supremely good pick and roll decision-maker. He can hit shots from three and make floaters, but he also has burst and athleticism at the rim—he jumps higher and is better at taking contact than you think. I'm not sure if Baither will stay at Bancroft next season, but he can definitely play at a higher level.   Maxson is in a similar position to Baither because he plays for a Pingree team that doesn't get a lot of press. But he was phenomenal this season as a scorer and really impressed me from all three levels. He can score from three, but he also has good quickness and excellent footwork and feel at the rim. He consistently uses eurosteps and slow steps to throw off defenders, and he can adequately finish with both hands and lots of contact. BABC will be an awesome opportunity for him to show out this spring and summer. Otto Mae played for a Tilton team that was uninspiring this season, but he showed a lot of potential. He has size (6-foot-8), strength, and skill, and I think he could really excel in a more well-oiled machine with quicker decision-making. D1's should take a shot at him.   Under-recruited gem: 1) [player_tooltip player_id='2341436' first='Evan' last='Mitchner Jr.'] 2) [player_tooltip player_id='1411408' first='Jordan' last='Ghee'] 3) [player_tooltip player_id='1384646' first='Brayden' last='Harris']   I continue to be shocked by Mitchner Jr.'s lack of recruitment. I don't know if or how many scholarship programs are interested, but the fact that he doesn't have recent offers is utterly insane to me. Perhaps it's because he's only 6-foot-3 and isn't the most athletically gifted, but the senior guard always gets the job done. He can score from all three levels and is so smart with his decision-making, and even though he doesn't make flashy passes, he gets the ball to where it needs to go. He's a division 1 player in my opinion.   I'm also confused about Ghee's lack of mid-major recruitment. He's 6-foot-5 and long, he can shoot the ball from three and the mid range, and he has great pace and patience in the paint. To me, he's built for the mid-major level and would really thrive there, but he only has one posted offer from NJIT. Harris' recruitment picked up as the prep season went on, but still not as much as it should've (in my opinion). The senior is 6-foot-6 and a phenomenal scorer with the ball in his hands. He has great shooting ability, athleticism, and handle, and he's only going to continue to get better. I think he could be great at UC Riverside right away next season.   Deep-cut stud: 1) Zion Williams 2) Parris Moses 3) [player_tooltip player_id='2568392' first='Jayse' last='Johnson']   Williams wasn't part of Phillips Andover's big three of Clanton, Hailey, and Edmonds, but he was still a very important player for them and probably could've excelled a lot more with increased opportunities. He's a much better shooter than people realize, but I'm also extremely impressed with his takes to the rim and finishing ability through contact. He's big, athletic, strong, and skilled, and I think some scholarship schools should be interested, though he might end up at the D3 level.   Moses, like Williams, just doesn't get as many offensive opportunities as he could because of the players he plays with. But whenever he looks to be aggressive and get downhill with the rock, I'm always impressed with his center of gravity and finishing touch off the glass with both hands. He isn't a freak athlete, but he's super skilled and cerebral. Johnson is one of my favorite players in the region and always surprises me with what he's able to do on the floor despite his lack of size. He has amazing passing instincts and quickness, so he can always puncture the paint and make smart decisions from there. He'll get a lot more opportunities to play next season, so I'm excited to see what he can do.

The NEPSAC season has come to an end, and I got a chance to watch tons of games throughout the year. Over the next few days, I'll be rolling out my end-of-season superlatives, aimed at giving various players from a wide array of classes and teams some love for their performances this season. Each award will have a first, second, and third place.