HoopWise from New England Basketball Journal

Recapping the 2026 NEPSAC Boys Scholastic Showcase — The HoopWise Podcast

Ethan Fuller and Steve Hewitt buckle down indoors to wrap up a non-stop three weeks of basketball coverage. Steve breaks down his major takeaways from attending both NEPSAC Boys Scholastic Showcase weekends at Worcester Academy, sharing why he believes this is the most crucial stretch on the prep basketball calendar.   The guys discuss the shifting talent landscape, a wave of new coaching faces, and how rosters are shaping up ahead of the July live period. Plus, Steve shares some incredible full-circle UMass throwbacks and a fun trivia note involving two 2008 Boston Celtics champions spotted in the gym.   Key Discussion Points The Most Important Stretch of the Year: Steve drops his "hot take" on why the NEPSAC showcases have become the most valuable evaluation and recruitment window of the prep calendar.   A Shift in Talent Dynamics: An honest look at the lack of elite, high-major national talent compared to last year. Steve notes that this year's showcase served as a massive breeding ground for prominent mid-major, low-major, Division II, and Division III programs.   Roster Overhauls & Standout Teams:  * Newman & Cushing: How these powerhouse programs are reloading after losing major senior talent.   * Mount St. Charles: Kyle Delves’ explosive athleticism and the team's blazing court pace.   * Winchendon & Masters (NY): Navigating roster turnover and Damian Mojica’s thrilling buzzer-beating dunk.   * Quick Hits: Shoutouts to undefeated showcase runs by Beaver Country Day and Rivers.

Recapping the 2026 NEPSAC Girls Scholastic Showcase

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller recap the 2026 NEPSAC Girls Scholastic Showcase at Worcester Academy, widely praised by prep and college coaches for smooth logistics, three adjacent courts, competitive games, and time efficiency. A tornado warning on Thursday forced everyone into the lobby for about an hour and led to shortened games (running clock) before the schedule largely recovered. Fuller shares weekend vignettes, including photographer Doug Leclerc’s shooting, Malia Pierre’s notable “milk and cookies” sneakers, insights from Twin Visuals and a referee, and his commuter-rail trip. They discuss what the showcase reveals about team development and recruiting, with over 120 programs attending, and outline early team takeaways, plus early thoughts on AAA contenders.   Topics 00:18 Showcase Recap and Praise 02:35 Tornado Warning Chaos 05:07 Schedule Adjustments 07:08 Weekend Vignettes 08:55 Shoes Film and Refs 11:17 Commuter Rail Adventure 12:31 Why NEPSAC Matters 13:31 Evaluation Takeaways 14:50 Recruiting Class Priorities 16:53 Why This Showcase Works 17:52 Which Colleges Attended 20:14 How Teams Were Evaluated 24:36 More Teams That Impressed 27:58 Triple A Is Loaded 29:25 Rankings Updates and Wrap-Up

Previewing the 2026 NEPSAC Boys Scholastic Showcases

Ethan Fuller and Steve Hewitt preview the upcoming NEPSAC/NESA Scholastic Showcases in June, with two boys weekends and a girls showcase in between, all at Worcester Academy. They discuss why June and July form a crucial stretch for recruiting, chemistry-building and early looks at new prep rosters amid heavy turnover and the evolving college coaching calendar, noting limited 2027 commitments. Hewitt explains how he evaluates showcase games and cautions against overvaluing team results while still gleaning projections. They highlight matchups such as Nobles vs. Exeter, Putnam Science vs. Cushing, Milton Academy vs. Hotchkiss, St. Paul’s vs. Austin Prep, and New Hampton vs. St. Thomas More, plus teams and players to watch. They note the event is typically coaches-only and draws major college coaches, and they tease extensive coverage and a new magazine release. Topics 01:03 Podcast Kickoff 01:34 June Recruiting Rush 04:08 Showcase Preview Setup 05:01 Covering the Event 08:27 Do Results Matter? 10:53 Games to Circle 16:15 Teams With Storylines 17:40 Players to Watch 22:49 Why This Showcase Matters 24:47 Worcester Logistics 25:51 Wrap-Up and Plug

Worcester Academy Coach Dan Sullivan

Ethan and Steve interview Worcester Academy girls coach Dan Sullivan, a two-time NEPSAC Class AA Girls Coach of the Year who won a Class AA title in his first season and reached the final again despite injuries and limited depth. Sullivan explains his transition after 11 years as a Worcester boys assistant, what he learned from Jamie Sullivan, and how his style adapts to roster strengths, including faster, guard-heavy play and effective late-season zone defense. He discusses differences in girls recruiting timelines, the role of AAU relationships, and the impact of the transfer portal on families’ expectations. The group previews Worcester Academy hosting three weekends of NEPSAC showcases in its new Capozzoli Athletic Center and discusses NEPSAC girls’ structural growth with AAA/AA. The episode ends with an NBA “last team played for” trivia game won by Hewitt.   Topics 01:33 Switching To Girls Coaching 02:40 Learning From Jamie Sullivan 05:30 Building Worcester Identity 06:42 Offense Defense Philosophy 09:15 Injuries And Team Resilience 10:57 Season Long View Nickerson 14:08 Recruiting Timeline Differences 16:06 AAU Network And Relationships 19:08 Hosting NEPSAC Showcases 21:39 New Athletic Center Impact 23:35 Boys Vs Girls Coaching 25:50 NEPSAC Structure Evolution 29:34 Future Of Girls NEPSAC 30:00 NEPSAC Depth Boom 30:36 Scheduling and Class Moves 31:13 Upsets and Rising Programs 32:34 Showcase Team Preview 34:01 Recruiting Through Showcases 35:12 Full Court Press Trivia 41:32 Final Score and Wrap

Recapping the 2026 Atlantic City Showcase

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller recap the Atlantic City Showcase during the May live period, discussing heavy college coach attendance, why May recruiting is picking up amid transfer-portal effects and coaching-staff turnover, and how Ethan covered the event after taking a 10-hour bus from Boston. Ethan explains his approach to large showcases — building a detailed schedule, watching full games when possible, taking notes in real time, and evaluating AAU play as a role-based, college-like environment. They promote Ethan’s 40-standout coverage and preview upcoming AAU content and a late May/early June magazine. Atlantic City Showcase, basketball, recruiting, AAU, prep basketball, New England basketball, HoopWise podcast   Topics 01:12 Heat And AAU Grind 01:51 Bus Trip Debate 04:02 Atlantic City takeaways 07:33 Ethan's scouting process 15:32 2027 standouts 19:28 2028 standouts 24:55 2029 and 2030 standouts 30:20 Final takeaways