College basketball recruiting season rages on, although this weekend’s tournament is unlike any other showcase this summer. Jam packed between the multitude of AAU and EYBL events for the hopeful college hoopers, the NEPSAC Summer Showcase features high school squads. These won’t be teams that were just created mere months ago, or players donning the craziest uniform combos. It will just be players with an opportunity to play for a juggernaut list of college scouts while having the comfort of their year-round teammates and coaching staff. For the scouts always wanting to find “Team fit” in their prospects, this event brings a welcomed breath of fresh air from the individualistic style of the AAU circuit.
The showcase will feature a wide range of teams over the course of 3 days, and host over 600 college prospects. Last year the Syracuse staff attended, as didl Boston College, teams from the Big East, and full attendance from the eight Ivy League programs. While being a mainstage for Massachusetts players, the NEPSAC umbrella covers many schools from surrounding areas: New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Players from the classes of 2026-’28 are eligible to participate.
Syracuse will be one of the highest-profile basketball schools at the tournament, making it an opportune time to form strong connections with recruits. Adrian Autry and staff look to build upon their successful recruiting class in 2025, a group which featured two recruits in the ESPN Top 100 (Sadiq White and Kiyan Anthony). While Orange fans are looking for more on-court success in the Dome this year, major wins in the transfer portal and commitments have begun to restore faith in the coaching staff.
At the NEPSAC Showcase, 12 prospects have Syracuse on their lists. All of these players are at different stages of the recruiting process, with some players getting their first phone call from Syracuse this week. Logan Rodriguez (Berkshire School), Nicholas Mitrovic and Josiah Adamson (CATS Academy), TJ Allen (Darrow School), and Bentley Shelton (St. Thomas More School), all recently received that phone call. Before they become household names in the recruiting world, Syracuse wants to create a connection early. This worked successfully with the 10th nationally ranked recruiting class in 2025. But more pertinent than their batch of juniors playing this weekend, the Orange have two offered 2026 recruits playing in the showcase.
Quinn Costello (Newman School) and Imahri Wooten (Redemption Christian Academy), both ranked four-star forwards, will be choosing this winter between the Orange and other big name programs. These are two true battleground players, completely capable of winning a commitment, that can turn a solid recruiting class into one that catches people’s attention. This showcase creates an unbelievable opportunity to help sway a commitment by showing up for a New York/New England player whereas the competing schools have other priorities. Orange fans hope to be able to look back on this weekend in a few months and remember it as the time that Coach Autry dominated Boston.
