HoopWise from New England Basketball Journal

2026 NEPSAC Girls Championship Recap

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller recap NEPSAC girls basketball Super Sunday at Nobles with guest Chloe Patel, covering multiple championship games and key takeaways. In Class A, Sacred Heart beat four-time defending champion Loomis Chaffee 53-46 for its first title. In AA, Darrow won its first AA championship in its second season at the level, defeating defending champ Worcester Academy 55-40 behind an early lead and aggressive guard play. They also discuss Hamden Hall’s 55-47 win over top-seed KUA in Class B Small, Berkshire’s dramatic Class B Large overtime win over Lawrence Academy (61-57), and Hoosac’s 39-37 AAA title over New Hampton.
Topics
02:31 Class A Sacred Heart Upset
06:01 Class AA Darrow Breakthrough
10:40 NEPSAC vs. MIAA Takeaways
12:43 Class B Hamden Hall Stunner
16:05 Hamden Hall Repeat
16:32 Berkshire Comeback Classic
18:03 Overtime Heroes and Injury Scare
18:56 Trust Your Teammate
20:36 Lawrence Academy Future
21:56 Berkshire Title Drought Ends
22:18 AAA Rock Fight Finale
23:38 Unsung Stars Step Up
25:50 Changing of the Guard
28:39 Super Sunday Community
30:03 Season Wrap and Next Stops

2026 NEPSAC Boys Championship Recap

Ethan Fuller and Steve Hewitt recap the NEPSAC boys postseason with guest Matt Doherty. They discuss B Small champion Holderness’ 74–52 win over top-seeded Kingswood Oxford and St. Mark’s 70–58 title over Canterbury. Hotchkiss beat Phillips Andover 66–54 after a late spurt. In AA, unbeaten Cushing won 64–55 over Cheshire, while Newman dominated AAA with a 101–68 win over Hoosac, and the hosts note broader postseason and national tournament implications.
 
Topics
02:03 NEPSAC Postseason Overview
02:26 B Small Final Holderness Wins
03:57 Holderness Keys and Standouts
09:14 B Large Final St Marks Rally
10:54 St Marks Run and MVP
15:38 Class A Final Hotchkiss Surge
18:11 Breakout Players to Watch
21:01 Why NEPSAC Pops
23:45 Cushing vs Cheshire Classic
27:32 Undefeated AA Legacy
31:38 Newman AAA Blowout
32:53 Three-Point Barrage
36:55 National Title Mindset
38:36 John Carroll Coaching Tree
39:39 Weekend Wrap

NEPSAC boys quarterfinals: Initial reaction

Steve Hewitt joins Ethan Fuller with takeaways from the quarterfinal round of the NEPSAC boys basketball playoffs on Wednesday, March 4.

NEPSAC girls quarterfinals: Initial reaction

Ethan Fuller joins Steve Hewitt with takeaways from the quarterfinal round of the NEPSAC girls basketball playoffs on Wednesday, March 4.

NEPSAC girls playoffs: Brackets, teams and analysis

This episode is hosted by Ethan Fuller and Steve Hewitt and includes a rapid-fire breakdown of the NEPSAC girls' basketball brackets released on Sunday night. Steve and Ethan examine Class AAA, AA, A, B large and B small.

NEPSAC boys playoffs: Brackets, teams and analysis

This episode is hosted by Ethan Fuller and Steve Hewitt and includes a rapid-fire breakdown of the NEPSAC boys' basketball brackets released on a Sunday night. Steve and Ethan examine Class AAA, AA, A, B large and B small.

MIAA Boys 2026 State Tournament Preview

than Fuller and Steve Hewitt review the 2026 MIAA boys basketball tournament brackets with guest Mukala Kabongo, who attended games daily all season. They break down all five divisions, discussing top seeds, key players, matchups, sleepers, and predicting the final fours and champions. 
Topics
03:20 Division 5 Breakdown
09:41 Division 4 Contenders
17:43 Division 3 "Team of Destiny"
28:55 Division 2 Heavyweights
38:02 Mansfield vs. Holland Tech
39:19 Final Four Predictions
39:59 Dangerous Lower Seeds
41:13 Division 1 Seed Rundown
43:11 Newton North Dark Horse
46:56 Attleboro and Brockton Watch
48:00 Central vs. Andover Breakdown
50:45 Bracket Sleepers and Matchups
01:01:03 Panel Wrap and Bracket Talk
01:03:32 "Full-Court Press" Segment
01:04:00 Favorite Broadcasters
01:07:02 Next NBA Franchise City
01:10:47 Most Memorable Dunks

MIAA Girls 2026 State Tournament Preview — The HoopWise Podcast

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller are joined by Trevor Hass of the Boston Globe to preview the MIAA girls state tournament, division-by-division from D-5 to D-1, discussing bracket takeaways, seeding/power ranking impacts, favorites, and upset picks. They name “players to watch,” then finish with fun "Full-Court Press" questions.
Topics
01:50 Tournament Preview Setup
03:39 Big-Picture Takeaways
06:23 Division 5 Breakdown
10:10 Division 4 Upsets
14:59 Division 3 Chaos
23:58 Division 2 Loaded Field
32:23 Medfield Shooting Story
34:12 How Medfield Could Lose
37:12 Division 1 Seeds
38:00 Early Upsets and Matchups
39:00 Final Four Picks
42:47 Wachusett Star Breakdown
45:23 Worcester South Defense
48:43 Natick's Tough Draw
49:30 Ten Players to Watch
52:37 Full-Court Press Q and A
01:06:58 Final Wrap and Farewell

CATS Academy's Cary Herer previews Nike EYBL Scholastic Showcase in Boston

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller sit down with Cary Herer, the head coach and director of basketball operations at CATS Academy Boston. They discuss the excitement around the upcoming EYBL Scholastic Boston Showcase, set to take place from Feb. 13-15 at Curry College, featuring top national high school programs. Coach Herer shares insights on CATS Academy’s transition to the EYBL Scholastic circuit, the rigorous travel and preparation involved, the high-level competition, and the evolving landscape of college recruitment influenced by the transfer portal. Additionally, they dive into the development of CATS Academy's players, the importance of international recruitment, and the challenges and strategies behind building a top-tier basketball program. The episode concludes with a fun segment of "Full-Court Press," where the panel picks ideal NBA players and coaches for crucial game moments.

NEPSAC Playoff Forecast

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller dive into the current New England Prep School Athletic Council playoff races across various classes for both boys and girls basketball. They discuss key teams, players and recent developments affecting the standings and playoff scenarios. Following the basketball updates, the hosts participate in a thrilling trivia contest focused on New England Patriots Super Bowl heroes, covering memorable moments and key players from the team's championship victories. This episode provides a comprehensive look at the high school basketball scene in New England while also celebrating the most successful era in Patriots history.
Topics00:26 NEPSAC Postseason Preview01:31 Super Sunday and Venue Discussion02:10 Class AA Boys Basketball Overview02:32 Bridgton Academy's Remarkable Season07:41 Girls AAA Basketball Insights09:36 Class AA Boys Basketball Contenders14:14 Class AA Girls Basketball Analysis17:07 Class A Boys Basketball Chaos22:36 Class A Girls Basketball Standings26:26 Class B Boys Basketball Highlights28:13 Shoutout to Brooks and Kenya Jones29:16 Emerging Teams in Class B29:59 Class B Small Highlights31:41 Class B Large and Small Playoff Contenders37:17 New Teams in the Playoff Mix40:01 Patriots Super Bowl Trivia