HoopWise from New England Basketball Journal

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

MIAA Girls Midseason Report

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller dive in to the state of MIAA girls basketball amid a snowy Boston winter. The discussion spans top teams including undefeated Medfield and Springfield Central, standout players and potential state championship contenders. They also preview the highly anticipated Comcast Tournament featuring powerhouse matchups, and they share thoughts on key surprises this season, including breakout teams Needham and Walpole. Additionally, Ethan reveals his personal journey of training for the Boston Marathon, running in support of the Dream Big charity.
Topics
01:32 MIAA Midseason Reports Overview
02:16 Top Teams in the MIAA Girls Season
02:57 Medfield's Dominance and Key Players
04:49 Springfield Central and Other Contenders
08:38 Division 1 and 2 Championship Predictions
12:50 Division 3 to 5 Insights
15:22 Surprise Teams and Coaches' Impact
17:19 Coaching and Systems: Overcoming Talent Gaps
18:01 Player of the Year Race: Midseason Contenders
19:27 Breakout Stars and Rising Prospects
21:21 Comcast Tournament Preview
23:37 February Break Basketball Excitement
26:19 Looking Ahead: State Tournament Predictions
29:01 Ethan's Boston Marathon Journey
33:25 Wrapping Up: Exciting Weeks Ahead

MIAA Boys Midseason Report

Ethan and Steve delve into the mid-season status of MIAA boys basketball. Key highlights include in-depth looks at standout programs like Malden Catholic, St. Mary's, Central Catholic, and others. The hosts also break down the competitive landscape of Division 1, 2, and 3, spotlighting top players. They additionally touch on potential dark horses and surprise teams in each division. The episode wraps up with anticipation for the upcoming Comcast tournament and other significant matchups as the season progresses.
 
Topics
01:12 Mid-Season Grind and Reflections
01:22 MIA Season Overview and Surprises
02:46 Spotlight on Malden Catholic and St. Mary's
10:08 Central Catholic's Dominance
16:27 Division One Contenders
18:56 Key Players and Teams in Division One
20:21 Division Two Overview: St. Mary's and Challengers
25:11 Division Three Contenders and Surprises
27:41 Top Players to Watch This Season
32:48 Division Four and Five Highlights
33:55 Upcoming Tournaments and Final Thoughts

Nobles Girls Coach Alex Gallagher

Ethan Fuller interviews Alex Gallagher, the head coach and athletic director at Noble and Greenough School. They discuss Gallagher's extensive experience in coaching, his achievements with Nobles’ girls basketball team, and the importance of culture, teamwork and character-building in sports. Gallagher reflects on the evolution of NEPSAC girls basketball, the increasing competitiveness, and the importance of maintaining a focus on the well-being and development of student-athletes. The episode also highlights specific players and programs that exemplify the high standards and growth within NEPSAC.
 
Topics
01:27 Interview with Alex Gallagher: Background and Achievements
02:54 Coaching Philosophy and Team Dynamics
06:25 Challenges and Growth in NEPSAC Basketball
11:08 Building Team Culture and Values
18:31 Inspiration and Learning as a Coach
24:53 Evolution of NEPSAC Girls Basketball
28:19 Coaching Stars and Rising Talent
28:58 Depth of Talent in NEPSAC
32:19 Honoring Great Players and Coaches
33:43 Challenges and Growth in NEPSAC
40:51 Future of NEPSAC and High School Basketball
48:15 Closing Remarks and Gratitude

Cheshire Academy’s Jim McCarthy

Cheshire Academy coach Jim McCarthy joins hosts Ethan Fuller and Steve Hewitt. Coach McCarthy reflects on the season's successful start and the challenges of the competitive Class AA league. He discusses the importance of team chemistry, the style of play, and key players such as John Spinoso, Justin Brown and Aidan McGuire. The conversation also covers coaching philosophies, the evolution of basketball toward positionless play, and memories from McCarthy's extensive college coaching experience. A segment of true/false questions on basketball trends, led by producer David Yas, rounds out the episode. Enjoy an in-depth look at the strategies and dynamics fueling Cheshire Academy's standout season.
 
Topics
00:42 Interview with Coach Jim McCarthy
01:01 Reflecting on the Season's Start
02:11 Team Dynamics and Style of Play
12:41 Player Highlights and Contributions
19:40 Challenges and Adjustments
26:11 Reflecting on the Importance of Film in Coaching
26:52 Memories and Lessons from College Coaching
28:13 Transition to High School Coaching
30:46 Challenges and Competitiveness in Class AA
33:48 Impact of Early Season Success on the Program
37:23 Full-Court Press: True or False Predictions
46:45 Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook

Recapping the 2025 NEPSAC season at winter break

Ethan Fuller and Steve Hewitt discuss the top prep basketball teams, players and surprising developments across different classes and leagues as the 2025 calendar year comes to a close. Key topics include standout performances, emerging talents and intriguing championship races in both boys and girls basketball. Looking ahead to 2026, the hosts are excited for potential marquee matchups and key player commitments.
Topics
00:27 Holiday Reflections and Winter Challenges
01:36 Prep Basketball Season Overview
02:47 AAA Boys Basketball Highlights
07:51 AAA Girls Basketball Highlights
12:17 AA Boys Basketball Insights
21:25 AA Girls Basketball Insights
24:26 Class A Boys Basketball Overview
25:15 Nobles' Strong Start and Key Players
26:15 Phillips Andover's Impressive Performance
28:04 Milton Academy and Other Contenders
29:40 Class A Girls Basketball Insights
32:32 Class B Boys Basketball Highlights
36:58 Class B Girls Basketball Highlights
39:56 Breakout Players to Watch
44:32 Reflecting on 2025 Highlights
47:45 Looking Forward to 2026

MIAA Boys Season Preview

Ethan Fuller and Steve Hewitt provide a comprehensive preview of the 2025-26 high school basketball season in New England. The episode covers top teams, including Central Catholic, Beverly and Bridgewater-Raynham, as well as sleeper teams and standout players to watch. The hosts discuss changes within key programs, potential breakout stars, and significant matchups, such as the Commonwealth Motors Classic. Additionally, they touch on statewide coverage expansions and provide updates on new contributors covering various states. The episode concludes with a trivia showdown featuring NCAA tournament schools and their nicknames.
Topics
00:47 Recap of Last Season and Excitement for the New Season
01:44 Changes and New Faces in MIAA Boys Basketball
03:12 Expanding Coverage Across New England
03:51 Introducing New Writers and Coverage Plans
08:46 MIAA Season Preview: Top Teams and Players to Watch
28:34 Lowell's Reloading Strategy
28:58 Top 10 Teams Breakdown
29:16 Burlington's Rising Stars
31:03 Springfield Central's Talent Pool
33:27 Newton North's New Era
34:18 Winchester's Key Players
35:23 Conference Highlights
36:25 Sleeper Teams to Watch
41:08 Promising Players to Follow
45:49 NCAA Tournament Trivia
50:23 Final Thoughts and Season Excitement

MIAA Girls Season Preview

Ethan Fuller and guest host Trevor Hass provide an in-depth preview of the upcoming basketball season in New England. They discuss top teams and players to watch in the MIAA across all divisions, share their all-time favorite players that they've covered, and reflect on memorable state championship games. The episode also includes fun trivia about basketball in movies and TV. Tune in for a comprehensive look at the basketball scene in New England, complete with rankings and expert analysis.
Topics01:04 Viral Moment Recap: What's Up, Trevor?03:06 MIAA Girls Basketball Season Preview05:04 Top Teams and Players to Watch10:35 Division 1 Contenders17:29 Division 2 Powerhouses23:06 Division 3 Breakdown27:14 Division 4 and 5 Highlights28:27 Spotlight on Top Players29:25 Patriot League Excitement30:02 Shoutouts to Standout Players31:36 Team Rankings Breakdown33:39 Reflecting on All-Time Greats43:16 Full-Court Press Trivia48:13 Season Preview and Wrap-Up

Girls Prep Preview

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller preview the upcoming girls New England prep school basketball season. They reflect on their first year covering the sport and discuss the refined strategies they're bringing into year two. The episode covers in-depth analysis and championship predictions for the NEPSAC girls' teams across different classes (AAA, AA, A, B Large, B Small, and C). Additionally, the episode features a trivia showdown between the hosts to wrap things up.
 
Topics
00:26 Reflecting on the Past Year
00:55 Previewing the Girls' Basketball Season
01:33 Insights on Team and Player Development
08:31 Class AAA Teams to Watch
09:42 Tilton: The Defending Champions
15:58 New Hampton: A Strong Contender
19:30 Other Notable AAA Teams
24:13 Class AA Overview
26:53 The Overachievers
29:33 Worcester Academy's Underrated Potential
30:17 Austin Prep: Rising Contender
32:40 Class A Championship Predictions
36:54 Class B Large and Small Breakdown
42:00 Class C Championship Pick
46:18 Full Court Press Trivia Showdown
53:47 Closing Remarks and Season Excitement