No Days Off Training College Prospects
Steven Johnston is an independent player development coach and founder of No Days Off Training LLC (aka NODAT Training). Purpose of NODAT is to provide comprehensive, high-quality basketball training that merges physical skill enhancement with holistic practices that nurture mindfulness, resilience, and a balanced lifestyle. They seek to cultivate an environment that inspires our athletes to unlock their full potential, fostering leadership, teamwork, and discipline, which they can carry with them on the court, at home, in school, and into their future careers. For more information on their services, visit www.nodattraining.com. For the athletes listed below, Coach Johnston has been able to help their development on their own individual journeys. What he is most proud of is how these athletes play the game and the young men that they are.
DJ Biggins (2026) 6’1 Point Guard, Kingswood Oxford (CT) – Biggins is a great lead guard, not only you can trust him with the ball but off the ball as well. Has the build of what you need as a leader for your team. Has great vision and understands how to play the right way. Has a great shot and handle along with being a very solid on ball defender. As he continues to get stronger and more athletic, can see his game go to another level. He also can finish with either hand very well around the rim (He’s a lefty). He picked up his first offer from Holy Cross. He is projected as a Mid Major/High Major guard.
Elijah Avery-Turner (2026) 6’4 Combo Guard, MacDuffie School (MA) – Avery-Turner has been a very under the radar athlete. Due to taking the back seat to older athletes for the betterment of the team, he hasn’t able to show his full potential. With going to MacDuffie School, he will likely show that he’s a scholarship combo guard. He’s got great pace with the ball and being 6’4 and about 200lbs he can’t be moved easily. His biggest stride has been in improving his shot, and he needs to continue to make it a strength. Once he shows his game at a higher level in the NEPSAC, scholarship schools will likely come. He is projected as a Low Major/Mid Major combo guard.
Preston Fowler (2025) 6’8 Forward, Brewster Academy (NH) – (James Madison University commit) Fowler has blown up on the scene, which was only a matter of time. He’s a gym rat, working out and hungry to compete. That’s his biggest super-power. He also is arguably one of the best/most efficient shooters in the New England region, if not the country. He wants to guard the best players on the court, rebounds well. A very good prospect for any school looking to add a forward who can stretch the floor. Once he takes his body and ball handling to another level, the sky is the limit. He has the potential to become a pro player down the road.
Badara Diakite (2025) 6’10 Forward, South Kent School (CT) – NoDat started training Diakite 6 months in from moving to the United States. They are so high on his abilities on the court, and he’s such a great young man off of it. His instincts and mind you can’t teach. He has a solid game overall. He has an improved jumper, an improved handle, showed this year at South Kent being able to guard multiple positions, he can be a very valuable asset for a school. Once he builds his body, makes quicker decisions and sures up his left hand, Diakite has the potential to be an impact player at the next level. He is projected as a Mid Major/High Major and a likely becoming a pro player down the road.
David Melson (2025) 6’5 Wing, Cushing Academy (MA) – (Hamilton College commit) David Melson is just a work horse. That’s the best way to describe him. He lives in the weight room, changed his body while in the CIAC. When he transferred to Cushing he was ready to compete. With the roster composition this year he should have a bigger role. He’s a known shooter but has worked on his game where he has an improved handle to be able to create his own shot and show he can take contact with the best of them at the rim! His competitive drive will help be something that colleges really like as well.
Jayden Reid (2025) 6’10 Forward, Westminster (CT) - (Quinnipiac University commit) Reid has an incredibly high ceiling! NoDat just started to be a part of his journey, and now he has the potential to a solid stretch 4. He has a lot to catch up on skill wise if he wants to evolve to outside of that position (mainly his body and ball handling/footwork), but his athletic ability and shot definitely catch your eye. A very smart, well-spoken kid who will fit in with any group. When he gets stronger and develops his ball handling and footwork, it can be very scary.
Brendan Bartley (2025) 6’3 Combo Guard, Greens Farms Academy (CT) – Bartley has had an interesting journey. At his previous schools, he never got the opportunity he deserved. NoDat suggested to him to go to the NEPSAC. He did, and there and he has started to bloom. He plays AAU with Riverside Select and he has progressed immensely. He’s showing he can handle it, he’s strong physical guard and can shoot it very well. Once he shows more his senior year, I know his goal of playing college basketball will happen. He is projected as a high academic D3.
Krish Dodani (2028) 5’9 Point Guard, Greens Farms Academy (CT) – Dodani is attending GFA this fall and has been working out with the older hoopers and holding his own. Has improved his jumper and great touch around the rim. Very athletic for his height, laterally and vertically. He is obviously early in his development but NODaT can see him down the road as a high academic D3 with potential to be scholarship at a D2 or Low Major/Ivy League.
Krystian Gaston (2027) 6’2 Combo Guard, King School (CT) – Gaston has been with NODAT since 2nd grade. Seeing his growth has been an honor. He’s a athletic 6’2 and has a high ceiling. Solid finisher around the rim, great on ball defender and has a great mind for the game. He needs to continue to build his body and get stronger and be more consistent with his 3 point shot and he’s a scholarship level without a doubt. He is projected a high academic D3 with potential to a D2/Low Major/Ivy League.
Rashawn Tibby (2025) 6’9 Forward, South Kent School (CT) – Tibby has the makings to be a really good forward/wing at the next level. He uses his length extremely well on the defensive end and has an excellent mid-range shot. In his first year at South Kent, he showed flashes of what he can do on both ends. He needs to continue to build on that momentum going into this last live period playing AAU with BABC and South Kent this fall. As he continues to work on his body and shot he can really move up with his recruiting. He is projected as a Low Major/Mid Major player.
Tyler Newsom (2027) 6’4 Combo Guard, St. Lukes School (CT) – Newsom is another CIAC player that was under the radar and hopefully with the move to a NEPSAC school, he’ll get some shine. He is a very good shooter and pretty athletic player. He’s very good on ball and does a solid job rebounding for his position. He continues to get stronger and improve his ball handle ability he definitely has scholarship potential. Its early in his development but is projected as a Low Major/Mid Major/Ivy League player.
Jack Stevens (2027) 5’11 Point Guard, Choate Rosemary Hall (CT) – Stevens recently started working with NoDat, and they really like what they see. He has the ability to create his own shot in the mid-range and has great vision. Transferring from Brunswick to post grad-loaded Choate will be a jump that will only benefit and elevate his game. He needs to get stronger and become a better defender (which will come with time) but overall, he is super skilled. Early in his development, but he projects as a high academic D3, with the potential to get to that scholarship level of play.
Seamus Cleary (2026) 6’4 Wing, Suffield Academy (CT) – Cleary is another athlete who just started working out with NODAT. He’s very big and strong for his position. The potential to be a lock down defender is there because of the size and athleticism. He’s a very strong finisher around the rim. He needs to continue to improve his handle (pace with ball) and jumper. He is projected to be a high academic D3 with potential to be a D2/Low Major.
London Jemison (2025) 6’9 Wing, St. Thomas More (CT) – Jemison has exploded onto the national scene. His combination of being a fluid athlete with a smooth handle and a knock down shot is the definition of what NBA teams look for in a potential pick. He can play off the ball, on the ball and does a good job of both. Once he gets stronger and shows that dog on the defensive end, Johnston wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t in the draft in the next couple of years.
Parrish Edmond Jr. (2026) 6’6 Wing, Putnam Science (CT) – NoDat hasn’t yet worked with Parrish, but Coach Johnston felt that he needed to be on this list. SUPER athletic, does a great job moving without the ball. He needs to get stronger and get a better handle and he can go from the Low Major/Mid Major to a High Major. But with being only a 2026, he has the time to make that happen.