2026-27 Cheshire Academy College Prospects
Founded in 1794 as the Episcopal Academy of Connecticut, Cheshire Academy is the eleventh-oldest boarding school in the United States. It spent part of the early 20th century training young men exclusively for admission to nearby Yale University. Today the Academy enrolls roughly 360 students in grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year, drawn from about 31 countries and 19 states, on a 104-acre campus 28 miles southwest of Hartford.
The boys varsity basketball team is coached by Jim McCarthy, who also serves as the school’s Director of Athletics. McCarthy played at Hamilton College and coached at Williams, where he won a Division III national championship, before moving to the Division I level as an assistant at Yale, Northeastern, and Towson. He took over the Cats program in 2018 and became athletic director in 2021. The Cats compete in the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AA division, routinely described as one of the toughest high school conferences in the country and as the place where “college basketball prospects compete with and against other college prospects.” It has long been a fertile producer and developer of college players — and Cheshire has been among its steadiest contributors, sending alumni to all three NCAA levels and to professional leagues overseas.
The program is coming off the best season in a generation. In March 2026, the Cats reached the NEPSAC Class AA championship game before falling to top-seeded Cushing Academy (MA), 64-55. It was the deepest tournament run in program history at that level, surpassing the Class AA semifinal appearance of 2015-16 and building on the Class B title won in 2013-14. Cheshire first established itself as a regional power in the early 1990s, when Jamal Faulkner ‘90, Lee Green ‘90, and JoJo Outlaw ‘91 led the Cats to the 1990 NEPSAC Class B championship.
The team’s 2026-27 team will be featuring the players profiled below.
Charles Avallone (2027) 6’3 guard - Avallone is a strong guard who is great getting to the rim and is not afraid of physicality. Uses good footwork in the paint and is patient. Good on ball defender. Plays club ball with Level Up. 3.9 gpa Video highlights
Josh Bergeron (2027) 6’3 guard - A post grad from Lincoln High (RI)as as one of the top players in the RIIL. He has good size for the guard position, is a proven winner, and does all the little things offensively that don’t show up in a box score. He makes good decisions with the ball in his hands, can score it in the mid-range off the bounce, and is really good in catch and shoot situations from behind the arc. Defensively, he knows where to be in rotations and has the ability to guard any spot on the perimeter. Bergeron will benefit from a post-graduate year as he continues to move further away an injury. Plays club ball with Basketball Club of Rhode Island.
Chase Leonardo (2027) 6’0 guard - Leonardo shoots the cover off the basketball when his feet get set. He also makes his foul shots. He grabs rebounds. Leonardo also flashes as play maker for his teammates with his passing. Plays club ball with Team Northeast.
Lorenzo Spence (2027) 6’9 forward - Spence is a tough and physical player, who protects the rim well. He has a soft touch and is versatile on offense. Plays club ball with Crown Basketball. Excellent gpa Video highlights
Christian Zarzycki (2027) 6’3 guard (Committed to Mercyhurst University in August) - 2025-26 All NEPSAC AA Honorable Mention. From Penfield, NY, Zarzycki is a SHOOTER! He’s shooting over 50% from three on the season and hit 7 of them against Lawrence Academy. He has a super quick release and nice footwork coming off screens, but he also makes nice plays for his teammates when the help comes. He is also a clutch free thrower. Plays club ball with Valente’s Rocks Basketball. Very good gpa
Aidan Maguire (2027) 6’0 point guard - 2025-26 All NEPSAC AA. From Brooklyn, NY. Maguire has an excellent handle and is a good playmaker. He has a good feel for the game and can score. Plays club ball with New Heights AAU. Good gpa
Mike Wede (2027) 6’1 guard, Cheshire Academy (CT) - Wede is a high level shooter, especially with his movement off the ball. He gets his hands and feet organized quickly, stays balanced, and is immediately ready to fire as soon as he catches the ball. Plays club ball with Crown Basketball-MHC. 3.7 gpa Video highlights
Si’Kis Reels (2028) 6’3 wing - Reels shoots it well and is a crafty scorer. He is a versatile defender. Plays club ball for Basketball Club of Rhode Island. 3.5 gpa
To accommodate college scout visits, Cheshire Academy holds a schedule of Fall Open Gym runs, the details of which can be found by clicking here.
The team’s 2026-27 game schedule and results can be found by clicking here.