NEPSAC boys newcomers to know: Best XI from the 2026 recruiting class

Former Rivers captain Alex Erdos is headed to NMH. (Brian Kelly/NESJ)

Here are some words we live by in the New England Soccer Journal offices: It is (almost) never too early to start our preseason scholastic coverage.

With the second edition of our Best of New England series behind us, we’re turning our attention fully to the prep and high school seasons, coverage of which will start seriously ramping up this week. We’re pumped. We hope you are too.

Before that, though, I’ve got a loose end to tie up. Over the last couple of months, my colleague Matt Doherty and I have compiled a database of the top newcomers to NEPSAC boys soccer for 2026. Now, with the recruiting window essentially over, I’m identifying the very best of those newcomers in a Best XI format.

All 11 are players poised to start and significantly contribute for some of the NEPSAC’s presumed contenders. And while this isn’t a definitive Best XI — as our database doesn’t yet include every newcomer from every school — it still provides a pretty good picture of the top names in this year’s incoming class.

One more thing. This is a loose Best XI format, the purpose being to include three forwards, three midfielders, four defenders and a goalie. Where each player appears in the graphic below is not necessarily indicative of where they’ll play in the fall.

Alright, let’s do it: