2026–27 NEC Top 10 Players: Lemelman, Allette and the New Transfer Class

2026-10-20

The 2026–27 Northeast Conference has a fascinating player-of-the-year question: is the safest pick a returning offensive engine, or one of LIU's former high-major guards adjusting to a new role? MMH sides with Jake Lemelman, but the gap is small. The league's official preseason All-NEC list includes Lemelman, Vasean Allette, Daquan Davis, Jahki Howard and Tennessee Rainwater. Our list goes beyond those five to include four other programs and a possible breakout in New Haven.

These are MMH editorial preseason rankings, not our game model's player projections. Transfers' last-season statistics are attributed to their prior schools and, when necessary, to an earlier season; lower-division statistics are not treated as directly interchangeable with NEC scoring averages.

1. Jake Lemelman — Mercyhurst

G | Jr. | 6-2

The most dependable known NEC scoring profile in the league. Lemelman generated 475 points in 34 games during 2025–26 and handed out 104 assists. His combination of shot-making, ball movement and late-clock options gives Mercyhurst a clear identity. Opponents can plan for him, but they still must account for his ability to run a complete offense. Tennessee Rainwater gives him another finishing target and should prevent defenses from spending every possession sending help toward his side. MMH preseason Player of the Year. Official bio

2. Vasean Allette — LIU

G | Sr. | 6-2

Allette has been a productive scorer and distributor at a higher level, averaging 11.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists at TCU in 2024–25. His advantage isn't simply athleticism: he can attack a rotating defense and make teammates better when he draws an extra defender. The question is whether LIU can preserve a clear ballhandling hierarchy alongside Davis. If so, Allette could be the conference's most difficult individual cover. NEC preseason selection

3. Daquan Davis — LIU

G | R-So. | 6-1

Davis averaged 8.8 points as a Florida State freshman, then had an injury-disrupted stop at Providence. That makes current availability and rust real variables, not details to ignore. Healthy, he supplies speed and shot creation that can turn LIU's transition defense into points. In the half court, he should benefit from Allette drawing attention and Howard finishing along the baseline. His ceiling is higher than a simple projection based on last season's limited sample would suggest. NEC roster introduction

4. Tennessee Rainwater — Mercyhurst

G/F | Sr. | 6-7

Rainwater played an increasingly important role for Le Moyne last season and averaged 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists overall. He converted 58 percent of his field goals and 21 of 42 three-point attempts. The three-point percentage comes from a modest sample, but the underlying fit with Lemelman is strong: Rainwater can slip behind help defenders, finish above the rim and punish late rotations. He is one of the transfers most capable of changing the top of the standings. Mercyhurst bio

5. Jahki Howard — LIU

F | Jr. | 6-7

Howard's prior minutes at Auburn and Utah were limited relative to his recruiting reputation. He is therefore a high-upside projection rather than an already established NEC star. What makes his ranking defensible is the role available: LIU needs vertical finishing, perimeter length and versatile defense around two new creators. Howard can provide all three without requiring a play call each trip. He is also the player whose upside could turn LIU from a regular-season favorite into a team genuinely difficult to match in March. LIU roster

6. Raphel Laurent — Central Connecticut

G | Jr. | 6-3

Laurent scored 22.4 points per game at UMass Boston, a Division III program, and now steps into a CCSU offense missing its top four scorers. The leap in competition is the main caution; that scoring mark is not an NEC projection. But a coach who has won at Central Connecticut will welcome a player comfortable attacking closeouts and getting to the rim. A productive partnership with Jhace Johnson could push Laurent toward all-conference consideration sooner than expected. NEC preview

7. David Jevtic — FDU

F | So. | 6-8

Jevtic is the most convincing returning development candidate outside the top two teams. The 2025–26 NEC Rookie of the Year averaged 6.5 points and 3.3 rebounds as a freshman and grew into the league's physicality over the season. FDU wants to play more decisively, which could mean more touches for a forward able to move the ball and finish inside. The ranking is a bet on a sophomore leap, not on last season's raw totals alone. FDU roster release

8. Jayden Teat — Le Moyne

G | R-Jr. | 6-2

Teat arrives after stops at Utah and Sacramento State to take a prominent role in Nate Champion's rebuilt backcourt. He has the ball skills and experience to organize Le Moyne's offense while giving newcomer Damien King chances to attack without creating everything himself. The important unknown is role efficiency; a new guard's production shouldn't be inferred from the opportunities he might receive. We rank Teat here because his decision-making could be the difference between a third-place contender and a frustrating 8–8 season. Le Moyne roster

9. Kheni Briggs — New Haven

G | Gr. | 6-3

Briggs's 29-point performance against Saint Francis demonstrates an ability to create a scoring burst, but one game does not make a season-long scoring projection. New Haven returns most of its first NEC roster and will need its veterans to create more efficient possessions after averaging 64.9 points per game. Briggs has an unusually important job on an MMH sleeper pick: turn good defensive stretches into just enough offense to steal close games. New Haven roster · Sleeper analysis

10. Cam Estevez — Wagner

G | Sr. | 6-4

Estevez brings three seasons of Rhode Island and Fairfield experience. He averaged 3.6 points in 20 games at Fairfield in 2025–26 but had a larger role at Rhode Island the previous year, averaging 5.8 points and shooting effectively from outside. Wagner is rebuilding and needs a veteran capable of keeping the lane open for drives and post entries. His ranking anticipates increased responsibility, not a claim that last season's production alone warranted top-ten status. Wagner official bio

Just outside the ten

Jhace Johnson (CCSU) may be the most important organizer on any non-favorite; William Patterson Jr. (Wagner) has uncommon size; Teshaun Steele (New Haven) has a strong case to become a more important all-around contributor after his all-rookie campaign; Matt Bewley (LIU) has a recruiting pedigree that will matter only when it translates to consistent minutes; and Will Batchelder (Stonehill) could quickly become his team's most reliable perimeter scorer. Their cases are very different, and the list will change once the season produces actual NEC evidence.

MMH preseason choice: Jake Lemelman. The league's top player may ultimately wear LIU colors, but established creation and a clear returning role break the tie in October.

Editorial ranking as of October 20, 2026. Prior-season statistics refer to the named previous school and season. This article does not publish proprietary recruiting-service data.