Northern Essex won the NJCAA Division III national title thanks to hard work, a strong foundation and support from all corners of the community.
The NECC Knights Men’s Basketball Team knows not to take anything for granted. Sure, they entered the National Junior College Athletic Association’s tournament as the number one seed—a college first. They had just won the program’s fourth straight NJCAA Region 21 Championship, tying the Region 21 and New England record for consecutive men’s basketball championships. And they hadn’t lost since mid-December, one of only three losses the whole season. Still, when they began tournament play, they knew they would be facing teams from schools with six times the enrollment of Northern Essex. Itwas time to put faith in each other and their talent, determination and grit.
“With the national championship, it wasn’t just about the time we put into the team. It was about how we built together,” said co-captain Cristian Moscat. “The NECC Knights, that’s family for life.”
The Knights battled through the rounds, eventually defeating Dallas College: Richland (Dallas, TX) 68-62 to claim the NJCAA DIII National Championship. The NJCAA named Alejandro Delgado (Haverhill) the National Player of the Year and head coach Darren Stratton ’93 as National Coach of the Year. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics has named NECC Athletics Director Dan Blair as a 2026 Athletic Director of the Year Award recipient.
A party to celebrate the team’s success drew alumni from across the country. Players received special framed jerseys and got a sneak peek at their championship ring design. They also honored the college’s academic coaches.
Each athlete is assigned an academic coach who helps keep them on track off the court. They often also serve as a vital resource for players, whether they need help connecting with services or professors, or balancing life outside of being a student-athlete. The value of this connection is apparent in the results: each player graduating from NECC this year has a transfer offer at a four-year school.
Free community college programs have helped students like Jay’von Depina of Brockton continue their athletic careers after high school. But it can be tough, for any student, to make ends meet with a busy schedule and the other expenses associated with college. Depina is one of two dozen students to receive the Academic Coaching Achievement Award since it was established in 2024. Now funded by the NECC Foundation, and granted based on academic accomplishments, the award shows how even small donations to the college can make a big impact.
“I used it to pay for textbooks. If I didn’t have that, I would have had to start my classes late,” Depina remarked. “It’s extra motivation to keep my grades up and stay involved.”
Depina was named the NJCAA Small Man of the Tournament. Read more about his experience in an alumnecc digital exclusive here.
