He walked in with them en masse, wearing his “Bleed Blue” T-shirt, looking like all the other members of Lancer Nation, the clever student section at Waterford High School. This was two years ago during a state tournament basketball quarterfinal at the other end of the state. Landon Peabody looked like a Lancer, sounded like a Lancer and cheered like a Lancer that night, later joining in the postgame celebratory pile with all the other Lancers.

Except he was a Whaler at the time, despite being a Waterford resident. A sophomore at the Science and Technology Magnet School and starter on the basketball team. Peabody’s attire at the aforementioned game suggested he wouldn’t be a Whaler much longer.

“I knew I wanted to go to Waterford during the middle of my sophomore year,” Peabody was saying recently. “It was because of coach (former Waterford coach Greg) Gwudz and the relationships he had with his players. It looked like they always had a fun playing. It looked like a family. I knew I belonged there. Even when (Gwudz) left, it was same feeling with coach (Bill) Bassett.”

And two successful seasons later, Peabody leaves among the most accomplished players in Waterford history, now able to add another decoration: The Day’s 2016 All-Area Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.

“Coaching him was a fantastic experience,” Bassett said. “Such a happy kid. You don’t run into many kids who have such a great passion for basketball and can still be laid back about it as well. He’s always smiling and yet when the game started, you could see the bulldog come out in him.”

Peabody, a first team Class M all-state selection, averaged 20.2 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals per game for the Lancers, who finished 18-5 and with a number of notable accomplishments this season:

They beat New London for the first time since 2007.

They set a school record for most consecutive wins, 14, going from Jan. 9 through Feb. 26 without a loss.

They also won a division title for only the second time in the last 40 years within the Eastern Connecticut Conference, tying New London. It was the first time in the 59-year history of the school that Waterford won any form of an ECC title with New London in its division.

They also won two games at the buzzer and three overall on the game’s final play.

Peabody’s production increased in proportion to the quality of competition. In some of Waterford’s most difficult games — Brien McMahon, Fitch, Norwich Free Academy, Bacon Academy, the division title game against Stonington and three games in the postseason — Peabody’s averages swelled to 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals per game.

“Landon had no problem being part of the offense,” Bassett said, “but it was also clear he was ready to take the big shot. And most of the time, he had them.”

Peabody’s pinnacle came in mid-January, raining 40 points on St. Bernard, including two 3-pointers in the last 20 seconds to complete a furious rally. Waterford trailed by 12 points with 1:09 left.

“All of a sudden, he takes over the game,” Bassett said. “And our guys started to think, ‘hey, we’re gonna do this.’ We won some incredible games this year. But it all started with St. Bernard. I mean, down 12 with 1:09 left and he just goes off.”

Peabody is headed to prep school, most likely Master’s School in Simsbury, which sent players to Division I Stony Brook, Rider and Monmouth this season. Meantime, Peabody will bounce around the halls of Waterford High as the happiest kid there.

“Everybody likes him,” teammate Mikey Buscetto said. “No matter who it is, Landon treats everybody the same.”

Peabody said, “I just like everyone to be happy. I like everyone to get along. Life’s too short to go around being mad all the time.”

m.dimauro@theday.com

The Day's 2016 All-Area Boys' Basketball Team

Player of the Year — Landon Peabody (Waterford)

Steven Fletcher (Ledyard)

Drake Gavin (Old Lyme)

Isiah McNair (Ledyard)

D. Major Roman (New London)

Eddie Volkerts (Fitch)