2019 HockomockSports Boys Basketball Awards

Canton senior Devin Foster has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Player of the Year for the 2018-2019 season. Foster is the second straight player from the Davenport division to receive the honor, and first player from the Davenport division to be voted Hockomock League MVP by the coaches.

“Devin had one of the most dominant individual seasons in recent memory,” said HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan. “Each and every game, he was the main focus of the defensive game plan by the opposition, and each game he found a way to succeed. His offensive performance game after game was impressive, and at times, he put the Bulldogs on his back and helped the program earn its second straight division title.”

Foster was the leading scorer in the Hockomock League, averaging 21 points per game in the regular season. He scored his 1,000th career point against Taunton and went on to finish with 1,306 career points, making him the all-time leading scorer in Canton basketball history. Along with his scoring, Foster was one of the best rebounding guards in the area, averaging 8.1 boards per game and also had 3.5 assists per game. He shot 52% from two-point range and was a 70% free throw shooter.

“Devin Foster will go down as the most accomplished Bulldog basketball player of all time,” said Canton head coach Ryan Gordy. “Most importantly Devin led our program to two league championships as the captain of both teams. He was extremely coachable, an excellent teammate, and his character is an example to all other athletes at Canton High School. There will be no replacing Devin Foster.”

Foster had some memorable performances throughout the 2018-2019 season. He scored over 30 points in three games this season, including in back-to-back wins over Milton and King Philip. He had over 25 points in 10 games this season, averaging over 26 points a game over his final six games, including two playoff games. In a road win against North Attleboro, Foster scored 29 of Canton’s 43 points, including the final 19 points of the game for the Bulldogs.

“Devin is the definition of a most valuable player, he makes everyone around him better,” said Sharon coach Andrew Ferguson. “He added something to his game every year and worked tremendously hard to get where he is today. He was the focal point of the offense and defense for Canton and led them with class and maturity.”

Foster is the first Canton player to win the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Player of the Year award. He joins last year’s winner Joe Morrison from Foxboro as players from the Davenport division to earn this recognition. Previous winners also include Mansfield’s Sam Goldberg (2017), Michael Boen (2015), and Rocky DeAndrade (2014), Taunton’s Jose Mercado (2016), Franklin’s Sam Bohmiller (2013), and King Philip’s Jake Layman (2012)

Honorable Mention: Jalen Samuels (Franklin), Brendan White (Milford)

---

Bryant Ciccio – Attleboro – Guard
Attleboro junior Bryant Ciccio was instrumental in leading the Bombardiers to their most successful season since joining the Hockomock League. Ciccio displayed an improved three-point shot and led the Bombardiers in scoring with 14.7 points per game. He also had 3.2 assists per game and was one of the top shooters from the free throw line (83%) in the Hock. “His court presence and IQ gives our team confidence in any situation,” said Attleboro coach Mark Houle. “Defensively, he continues to provide pressure on the opponents best ball handler throughout the game.”
 

---

Devin Foster – Canton – Guard
Canton senior Devin Foster capped a memorable career with his best season as a Bulldog. Foster was selected as Hockomock League MVP by the coaches and HockomockSports.com Player of the Year (above). He led the league with 21 points per game in the regular season, shooting 52% from two-point range and 33% from three-point range. He also had 8.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. “A three-time league all-star, the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,306 points, and the program’s first-ever MVP…there will be no replacing Devin Foster,” said Canton coach Ryan Gordy.
 

---

Brendan White – Milford – Forward
Milford senior Brendan White had a superb final season dawning a Scarlet Hawk uniform. White became the Hawks’ primary scorer this season and turned into one of the premier players in the Hockomock League. His ability to finish from anywhere on the court made him one of the toughest matchups. He led Milford with 18.2 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game. “Brendan was the heart and soul of our team this season, leading us in both points and rebounds,” said Milford coach Paul Seaver. “The legacy he leaves behind at Milford is one of the best in recent memory.”
 

---

Jalen Samuels – Franklin – Forward
Franklin senior Jalen Samuels had his best season in his final year for the Panthers. Samuels was a force on both ends of the court, earning HockomockSports.com Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was second on the team with 12.5 points per game while leading the Panthers with 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. He also had 3.0 assists and averaged a charge taken a game. “Jalen is the most well-rounded player I have ever coached,” said Franklin coach CJ Neely. “All throughout his time as a Franklin Panther he has filled the stat sheet in every possible way.
 

---

Qualeem Charles – Attleboro – Center
Attleboro junior Qualeem Charles was once again one of the top big men in the Hockomock League this season. He was a force in the paint, often drawing help and doubles from opposing defenses. One of his strongest traits is his distribution skills, finding open teammates for easy looks. He averaged a double-double this season, 13.8 points per game (shooting 64% from the field) and 11.2 rebounds per game. Qualeem is an excellent passer and reads double teams well, giving us a terrific inside-outside threat each game,” said Attleboro coach Mark Houle.

 

---

---

Chris Edgehill – Franklin – Guard
Franklin junior Chris Edgehill had a memorable third season on varsity for the Panthers. He led the Panthers in scoring again this season( 16.5 ppg) while hauling in five boards and dishing out four assists per game. He scored his 1,000th point this season in a win over North Andover in February. “His ability to handle pressure and score in so many different ways really helped our team throughout the season,” said Franklin coach CJ Neely. “Scoring 1,000 points in your junior year is a really special accomplishment that shows how he has had sustained success here at Franklin.”

 

---

Brandon Borde – Foxboro – Guard
Foxboro junior Brandon Borde continued his stellar career for the Warriors with a strong third season on varsity. Borde gets it done on both ends of the court, leading the Warriors in scoring while also being one of the best defensive players in the league (see below). He had a team-high 15.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.”Brandon is an extremely versatile and high-level player on both ends of the court,” said Foxboro coach Jon Gibbs. “He can defend any position and is able to create offense for us in a variety of ways.”

 

---

Dante Law – Taunton – Forward
Taunton junior Dante Law had another strong season, playing his third year on varsity for the Tigers. His length and athletic ability made him one of the toughest matchups in the league and allowed coach Charlie Dacey to use him in a variety of ways defensively. He led the Tigers in scoring this season with 14.1 points per game and was a big reason Taunton made a run to the sectional semifinals, upsetting Attleboro and Bridgewater-Raynham along the way. Dante is off the charts in terms of athleticism. He’s an excellent passer and a determined defender,” Dacey said.
 

---

Damani Scott – Mansfield – Forward
Mansfield senior Damani Scott had a strong finish to a memorable career with the Hornets. Following a tremendous playoff run last season, Scott was one of the most dynamic players in the Hock during the 2018-2019 season. He was one of the toughest players to guard one-on-one in the league. He tied for the team lead in scoring this season, averaging 13.2 points per game along with a team-best 6.5 rebounds per game and 18 total blocks. “Damani will leave a legacy of athleticism, thunderous dunks and a big-time run in the state tournament,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan.
 

---

Obinna Ugwuakazi – Stoughton – Forward
Stoughton junior Obinna Ugwuakazi made a splash in his first season with the Black Knights. Ugwuakazi made a big impact on both ends of the floor and was a big reason that the Black Knights reached the state tournament for the first time in seven years. He led the Black Knights with 14 points per game and eight rebounds per game. He had nine double-doubles this season. “Obinna proved to be a tough matchup for many opponents,” said Stoughton coach John Gallivan. “He could score at one end and block shots and rebound at the other.”

 

---

---

Tommy Dooling – Mansfield – Guard
Mansfield senior Tommy Dooling capped a successful career as a Hornet with a strong senior season. Dooling scored a team-high 343 points, tied for the team lead with 13.2 points per game. He had a team-high 39 steals and was second with 97 assists. “Tommy turned himself into a player by committing to doing it the Hornet way, by working as hard as any player in my tenure, he became a consistent and solid all-around basketball player that could log big minutes while making big plays,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan.

 

---

John Martins – Taunton – Guard
Taunton senior John Martins had a breakout final year dawning the Tiger uniform. During his last year, Martins really stepped up as a leader on and off the court for the Tigers. For the season, Martin averaged 9.4 points per game, including a career-high 30 points to lead a shorthanded Tigers team to a win over Canton. Martin helped the Tigers reach the sectional semifinals, including a terrific overtime performance in a win over rival B-R. “John possesses extraordinary drive and determination. His leadership was significant in the team’s success,” said Taunton coach Charlie Dacey.
 

---

Matt Boen – Mansfield – Guard
Mansfield sophomore Matt Boen had a terrific first season as a starter for the Hornets. In his first full year on varsity, Boen was second on the team in minutes played, and was near the top of almost every statistical category for the Hornets. He averaged 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game as a sophomore and was named HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year. “Matty was a game changer for us this year,” said Mansfield coach Mike Vaughan. “In true Boen fashion, he could score at a high percentage, defend, rebound and play multiple positions.”
 

---

Mason Houle – Attleboro – Guard/Forward
Attleboro senior Mason Houle played a vital role in leading the Bombardiers to their best season (18 wins) since joining the Hockomock League. Houle was one of the hardest working players and did everything for Attleboro; he scored in a variety of ways (11.7 points per game), was one of the top distributors (4.1 assists per game), a strong rebounder (3.4 rebounds per game), and a reliable defender. “A senior captain, Mason used his work ethic to compile a very good season,” said Attleboro coach Mark Houle. “He was an impact player and very consistent for us throughout the season.”
 

---

Bruce Saintilus – King Philip – Forward
King Philip senior Bruce Saintilus had his best year for the Warriors during the 2018-2019 season. Saintilus made an impact on both ends of the floor and was the type of player who made those around him better. He averaged 14.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game this season. “Bruce was an invaluable part of our team’s success this season,” said King Philip coach Dave DeStefano. “He is a selfless player who constantly made winning plays on both sides of the ball and seemed to always have his best performances when we needed them the most.”

 

---

Mansfield sophomore Matt Boen has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Underclassman of the Year for the 2018-2019 season, the eighth year the award has been given out.

Boen boasted a strong all-around game in his first full year on varsity. He played a vital role in helping the Hornets repeat as Kelley-Rex division champions for the seventh straight year. He impressed in many facets of the game and was at or near the top of almost every statistical category for the Hock champs.

“Matty was a clutch player as well, always hitting a big shot, or grabbing a big rebound. In three games he secured a rebound in the closing seconds followed by made free throws to secure the win,” said Mansfield coach Mike Vaughan. “I’m looking forward to coaching him over the next two seasons.”

Boen averaged 9.5 points per game but it was clear from very early in the season that he was much more than a scorer. As a sophomore, he was second in minutes played for Mansfield (729 minutes), had a team-high 115 assists (4.3 per game), was second on the team in total rebounds (147) and offensive boards (42), had 1.4 steals per game, and take a team-high nine charges. On top of that, he was the team’s most efficient shooter, hitting 51% of his shot from the floor and drained 40 three-pointers at a 43% success rate.

“Matt might not have been one of the top scorers in the Hock this season but he was one of the most well-rounded players in any grade,” said HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan. “His ability to impact a game in a variety of ways — rebounding, defense, assists — made him look like a seasoned player instead of someone in their first year playing on varsity.”

Boen is the fifth player from a Kelley-Rex school to win the award, and the second from Mansfield, joining Brendan Hill (2013). Other previous winners include Franklin’s Chris Edgehill (2018) and Jay Dieterle (2016), Canton’s Devin Foster (2016), Taunton’s EJ Dambreville (2015), and Sharon’s Jordan Mello-Klein (2014) and Brian Mukasa (2012).

Matt Boen, Mansfield – Boen was a key cog in the Mansfield machine this year, the only Hornet to start in all 27 games this year. He was one of the top two-way players in the league for any age. He averaged 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game as a sophomore.

Kevin Gallagher, Foxboro – Gallagher had a breakout season in his first year starting for the Warriors. He emerged as one of the top sharpshooters in the league and came up with some big shots throughout the year. He averaged 12.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while connecting on 78 three-pointers at a 39% success rate.

George Ladd, North Attleboro – Ladd become a key piece for the Rocketeers during his sophomore season, seemingly getting stronger and more comfortable as the season went on. His versatility on offense made him a tough cover. After scoring in double figures in five of the last six games of the year, Ladd finished averaging 7.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He shot 45% from the field and had 33 offensive rebounds.

Jordan Darling, Milford – Darling impressed in his first year with the Scarlet Hawks, staring in 18 games as a sophomore. He gave the Scarlet Hawks a post presence on both ends of the court, nearly averaging a double-double with 7.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

TJ Guy, Mansfield – Guy made an immediate impact in his first year on varsity for the Hornets. And while he was good at the start of the season, he only got better as the year went on. He appeared in all 27 games for the Hornets, averaging 10.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

---

Franklin senior Jalen Samuels has been named the HockmockSports.com Boys Basketball Defensive Player of the Year for the 2018-2019 season, the eighth year the award has been given out. Samuels was also named the HockomockSports.com First Team. It’s the second straight season a Panther has won the award.

Samuels was a force on the defensive end for the Panthers, who finished the season as the best defensive team in terms of points against (48.9 points per game) and the lone team to average under 50 points against this season. Samuels was a big reason for that because of his versatility and ability to guard every position.

“Jalen is a next level defender who has always been ready to take on the challenge of opposing team’s best players regardless of their position,” said Franklin coach CJ Neely. “He has guarded and shut down explosive wing players, dominant big men and all players in between. He led our team in blocks, charges, steals, and rebounds and is always willing to put his body on the line to dive for a loose ball to get a stop. He allows his teammates to be extremely aggressive with their pressure on the ball, knowing that Jalen will be there on the back line to clean up the mess if they get beat off the dribble.

Samuels had a team-high 2.6 steals and 1.7 blocks per game and took an average of one charge per game. His footwork allowed him to guard players along the perimeter, and his timing and IQ made him one of the toughest defenders in the post. He was also a strong rebounder, leading the Panthers with 8.4 boards per game.

“Jalen was a true difference maker on both ends of the court, but really shined on the defensive end during his senior year,” said HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief. “He did a lot of little things that you didn’t notice until he was off the court. He had some highlight reel blocks but did a lot of hard work that prevented opposing players from even getting a shot off in the first place.”

Samuels is the fourth player from Franklin to win the award and fifth player from a team in the Kelley-Rex division. He joins former Panthers Paul Mahon (2018), Tim Prunier (2016) and Dylan Reno (2015), Mansfield’s Kyle Wisniewski (2014), Foxboro’s Joe Morrison (2017), Oliver Ames’ St. Clair Ryan (2013) and Stoughton’s Marcus Middleton (2012) as recipients of this award.

Kevin Velazquez, Attleboro – Velazquez was a menace on the defensive end for the Bombardiers, which won 18 games this season. His quickness and ability to anticipate on the defensive end often led to transition baskets for Attleboro. His ability to provide energy in key situations was very beneficial for the Bombardiers.

John Martins, Taunton – Martins was relied upon on both ends of the floor for the Tigers but really improved his defensive skillset during his senior year. His quick footwork allowed him to stay in front of opponents, and he was often tasked with defending the top guards in the region and made life difficult for them.

Kyle Fitzgerald, Canton – Fitzgerald was the emotional leader for the Davenport division-winning Bulldogs this season. His energy translated to his play on the court and his dedication to the defensive end really showed throughout the year. There are not many players that are as competitive as Fitzgerald. He led the Bulldogs with 45 deflections and finished with 39 steals.

Brandon Borde, Foxboro – Borde really impressed on the offensive end this season but what went unnoticed a lot of the time was his defense. At 6’2, Borde is one of the taller guards in the league and that gives him the ability to defend almost every position. He can keep pace with quick guards or go toe-to-toe with bigger post players. He averaged 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.

Jalen Samuels, Franklin – Samuels had a terrific season, really shining on the defensive end of the court. The HockomockSports.com Defensive Player of the Year could defend any of the five positions, quick enough to guard the perimeter but also defended the tallest player at times. He averaged 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game while averaging one drawn charge per contest.

---

Coach of the Year – Mark Houle, Attleboro

Attleboro head coach Mark Houle has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Coach of the Year for the 2018-2019 season. It’s the first time that Houle has been selected for this award and the sixth time a coach from the Kelley-Rex has been selected.

Houle guided the Bombardiers to their best season since joining the Hockomock League in 2010. In fact, the 18 wins this season by Attleboro was the most since Houle’s third season at the helm when the Bombardiers went 25-1 and won the D1 State Championship in 1998. Attleboro finished second (13-3) in the Kelley-Rex division, one game behind Mansfield for first place. The season featured overtime wins over Mansfield and Franklin as well as a 5-1 record against the Davenport division. Attleboro went undefeated at home during the regular season.

“Expectations were high this season and Coach Houle helped the Bombardiers take things one game at a time and win 18 games this season,” said HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief. “The Bombardiers did what every team tries to do and that’s defend home court, going undefeated during the regular season on the hardwood at Attleboro High.”

Houle joins Mansfield’s Mike Vaughan (2018, 2015, 2013), North Attleboro’s Sean Mulkerrins (2017), Oliver Ames’ Don Byron (2016), Taunton’s Charlie Dacey (2014) and Franklin’s Dean O’Connor (2012) as winners of the award.

Honorable Mentions: Ryan Gordy (Canton), Mike Vaughan (Mansfield), Charlie Dacey (Taunton)

 

---