2022 HockomockSports Boys Basketball Awards

Taunton senior Trent Santos has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Player of the Year for the 2020-2021 season. Santos led the Hockomock League in scoring and led the Tigers to 19 wins and the program’s first outright Kelley-Rex division title. He was also voted as the Hockomock league MVP by the coaches.

“Trent had a really special senior season for the Kelley-Rex winning Tigers,” said HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan. “It’s been a while since the Hock has seen someone to put up the scoring numbers he did this season, and he did it consistently all season long despite being the focal point of opposing defenses. His ability to create his own shot made him a tough cover and the attention he demanded helped create opportunities for his teammates. It was a great three-year run for Santos and the Tigers.”

Santos earned the scoring title for the Hockomock League after pouring in 552 points this season, averaging 26.4 points per game. He shot just under 40% from three-point range and eclipsed the 40-point mark twice this season, netting a career-high 46 points against the Davenport division champion Sharon Eagles. He scored his 1,000th career point in a win on the road over New Bedford. Despite a shortened junior season due to COVID, he finished with 1,026 career points.

“Trent was our long range shooter,” said Taunton head coach Charlie Dacey. “His shooting space the floor for others, making the entire team more productive.”

He also shot 44.6% from two-point range this season and just under 80% from the free throw line. He hauled in over five rebounds per game and dished out 4.3 assists. Behind his firepower, Taunton clinched its second straight Kelley-Rex division title and its first-ever outright crown, snapping Mansfield’s lengthy reign atop the division.

Santos is the second Taunton player to win the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Player of the Year, joining Jose Mercado in 2016. He’s the eighth player from the Kelley-Rex division, joining Mansfield’s Sam Goldberg (2017), Michael Boen (2015), Rocky DeAndrade (2014), Franklin’s Sam Bohmiller (2013), and King Philip’s Jake Layman (2012).

Honorable Mention: Matt Hyland (Mansfield), Faisal Mass (Taunton)

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Matt Hyland – Mansfield – Guard
Mansfield senior Matt Hyland was a force on both ends of the court for the Hornets this season. He set a new Mansfield record for most two-point field goals in a season, doing so on 54% shooting. He led the team in scoring (17.3 ppg) and had one of the best individual scoring seasons with 449 points. His 166 assists were the second most for a Hornet in a season and recorded one triple-double and eight double-doubles this season. “Matt put up the best stats of any Mansfield point guard that came before him,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan. “He set the single-season record for two-point field goals in a season and his ability to pass in transition and complete passes that only his teammates could catch was magical.”
 

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Trent Santos – Taunton – Guard
Taunton senior Trent Santos capped a great three-year career with the Tigers with his best season, leading the squad to a second straight Kelley-Rex division title and the program’s first outright crown. He led the Hockomock in scoring with 26.4 points per game, the lone player over the 20-point threshold. He also averaged over 5 rebounds a game and 4.3 assists per game. He shot 37% from three-point range and scored his 1,000th career point in a win over New Bedford. “Trent was our long range shooter,” said Taunton head coach Charlie Dacey. “His shooting space the floor for others, making the entire team more productive.”
 

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Matt Baur – Sharon – Guard
Sharon junior Matt Baur did it all for the Davenport division champion Eagles this season. A great two-way player, Baur was the engine for the Eagles and led by example on both ends of the court with high energy. He led the Eagles in scoring with 15.1 points per game but his game went much deeper than just the scoring column. He averaged six rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.3 deflections, and shot over 45% from the field all while playing 30 minutes per game. “Matt works tremendously hard and has been an excellent leader for our team all year,” said Sharon head coach Andrew Ferguson. “He faced the opposition’s best defenders night in and night out and led our team in scoring and rebounding. Matt is an excellent teammate who leads by example on and off the floor.
 

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Faisal Mass – Taunton – Forward
Taunton senior Faisal Mass was a force on the hardwood this season, guiding the Tigers to a second straight Kelley-Rex title and the program’s first-ever outright division crown. Mass was a handful to deal with on both ends, he could step out and hit the three, play with his back to the basket in the post, and as a lot of defenders learned his season, he could put the ball on the floor and attack the rim. He averaged 14.3 points per game while shooting 49.3% from two-point range. He hauled in 11.2 rebounds per game (2.5 offensive) and 2.4 assists per game. “Faisal was the center of both our offense and defense,” said Taunton head coach Charlie Dacey. “His versatility allowed us tremendous flexibility on both ends of the floor.”
 

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Alex Penders – Foxboro – Forward
Foxboro junior Alex Penders built off a solid rookie campaign a year ago with another strong season for the Warriors. Similar to last season, Penders continued to get better and better as the season went on as seen by his two great playoff performances. He was one of the top scorers in the league with 16.3 points per game (on 50.5% shooting) and averaged 11.7 rebounds, a team-high 3.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. “Alex is an extremely skilled and versatile player,” said Foxboro head coach Jon Gibbs. “He scores in a variety of ways, defends multiple positions, and is invaluable to the success of our team.”
 

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Rayan Sablon – Stoughton – Guard
Stoughton junior Rayan Sablon had a breakout season for the Black Knights, emerging as one of the top players in the Hockomock. After seeing some minutes last year, and missing a couple of games to start this year, Sablon really got into a groove down the stretch and became one of the toughest players to defend in the league. His added scoring gave Stoughton a chance for a late push at the division title. He finished fourth in scoring in the regular season, averaging 18.3 points as well as 5.6 rebounds per game. “Rayan is just a pure all-around basketball player,” said Stoughton head coach Evan Taylor. “He accepted the challenge we gave him and you could always count on him to lead the way. He was an absolute nightmare for whoever had to guard him.”
 

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Tristan Herry – Taunton – Guard
Taunton senior Tristan Herry proved to be an invaluable piece for the Tigers during their history-making season. Herry handled the ball for the Tigers on offense and guarded the best opposing players, and always seemed to find a way to impact the game. Despite fighting through injury throughout the season, he found ways to make big plays, whether it was scoring or taking a charge on the defensive end. He finished with 518 points for his career, averaging 10.2 points this year on 42.8% shooting from two-point range. He averaged two charges taken a game, dished out a team-high 4.7 assists, and hauled in 5.8 rebounds per game. “Tristan was the steadying influence on the offensive end and he almost always drew the opposing team’s most productive player,” said Taunton head coach Charlie Dacey.”
 

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Henry Digiorgio – Franklin – Guard
After getting a taste of varsity basketball a year ago, Franklin sophomore Henry Digiorgio looked like a veteran for the Panthers this year. He was a handful on the offensive end with his ability to pull up from range plus the ability to take defenders on one-on-one and attack the basket. He was one of the best rebounding guards in the league this season. He had a team-high 16.1 points per game to go along with 6.1 rebounds while shooting 41% from three-point range and 85% from the free-throw line. “Hank made huge strides from his freshman to sophomore year going from a role player off the bench to a go-to scorer and one of our best rebounders,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “He also showed a huge amount of toughness coming back from a difficult injury and competing hard in the state tournament. I am really excited to see the next step in his development.”
 

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Dylan Gordon – Foxboro – Forward
Foxboro senior Dylan Gordon was once again a scoring force for the Warriors during the 2021-2022 season. Fresh off an MVP football campaign, Gordon was hard to stop once he got into a groove on the hardwood. He was third in the Hock with 18.7 points and scored 583 points in just 33 career games. He’s capable from three-point range but did a lot of his damage bullying his way to the basket with crafty finishing around the rim. He also had 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. “Dylan is an incredibly dynamic scorer,” said Foxboro head coach Jon Gibbs. “His ability to get in the lane, use his strength, and finish at the rim provided our team with countless clutch baskets this season.”
 

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Sean Vinson – Franklin – Forward
Franklin senior Sean Vinson had a breakout year for the Panthers and emerged as one of the top players in the Hockomock League. Despite playing few minutes prior to this season, Vinson was an impact player from the first tipoff of the season to the last second of the playoff game. He hurt defenses with his shooting, played solid defense night in and night out, and was a leader both on and off the court for Franklin. He finished the year with 12.6 points per game and hit on 38.5% of his three-point attempts. He was third on the team with 5.2 rebounds per game. “Sean has been one of the best leaders we have ever had at Franklin,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “Right from the start of the year, he did all he could to help his teammates feel comfortable and thrive. He really gave us a huge lift on both ends of the floor, whether it was timely buckets or giving a great effort on defense.”
 

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Connor Andrews – Stoughton – Guard
Stoughton senior Connor Andrews had another solid season for the Black Knights and was one of the top-scoring threats in the area. Coming off a breakout junior year, defenses focused on Andrews this season but he still found ways to get open and get his teammates involved. He was one of the best three-point shooters in the league and averaged 19.9 points per game, which finished second in the Hock, and hauled in 7.0 rebounds per game. “Anything he was on the court, his presence was felt,” said Stoughton head coach Evan Taylor. “Although he faced the toughest defenders, he still managed to play at a high level and be effective.”
 

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Zach Tagliamonte – Oliver Ames – Guard
Oliver Ames senior Zach Tagliamonte burst onto the scene this year and turned out to be one of the scorers in the league. In his first year on varsity, Tagliamonte showed he can really fill it up when he gets in a rhythm. He wasn’t shy to pull up from anywhere on the offensive end and when he got going, he was tough to stop. He led the Tigers with 18.3 points per game while shooting nearly 60% from two-point range. He also added 4.1 rebounds per game and 1.5 steals per game. He poured in a career-high 36 points on the road at Stoughton and he went over the 20-point mark in eight games this season. His ability to fill it up in the scoring column saw him finish fifth in the Hock.
 

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Will Laplante – King Philip – Guard
King Philip’s Will Laplante followed up a solid sophomore campaign with a strong junior season for the Warriors. Laplante garnered a lot of attention after his terrific scoring numbers last year, and despite getting a lot more attention defensively this year, he finished sixth in the Hockomock League in scoring with 17.9 points per game. He scored 22 or more points in over half (seven) of the games he played this season and continued to make life hard for opposing defenses with his outside shooting and strong finishes at the rim. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game and shot 80% from the free throw line. “Will was a key contributor for us this season,” said KP head coach Dave DeStefano. “Will’s ability to handle pressure and to score in so many different ways helped our team throughout the season.
 

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Lanse Dorcelus – Canton – Forward
There was a lot of new for the Canton Bulldogs this season, including first-year coach Eric MacKinnon, but one familiar face was veteran Lanse Dorcelus, who had his best season of his career in 2021-2022. He was the most consistent player on the offensive end for the Bulldogs and led the team in scoring with 15.6 points per game, going over 25 points on four occasions this season. He also hauled in 6.4 rebounds and came up with 1.5 steals per game for Canton, who finished with nine wins this season. “Lanse was asked to do a lot for us offensively while also being tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best player,” MacKinnon said. “When he found his rhythm from behind the arc he became a really tough matchup for teams.”
 

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Chris Hill – Mansfield – Forward
Mansfield junior Chris Hill continued to improve during the 2021-2022 season and proved again he’s one of the top players in the Hockomock League. Hill was one of the most versatile players in the league, as he could use his size to play in the post and dominate around the rim but he also had the quickness to step out and put the ball on the floor and attack. He was also one of Mansfield’s best three-point shooters, connecting on 40% from three-point range. He averaged 12.3 points (on 51% shooting), 6.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. “In one game Chris had eight steals, which is a true example of his versatility,” said Mansfield head coach Michael Vaughan. “As a three-year member of varsity, I am looking forward to Chris’ final season as he cements himself in the category of one of the greatest players to wear the uniform.”
 

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Franklin sophomore Henry Digiorgio has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Underclassman of the Year for the 2021-2022 season, the 10th year the award has been given out.

Digiorgio got his feet wet during last year’s COVID-shortened season, getting minutes as a freshman, and showed little flashes of what was to come. This year, Digiorgio was a part of the starting lineup and took over as the go-to scorer for the Panthers. He showed off his range with his three-point shooting and he attacked defenses with great confidence, finishing strong at the rim.

“Hank made huge strides from his freshman to sophomore year going from a role player off the bench to a go-to scorer and one of our best rebounders,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “He also showed a huge amount of toughness coming back from a difficult injury and competing hard in the state tournament. I am really excited to see the next step in his development.

Digiorgio was one of the top scorers in the Hockomock League and finished as Franklin’s leading scorer with 16.1 points per game. He opened the season with a career-high 27 points on the road at Canton. He went on to score over 20 points six more times, including three games in a row in February before suffering an injury against Mansfield that held him out of the final five regular season games. He shot 41% from three-point range, 85% from the free throw line, and also averaged 6.1 rebounds per game.

“We saw some glimpses when Henry played as a freshman but this year, he really took over and became one of the top players in the Hockomock League,” said HockomockSports.com Editor Ryan Lanigan. “While he could hit from range, he didn’t just settle for those looks. He really impressed with his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim, often finishing through contact. He’s also one of the best rebounding guards I’ve seen in the league in recent memory.”

Digiorgio is the third player from Taunton to win the award, joining Jay Dieterle (2016) and Chris Edgehill (2018). Other previous winners include this year’s Player of the Year Trent Santos (2019), Mansfield’s Matt Boen (2019) and Brendan Hill (2013), 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).

 

Neo Franco, Attleboro
Sophomore Neo Franco made an immediate impact in his first year on varsity with the Bombardiers. Attleboro had a lot of experienced players on the roster but Franco earned his way into the starting lineup and took over point guard duties. He did it all for the Bombardiers with 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.7 steals this season. He also improved his outside shooting, hitting over 32% of his attempts. “Neo was a consistent contributor this season both on offense and defense,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Houle. “Being our point guard and controlling the tempo of the game, he continued to improve throughout the season. Being assigned to cover the opponents’ point guard, he was always engaged on the defensive end. A very committed and hard worker, we look forward to seeing his work ethic continue to drive him to reach an even higher level in his junior year.”
 

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Henry Digiorgio, Franklin
Franklin sophomore Henry Digiorgio had a great season for the Panthers this year. He had a team-high 16.1 points per game to go along with 6.1 rebounds while shooting 41% from three-point range and 85% from the free-throw line. He earned HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year honors (see above) for his achievements this season. “Hank made huge strides from his freshman to sophomore year going from a role player off the bench to a go-to scorer and one of our best rebounders,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “He also showed a huge amount of toughness coming back from a difficult injury and competing hard in the state tournament. I am really excited to see the next step in his development.”
 

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Sean O’Leary, Franklin
There were a lot of new faces for the Panthers this season, and Franklin sophomore Sean O’Leary seized that opportunity and emerged as one of the better players in the Hockomock League. A versatile player, O’Leary can play multiple positions on the offensive end and can be a real mismatch for opposing defenses. He finished the year with 11.3 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists, shooting at a 36% clip from three-point range. “Sean was at the center of so many big plays for us this season,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “I am most impressed with his character and versatility. He has some of the best inside moves I have seen in a long time, can take opponents outside and knock down threes, and is one of the best help defenders on our team, leading our team in charges as well.”
 

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Nate Katznelson, Sharon
Sharon sophomore Nate Katznelson was a key piece for the Eagles this season. Using a strong blend of seniors, juniors, and sophomores, Sharon earned its first Davenport division title since 2014, and Katznelson was a key piece to that puzzle. At 6’5, the sophomore forward was a matchup problem for most teams with his ability to attack the rim or play in the post. He also could step out and hit the three to stretch the floor. He averaged 13.3 points on 45.5% shooting from the field as well as 5.0 rebounds. “Nate is an extremely gifted offensive player with the ability to score both inside and out,” said Sharon head coach Andrew Ferguson. “He continues to grow on the defensive end and at rebounding the basketball. We are very excited to watch Nate continue to grow over the next two seasons.”
 

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Trevor Foley, Mansfield
By the end of the season, not only was Mansfield sophomore Trevor Foley one of the best underclassmen in the Hockomock League, he was one of the best overall players regardless of grade. After a decent start, he missed a handful of games in January. By the time February rolled around, Foley was starting to dominate opponents with an efficient offensive attack. Deemed the Hornets’ “Most Improved Player,” Foley averaged 8.0 points on an impressive 60% field goal percentage, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. He averaged in double figures in the final 10 games of the season. “I’m not sure the exact moment where things changed, but Trevor gave an unreal spark that we needed in the second half of the season,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan. “Only a sophomore, we are looking forward to seeing his growth the next two seasons!”
 

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Mansfield senior Matt Hyland has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Defensive Player of the Year for 2021-2022 season, the 10th year the award has been given out. Hyland is the second Hornet to win the award following Kyle Wisnieski in 2014.

Hyland was all over the place on the defensive end of the floor and could cover all five positions. His ability to match up with different players, whether it was the quickness of a guard or the physicality of a forward down in the post made him such a valuable piece for Mansfield.

“Matt put up the best stats of any Mansfield point guard that came before him,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan. “He set the single-season record for two-point field goals in a season and his ability to pass in transition and complete passes that only his teammates could catch was magical.”

Hyland averaged 2.9 steals per game and drew 11 charges this season. He did a great job reading plays and anticipating passes, using his length to get into passing lanes to cause turnovers. Not only could he shut down opponents, but he was also there to clean up the misses as one of the best rebounders in the Hock. He was also a force on the offensive end, averaging a team-high 17.3 points (on 48% shooting), 7.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists.

“Matt did everything for the Hornets this season,” said HockomockSports.com Editor Ryan Lanigan. “He could match up at every position, and he made life very tough for whoever he was guarding. And simple passes became difficult with Hyland’s ability to read the play and jump into the passing lanes. He played a ton of minutes this year but he never slowed down.”

Hyland is the seventh player from the Kelley-Rex division to win along with Wisnieski and Franklin’s Brayden Sullivan (2020), Jalen Samuels (2019), Paul Mahon (2018), Tim Prunier (2016), and Dylan Reno (2015). Other previous winners include Foxboro’s Joe Morrison (2017), Oliver Ames’ St. Clair Ryan (2013), and Stoughton’s Marcus Middleton (2012).

 

John Baez, Sharon
Sharon senior John Baez has been a pest for opponents for the past three years and had some of his best defensive performances this season. His defense and hustle were a vital piece for the Eagles, who won their first Davenport division title since 2014. Baez played aggressive defense, constantly pressuring opposing ball handlers. He averaged 5.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.1 steals, including a season-high seven against Canton, and 1.8 deflections. “John is an outstanding on-the-ball defender who was tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top perimeter threat every game,” said Sharon head coach Andrew Ferguson. “He was also able to play passing lanes well, creating deflections and turnovers. His ability to disrupt the opposition’s offense was a spark for our defense all year long.”
 

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Tristan Herry, Taunton
Taunton senior Tristan Herry has been such a reliable option for the Tigers in each of the past three years, and this year was no different. Not only did Herry continually make key plays on the offensive end, but he was also the heart and soul of the Tigers’ defense. Whether it was locking down an opponent, diving on the floor for a loose ball, or stepping in to take a charge to change the momentum of a game, Herry was the guy for Taunton. He averaged 10.2 points this year on 42.8% shooting from two-point, averaged two charges taken a game, dished out a team-high 4.7 assists, and hauled in 5.8 rebounds per game. “Tristan was the steadying influence on the offensive end and he almost always drew the opposing team’s most productive player,” said Taunton head coach Charlie Dacey.”
 

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Ben Harvey, Franklin
Franklin junior Ben Harvey emerged as the top defensive option on the Panthers, who were once again on the of the best defensive teams in the Hockomock League. The Panthers had a host of good defensive players but Harvey’s versatility and willingness to commit to the defensive end made him stand out. He could match up with the physicality of the big men, and he was quick enough to keep up with speedy guards. He averaged 4.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. “A great leader and one of the toughest competitors I have ever coached,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “Beef is always ready to take on any challenge and do anything our team needs night to night to get the win. He does all of the little things that teammates and coaches respect that don’t always stand out in the newspaper the next day but are essential to what we do as a team.”
 

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Matt Hyland, Mansfield
Mansfield senior Matt Hyland was the energizer bunny for the Hornets this season, playing at a high level on both ends of the court while playing almost every minute of the season. He was Mansfield’s leading scorer with 17.3 points per game but was also their top defensive player, tasked with guarding some of the most talented players in the Hock and in the state. He had 2.9 steals and took 27 career charges. “Matt put up the best stats of any Mansfield point guard that came before him,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan. “He set the single-season record for two-point field goals in a season and his ability to pass in transition and complete passes that only his teammates could catch was magical.”

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Faisal Mass, Taunton
Taunton senior Faisal Mass was the guardian of the post for the Tigers’ defense, using his size and speed to deny opponents as they tried to attack the basket. As he did on the offense end, he could step out and play on the perimeter on the defensive end and he was one of the best post defenders and rebounders in the Hockomock League. He averaged 14.3 points per game while shooting 49.3% from two-point range. He hauled in 11.2 rebounds per game (2.5 offensive) and 2.4 assists per game. “Faisal was the center of both our offense and defense,” said Taunton head coach Charlie Dacey. “His versatility allowed us tremendous flexibility on both ends of the floor.”
 

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Coach of the Year – CJ Neely, Franklin

Franklin head coach CJ Neely has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Coach of the Year for the 2021-2022 season. It’s the first time Neely has been honored with this award.

Neely guided a young and inexperienced group to a terrific season, posting a 21-4 record with the second-best offense in the league (64.3 points per game) and second-best defense (48.8 points allowed per game) in the Hockomock. Coming into the season, Neely had to replace his entire starting lineup last season and a total of 123 career points among all returners. He started three sophomores, a junior, and one senior and battled through a difficult schedule. Franklin’s only losses came to Kelley-Rex division champs Taunton (the Panthers were the only Hock team to beat the Tigers this season), twice to rival Mansfield (who reached the D2 Elite 8), and Catholic Memorial (D1 Elite Eight) in overtime.

“After graduating a good chunk of the roster, the Panthers didn’t have much experience and there were a lot of questions about what kind of team they would be this season,” said HockomockSports.com Editor Ryan Lanigan. “But just like every other year since CJ took over at Franklin, the Panthers were one of the top teams in the Hock, entering every game incredibly prepared. You can always count on CJ’s teams to be hard-working and this year was no different. By the end of the season, they were a well-oiled machine.”

Neely is the second Franklin coach to win the award, joining Dean O’Connor in 2012, the first year the award was given out. It also marks the first time two different coaches from the same program have earned this honor. Previous winners include Taunton’s Charlie Dacey (2020, 2014), Mansfield’s Mike Vaughan (2018, 2015, 2013), North Attleboro’s Sean Mulkerrins (2017), and Oliver Ames’ Don Byron (2016).

Honorable Mentions: Mike Vaughan (Mansfield), Charlie Dacey (Taunton), Andrew Ferguson (Sharon)

 

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