2025 HockomockSports Boys Basketball Awards

Franklin senior Caden Sullivan has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Player of the Year for the 2024-2025 season. Sullivan had a tremendous final season, leading the Panthers to 27 wins and their first-ever state championship. He was also named the Kelley-Rex division MVP.

“Caden was terrific from the tip in the season opener against OA all the way to his incredible performance in the Division 1 state championship game,” said HockomockSports.com Editor Ryan Lanigan. “He was the focus of opposing defenses and teams game planned for him every time but he was still able to dominate the competition. Caden had one of the best individual seasons I’ve covered across any sport.”

Sullivan led the Hockomock League in scoring throughout the regular season (21.8 ppg) and then turned it up even more in the playoffs scoring 20 or more points in all five of Franklin’s playoff games, including a 31-point performance in the state championship. Through all 28 games, he averaged 22.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 2.5 assists per game. Just this year, he scored 640 points to set a single-season scoring record for the program, including his 1,000th career point in Franklin’s playoff win over North Andover.

“Caden Sullivan played the game as fearless as anyone I have ever seen,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “His unmatched toughness, confidence, and a relentless drive powered the best offensive season in school history and made him in my opinion the most valuable player in the MIAA this season. He was there for every big play when we needed it the most and seemed to get better every night in the tournament and willed us to so many victories. His performances on the court were incredible but what truly set him apart was his selflessness and unwavering commitment to our team. As a leader, he elevated everyone around him and set a standard of intensity and belief that fueled one of the most memorable playoff runs in program history.”

Sullivan is the third straight Franklin player to win the award and fourth overall, following back-to-back wins from Sean O’Leary (2024, 2023) and Sam Bohmiller (2013).

Honorable Mention: Cole Craffey (Oliver Ames), Andrew Rivera (Milford)

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HockomockSports First Team

 

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Oliver Ames senior Cole Craffey had a dominant season after returning to play for the Tigers this winter. A strong all-around player, Craffey helped the Tigers secure the Davenport division title and make a run to the Division 2 state semifinals. When needed, Craffey could take over a game and fill up the scoring column but all season long, he showed a balanced game that really helped push the Tigers to such a successful season. He was named the Davenport division MVP and finished the year averaging 18.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. In the state tournament, he took his game to the next level and averaged over 23 points per game and 9.5 rebounds, including a career-high 33-point performance against Holyoke. He had 437 points this year and 840 career points in his three seasons playing at OA. “Cole proved to be one of the best players in the state,” said Oliver Ames head coach Eric MacKinnon. “His strength getting to the rim and shooting ability made him nearly impossible to stop. Cole’s run in the state tournament was truly impressive.”
 

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Milford senior Andrew Rivera was once again one of the top all-around players in the Hockomock League. Since he burst onto the scene as a freshman, Rivera has been Milford’s best player and the focus of opposing game plans. Despite that, he’s had plenty of success and became the first Milford male player since 2007 to score 1,000 career points. He finished this season with a team-high 18.4 points per game along with 7.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists. and 2.3 steals. Not only was he one of the top scorers, he did a great job getting his teammates involved which led the Scarlet Hawks back to the state tournament for the third straight season. “Andrew will be tough to replace,” said Milford head coach Dana Olson. “Andrew has been at the top of the Hock in scoring for two seasons. Andrew was every team’s focus defensively and still found ways to score and distribute the basketball. Andrew is arguably one of the best overall players to ever play at Milford High School.”
 
 
 

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Franklin senior Caden Sullivan put an exclamation point on a strong career with one of the best seasons in recent memory, capped with the Panthers’ first Division 1 state championship. Sullivan poured in 640 points over 28 games (22.9 points per game) and scored his 1,000th career point in the process. He also added 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 2.2 assists per game. When Franklin needed him most, he took his game to another level and averaged 27.1 points per game in the state tournament. In the state championship, he scored 11 of Franklin’s last 13 points to help close out the win and finished with 31 points in the win. He was selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Year (above) and the Kelley-Rex division MVP. “Caden Sullivan played the game as fearless as anyone I have ever seen,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “His unmatched toughness, confidence, and a relentless drive powered the best offensive season in school history and made him in my opinion the most valuable player in the MIAA this season.”
 
 

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Milford senior Gustavo Coutinho had a breakout season in his final year with the Scarlet Hawks. Coutinho played important minutes during his freshmen and sophomore seasons but an injury limited him to just a handful of games as a junior. Coutinho made up for lost time this season as not only one of the league’s top scorers but as the top rebounder in the Hock. He scored in double figures in all but one of Milford’s games this season and finished second on the team and top five in the Hock in scoring with 18.0 points per game and had double-digit rebounds in every single game, averaging a whopping 16.8 rebounds per game (including five games with 20-plus boards). His presence on the glass, on both ends, was instrumental in helping the Hawks secure a playoff spot for the third straight year and finish as the second-highest scoring team (65.2) in the Hock. “One word comes to mind when you think about Gus: relentless,” said Milford head coach Dana Olson. “Not too many players in the state put up consistent double-doubles night in and night out like Gus did. Gus will be another tough player to replace.”
 

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Attleboro junior Ladainian Rodrigues was a force on both ends of the court for the Bombardiers this season. Rodrigues was coming off a breakout season last winter and took his game to the next level this season, showing his ability to score at all three levels. He was a matchup nightmare for most teams on the offensive end and he gave the Bombardiers an advantage with his skillset defensively. He finished the season with a team-high 124 field goals made. He averaged a double-double for the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds per game and also chipped in with three assists. “He is a player who brings it to practice every day, has a great engine to compete, and is a great teammate, a consistent force both offensively and defensively,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Houle. “Our team took on the identity of players who ‘Play Hard, Play Together, and Play to Win,’ and LD does that every day in practice. I’m looking forward to his senior year and his continued growth as a player who can dominate the game.”
 
 

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HockomockSports Second Team

Nate Creedon – Mansfield – Guard
Mansfield senior Nate Creedon did it all in his final season playing for the Hornets. As the starting point guard, Creedon made a lot of key decisions and dictated how Mansfield played on offense but he was also such a vital part of how the Hornets played defense, which they did very well (only 50.6 points per game against — second best in the Hock). While Creedon was very good at getting his teammates involved and had some great passes throughout the season, he also took on a lot of scoring responsibility. He finished the season with He finished the year with 140 field goals made on 46% shooting from the floor, averaging a team-high 15.5 points per game to go along with 5.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and a team-high 1.4 steals. “Nate is a true point guard that also led our team on defense,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan. “Nate’s ability to pass and set up teammates along with his ability to score made him a valuable dual threat point guard. His final career stats placed him on an impressive list of top names in program history.”

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Connor Houle – Attleboro – Guard
Attleboro junior Connor Houle was a major reason why the Bombardiers had such a successful season, which culminated in 20 wins, the #2 seed in the D1 state tournament, and a trip to the state quarterfinals. In his second year as the starting point guard, Houle directed traffic and set up Attleboro’s offense which averaged a league-high 66.4 points per game. Houle was a key decision-maker for the Bombardiers and routinely — and selflessly — created opportunities for teammates as Attleboro had one of the most balanced scoring starting lineups in the league. He also showed he’s more than capable of scoring as well, hitting from three, battling through contact at the rim, and hitting his patented mid-range jumper. He finished the season second on the team in scoring with 14 points per game and is the best free throw shooter in the league, going 88-for-93 this season (95%). He also led the Bombardiers with 5.3 assists, added 4.0 rebounds, and took a team-high 13 charges this year. “He continues to improve in all areas of his game, using his quickness and exceptional ball handling skills he controls the pace of the game, his vision and decision-making ability make him difficult to contain,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Houle. “Connor pushed himself and his teammates daily in practice to ‘Play Hard, Play Together and Play to Win.’ I’m looking forward to seeing how he can become even more impactful for our team next year.”

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Riley Sigman – Mansfield – Guard
Mansfield senior Riley Sigman put together an impressive final season donning the Hornet green. This season was Sigman’s best yet as he took on more responsibility on both ends of the court and provided a strong scoring punch on the offensive end. He was a three-level scorer who knocked down key threes in big moments and was also creative in attacking the basket, often finishing through contact. He finished second on the team with 14.5 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game and posted a team-high 6.3 rebounds, and took a team-high 10 charges. “Riley had a solid career, placing himself among some of the highest-level players from the past in total career stats,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan. “A high-percentage shooter with the ability to slash to the rim, Riley made himself into a complete player this year. He’s also a great rebounder from the guard position, and he had a great knack for getting the ball.”

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Justin Grimaldi – Oliver Ames – Forward
Oliver Ames junior Justin Grimaldi was one of the most dangerous offensive players in the Hockomock League during the 2024-2025 season. After bursting onto the scene last year, Grimaldi picked up where he left off and showed his ability to fill up the scoring column, and he could do it in a hurry too. A sharpshooter from the perimeter, Grimaldi sank 66 three-pointers and shot 37.7% from deep this year to help the Tigers secure the Davenport division title and reach the Division 2 state semifinals. For the season, Grimaldi averaged 15.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game this season, finishing second on the team in both scoring and assists. He shot 75% from the free throw line and poured in a career-high 31 points in a win over North Attleboro. “Justin has worked hard to become one of the best scorers in the league,” said Oliver Ames head coach Eric MacKinnon. “His shooting ability is what stands out but he continues to add to his game to become a threat from all three levels on the floor.”

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Aiden Rideout – Stoughton – Forward
Stoughton junior Aiden Rideout impressed during his third year with the Black Knights, his best season yet. Rideout logged a lot of minutes for a Stoughton team that won 10 games and booked a return trip to the state tournament this winter. He was a vital piece of the offense with his ability to stretch out the defense as a shooter but his size also allowed him to battle down low and he showed the ability to finish through contact around the rim. He led Stoughton in scoring with 16.1 points and rebounding with 8.8 rebounds per game and added 3.1 assists per game. “Aiden’s work ethic in the offseason translated to making him a dominant presence on both sides of the court,” said Stoughton head coach Evan Taylor. “His ability to guard multiple positions and be a scoring threat from every spot on the court catapulted him into being one of the best players in a very talented Hockomock League.”

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HockomockSports Third Team

Anthony Alessi – Stoughton – Guard
Stoughton junior Anthony Alessi continued to be one of the top scoring threats in the Hockomock League this season. After bursting onto the scene last year as the Black Knights’ leading scorer as just a sophomore, Alessi increased his scoring output this year and demanded attention from opposing defenses. Not only is he one of the top shooters in the league, he can catch fire and really hurt teams in a small amount of time. He is one of the most dangerous scorers when he gets into a rhythm and can punish defenses from anywhere on the court. For the season, Alessi was near the top of the league in scoring with 15.1 points per game and added 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. “Anthony has been the focal point of all opposing teams’ defenses for three years and he still manages to find ways to score effectively while also getting his teammates involved,” said Stoughton head coach Evan Taylor. “Watching him mature as a player and a leader has been nothing short of amazing, it’s exactly what you expect from a great player.”

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Jake Olmstead – Franklin – Guard
Franklin senior Jake Olmstead left a lasting mark on the program in his first year starting, helping the Panthers secure their first-ever state championship. Olmstead was one of many new faces in the lineup for Franklin and really delivered on both ends of the court, emerging as the team’s second-leading scorer (10.3 points per game) and was named the HockomockSports.com Defensive Player of the Year (below). He handled point guard duties and did a nice job running the offense but was also a major source of scoring for Franklin with seven games of 15 or more points, including a career-high 31 points twice this season. He also added 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for the state champs. “Jake Olmstead was the heart of our defense and one of the toughest, most confident competitors I’ve ever coached,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “He embraced every challenge, shut down the best scorers in the state, and made winning plays night after night. His leadership, grit, and unselfishness were a driving force behind our championship run.”

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Dray Thielker – Taunton – Guard
Taunton junior Dray Thielker took on a much larger role for the Tigers this winter and thrived, emerging as one of the top scorers in the Hockomock League. With an expanded role on the team this season, Thielker almost doubled his scoring production from his sophomore year and was Taunton’s leading scorer and also finished near the top of the league with 17.9 points per game. Defenses had to account for his whereabouts at all times and he showed he could hit a three from almost anywhere over halfcourt. As the season went on, he expanded his game, attacked the rim with confidence, and was one of the best free throw shooters in the league. “Dray is the ultimate shooter,” said Taunton head coach Colbey Santos. “He worked extremely hard on scoring in different ways and his ability to attack the basket is what was his major leap from sophomore to junior year.”

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Tommy Kilroy – King Philip – Forward
King Philip senior Tommy Kilroy has been a staple in the Warriors’ lineup over the past three seasons and had the best season of his career this winter. After finishing third in scoring on the team during his sophomore and junior years, Kilroy posted a team-high 14.1 points per game this season and was a reliable playmaker on both ends of the court. He was a steady presence on the offensive end who wasn’t afraid to take the big shot but also took advantage of his size and strength to attack the basket. He was strong on the boards and his athleticism provided KP with some flexibility when it came to defensive matchups. “Tommy pushed everyone around him to be better,” said King Philip head coach Dave DeStefano. “He led by example, setting the tone at practice, demanding effort, and holding his teammates accountable in the best way possible. But what made him so special wasn’t just his ability to compete —- it was his ability to lift others up. No matter what was happening in a game, no matter how things were going, Tommy never let frustration take over. Instead, he was always the first to bring energy, the first to encourage his teammates, and the first to make sure that we stayed together as a unit.”

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Jonnie Obuchowski – North Attleboro – Forward
North Attleboro senior Jonnie Obuchowski closed out his career for the Big Red with a terrific final season. He really came on strong at the end of his junior year and that continued throughout his senior year with the Rocketeers. His length made him a tough cover with his ability to attack the rim but he could also step up and hit from deep. He finished top five in the Hockomock League in scoring with 18.0 points per game, helping the Rocketeers go from a winless season in 2024 to seven wins and a playoff appearance this winter. He finished ninth overall in career points in program history in just 61 games (838 points). This season, he also averaged 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 deflections and 2.0 steals. He went over 20 points seven times this season, punctuated by a season-high 30 points in a win over Canton. “Jonnie really put together a complete season in his final year with North Attleboro,” said HockomockSports Editor Ryan Lanigan. “Despite facing extra attention and being matched up with some of the best defenders in the league, he finished near the top of the Hock in scoring.”
 

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Taunton sophomore Seun Olaniyan has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Underclassman of the Year for the 2024-2025 season, the third Tiger to earn the honor in its 13-year existence.

Olaniyan had a breakout season and became a vital part of a Taunton team that finished third in a very competitive Kelley-Rex division, earned a trip to the state tournament, and won a playoff game. He made an impact on both sides of the ball and emerged as a top scoring threat for the Tigers. He quickly showed off his range and defenses had to make sure they knew where he was at all times. His size and strength also allowed him to successfully attack the rim.

“Seun played one of the largest roles as a starter all year and was our top defender,” said Taunton head coach Colbey Santos.

Olaniyan finished second on the Tigers with 12.9 points per game, scoring in double figures in all but five games for Taunton. He dropped a career-high 20 points in a win at home over Sharon.

“As the season went on, Seun really started to play like a seasoned veteran,” said HockomockSports Editor Ryan Lanigan. “He became a name that opposing teams had to prepare for. He played with a lot of confidence and he didn’t shy away from taking the big shot or having the ball in his hands in big moments.”

Olaniyan is the third player from Taunton to win the award, joining Trent Santos (2020) and EJ Dambreville (2015).

HockomockSports All-Underclassmen Team

Amari Campbell, Taunton
Taunton sophomore Amari Campbell impressed in his first season with the Tigers. Taunton had a lot of turnover after last season and had a lot of new faces battling for minutes this winter. Campbell became a reliable option for second-year head coach Colbey Santos. His size allowed him to match up with a variety of players on the defensive end but he really made his impact on the offensive end. He attacked the rim with confidence and was able to provide some needed scoring for the Tigers. He finished fourth on the team with 7.0 points per game but showed some real flashes, including a career-high 21-point performance against Foxboro and a 16-point game in a win over King Philip. “Amari is strong physically,” said Taunton head coach Colbey Santos. “He came on strong at the end of the season and I’m extremely excited to see his sophomore to junior year jump.”

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Matt DaSilva, Milford
Milford sophomore Matt DaSilva made an immediate impact in his first season with the Hawks. DaSilva stepped in as the starting point guard this winter and did a nice job making the offense flow. Throughout the season, you could see DaSilva’s confidence grow and he became a key contributor to Milford’s offense. He finished the year averaging 7.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game and had six games scoring in double-figures including a career-high 21 points against Burncoat, who also went to the D2 state tournament. “I am excited for Matt’s future,” said Milford head coach Dana Olson. “He is basketball 24/7. Matt flashed tremendous poise and scoring ability at times this year and will be a key piece in our success moving forward.”
 

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Teigan Jones, Sharon
Sharon sophomore Teigan Jones fit right into the Eagles rotation in his first season on varsity. He only improved as the season went on and found different ways to impact the game. He came out of the gates strong with a 14-point performance in his second-ever game and then added a career-high 15 points against the eventual state champions Franklin. He finished the season at 5.2 points per game and shot a team-high 45% from the field. He was also third on the Eagles with 4.9 rebounds per game. “Teigan stepped right in as a sophomore and made immediate contributions to our team,” said Sharon head coach Andrew Ferguson. “We think he is only beginning to scratch the surface of his immense talent and look forward to seeing the progress he makes this offseason.”

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Nirvana Monteiro, Taunton
Taunton sophomore Nirvana Monteiro became a key part of the rotation for the Tigers this spring. This year’s Taunton team featured a lot of new faces and there was a lot of change in the lineup throughout the year. Monteiro made an early impact, dropping a career-high 15 points in his very first game of the season at Attleboro. He also scored in double figures five games later with 12 points at home against Stoughton. Monteiro is one of three Taunton players to make the All-Underclassmen team, which is the most from one team in one season since these awards started. “Nirvana being an athletic wing gave us a lot of help with attacking the basket,” said Taunton head coach Colbey Santos. “He’s fearless and with offseason work on his shooting ability, it’s going to bring another added strength.”

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Seun Olaniyan, Taunton
Taunton sophomore Seun Olaniyan had a strong debut season for the Tigers, emerging as not only a top player on the team but one of the better players in the Hockomock League. He was selected as the HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year (above) and is one of three Taunton players to make the All-Underclassmen Team, which is the most from one team in one year. That shows how young Taunton was this year but as the season went on, Olaniyan really stepped up and finished the team second in scoring. Olaniyan finished second on the Tigers with 12.9 points per game, scoring in double figures in all but five games for Taunton. “Seun played one of the largest roles as a starter all year and was our top defender,” said Taunton head coach Colbey Santos.

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Franklin senior Jake Olmstead has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Defensive Player of the Year for the 2024-2025 season, the 13th year the award has been given out. Olmstead is the seventh Panther to win the award and the second consecutive following Andrew O’Neill last year.

The Panthers were by far the best defensive team in the Hockomock League this year and then proved to be the best defensive team in the state after claiming the program’s first-ever Division 1 state championship. During its playoff run, Franklin held all five opponents to 54 points or fewer: Shrewsbury (49), North Andover (54), Bridgewater-Raynham (50), Central Catholic (44), and Newton North (52). Olmstead played a crucial role in that as his size and athleticism allowed head coach CJ Neely to match up with a variety of players.

“Jake Olmstead was the heart of our defense and one of the toughest, most confident competitors I’ve ever coached,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “He embraced every challenge, shut down the best scorers in the state, and made winning plays night after night. His leadership, grit, and unselfishness were a driving force behind our championship run.”

For the entire season (28 games), Franklin allowed just 47.9 points against per game and the Panthers held their opponent under 50 points in 16 games. Olmstead helped set the tone defensively with his effort and toughness. Not only did his size bother a lot of opposing guards but he had the speed to keep up with them and his physicality made it even more difficult. He averaged 1.5 steals per game and often held opponents to under their scoring average. He finished the season averaging 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.

“Jake really had a terrific senior year because of his efforts on both ends of the court,” said HockomockSports Editor Ryan Lanigan. “Not only did he make life difficult for some of the top players in the league with his size, but then he was also Franklin’s primary ball handler and became the team’s second scoring option. He had to work constantly and he played a vital role in helping the Panthers win the league and the state championship.”

Olmstead joins O’Neill (2024) as well as former Panthers Brayden Sullivan (2020), Jalen Samuels (2019), Paul Mahon (2018), Tim Prunier (2016), and Dylan Reno (2015) as winners of this award. Mansfield’s Kyle Wisnieski (2014) and Matt Hyland (2022) are also previous winners from the Kelley-Rex division while Mansfield’s Trevor Foley (2023), Foxboro’s Joe Morrison (2017), Oliver Ames’ St. Clair Ryan (2013), and Stoughton’s Marcus Middleton (2012) are winners from the Davenport division.

HockomockSports All-Defensive Team

Nate Creedon, Mansfield
Mansfield senior Nate Creedon was a standout on both ends of the court for the Hornets during the 2024-2025 season. On top of posting a team-high 15.5 points and 5.4 assists per game, Creedon was a reliable option on the defensive end. Creedon rarely got into foul trouble — just 40 personal fouls in almost 700 minutes of game time this year — but still played aggressive defense that helped set the tone for one of the best defensive teams in the league. He was fourth on the team in rebounds and third in defensive boards (65) and posted a team-high 34 steals. “Nate is a true point guard that also led our team on defense,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan. “Nate’s ability to pass and set up teammates along with his ability to score made him a valuable dual threat point guard. His final career stats placed him on an impressive list of top names in program history.”

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Jake Olmstead, Franklin
Franklin senior Jake Olmstead got it done on both ends of the court for the Panthers, who won their first-ever state championship this winter. Olmstead stepped right into the starting point guard role and came through with some clutch performances, both offensively where he averaged 10.3 points per game, and defensively, where he was more often than not tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best player. He was selected as the HockomockSports.com Defensive Player of the Year (above). The combination of size and quickness allowed him to match up against a variety of players. In the state championship, Olmstead had a huge game on the defensive end against Newton North star Teagan Swint. “Jake Olmstead was the heart of our defense and one of the toughest, most confident competitors I’ve ever coached,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “He embraced every challenge, shut down the best scorers in the state, and made winning plays night after night. His leadership, grit, and unselfishness were a driving force behind our championship run.”

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Seun Sorinmade, Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames senior Seun Sorinmade played a crucial role in his only season playing for the Tigers. After attending prep school, Sorinmade went to his hometown high school for his final year of high school and was a key piece of the puzzle for the Davenport division champions, who also made a run to the Division 2 state semifinal. In each game, Sorinmade was tasked with guarding top players from around the Hockomock and beyond and did a nice job setting the tone for OA, who only allowed 52.5 points per game against — third lowest in the Hock. He also provided a huge boost offensively and finished the season with 10.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.4 deflections, and 1.0 steals per game. He also shot 37.3% from the three-point line and started every game for OA. “Aside from his natural ability to score, we challenged Seun to guard the opponent’s best player every game,” said Oliver Ames head coach Eric MacKinnon. “Seun was our best on-ball defender and did an outstanding job denying the ball and taking players out of rhythm. His individual defense was instrumental throughout the state tournament.”

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Tommy Kilroy, King Philip
King Philip senior Tommy Kilroy had a strong final season donning the green and gold for the Warriors, leading by example on both ends of the court. A three-year starter, Kilroy emerged as King Philip’s leading scorer this season while also helping to set the tone in KP’s man-to-man defense. The combination of size, speed, and strength allowed him to match up with a variety of players, from bigs to quicker shooters. He finished the season averaging 14.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. “Tommy pushed everyone around him to be better,” said KP head coach Dave DeStefano. “He led by example, setting the tone at practice, demanding effort, and holding his teammates accountable in the best way possible. But what made him so special wasn’t just his ability to compete—it was his ability to lift others up. No matter what was happening in a game, no matter how things were going, Tommy never let frustration take over. Instead, he was always the first to bring energy, the first to encourage his teammates, and the first to make sure that we stayed together as a unit.”

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Justice Samuels, Franklin
Franklin junior Justice Samuels played a pivotal role in helping the Panthers have an incredible season that culminated with the program’s first-ever state championship. Samuels’ presence around the rim was a game-changer. He was a reliable finisher on the offensive end (9.3 points per game) but really changed how opposing players had to play offensively with his defensive skills. His length helped him challenge shooters on the perimeter but his biggest strength was his ability to alter shots at the rim. He averaged 1.9 blocks per game altered so many more shots and forced opponents to second guess when they got near the rim. Samuels also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this winter. “Justice Samuels was one of the most impactful players on the court in many of our biggest games,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “His highlight reel shot blocking at the rim allowed our perimeter guards to really get after opponents knowing we had Justice waiting on the back line to clean everything up at the rim.”

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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 2024-2025 season; it’s the second straight year Neely has earned this award, and third total in the past four seasons.

Neely guided the Panthers to a 27-1 record, a second consecutive undefeated league season, a third straight Kelley-Rex division title, and the program’s first-ever Division 1 state championship. Franklin became the first team in 50 years to post back-to-back 16-0 league records and had one of the best defensive seasons, allowing under 48 points per game across 28 games.

“After graduating so many talented players from the 2024 team, I don’t think many people, if any, would have anticipated the season that Franklin had this year,” said HockomockSports.com Editor Ryan Lanigan. “Coach Neely still had high expectations for his team and this group bought in from the very start. They ended up becoming one of the best defensive teams we’ve seen in the Hock and played with a bit of a chip on their shoulder.”

Neely joins Mansfield’s Mike Vaughan (2018, 2015, 2013) as the only three-time winners of this award. Other preview winners include Sharon’s Andrew Ferguson (2023), Attleboro’s Mark Houle (2019), North Attleboro’s Sean Mulkerrins (2017), Oliver Ames’ Don Byron (2016), Taunton’s Charlie Dacey (2014, 2020), and Franklin’s Dean O’Connor (2012).

Honorable Mentions: Mark Houle (Attleboro), Colbey Santos (Taunton), Eric MacKinnon (Oliver Ames)

 

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