By HockomockSports.com Staff

2024-2025 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Attleboro

2023-2024 Record: 14-9
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Coach: Mark Houle

With almost its entire roster back from last year’s 14-win team that reached the playoffs, Attleboro enters this season with high expectations. The Bombardiers bring back 10 players from a year ago when they finished tied for third in the Kelley-Rex division.

Of those returners, Attleboro boasts its four leading scorers — all of whom averaged double-digits last year: LaDainian Rodrigues (14.3), Connor Houle (13.7), Hayden Crowley (13.1), and Dante Monestime (10.8). That experience and scoring punch will give Attleboro an advantage right off the bat in what should be a talented Kelley-Rex division, which features state finalists Franklin and two squads eager to make a jump this year in King Philip and Milford. Houle was named the HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year last season and was joined by Rodrigues on both the All-Underclassman and HockomockSports Third Team.

Crowley is a proven commodity from beyond the three-point line but can also fill it up in bunches when attacking the basket. His ability to stretch the floor really makes it difficult for defenses to provide any additional help on Rodrigues and Houle. Monestime provides a big, strong presence in the post and will be a major factor down low. Attleboro certainly has a handful of proven scorers so in order to take the next step, defense and rebounding will be key. If the Bombardiers can get stops, get the ball, and get out and run, it could be a very big year. Senior Emmett Hill is another returning starter who does a lot of the little things right. Brady Erwin, Neyko Raphael, Isaiah Outland, Ethan Viveiros, and Tyrone Owusu-Mensah are also returners with experience at the varsity level.

“Our transition game is a priority, sharing the ball and creating quality shots every possession,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Houle. “Our schedule will be very competitive with the always tough Hockomock League teams, and several top-level non-league games. ”

Canton

2023-2024 Record: 15-7
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16
Coach: Dan Kiser
The Bulldogs had a very good winter a year ago and reached the second round of the Division 2 tournament. But the bulk of last year’s top players are gone so second-year head coach Dan Kiser will need some new players to step up this season.

Canton graduated its top three scorers in Jeremiah Predin, Zaza Francoeur, and Jamaal McConnell — who all averaged in double figures last year. With those departures comes opportunity though. Senior Anthony Diletizia returns for his third year on varsity and is the top scorer back from last year; he averaged 7.4 points per game including eight double-digit scoring games. His play at guard along with classmate Wesley Mui will be key. Junior Chris Pirrera will look to build upon his minutes from last year and will look to use his size as an advantage in the paint. Junior Vlad Francoeur is a newcomer to keep an eye out for.

Foxboro

2023-2024 Record: 6-18
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Round of 32
Coach: Jon Gibbs

With double-digit returners, Foxboro is aiming for a big bounce-back season this winter. This year’s team boasts a lot of depth and balance so not only is a return to the Division 3 state tournament likely, the Warriors could be a contender in the Davenport division.

Head coach Jon Gibbs, who is entering his 11th season at the helm, plans to use that depth to Foxboro’s advantage as he expects to rotate in a lot of fresh bodies in throughout the game. While the Warriors graduated leading scorer Ryan Cotter, they bring back their next two leaders in senior Ryan Kelley (10.5 ppg) and junior Eric Walford (10.2 ppg). Kelley can score at all three levels and helps stretch the floor as a big with his ability to shoot from the outside. Walford had a strong sophomore season and will be a huge piece for the Warriors on both ends of the court this year. While Walford and Kelley are proven scorers, Foxboro has a number of players that can contribute offensively in any given game and it’s an unselfish group willing to make the extra pass.

Seniors Nolan Gordon and Kaden Hassett are two veteran leaders for Foxboro. Gordon was selected to the HockomockSports All-Defensive Team last year and has the ability to attack the basket on the offensive end. Hassett does a lot of the little things and will be a big contributor on the boards and on the defensive end. Overall, it’s an athletic group that gives Gibbs some flexibility on the defensive end of the floor. Junior Henry Griffin will give Foxboro a big to work with in the post and will help shore up the defense around the rim. Transfer Colin Trimble is a name to keep tabs on as a potential contributor right off the bat.

“This group is very coachable and competes hard in practice every day,” Gibbs said. “We have shown daily improvement which is exciting. If we continue to take pride in our defense and rebounding, this team can have a very successful season.”

Franklin

2023-2024 Record: 25-2 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
2023-2024 Finish: Div. 1 State Finalists
Coach: CJ Neely
Coming off a memorable run to the Division 1 state championship game, the Panthers will look to reload with a good amount of new faces this winter.

Franklin graduated the majority of its line, including five of its top six scorers from last year’s squad that went undefeated against Hockomock opponents. That has resulted in some fierce competition this preseason as new faces battle for minutes in the rotation for head coach CJ Neely, who begins his 11th season in charge at Franklin. Senior Caden Sullivan is the lone returning starter and was second on the team in scoring; Sullivan scored 20 or more points eight times last year, including a team-high 24 points in the state final. While Sullivan is one of the top offensive players in the league this year, he will draw a ton of attention from opposing defense so the support around him will be vital.

One of the other returners from last year’s rotation is junior Justice Samuels, who improved game after game last year. Samuels was an instant impact player off the bench and was very strong down low. With an expanded role this year, expect Samuels to quickly establish himself as a top player in the Hock this year. One thing that doesn’t change year in and year out for Franklin is defense. It doesn’t matter how many players they graduate, the Panthers are also one of the toughest teams to break down and their commitment to the defensive end is often what separates them from the competition.

“There are a lot of new faces anxious to get on the floor this season and prove themselves,” Neely said. “We will have consistent battles each day as guys try to earn minutes throughout the year. It will be fun to watch them grow and compete all year.”

King Philip

2023-2024 Record: 12-12
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Head Coach: Dave DeStefano
With three starters back and a roster full of players eager to earn minutes in the rotation, King Philip comes into the season with a chance to challenge for the Kelley-Rex title.

Senior guards Brandon Nicastro and Jack Assini are back in the mix along with classmate Tommy Kilroy at forward. Assini and Nicastro both had breakout junior years, emerging as crucial pieces on both ends of the court. As the two leading scores on the team, Assini (12.6 ppg) and Nicastro (12.4) played very well together and made it difficult for opposing defenses to zero in on just one of them. Kilroy is an experienced and athletic option for the Warriors and has proven over the past two seasons the ability to get it going offensively (career-high 29 points against Milford).

Seniors Drew Laplante and Ryan Higgins are two other returners who will be looking to build on their minutes from a season ago. All five of those seniors are multi-sport athletes and the Warriors will be looking to use that athleticism to their advantage on both ends of the court. Adding even more depth and leadership are seniors Andrew LePain (forward) and Ryan Evans (guard), who have both made a big jump from a season ago. The roster is rounded out by juniors Brodie McDonald, Cole Pitman, Liam McGrath, Brian Hitchen, and Matt Shore as well as sophomores Roman Assini, Donovan Rohrs, and Ryan Marrone.

“The limited practices so far have been really competitive,” said head coach Dave DeStefano. “One area that I think we are going to improve on from a year ago is the defensive end. It is no surprise that this team is athletic and if they really commit on the defensive end we are going to have a successful season. We want to make our opponents uncomfortable and focus on working together to get stops.”

Mansfield

2023-2024 Record: 21-5 (Davenport division champions)
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 quarterfinals
Coach: Mike Vaughan
After graduating its top scorers from last season, Mansfield will need some new faces to step into bigger roles this year. But this group of Hornets has plenty of experience doing that.

Senior captain Nate Creedon, now in his third season overall and second as a starter, is a great example of that after being thrown into the fire in the state championship as a sophomore. Senior captain Riley Sigman is another example after earning extended minutes last year and becoming a staple on the offensive end all season long as the Hornets battled the injury bug. Senior captain Sean McCoy is also back for another year on varsity after playing in each game a season ago. While the Hornets will lean heavily on these senior leaders, they’ll need other players to step up just like they did in the past.

Junior Justin Curtis flashed a ton of potential as a sophomore with four double-digit scoring games, including a career-high 20 points in a road win at Bridgewater-Raynham. He showed off his ability to hit from three-point range and that’s something that the Hornets will rely on all season, and not just from Curtis as this squad is full of shooters. Juniors Gabe McIntyre, Mason Bordieri, and Matas Gutauskas are all contenders for expanded roles for the Hornets this season.

“I think we can play different styles and different combinations of players,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan. “We’ll be able to spread the floor and score points in bunches, but we need to find out way defensively. I am excited to see what the season brings as we mature and find our identity as a group.”

Milford

2023-2024 Record: 10-12
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16
Coach: Dana Olson
Milford battled through an up-and-down regular season before pulling off an upset in the opening round of the tournament. The Hawks will be looking to find some consistency throughout the winter months in year two under coach Dana Olson.

The Hawks had really impressive moments through last year, which included wins over playoff teams like King Philip, Oliver Ames, Taunton, and Hopkinton, on top of a heartbreaking one-point loss at Mansfield and a very competitive game at Franklin to end the year. Senior guard Andrew Rivera will be one of the best all-around players in the Hockomock League this season, and will certainly be one of the top scorers. A three-year starter, Rivera is one of the most experienced players in the league and will likely be Milford’s first 1,000-point scorer in almost two decades. Rivera will be joined by two other talented and seasoned players in classmates Gustavo Coutinho and Luca Testa. Like Rivera, both have played at the varsity level since their freshman season. Both can get it going at any point, highlighted by Testa’s career-high 21-point performance at Mansfield and Coutinho, who had a season-high 19 points in just his second game back last year after missing the majority of the season.

Familiarity will be key between both the players (seven seniors) and with the system as this will be the second year under Olson. There is also room for opportunity for some new faces to make an impact after graduation and some other departures. Freshman Anthony Daniels (6’10) could make an immediate impact with his size for the Hawks, who also boast 6-foot-4 junior Ryan Burns. Sophomores Manny Vilbrun and Matt DaSilva are other newcomers to keep an eye on.

“The kids are locked in and practice has been going well,” Olson said. “We have a good combo of length and athleticism. Adding some good shooters will help us on the offensive end and we have good length that will help on the boards.”

North Attleboro

2023-2024 Record: 0-20
2023-2024 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Derek Smith
North Attleboro has turned the page from last year and heads into this season looking to be a competitor in the Davenport division.

The young Rocketeers battled through a challenging season but gained a ton of valuable experience. With the majority of the roster back in year two under head coach Derek Smith — who took over at the helm a week before last season started — there will be noticeable improvement from this squad. With a full offseason of preparation and a year in Smith’s system under their belts, North will be looking to make significant strides forward. Spearheading the offense is senior Jonnie Obuchowski, who enjoyed a breakout campaign a year ago. He can score at all three levels and was one of the leading scorers in the Hockomock League last year with 16.5 points per game.

After having just one senior last year, North has four on this year’s roster plus a strong junior class that mostly has experience at the varsity level already. Senior Chase Frisoli, fresh off a successful season on the gridiron, is back for his fourth year on varsity. Frisoli really hit his stride as the season went on last year, averaging 16.3 points per game in the final three contests. Seniors Sifeen Mousa and Zach Robichaud, who can be a major shooting threat, round out an experienced senior group.

Junior Jake Peckham will orchestrate the offense at point guard and gained a ton of experience last year. He’s another player for the Rocketeers who can score in bunches, hitting a career-high 25 points twice last year (against Falmouth and Taunton). His ability to get teammates involved will be key but he’s also capable of attacking the rim and isn’t afraid to take big shots. Defensively, it’s all about depth for North. Defense has been a big focal point for the Big Red going into this season as they look to improve on that end of the court. Juniors Parker Peri, Dylan Brousseau, Matt DeGirolamo, Conor Casey, and Ethan Belanger all picked up valuable experience last year and will look to contribute throughout this winter.

“I’m very excited about this group, our depth, and the options that will give us every night,” Smith said. “These kids have been in the gym working to improve since the day after last season ended, and we’re looking forward to that hard work and dedication paying off.”

Oliver Ames

2023-2024 Record: 7-15
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div 2. Round of 32
Coach: Eric MacKinnon
A quick glance at last year’s roster shows that Oliver Ames has a strong core of players set to return for this winter and the playoffs are likely. But the return of a familiar face plus the addition of a new one has the Tigers in the conversation for the Davenport title.

After earning a spot in the state tournament, the Tigers return two of their top three scorers from a year ago. Junior Justin Grimaldi had a breakout campaign to lead the Tigers in scoring (11.3 ppg) while senior Zack Ivanoski had some huge performances and finished third on the team (9.7). Add in junior Jacob Lok, entering his third year with the Tigers, and head coach Eric MacKinnon had a very good core to build around. The familiar face back in the mix is senior Cole Craffey, who led the Tigers in scoring two years ago as a sophomore. After a year away at prep school, Craffey — a 2023 HockomockSports Third Team selection — and his 403 career (MIAA) points are back to make Oliver Ames a legitimate threat in the Davenport.

Senior Ben Newton is another returning for the Tigers and should see an increased role this winter after a strong offseason. Senior Seun Sorinmade will make his debut for Oliver Ames this winter after playing at prep school for the past couple of years. Sorinmade is a good decision-maker and provides the Tigers with yet another threat from three-point range. This is a group that boasts a lot of players who can score in bunches: Grimaldi scored a career-high 28 points last year, Ivanoski had a career-high 27 points last year, and Craffey had a career-best 24-point performance as a sophomore. Add in the strong decision-making and pesky defending from Lok, and this is a team with potential for a breakout season. The challenge for the Tigers will be size, especially after the graduation of 6-foot-8 center Jefferson Smock.

“We’re working every day to build our identity and stay focused on the habits that it takes to win in this league,” MacKinnon said. “With a good core of returners from last season, players from JV who are much improved, and a couple of new additions we’re excited to take the next step in OA Basketball.”

Sharon

2023-2024 Record: 19-4
2023-2024 Finish: Div. 2 State Finalists
Coach: Andrew Ferguson
Coming off one of the best seasons in program history where the Eagles made a memorable run to the Division 2 state championship game, Sharon will pen a new chapter during the 2024-2025 season.

A move to the Kelley-Rex division will present some new challenges, and the graduation of two of the best players to ever wear a Sharon uniform — Jacob McLoughlin and 1,000-point scorer Nate Katznelson — will present even bigger hurdles. But the focus for head coach Andrew Ferguson and his staff is on the future. Jackson Rava, who will forever be remembered in Eagle lore for his winning three-pointer in the state semis against Bedford, is the lone returning starter for the Eagles. Rava had flashes of scoring through his junior year but will take on more of the workload this winter. Senior Sam Letendre enters his third year on varsity and will move into a starting role this year. One of the best rebounders in the league, Letendre is a handful to deal with in the paint, and he will be a key piece on the defensive end.

Senior Sam Nichamoff provided a big boost during Sharon’s playoff run and the Eagles will need him to carry that momentum into this winter. After that, there’s plenty of opportunity to fill out the Eagles’ lineup with over half of last year’s team gone to graduation. Seniors Nate Deraney, Rishab Kini, and Sebastian Volk will all make the move from JV to varsity and will supply depth at multiple positions. Juniors Varun Rajendran, Luke Forster, Kyle Satornino, Mark Mihajlovits, Rowan Provencal, Jayden Chan, and Michael Konovalov are all battling to find minutes in the rotation while sophomore Teigan Jones is a player to keep an eye out for as the season progresses.

“This is a tremendously fun group to coach, their attention to detail and their willingness to get better has been evident early,” Ferguson said. “We are a young group when it comes to playing time experience, but they have worked hard to bond within our culture and have embraced our core values.”

Stoughton

2023-2024 Record: 12-11
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Evan Taylor
Stoughton comes into this season with a lot of new faces on its roster after a good amount of turnover, but the few faces back in the fold were all key players on last year’s team that reached the state tournament.

Junior Anthony Alessi had a breakout winter a year ago and emerged as one of the top scoring options in the league. He posted a team-high 12.8 points per game and was named to the HockomockSports All Underclassmen Team. After that, the Knights need to find production to replace its next three top scorers (Eli Connor, Liam Pearl, Jarred Daughtry). Senior Matthew Greenspoon has a ton of varsity experience and has over 400 career points and can score in a variety of ways and can factor in on the glass.

Junior Aiden Rideout, like Alessi, broke onto the scene last year. He provides the Knights with good size but is also a difference maker from three-point range; he finished last year averaging 7.6 points per game and scored in double figures in eight games. Junior Gio Felix was a midseason addition last year and could see an expanded role this year while junior transfer Trae Jones could make an immediate impact for the Knights. Junior Sean Rockwood will provide a big body in the paint and could be a force on the glass.

“I think our biggest strength this year will be depth having multiple players who can check in and have an impact on both sides of the ball,” said Stoughton head coach Evan Taylor.

Taunton

2023-2024 Record: 14-7
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Coach: Colbey Santos
For the first time in what feels like forever, Taunton won’t have a Santos leading the charge on the court offensively. After back-to-back 1,000-point scorers Trent and Troy Santos, the Tigers will have a fresh look for the 2024-2025 season.

It will be a young group for head coach Colbey Santos, who enters his second year at the helm. Santos, who won a championship with Bishop Stang in 2016, is no stranger to building competitive teams year in and year out; the Spartans continuously qualified for the playoffs. This year’s Taunton squad will be a young one after graduating five seniors, including four starters. With six sophomores on varsity this year, there will certainly be some speed bumps and learning curves along the way. The Tigers will lean on the players that do have varsity experience to lead by example, especially early.

Junior Dray Thielker had an impressive sophomore campaign (9.4 ppg), scoring in double figures 10 times last year. When Thielker has his shot going, he’s one of the deadliest sharpshooters in the league and can score in bunches. Travis Johnson is a menace down low and might just be the best rebounder in the Hock, as evident by a 20-rebound performance in a win over Attleboro and 15 rebounds in a win over Milford. His ability to give Taunton second and third chances on the offensive end will be key for a young group. Senior Julius Barros picked up some vital experience last year and will be in line for an expanded role throughout this winter.

“We are extremely young, but we have some athletes who can get up and down the floor, and looking to run will be a key emphasis of this year’s team,” Santos said.