By HockomockSports.com Staff

2023-2024 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Attleboro

2022-2023 Record: 15-10
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 16
Coach: Mark Houle

With the majority of last year’s lineup and scoring production gone, longtime Attleboro head coach Mark Houle will turn to a younger core of players to try and get back to the state tournament in 2024.

The Bombardiers only have one starter back in the mix in junior Hayden Crowley but there are some other familiar faces that will look to take a big jump this year. Crowley, a captain, can fill up the scoring column in a hurry from deep and he showed that range off last year as just a sophomore. He will be joined by a handful of players who had roles on the squad last year: junior captain Dante Monestime, junior captain Brady Erwin, and sophomore Connor Houle, who had a career-high 13 points in a playoff win over Taunton. Attleboro has historically always been a strong team on both ends of the court, and looks to be the case again this year.

The departure of four starters and seven total seniors opens a window of opportunity and there is a handful of players from last year’s competitive JV squad eager to find minutes for the Bombardiers, including senior guard Logan Gosslin, junior forward Emmett Hill, and sophomores Ladainian Rodrigues and Isaiah Outland. The early season challenge for Houle and the Bombardiers will be getting all of the new faces integrated and up the speed of the varsity game.

“Coming off a very good season, we will need younger players to step up quickly,” Houle said. “We lost most of our scoring and rebounding leaders from graduation. Our skill level, teamwork, and work ethic has been very positive, and I am confident that we will continue to grow and improve as the season progresses.”

Canton

2022-2023 Record: 10-11
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Dan Kiser
Over a third of the league will have a new head coach on the sideline this season and that includes Canton with Dan Kiser. Kiser is a teacher at Canton High so he’s a familiar face, and he brings a wealth of experience to the bench. He was the interim head coach at Randolph last season and served as the associate coach to Kalon Jenkins for the Blue Devils for over a decade prior.

Kiser inherits a strong squad that has a lot of pieces back from last year’s team that earned a state tournament berth, including three of the top five scorers. Senior Zaza Francoeur is one of those players and is strong on both ends of the floor. He was second on the team in total points scored (9.7 points per game) and earned a spot on the HockomockSports.com All-Defensive team for his efforts on that end of the court. Seniors Jamaal McConnell (10.7 ppg) and Jeremiah Predin (7.3 ppg) each enjoyed a successful first year with the Bulldogs last year and are looking to take the next step in the 2023-2024 season.

With three starters back in the fold, the Bulldogs are in a good spot, but the next step will be finding the right pieces to fit around them. Kiser has a number of players he can turn to both in the starting lineup and off the bench to provide a boost. Owen Lane, Anthony Diletizia, and Lucas Massih are all returners from last year, and along with senior James Gibbs, can help provide some energy on both ends of the floor. Canton is a team that can play with a lot of pace and they’ll use that athleticism on both ends of the court to their advantage.

“Canton basketball will be an exciting brand of basketball this upcoming 2023-24 season,” Kiser said. “We will work hard on pushing the pace offensively and defensively. We will generate excitement with an aggressive style, and the Canton Bulldogs look forward to competing in an excellent Hockomock League that has a plethora of outstanding coaches and players.”

Foxboro

2022-2023 Record: 15-9
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Jon Gibbs

Following the graduation of 1,000-point scorer Alex Penders, HockomockSports All-Defensive team selection Ryan LeClair, and the team’s second-leader scorer Sam Golub, it’d be easy to write Foxboro off this season. But the Warriors have other plans with 10 returning players back in the mix this year with a goal to get back to the playoffs.

Coming off a 15-win season and a trip to the state tournament, the Warriors are aiming to replicate that success as they integrate players into new roles this year. Senior Ryan Cotter improved as the season went on last year and ended up third in scoring, and could be poised for a breakout year. Junior Ryan Kelley was in a similar situation, and ended up averaging in double figures over the final six games of the season. Those two players will be vital to Foxboro’s success this year as they move into larger roles on both ends of the court, mainly offensively. While Cotter and Kelley will spearhead the attack, head coach Jon Gibbs says this is an unselfish and balanced group and the Warriors boast multiple weapons and the expectation is several players will contribute in the scoring column each game.

Sophomore guard Eric Walford didn’t see a ton of valuable minutes but had a terrific offseason and should slide right into the lineup for Gibbs, who begins his 10th year at the helm of the Warriors and has won at least 12 games in every season but one. Junior Nolan Gordon is coming off a successful season on the gridiron, and as a third-year player will be counted on for his experience and athleticism to get it done on both ends of the floor. Senior Ian Foley is hoping to make an impact after being limited by an injury last year while juniors Jack Campbell, Jake Griffith, Kaden Hassett, Kevin Boyle, and sophomore Cam Deleskey are hoping to provide a boost in their first full seasons with varsity. Defense has always been a strength under Gibbs and the Warriors are hoping to continue that trend this year.

“This is a very coachable group of kids,” Gibbs said. “They compete hard in practice, and we are improving on a daily basis. If we continue to take pride in our defense and rebounding, this team can have a very successful season.”

Franklin

2022-2023 Record: 19-2 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 16
Coach: CJ Neely
Coming off a season in which the Panthers only lost one league game and two games total, expectations remain high for Franklin — and for good reason.

Reigning Hockomock League MVP Sean O’Leary highlights a strong cast of returners for veteran head coach CJ Neely. While there are a lot of familiar faces back in the fold, the Panthers will have to replace the production of a small senior class that featured three regulars in Franklin’s lineup from last year. O’Leary, who also earned HockomockSports.com Player of the Year honors, averaged 20.3 points and 8 rebounds per game a year ago. He will be complemented by returners Andrew O’Neill (6.5 ppg), Bradley Herndon, and Hansy Jacques.

The biggest boost for Franklin is the return of senior guard Henry Digiorgio. As a sophomore, Digrorgio averaged over 16 points per game and was named HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year. After a year off, Digiorgio could provide a massive scoring boost that the Panthers need after losing almost 25 points per game from graduated seniors Geino Scaringello, Justin Allen, and Ben Harvey. Junior Caden Sullivan, who had an injury to start last season, could be poised for a breakout year. Once again, a balanced offense will make Franklin a very hard team to guard, while the Panthers will likely be among the top defensive teams in the Hock.

“The preseason has been very competitive at practice,” Neely said. “With a lot of returning players, we were able to hit the ground running during the tryout sessions. This is a tight group of guys led by a strong senior class and some experienced underclassmen looking to make their mark. We will have consistent battles each day as guys try to earn minutes throughout the year. I have been most impressed with how committed and focused the players have been each day. It will be fun to watch them grow and compete all year.”

King Philip

2022-2023 Record: 11-13
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Head Coach: Dave DeStefano
A year after making the state tournament and winning a playoff game, the Warriors have some work to do after graduating the majority of their offensive production. Without a bonafide scorer on the team, head coach Dave DeStefano knows he’ll need contributions from up and down the roster.

King Philip graduated three starters in Will Laplante, Tommy Martorano, and Grant Kinney — a trio that combined for over 60% of the Warriors’ scoring last year. That means there is plenty of opportunity for this year’s group of players to step up, play more minutes, and take on more responsibility. One candidate to see a big increase is junior Tommy Kilroy, who had a strong sophomore season. Kilroy was third on the team in scoring at 8.8 points per game and showed flashes of high-level play with a pair of 21-point performances. Junior guards Brandon Nicastro and Jack Assini had breakout moments throughout the year and should be impact players for KP as well.

Returning starters Kilroy and Nicastro are joined by senior forward Tommy McLeish, who will be an integral part of the Warriors frontcourt at 6’3. His presence around the rim gives the Warriors an option down low to complement their dangerous three-point shooting, and he’s also a very strong rebounder that helps prevent second-chance points for opponents. Senior Trevor Clyde could be poised for a big campaign after showing glimpses over the past two seasons while senior guard Peter Cataldo and junior guard Drew Laplante are candidates for bigger roles this year. Neel McGrath is back with basketball after a year off and can provide big energy on defense while juniors Ryan Higgins and Ryan Evans both have shown big improvement since a year ago.

“We are going to have to create great scoring opportunities as a team,” DeStefano said. “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

2022-2023 Record: 25-3 (Davenport division champions)
2022-2023 Finish: Div. 2 state finalists
Coach: Mike Vaughan
Mansfield always enters the season with a huge target on its back because of its extended success over the past decade-plus, and this year will be no different. Fresh off a Davenport division championship and a run to the state final, the Hornets had another stellar year in 2022-2023.

Expectations remain the same in Mansfield but the Hornets have a bit of an uphill battle going into the year. Senior Eddie McCoy, who had a terrific tournament run in which he scored over 20 points per game, is unfortunately out for the year due to a knee injury. The Hornets also lost four-year starter Chris Hill to graduation along with JT Veiking and Caden Colby, who both started in the state final. Add in that senior Trevor Foley, last year’s HockomockSports.com Defensive Player of the Year, is working his way back due to an injury sustained in football, and veteran head coach Mike Vaughan has his work cut out for him.

But until their play and record say otherwise, Mansfield remains a top team in the Hock. The Hornets will turn to senior point guard Davon Sanders to take on more of a scoring role, and he showed in spurts last year the ability to fill up the stat sheet (18 points at Canton, and a career-high 24 points at OA). Senior Brandon Jackman is a big energy type player and his hustle plays can really spark the Hornets, especially on the defensive end. Junior Nate Creedon went from not playing in the majority of the games through the first two months to starting at point guard in the state final, so his continued improvement will be key for Mansfield. Juniors Riley Sigman and Sean McCoy should see increased roles while Vaughan has five sophomores on the roster this season and will need someone from that group to step up.

“We are excited to get going,” Vaughan said. “With a mix of returning players and some new young faces, I think we are primed to have a quality year. A handful of players gained some playoff experience last year after a few players went down with injuries. We should be able to score points in bunches at times and will get better every week. We will have to put together a defensive identity as the season goes on to maximize our goals.”

Milford

2022-2023 Record: 12-12
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Preliminary Round
Coach: Dana Olson
Milford took a massive step forward last season, improving their win total by double digits going from just two in 2022 to 10 total last year, including a spot in the postseason.

Dana Olson is one of four new head coaches in the league this year and he inherits a very strong team that enters the year as a true challenger to Franklin for the Kelley-Rex crown. The Hawks have their top four scorers back from last year and only graduated one of the top eight from the lineup. It starts with last year’s HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Andrew Rivera. With two years of varsity years under his belt (46 games played), Rivera is one of the most experienced players in the league as just a junior. He can score in a variety of ways and his leadership will be key.

Olson has been stressing the importance of taking care of the ball and the Hawks are looking to take advantage of their length and athleticism. Another young player with plenty of experience is CJ Farrell, who along with Rivera, made last year’s HockomockSports All-Underclassmen team. As a rookie, Farrell quickly established himself as one of the top players in the league with 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. Junior Luca Testa is another key player who only improved as last year went on, junior Tyler Ballard is a handful to deal with in the post, and senior Jake Soares provides a steady veteran presence on the court.

“Overall, the kids are working hard learning a new system and expectations are high as they should be,” Olson said. “In the Hock, we will take it game by game. The kids are excited and the town is excited. Milford in the past has had a strong basketball tradition and we are looking forward to getting back to challenge for titles and making deep playoff runs.”

North Attleboro

2022-2023 Record: 1-10
2022-2023 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Derek Smith
With the majority of last year’s roster gone, North Attleboro is aiming to build itself back up to be a contender in the ever-challenging Hockomock League.

Derek Smith, an assistant for the past three seasons under Sean Mulkerrins, was appointed the new head coach a week before the season. Former Rocketeer player Mike Babul was hired at the end of the spring but took another job just before the season started. Smith is also a former player and has a lot of familiarity with the program, which will make the transition a lot smoother. North also has three of its top five scorers back, but there will be plenty of new faces and some growing pains.

Juniors Jonnie Obuchowski and Chase Frisoli have the most experience under their belts in terms of varsity minutes. Both played a lot last year and had an identical offensive output with 6.5 points per game. There is only one senior on the roster in Chris Hanewich, who played in every game last year, but he will miss the start of the season recovering from injury. Sophomore Jake Peckham moved up from the JV team late in the season and quickly fit in, including nine points in his second career game.

Offensively, the Rocketeers will look for those with the most experience — Obuchowski, Frisoli, Peckham — to lead the way, especially early. All three are capable shooters while Obuchowski is a crafty lefty that can attack the basket. North will look to use its athleticism to try and defend against some of the top offensive teams in the league. Even though North didn’t have a top record a year ago, the Rocketeers held top teams like Mansfield, Sharon, and Taunton below their scoring average. Newcomers Andrew Schmidt, Connor Casey, and Matthew DeGirolamo will look to provide some energy to the lineup.

“We are a young team that is looking forward to the nightly challenge the Hockomock League provides,” Smith said.

Oliver Ames

2022-2023 Record: 5-15
2022-2023 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Eric MacKinnon
It’s been two years in a row that the Tigers have lost the majority of their production so new head coach Eric MacKinnon takes over with a clean slate.

MacKinnon spent the past two seasons at Canton and now takes over at the helm of his alma mater, hoping to get his Tigers back to the level they were when he played and earned league all star honors: division title contenders. Standout Cole Craffey (16.7 ppg) and rookie Soren Lolonga (11.9) elected to explore other options outside of OA while the next two leading scorers on last year’s squad Chris Elias (7.4 ppg) and Nick Asiaf (6.1 ppg) graduated. That means there will be a lot of opportunities under MacKinnon for new faces to take advantage of.

Two of the familiar faces back are sophomore guard Jacob Lok and senior forward Jake Willard. Lok handled point guard duties last year and is a floor general with the ball in his hands, as well as a pesky on-ball defender, while Willard is a big time energy player and will be someone to keep an eye on on the glass and on the defensive end. After that, there is a lot of new for the Tigers. Senior big man Jefferson Smock returns to the Tigers after a year away and could be an immediate impact player for the Tigers, especially with his size advantage down low.

Offensively, having some size and length will give the Tigers the opportunity to space the floor and play inside-out. Junior Ben Newton, who made a couple of appearances off the bench throughout last year, has impressed so far in the preseason as a strong wing player with good shooting ability and a high basketball IQ. On the defensive end, the Tigers will lean on their work ethic and energy from returners Willard and Lok to set the tone. Having some size to protect the rim will allow the Tigers to get out and pressure the ball.

“We’re working every day to build our habits and set the foundation for how we want to play,” MacKinnon said. “Our players have bought into our system and are excited to continue the work it takes to compete in the Hockomock League.”

Sharon

2022-2023 Record: 19-4
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 8
Coach: Andrew Ferguson
Sharon’s ascension to the top of the Hockomock League continued last year as the Eagles secured 19 wins and reached the Division 2 Elite 8. With their two top scorers returning for their senior years, the Eagles might just be the favorite in the Davenport division.

While the Eagles finished a game short of repeating as Davenport champs last season, they were the only Hock team to beat Mansfield — and they did it twice. Senior point guard Jacob McLoughlin really stepped up last year and finished as the leading scorer (15.3 points per game) and filled up the stat sheet across the board (5.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 steals, and 4.1 deflections). Sharon also boasts one of the top big men in the league in senior Nate Katznelson, who can score in a variety of ways, including from the perimeter. He averaged 15.2 points per game (on 42.6% shooting) along with 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.

The biggest challenge for Sharon will be replacing the rest of the lineup and the production the graduated seniors brought. Matt Baur, Dante James, and Tyler Goodman accounted for nearly 30 points per game last year while Jack Bates was a big energy boost off the bench. Veteran head coach Andrew Ferguson will turn to senior Ryan Brown to bring some intensity, especially on the defensive end. Seniors Anthony Piron, Zach Wise, and Jaden Segal along with junior Sam Letendre are all candidates for increased minutes while junior Jackson Rava is someone to keep an eye on for his potential contributions on the offensive end.

“Looking to build off a great year, we hope to continue to improve as the year goes along and we will rely on our experienced players as new players find their roles,” Ferguson said. “We will continue to focus on our core values with an emphasis on physicality, aggressiveness, and a willingness to share the ball.”

Stoughton

2022-2023 Record: 6-14
2022-2023 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Evan Taylor
Although Stoughton had just six wins last year, the Black Knights finished just one spot out of a tournament berth. Heading into this season, Stoughton knows how valuable each win can be.

The offensive approach will be a bit different for head coach Evan Taylor this season after graduating leading scorer Jayden Costa-Haywood, who was among the top scorers in the entire Hockomock League. Costa-Haywood led the Knights in scoring 14 of their 19 games played last year and was the only player to average in double figures. With a strong core of capable scorers in the lineup this year, the Black Knights will have a balanced attack and could have a different leading scorer every game.

That core features four of the next five top scorers from last year after Costa-Haywood, starting with junior Matt Greenspoon. Entering his third year on varsity, Greenspoon is a dangerous three-point shooter but showed the ability to attack the rim more last year and scored in double figures in nearly half of the games. Senior Jarred Daughtry was third on the scoring and really improved as the season went on and showed a lot of confidence. Senior Liam Pearl is a very strong two-way player who can really impact a game in the paint, especially on the boards. Sophomores Anthony Alessi and Aiden Rideout are candidates for bigger roles this year while senior Eli Connor could be one of the top breakout players across the league.

“We’ll really be leaning on our returning players to set the tone for the season and the whole program,” Taylor said.

taunton

2020-2021 Record: 13-8
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Coach: Colbey Santos
Year after year, we see teams talking about a new chapter in program history. This year’s Taunton squad is beginning a whole new volume in the book of Tiger basketball.

First-year head coach Colbey Santos takes over for longtime legendary Hall of Famer Charlie Dacey, who was at the helm of the Tigers from 1989 through last season. Santos brings an impressive résumé to the sidelines inside the Rabouin Field House, highlighted by a Division 3 state championship and a pair of D3 South Sectional titles while at Bishop Stang. Defense and athleticism are two strengths that have impressed Santos early on.

Taunton boasts one of the top returning players in the league in senior Troy Santos. Santos, one of four HockomockSports.com First Team selections back in the mix this year, averaged 17.9 points per game last year along with 5.4 boards and 2.5 assists. The University of Hartford commit is one of the most lethal scorers that demands attention every single game. That means the Tigers will need some new faces to step up as defenses try to limit Santos. Senior captain Kenzel Jeanmichel is looking to provide a spark in his first year while senior Cyrus Morrisette, who was not on the team last year, is back after playing in 16 games as a sophomore.

“I am looking forward to our team buying in on the defensive end and taking pride in our pressure,” Colbey Santos said.