The T&G Hometeam boys' basketball all-stars for winter 2022-23

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, with the Central Mass High School Sports Awards program, presented by DCU — Digital Federal Credit Union, is proud to announce the nominees for boys' basketball. The winner will be announced during the live show Wednesday, June 28, at the Hanover Theatre.

During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with the athletes of the year in 31 other sports with Athletes of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, and a Courage Award.

Nominated athletes can register for their free ticket to the show here, thanks to sponsors: Nominee Registration for the 2023 Central Mass High School Sports Awards (smartsheet.com)

General public tickets are on sale here: 2023 Central Mass High School Sports Awards Tickets (enmotive.com)

Vote for your favorite school for the Spirit Award here: 2023 Show Your School Spirit - 2023 Show Your School Spirit (gannettcontests.com)

More information about the show, including other nominees, can be found here: Central Mass High School SportsCentral Mass High School Sports Awards (usatoday.com)

The Central Mass High School Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country. Last year’s show can still be viewed here: 2022 Central Mass High School Sports Awards - YouTube

Ryan Brooks

Shepherd Hill, Senior, Forward

It again was twice as nice for this four-year varsity player. The 6-foot-6, 190-pound Brooks averaged a double-double for the second straight season, this time checking in with 18.8 points and 12.2 rebounds, while earning his second consecutive T&G Super Team selection. Brooks, an excellent facilitator and defender, as well, led the Rams to a 20-2 record, a share of the Mid-Wach B title, a berth in the Division 2 state tournament and, in his most memorable moment of the season, the Clark Tournament Large Schools championship. Brooks, who was honored as the Mid-Wach B MVP, will continue his basketball career at Keene State College, where he is considering majoring in sports management. He is the son of William and the late Janet Brooks of Dudley.

Justin Dadah Jr.

Leominster, Senior, Guard

Dadah was a four-year Mid-Wach A all-star, a three-year captain and a two-time T&G Super Team selection while on his way to becoming the Blue Devils’ all-time leading scorer with 1,141 points. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard averaged a career-high 20.7 points — with a single-game high of 43 — to rank fifth in Central Mass. and added eight rebounds and four assists per game. His most memorable moment was leading the 25th-seeded Blue Devils to the quarterfinals of the Division 2 state tournament, where they lost to eventual champion Malden Catholic to finish 13-11. Dadah will continue his basketball career and major in business at Worcester State University. He is the son of Debbie and Justin Dadah of Leominster.

Lucas Friedman

Millbury, Senior, Guard

Friedman was one of the top two-way players in the state, assigned each game to defend the opposing team’s best player while orchestrating the offense. The 6-foot, 165-pound point guard averaged 14 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists as the Woolies went 20-6 and advanced to the Clark Tournament Large Schools final and the semifinals of the Division 4 state tournament. He considers the state run, which included wins over Oxford, Wahconah and Bourne, to be his most memorable moment of the season. Friedman, a MHSFCA Division 7 all-state selection in football, will continue his basketball career at Kenyon College in Ohio, with the career goal of working in the professional sports industry. He is the son of Miriam and Matt Friedman of Millbury.

Brandon Hulecki

Oakmont, Senior, Guard

There was nothing spartan about the production of Hulecki. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound point guard filled up the box score in his fourth season as a varsity starter, averaging 18.5 points to rank 13th in Central Mass. and added 7.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game. This two-year captain helped the Spartans to an 18-6 record, a second straight CMADA Class B championship and the quarterfinals of the Division 3 state tournament. Hulecki set the Oakmont single-game scoring record with a 38-point effort and considers his most memorable moment of the season to be when his twin brother, Ryan, scored his 1,000th career point. While undecided about where he’ll attend college, Hulecki plans to major in business administration. He is the son of Shannon Horan and Greg Hulecki of Westminster.

Alex Johnson

South, Junior, Guard

Johnson was one of the most dynamic, exciting, explosive and, most importantly, productive players in Central Mass. this winter. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound shooting guard ranked second in CMass in scoring, averaging 22.9 points to go with 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals as he made his mark at both ends of the court. Already a two-year captain, Johnson helped the Colonels go 13-11 and advance to the first round of the Division 2 state tournament after winning five games a year ago. Johnson was named MVP of the Coaches 4 Change Tournament and, in his most memorable moment of the season, scored a career-high 35 points against Inter-High rival Burncoat. Johnson aspires to play college basketball and own a plumbing company. He is the son of Melanie Brindisi and Juan Johnson of Worcester.

Ethan Minarik

Bartlett, Senior, Guard

This is the second consecutive T&G Super Team selection for Minarik, an unparalleled offensive talent who produced points inside, outside and at the line. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound point guard led Central Mass. in scoring average (30.5), total points (672), 3-pointers (88), and free throws (114). He also averaged 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.5 steals as the Indians went 11-11 and advanced to the first round of the Division 4 state tournament. Minarik, a two-year captain, finished his career fourth in program history with 1,378 points. His most memorable moment of the season came in a win over Douglas when he scored his 1,000th career point and sank the winning shot as the Indians rallied from 30 points behind. Minarik will continue his basketball career and double-major in finance and data analytics at Nichols College. He is the son of Pamela and Todd Minarik of Webster.

Joe Okla

North, Junior, Wing

Okla had a superb sophomore season in which he was selected to the T&G Super Team. He and the Polar Bears followed that with an historic and unforgettable campaign to remember this winter. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound wing averaged a team-high 13.3 points, made his presence felt on the boards and was an extraordinarily versatile defender, locking down players on the perimeter and down low with his length, quick hands and smooth footwork. That two-way play helped the Polar Bears go 24-2 overall and 23-0 against in-state competition while winning the CMADA Class A championship and becoming the first public school from Worcester to claim a Division 1 state title. Defeating Needham in the state final was Okla’s most memorable moment of the season. He is the son of Jonathan Okla of Worcester.

Niklas Pavia

Nashoba, Senior, Forward

In his third season as a varsity starter, Pavia helped the Wolves to one of their most successful seasons in program history. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds and 1.5 assists as the Wolves went 21-4, earned a share of the Mid-Wach B championship, reached the final of the CMADA Class A championship and advanced to the semifinals of the Division 2 state tournament. A two-year captain who was a T&G D2 honorable mention selection as a junior, Pavia considers the sixth-seeded Wolves’ 63-61 win over No. 3 Sharon in the state quarterfinals to be his most memorable moment of the season. Pavia will attend Franklin Pierce University as a scholarship baseball player and major in business. He is the son of Christene and Mark Pavia.

Tahlan Pettway

North, Junior, Guard

Pettway had a knack for creating his own shot, be it on a drive to the basket or a step-back 3 from way, way back while helping the Polar Bears, in his most memorable moment of the season, become the first public school from Worcester to win a Division 1 state championship in any team sport. The 5-foot-11, 150-pound guard averaged 12.1 points for a balanced offense before upping his production to 15.8 during postseason play, including a game-high 22 in the state final win over Needham. Pettway, who was named the Inter-High MVP, was also an integral part of a dominant, man-to-man defense that held opponents to 46.9 points a game as the Polar Bears went 24-2 and closed the season with a 21-game winning streak, 16 of the victories coming by double digits. He is the son of Jaycie and Kevin Pettway of Worcester.

Teshaun Steele

North, Junior, Wing

Steele devoted himself to honing his craft and sharpening his skills during the offseason and it paid off handsomely during the Polar Bears’ historic season. The 6-foot-5, 175-pound wing elevated his scoring average from 3.2 to 12.6 points a game, was a relentless rebounder, a reliable rim protector, and a terrific on-the-ball defender. Steele teamed with fellow T&G Super Teamer Joe Okla and superb sophomore Khari Bryan to form a formidable frontcourt as the Polar Bears went 24-2 — their only losses coming to powerhouse programs from Oklahoma and Pennsylvania — to set a school record for wins in a season, claimed the CMADA Class A championship and won their final 21 games. The last, of course, was to Needham in the state final, which was Steele’s most memorable moment of the season. He is the son of Tracey Stewart-Steele and Kenneth Steele of Worcester.

Braeden White

David Prouty, Senior, Guard

White did it all, and he did it at an exceptionally elite level from baseline to baseline and sideline to sideline, leading to his second straight T&G Super Team selection. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound point guard averaged 19.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.4 steals as the Panthers went 25-1, captured the Clark Tournament Small Schools championship — in double overtime, no less, making it White’s most memorable moment of the season — and advanced to the Division 5 state final. A two-year captain and three-time Southern Worcester County League all-star, White’s other highlights included becoming the Panthers’ first 1,000-point scorer since 1982 and dropping a career-high-tying 40 points in the state semifinals. White will continue his basketball career and major in exercise science at Fitchburg State University. He is the son of Larisa Morrison and Daniel White of Spencer.

Anthony Zingarella

Wachusett, Senior, Guard

Zingarella was presented with an opportunity to take on a bigger role this season, and he certainly made the most of it. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard averaged 17 points, up from 7.7 last season, and ranked among the Central Mass. leaders with 80-plus made free throws. The well-rounded, two-way player also averaged 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Zingarella scored a game-high 20 points as the Mountaineers defeated Fitchburg, 47-41, to clinch the Mid-Wach A title, which was his most memorable moment of the season. After starting 2-7, the Mountaineers rallied to win seven of their final 11 games — with Zingarella averaging 19 points down the stretch — coming up one win short of earning a return trip to the Division 1 state tournament. He is the son of Melissa and Anthony Zingarella of Holden.

Honorable Mention

Division 1

Noah Basgaard, St. John's

Khari Bryan, North

Joey Bowden, Doherty

Jake Chaisson, Wachusett

Jackson Gamache, Algonquin

Dillon Harper, Wachusett

Amir Jenkins, North

Jake LeFrancois, St. Paul

Azeir McClain-Hines, Doherty

Jack McGrath, St. Paul

Jason Nickerson, Shrewsbury

Josiah Reyes, Doherty

Lucas Singh, Algonquin

Division 2

Jacob Belsanti, Nashoba

Cassidy Bonsu, South

Liam Donagher, Grafton

Kevin Dunn, Burncoat

Jaeden Echevarrin, Burncoat

Elijah Jefferys, Fitchburg

Jack Lagarde, Nashoba

Justin McCaffrey, Westborough

Terrence McCormack, Leominster

Ethan McInerny, Grafton

Lucas Miglionico, Shepherd Hill

Brian Morse, North Middlesex

J.C. Pimental, Burncoat

Omar Rodrigues, Fitchburg

Xander Schelling, Grafton

Division 3

Jake Attaway, Hudson

Logan Bostock, Auburn

Braden DeZutter, AMSA

Anton Farquharson, Worcester Tech

Teriq Goodman, Worcester Tech

Ben Gosselin, Monty Tech

Adam Howe, Tantasqua

Ryan Hulecki, Oakmont

Jaden Jones, Monty Tech

Steve Kett, Worcester Tech

Jordan McFadden, Auburn

Colm McGrath, Tantasqua

James McKinney, Nipmuc

Jackson O'Brien, Hudson

Sreeraj Pampati, AMSA

Abiezar Rivera, Main South

Zach Romich, Groton-Dunstable

Andrew Strenstream, Groton-Dunstable

Bryce Tessier, Tantasqua

Juan Vega, Main South

Aiden Welch, Quabbin

Division 4

Peter Barbale, Bay Path

Owen Breidel, Clinton

Ayden Carlson, Bartlett

Rafael Cerqueira, Assabet

Michael Cook-Ramos, Southbridge

Nic DeNorsica, Whitinsville Christian

Matt Direnzo, Leicester

Kenny Donnelly, Millbury

Ian Gahan, Northbridge

Drew Gniadek, Uxbridge

Cam Grady, Clinton

Tim Labrie, Northbridge

Davis Lunn, Clinton

Justin Manno, Littleton

Brady Margoupis, Oxford

Noah Massotti, Whitinsville Christian

Ethan McCusker, Uxbridge

Max Meilleur, Lunenburg

Anthony Phillipo, Millbury

Jon Powell, Valley Tech

Evan Remington, Oxford

Miles Seminatore, Lunenburg

Colin Spencer, Uxbridge

Tyler Vaccaro, Millbury

Abdiel Zapata, Clinton

Division 5

Abraao Alencar, Maynard

Liam Almond, Parker

Colin Brand, Tahanto

Dan Cox, Sutton

Nolan Currier, Maynard

Andrew Deppe, Hopedale

Cody Dicke, Hopedale

Adam Dunphy, Douglas

Elliot Erickson, Gardner

Alec Fournier, David Prouty

Patrick Ginnity, St. Bernard's

Cam Hoekstra, David Prouty

Brian Holmes, Ayer-Shirley

Max Kauffman, Narragansett

Luke MacLean, Bromfield

Patrick Madden, Hopedale

Cam Marshall, Ayer-Shirley

Drew Martinez, Quaboag

Judah Ndolo, Gardner

Ryan O'Rourke, Sutton

Tyler Patchen, David Prouty

Cole Patterson, Murdock

Chase Potvin, Quaboag

Thomas Ramsey-Salem, Sutton

Calvin Tenney, Murdock

Emmanuel Vega, St. Bernard's

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Check out the T&G Hometeam boys' basketball all-stars for winter 2022-23