PLAYER OF THE YEAR
James Jones, East Catholic, 6-6, Sr., G
East Catholic’s James Jones during the CIAC Division I Finals at Mohegan Sun, March 18, 2023.
David G Whitham
Stats: Averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals per game for the CCC and Division I state champions. … Finished career with 84-9 record.
Honors: Two-time All-CCC and coaches all-state selection. …GameTimeCT Second Team all-state in 2022. … HoopHall Classic Team MVP and GHPA Classic game MVP.
Off the court: Honor roll student.
Up next: Considering several Division I schools, including Penn, Siena, St. Peter’s and Columbia. Likely may take a post-graduate season.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Ronan O’Leary, Waterbury Career
WCA Ronan Oleary holds the state champion trophy after No. 2 Waterbury Career Academy’s 74-58 win over No. 1 Bloomfield in the CIAC Divison III boys basketball championship at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Sunday, March 19, 2023.
Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media
Stats: Led WCA to a 24-3 record and to the program’s first CIAC state championship, defeating Bloomfield 74-58 for the Division III title. … Spartans also won the NVL’s Brass Division and tournament championship for the first time. … WCA is just in its eighth year as a varsity program. Made the state tournament the seven previous seasons with one trip to the 2017 Class S state semifinals….