Braeden White reached 1,000 points at David Prouty High, the first player to do so since 1982, and now he’s a senior guard at Fitchburg State who has appeared in every game of his college career. Last season, White averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over 25 games with five starts, bringing steady contributions to the team.
White’s high school career included a standout moment when he scored 40 points in the Panthers’ semifinal win over Holbrook, helping David Prouty reach the 2023 Division 5 state final. At Fitchburg State, he has continued to provide reliable minutes as the team begins the new college basketball season.
In Worcester County, other former local high school stars are also preparing to impact nearby college programs. At Nichols College, juniors Cassidy Bonsu and senior Ethan Minarik are expected to shoulder significant responsibility early in the season. Nichols coach Tyler Hundley said the team’s roster has many new faces, so Bonsu and Minarik’s experience is essential.
Bonsu, who missed much of last season’s first semester due to injury, averaged 3.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 15 games. His season highs included 10 points against Gordon and 11 rebounds versus Endicott. Hundley noted Bonsu’s improvement in the second semester and said, “He definitely improved and he is ready for a good year.”
Minarik played all 27 games last season and started 21 times. He led Nichols with 52 made three-pointers and had the highest 3-point shooting percentage on the team at 48 percent. Hundley described him as “Nichols’ top 3-point threat” and said Minarik had a strong summer, preparing him for a “major role this year.”
WPI’s sophomore guard Patrick Madden, a 1,300-point scorer at Hopedale High, is carving out his spot as a walk-on who fits the team’s culture of hard work and toughness. Coach Chris Bartley praised Madden’s attitude: “Patrick embodies that 100 percent.” Madden played in five games last season and has been focusing on improving his shooting.
Bartley said Madden’s work ethic sets an example for freshmen. “I think they can see that here’s a guy who’s probably one of the last on the bench and he works as hard as anybody,” Bartley said. He added that players who show perseverance often find meaningful minutes by their senior year, and Madden could become one of those players.
At Worcester State, Joe Okla has made an immediate impact as a sophomore forward. After transferring from UMass, where he had played under Worcester State coach Al Pettway at North High, Okla averaged 14.8 points on 58.7 percent shooting last season. He earned MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors and helped the Lancers win the conference title and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
Okla scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Worcester State’s MASCAC final victory over Westfield State. Pettway expects Okla to lead again this season. “I expect him to be a leader again and hopefully get us back to the NCAA Tournament,” Pettway said.
Over the offseason, Pettway had Okla focus on his jump shot and ball handling, areas where the coach saw improvement. Okla is one of three captains for the Lancers, and Pettway said, “We’re expecting him to lead on and off the court, and he’s been doing a good job with that. We’re expecting him to do a lot of things this year. I think he’s up for it.”
These players bring varied experiences from their high school days to the college courts of Worcester County. With new college basketball seasons underway, they are preparing to contribute as their teams look to build on recent successes.
According to Yahoo Sports.
