NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2025 WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

– Ryan Vedovelli and Olivia Chrzan Obtain High Honors –

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame introduced the recipients of the 14th annual Western Massachusetts Participant of the Yr awards: Ryan Vedovelli of Pope Francis Prep and Olivia Chrzan of Monson Excessive College. 

“As soon as once more, we have fun the distinctive seniors chosen as Western Mass. All-Stars and congratulate Ryan and Olivia on incomes Participant of the Yr honors,” stated John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Corridor of Fame. “Now we have little question that these gifted younger athletes will proceed to make Western Mass. proud as they pursue their basketball and tutorial careers.”

Vedovelli has been a standout athlete and scholar with a formidable highschool profession. A four-year varsity starter and two-year captain at Pope Francis, he has averaged 19 factors, 8 rebounds, and seven assists per recreation. Over his 4 years, he has helped his crew win over 70 video games and has develop into a 1,000-point scorer, hitting the milestone with a 25-point efficiency towards Central. Vedovelli earned Pope Francis’ all-time main scorer and earned Participant of the Sport honors on the current Hoophall Basic showcase, scoring 26 factors vs.  Holyoke. A 3-time Western Mass Champion in basketball, he additionally earned All-Western Mass recognition in basketball, soccer, and baseball. In soccer, he was named Western Mass Participant of the Yr and led his crew to a championship title. Off the courtroom, he maintains a 4.0 GPA and is dedicated to play basketball at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) subsequent yr. Moreover, Ryan is actively concerned in Key Membership, Particular Olympics, and the Nationwide Honor Society. 

Chrzan has been a member of the Monson Women Varsity program since her seventh grade yr. She was part of the Monson Women Basketball crew that gained the D Varsity Women WMass Championship in 2019 and 2020, in addition to making it to the State Match spherical of 16 and the spherical of 32 thrice. As captain this yr, Olivia led a crew of largely eighth and ninth graders to an look within the WMass Class D Championship Sport and the State Match. Olivia holds the Monson Excessive College scoring document for each girls and boys with 2,287 profession factors. Throughout her senior yr, she averaged a double-double with 28 factors and 12 rebounds per recreation, and posted three triple-double efforts (factors, rebounds and steals). She has been named to First Crew All Western-Mass yearly since seventh grade. She can also be second in her class with a GPA of 100.5. Her future basketball plans are nonetheless undecided.

The Western Mass. Gamers of the Yr will obtain their awards throughout halftime of their respective video games on the Western Massachusetts All-Star Sport on Thursday, March 20, on the Jerry Colangelo Courtroom of Desires on the Basketball Corridor of Fame in Springfield. The primary recreation of the night will function the Class C and D boys’ groups at 5:30 PM, adopted by the women’ matchup at 7:00 PM; the ultimate recreation of the night will showcase the Class A and B boys’ groups at 8:30 PM.

Tickets for the All-Star Video games can be found on the Corridor of Fame field workplace on the evening of the occasion. Every ticket supplies entry to all three video games that night (Adults: $20, College students: $10). Advance tickets may also be bought on-line right here.

Concerning the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame 

Situated in Springfield, Massachusetts, town the place basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame is an unbiased non-profit 501(c)(3) group devoted to selling, preserving, and celebrating the sport of basketball at each degree—women and men, novice {and professional} gamers, coaches, and contributors—each domestically and internationally. The Corridor of Fame museum is house to greater than 475 inductees and over 40,000 sq. ft of basketball historical past. Practically 200,000 folks go to the Corridor of Fame museum annually to study concerning the recreation, expertise the interactive displays, and check their expertise on the Jerry Colangelo “Courtroom of Desires.” Greatest recognized for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the sport’s elite, the Corridor of Fame additionally operates over 70 highschool and collegiate competitions yearly all through the nation and overseas. For extra info on the Basketball Corridor of Fame group, its museum, and occasions, go to hoophall.com and observe @hoophallclassic.