There may be no better example of the versatility within Rye’s athletic department than the boys basketball team.
Seven members return from last year’s squad that went 17-7 and reached the Section 1 Class AA championship game. Preseason scrimmages were scheduled last Friday and Saturday, but many of the players (not to mention the coach) were a bit tied up that weekend. As you may have heard, the football team was busy winning the school’s first Class A state football championship last Friday in Syracuse.
Boys basketball head coach Tom Proudian is an assistant on the football team, which was led by senior captains Carson Miller and Henry Shoemaker. The duo broke several school and section records while playing alongside senior Sebastian Lewis and junior Luke Denvir, two other standouts who will quickly put the 14-0 football season behind them and join basketball practices just a couple of days later.
One week after claiming a championship in their preferred fall sport, the quartet will aim to add another title to their collection at the season-opening tournament this Friday and Saturday at Mamaroneck.
“We’re very excited for this upcoming season,” Proudian said. “We have a very athletic roster and plan on using their athleticism to our advantage. We had a great run to the section championship game last year, and hope to make it at least one step further this winter.”
Eddie Kehoe, another varsity basketball returner, also pushed his fall season to the max, helping the boys soccer team reach the Class A championship, where they finished as state runner-up. The senior played a major part on the pitch, scoring the goal that clinched the regular-season league championship in October.
Senior Bard College basketball commit Milo Shirakawa and junior Ben Hudson round out a talented core of returners tasked with replacing nine varsity graduates from the class of 2025, including 1,000-point scorer Jake Kessner and key rotation players Rocklan Boisseau, Andrew Wilmarth, Patrick McGuire, and Justin McCarthy.
“We have solid additions coming up from JV who will help bolster our roster and be key contributors, most likely off the bench,” Proudian said.
After the season-opening tournament at Mamaroneck, the Garnets play four straight road games before the holiday break. The home opener is set for Jan. 6 against New Rochelle.
