2025-26 SALEM NEWS BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ELIAN RODRIGUEZ
Salem Junior
Point guard
It was a one-of-a-kind boys basketball season on the North Shore. But no player did as much in the biggest moments of the biggest games as Salem High’s one-of-a-kind talent, Elian Rodriguez.
The Northeastern Conference Player of the Year, Rodriguez took over from the get-go in the Division 3 state championship contest against Hanover. He scored a game-high 27 points to guide the Witches to their first championship since 1995, controlling the game equally with his inside and outside shooting, his distribution and his next level defense.
“I know he’s only a junior,” head coach Tommy Doyle recounted more than once during his team’s playoff run, “but (Elian’s) a special, special player.”
For the season, Rodriguez averaged 22.1 points per game and shot 47 percent from the floor. He led the North Shore in assists per game with 5.3 per game while grabbing 4.2 rebounds. Defensively, he had 62 steals plus nine blocks.
Elected a team captain as a sophomore, Rodriguez’ leadership came through in the playoffs where he surpassed 25 points in four of five games, including 33 against Charlestown and 30 against both Lowell Catholic and Lynn Classical. In the postseason, he averaged 27 points in five Witches’ victories.
Rodriguez scored a North Shore best 574 points this winter, giving him 1,377 for his three-year varsity career. His season-high in scoring was a 40-point outburst against Winthrop (in just three quarters of play), and he scored 25 or more on nine occasions, including 25 in a victory over arch rival Beverly on the road.
Becoming one of the only juniors to ever reach the 1,000-point milestone at Salem High, Rodriguez will be a four-year varsity player with the opportunity to re-write some of the Witches’ all-time records next winter.
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FINN BARON
Marblehead Junior
Guard
Selected as Magicians’ team MVP … All-Northeastern Conference choice … Played both point guard and shooting guard as a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder … Scored 33 points, hitting 4-of-5 three-pointers, to go with eight rebounds, four assists and four steals in a win over Gloucester … Team captain averaged 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals per game … Named MVP of the Larry McIntire IAABO Board 130 Tournament … Owner of a 3.4 GPA … Wants to play college basketball … Older brother Adrian, who is in the gym every day at 5 a.m., inspires him to get better.
THAD BROUGHTON
Peabody Sophomore
Guard
Did it all for the Tanners, averaging 15.5 points per game (11th in the region) along with 8.9 rebounds (4th locally) and 3.9 assists (10th) … One of only three players to rank in the top 11 on the North Shore in all three categories … Chosen as a Northeastern Conference all-star … Scored a season-high of 25 points against Danvers … Had a monster stat line against Gloucester with 20 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals … Now a two-time Salem News all-star.
CONNOR CHIARELLO
Swampscott Senior
Guard
Deadly scorer averaged 18.0 points per game … One of the best slashers on the North Shore could create opportunities off the dribble with speed and precision … Excellent distributor averaged 4.1 assists per game … Northeastern Conference all-star surpassed 25 points in three different games … Had a season-high 28 in win over arch rival Marblehead … Had 42 total 3-pointers … Handled the ball under pressure in his team’s upset win over eventual state champion Salem … Career 1,000 Point Club member graduates with nearly 1,400 career points.
CLETO DENG
Salem Freshman
Forward
Arrived on the Witches varsity and transformed the paint on both the offensive and defense ends … Ripped down 214 rebounds (8.2 per game) and racked up 67 blocks … Deadly around the rim and on putbacks, shooting 61 percent from the floor … Scored at an 8.5 per game clip … Selected as a Northeastern Conference all-star … Impressive double-double in home win over Division 2 state champion St. Mary’s Lynn … Had 18 rebounds in playoff win over Charlestown … Never got out-muscled on defense … Credited with 25 steals.
THOMAS DENTON
Masconomet Junior
Forward
A 6-foot-5 force in the frontcourt for the Division 2 state runners-up and Northeastern Conference Dunn champions … Averaged a double-double at 14.7 ppg. and 10.7 rebounds a night, the only player in the Salem News coverage are to do so … Has crafty post moves to go with outside shooting and made 32 3-pointers … Averaged 3.1 assists per game … Defensive tower in the paint averaged 2.4 blocks … Captained Chieftains to a second straight Final Four and their first-ever Division 2 state title game appearance … Season-high of 28 points vs. Danvers … Scored 20 in comeback playoff win over Pope Francis … First-team All-NEC pick.
JIMMY FARRELL
Masconomet Senior
Guard
Made his signature pull-up jumper in the final minute to send Masconomet to its first-ever state final and cement his spot as the winningest player in program history … Graduates No. 2 on the Chieftains’ all-time scoring list with 1,221 points … First Team All-Northeastern Conferencec … Averaged 19.7 points per game, leading his squad … One of two players to rank in the area Top 10 in scoring, rebounds (7.1) and assists (4.8) … Also had 3.6 steals per game and shot an outstanding 86 percent from the foul line … Two-year captain guided Chieftains to back-to-back Division 2 Final Fours.
ELI LANDMAN
Beverly Junior
Guard
All-around reliable player at both ends of the floor for the Panthers, helping them reach the Division 1 state quarterfinals … Averaged 14 points a game along with four assists and three rebounds … Named to the All-Comcast Tournament team, buoyed by a 20-point, 7-rebound effort in a win over Abington … Northeastern Conference all-star … Terrific student is the owner of a 3.9 GPA … Wants to play college basketball … Said that his father Josh, who played college soccer at Notre Dame, has shown him what true dedication and work ethic is.
NATE LANE
Salem Senior
Guard
Captained the Witches to an unforgettable season and their first state championship since 1995 … Versatile performer shined at both ends of the floor while being voted All-Northeastern Conference … Averaged 14.2 points per game, second-best for the Witches, while shooting 42 percent from the floor … Ripped down 6.0 rebounds per game to go with 4.3 assists … Had 65 steals and 13 blocks … Team captain scored 19 points in state semifinal triumph over Lynn Classical … Drained two free throws in waning seconds of state final vs. Hanover to seal the title … Two-time Salem News all-star scored 26 points in a win over Saugus … Scored 12.8 ppg in the playoffs.
MATT KENNEY
Salem Junior
Guard
Swiss Army Knife at both ends for the Division 3 state champions from Salem … Earned a Northeastern Conference all-star nod … Averaged 6.8 points per game with an efficient offensive game, shooting 43 percent … Handed out 2.7 assists per game … Came up with 47 totals steals … Scored 10 points and enjoyed a great all-around game in win over Hamilton-Wenham … Shined in playoff triumph over Lynn Classical and in the Division 3 state final win over Hanover at Tsongas Center.
JACOB KLASS
Beverly Senior
Point guard
Leaves the Panthers’ boys basketball program as one of its best-ever players and its all-time leading scorer with 1,407 points … Averaged 23.8 points per game along with four assists and 3.6 rebounds a night … All-Northeastern Conference choice … The 5-foot-10, 175-pound lefthander was a two-time team captain … Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic All-Tourney Team member … Comcast Tournament all-tourney team … Had 30 points, six assists and four rebounds while breaking the school’s all-time points mark in playoff game vs. Quincy … Loves the competitiveness and drive that drove Kobe Bryant to greatness.
MARCUS MAGLOIRE
St. John’s Prep Sophomore
Shooting guard
The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder from Lynn was the top scorer for the Eagles this winter, averaging 17.8 points a night … Also pulled down 6.8 rebounds, had over one steal and game and was successful on 82.2 percent of his free throws … Team MVP … Catholic Conference all-star … Had his strongest game at powerful Malden Catholic with 28 points, 14 rebounds and three assists … Excellent weighted GPA of 4.36 … Hopes to earn a full scholarship to play Division 1 college basketball .. Said he gets his work ethic from his father.
DAMON MATARAGAS
Bishop Fenwick Sophomore
Guard
Represented the Crusaders as an all-star in the Catholic Central League, one of the state’s deepest conferences … Led the Crusaders in scoring at 14.8 points per game … Dynamic creator with the ball in his hands also led his team in assists … Season high was 27 points against Lynnfield … Paced Fenwick with 15 points in a win over crosstown rival Peabody … Also scored 24 against Cathedral … Danvers native also pulled down over five rebounds per game … Repeat Salem News all-star.
JORDAN MAXSON
Pingree Sophomore
Point guard
Salem native had another spectacular season, averaging a North Shore best 31.0 points per game … Had a 51-point performance vs. Concord Academy, tops on the North Shore this winter … Had multiple 30-plus point contests as well as double-double games … Pingree’s team MVP … All-Eastern Independent League (EIL) choice … The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder has already played four varsity seasons, including one each at Salem Academy as an eighth grader and Salem High as a freshman before reclassifying at Pingree … Carries a 3.2 GPA … Wants to play Division 1 college basketball … Motivates himself by striving to get better every single day.
CESAR MESA CASTILLO
Salem Senior
Forward
Came up with the defensive play of the year when he stole an inbounds pass vs. Hanover with 22.1 seconds left in the Division 3 state final to seal Salem’s first state crown since 1995 … Named a Northeastern Conference all-star … Had 55 steals, with 10 of those coming in the playoffs … Ranked second among Witches with 16 blocked shots … Pulled down 4.4 rebounds per game … Played an aggressive brand of defense but seldom found himself in foul trouble … At his best against top foes including wins over St. Mary’s Lynn, Masconomet and Beverly.
TEDDY O’NEILL
Swampscott Sophomore
Guard
One of the North Shore’s most prolific scorers had six outings with at least 25 points and averaged 21.0 points per game … Ranked fifth on the North Shore in scoring … First Team All-Northeastern Conference choice helped the Big Blue earn a No. 4 seed in the Division 3 playoffs … Made 52 3-pointers … At 6-foot-2 can both drive and shoot … Averaged 3.7 assists per game … Career-high of 42 points came against Winthrop and included seven triples … Plans to play at Tabor Academy next year.
DANNY PIERCE
Beverly Senior
Forward
Panther captain and emotional leader averaged over nine points a game and led the squad in charges … The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder never had a problem getting his nose dirty under the boards … Northeastern Conference all-star … Scored 17 points with seven rebounds and three assists vs. Malden Catholic … Also quarterbacked the Beverly High football team and is also a BHS baseball standout … Great student with 4.1 GPA … Going to UMass Amherst to study Sport Management.
REX SATTER
Ipswich Junior
Point guard
Helped push the Tigers to their first playoff berth in a decade while averaging 17.6 points a night … Team captain also had 5.4 rebounds, a team-high 4.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game … Shot 38.3 percent from 3-point land … Made 75 percent of his free throws … First Team Cape Ann League all-star … Poured in 31 points at Hamilton-Wenham on their senior night to topple Ipswich’s arch rivals … Outstanding student carries a 4.23 GPA … Would like to play college basketball … Greatly influenced by former Celtics great Isaiah Thomas and his formula for shooting well while playing with quickness.
CADEN SCHROCK
Hamilton-Wenham Senior
Forward
One of the most accomplished athletes in Generals’ program history became the fifth boy to reach 1,000 career points at H-W … Also the fifth member of his family to do so, joining his father, grandfather and two cousins … One of two players on the North Shore to rank in the top 10 in scoring (16.3 ppg.), rebounds (7.4) and assists (4.4) … Scored career high 32 against Lynn English in the Patton Tournament … Tremendous football and baseball player plans to do a post-graduate year for the 2026-27 school year.
KYLE SILLARS
Danvers Senior
Guard/Forward
Falcons’ captain led his team in scoring by dropping in 15 points a contest … Also had nightly averages of five rebounds, 3.5 assists, and two steals per game … Chosen as a Northeastern Conference all-star … Named MVP of the BankGloucester Holiday Jamboree after scoring 37 points and dishing out 11 assists in two Danvers victories … Put forth a terrific outing vs. Winthrop with 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a win … Excellent student carries a 4.0 GPA … Wants to get a bachelor’s degree in computer science in college … Said his father has always been there for him to improve both physically and mentally.
CAL WEIDMAN
Masconomet Senior
Guard
Northeastern Conference all-star was the definition of 3-and-D for the Dunn champion Chieftains … Unselfish player frequently guarded the opposition’s top threat and expended his energy on the defensive end … Shined in the big moments; for example making a late stop in road win over Beverly to clinch the Dunn crown … Captained Chieftains to their first-ever state finals appearance … Caught fire from deep in the third quarter of the state final and finished with 10 points … Masconomet’s all-time leader in receiving in football and a three-sport captain … Will play football at Bentley University.
HONORABLE MENTION
Beverly: Dom Panniello-Torres, Sr. G/F; Andrew Braganca, Jr. F.
Bishop Fenwick: Jake Bellacini, Sr. G; Vincent Finocchio, Sr. G.
Danvers: Luca Tirella, Sr. F; Connor DiTomaso, Sr. G.
Hamilton-Wenham: Charlie Byers, Sr. G; Alex Menegoni, Sr. G; Luke Molitano, Sr. F/G.
Ipswich: Vin Winter, Sr. SF; Anderson Pillis, Soph. C.
Marblehead: Tommy McGovern, Soph. F; Cam Weaver, Sr. F; Finn Gallup, Sr. G.
Masconomet: Ryan Richardson, Sr. G; Matteo Stefanelli, Jr. F.
Peabody: Jeremiah Agbonavbare, Jr. F; Mark Mendonca, Jr. F.
Pingree: Mikey Ellard, Sr. F; Sami Welsh, Jr. G.
Salem: Sean Murphy, Soph. G.
St. John’s Prep: Brian Norton, Sr. G.
Swampscott: Michael Lutko, Soph. F; Chase Groothuis, Sr. F.