STATE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DONOVAN CLINGAN
Bristol Central, 7-2, Sr., C
Stats: Averaged 30.1 points, 18.4 rebounds and 6.2 blocks per game for the CIAC Division II and CCC champions. Posted six triple-doubles. Shot 72 percent from two-point range and 33.3 percent from 3-point range. Seventh all-time in CIAC history with 2,268 points. Owns school records for career rebounds (1,518) and blocks (540).
Honors: Two-time GameTimeCT and Gatorade State Player of the Year. Fourtime All-CCC and state coaches selection, three-time GameTimeCT all-state pick. McDonald’s All-American finalist. HoopHall Classic First team pick. Selected to play in the JCC Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Classic, the Robert Saulsbury AllStar Game and the CHSCA Boys Basketball All-Star Festival.
Off the court: Volunteers at the Bristol Boys and Girls Club. Donated $2,000 to the club through his winning of the Gatorade POY award.
Up next: Will play at UConn next season.
TYLER BETSEY
Windsor, 6-6, So., G/F
Stats: Averaged 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals per game for the Division I and CCC tournament semifinalists.
Honors: AllCCC and coaches all-state selection.
Off the court:
Honors student.
TYLER FAVRE
Hand, 6-6, Sr., F
Stats: Averaged 18.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks to help Hand win the CIAC Division III state championship, the program’s first. Shot 60 percent from the floor.
Honors: Two-time AllSCC First Team selection. Coaches all-state pick.
Off the court: Weighted GPA of 4.1, high honors student every semester, member of the National Honor Society. Member of the Uganda club, Make A Wish Club, and the Spikeball Club among others.
KEYSHAWN MITCHELL
Capital Prep, 6-9, Sr., G/F
Stats: Averaged 21.1 points, 22.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.5 blocks per game for the Trailblazers, the CRAL tournament finalists.
Honors: All-CRAL First team and coaches allstate selection.
Off the court: Has had perfect attendance. Member of the track and field team.
Up next: Will take a post graduate year at South Kent.
JEYSON SLADE
Westhill, 5-8, Sr., G
Stats: Averaged 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds per game for the Vikings. Finished career with 1,068 points.
Honors: FCIAC Player of the Year, All-FCIAC and coaches all-state selection. FCIAC All-Defensive Team pick. Selected to play in the JCC Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Classic and the CHSCA Boys Basketball All-Star Festival.
MEKHI CONNER
Notre Dame-West Haven, 6-0, Jr., G
Stats: Averaged 11 points, six assists, four steals and four rebounds in an average of 21 minutes per game for the SCC tournament champion and the Division I state finalist. Had 21 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in the Division I semifinals against Windsor.
Honors: Two-time All-SCC selection. Coaches all-state pick.
RILEY FOX
Conard, 6-5, So., G/F
Stats: Averaged 24.3 points. 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the CCC and Division II state tournament semifinalists. Posted school records with 50 points in a game and 632 points in a season (859 in two seasons), helping Conard win the most games ever in a season (22).
Honors: Two-time All-CCC selection. Coaches all-state pick.
Off the court: Has a 4.2 GPA. Two-time AllCCC Academic pick.
ESE ONAKPOMA
Naugatuck, 6-3, Sr., G Stats: Averaged 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists for the Greyhounds, who went undefeated during the regular season and won the NVL tournament title for the second time in the last three seasons.
Honors: Three-time All-NVL and coaches all-state selection. Top senior in the NVL. MVP of the NVL tournament final.
Up next: A postgraduate season among his options.
DYLAN VEILLETTE
Ridgefield, 6-6, So.,
C
Stats: Averaged 19.8 points and 10.3 rebounds for the fourtime FCIAC tournament champions. Scored a career-high of 36 points in the FCIAC tournament semifinals.
Honors: All-FCIAC First team and coaches all-state selection. FCIAC Tournament finals MVP.
Off the court: High honor roll student. Plays in the school band.
MATTY CURTIS
Northwest Catholic, 6-3, Sr.,
G
Stats: Averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3 steals per game for the CCC and Division II state tournament finalists. Finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,911 points.
Honors: Four-time All-CCC selection. Three-time coaches all-state pick. Two-time GameTimeCT all-state selection.
Off the court: Four-year honor roll student.
Up next: Has committed to play at Fairfield University. May take a post-graduate year.
CHRISTIAN MCCLEASE
Wilbur Cross, 6-2, Jr., G
Stats: Averaged 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Governors.
Honors: SCC Player of the Year. Two-time all-SCC selection. Coaches all-state pick.
Off the court:
Has a 3.2 GPA. Honors student who works for the New Haven Athletics Department.
TY STAPLES-SANTOS
Kolbe Cathedral, 6-1, Sr., G
Stats: Averaged 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists for the SWC and Division III state tournament finalists.
Honors: Three-time All-SWC selection. Twotime coaches all-state pick.
Off the court: CoFounder/Instructor of Kolbe Cathedral’s First Chess Club. Current Fairfield County Chess Club Member.