After putting the finishing touches on brilliant high school careers, these local athletes have taken their talents to the gyms of the local colleges around Worcester County.
With the college basketball season getting underway, Jennifer Toland took a look at some of the those former local high school standouts that hope to make an impact for area college teams.
Former David Prouty star Braden White drives to the hoop for Fitchburg State during a game in 2025 against Castleton,
Braeden White (Spencer/David Prouty)
Fitchburg State
Senior, Guard
White, who was a 1,000-point scorer at David Prouty, has proven his dependability in college while playing in every game of his Fitchburg State career.
Advertisement
Last year, White averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 25 games with five starts.
White helped lead David Prouty to the 2023 Division 5 state final. He matched his career high with 40 points in the Panthers’ semifinal win over Holbrook.
White was the first David Prouty player to reach 1,000 points since 1982.
After an injury-plagued sophomore season, former South High star Cassidy Bonsu is ready to contribute for Nichols.
Cassidy Bonsu (Worcester/South High)
Nichols
Junior, Forward
Former Bartlett High star Ethan Minarik has emerged as a 3-point threat for Nichols.
Ethan Minarik (Webster/Bartlett)
Nichols
Senior, Guard
Nichols’ roster includes a lot of new players, so the Bison will count heavily on Bonsu and Minarik, who both have experience in the system, especially early in the year.
Advertisement
“It’s important the guys that did get a taste of action who are in bigger roles are ready to go and consistent,” Nichols coach Tyler Hundley said. “We’re going to need that to win games early.”
Bonsu was hurt for most of first semester last year. He averaged 3.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 15 games. He scored a season-high 10 points against Gordon and had a season-high 11 rebounds against Endicott.
“Second semester, he had some big, important games for us,” Hundley said. “He definitely improved and he is ready for a good year.”
In 2025-26, Minarik played in all 27 games with 21 starts. He led the team in made 3s (52) and 3-point field goal shooting percentage (48%) and emerged as Nichols’ top 3-point threat.
Advertisement
“He’s one of the few guys that played significant minutes that’s returning,” Hundley said. “He had a good summer and improved a lot. He’s ready for a major role this year.”
Former Hopedale star Patrick Madden has turned into a leader as a sophomore for the WPI men’s basketball team after a success first season as a freshman walk-on.
Patrick Madden (Hopedale)
WPI
Sophomore, Guard
Madden, who was a 1,300-point scorer at Hopedale High, cemented his role as a walk-on at WPI by fitting the model Engineers player.
“This big thing in our culture,” WPI coach Chris Bartley said, “is that we have a lot of hard-working kids that play really hard and are tough kids that are gym rats. Patrick embodies that 100%.”
WPI’s freshmen are following Madden’s lead.
Advertisement
“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. “That’s Patrick’s mindset.”
Madden played in five games last year and tirelessly works on his shooting.
“We’ve had some kids who didn’t play much and then all of a sudden he’s a senior and they’re playing meaningful minutes just because of their perseverance,” Bartley said. “Patrick could be one of those kids.”
Worcester State’s Joe Okla goes against Holy Cross’ Jaden Kirkwood Nov. 26.
Joe Okla (Worcester/North High)
Worcester State
Sophomore, Forward
Okla, who played for Worcester State coach Al Pettway at North High and helped lead the Polar Bears to back-to-back Division 1 state championships, made an immediate impact his first season with the Lancers.
Advertisement
Okla averaged 14.8 points on 58.7% shooting, earned MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors, and helped the Lancers capture the MASCAC title and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
Okla scored 15 points and had nine rebounds in WSU’s win over Westfield State in the MASCAC final.
“I expect him to be a leader again,” Pettway said, “and hopefully get us back to the NCAA Tournament.”
Pettway had Okla work on his jump shot and ball handling over the offseason and said he has improved in both areas.
Okla, who transferred to Worcester State after a year at UMass, is one of three captains for the Lancers.
Advertisement
“We’re expecting him to lead on and off the court,” Pettway said, “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.”
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Plenty of CMass. talent ready to contribute for area college men’s basketball squads
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
