Sean Harrigan of Taconic and Yamirelis Matos of Chicopee Receive Top Honors
Springfield, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the recipients of the 11th annual Western Massachusetts Player of the Year awards – Sean Harrigan of Taconic Vocational High School and Yamirelis Matos of Chicopee High School.
“We once again praise the outstanding seniors who were selected as Western Mass. All-Stars, and we congratulate Sean and Yamirelis on their Player of the Year honors,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “We wish all these remarkable young athletes well and know they will make Western Mass proud as they continue their basketball and academic journeys.”
Sean is a 4-year member of the Taconic basketball program. As a sophomore, Sean was a starting guard on their State Championship Team. He is a returning All-Berkshire/All-Western Mass guard and a tremendously talented quick, fast, athletic player who is a matchup nightmare for the opposition. Sean is one of the top scorers in the region finishing the regular season averaging 18 points per game, thanks to a variety of deep and midrange shots as well as floaters and runners in the lane to score. Sean is also one of the best defenders at his position and he has turned into one of the better rebounding guards in the area. Sean is a clutch player who saves his best for when the game is on the line. He simply does everything and more on the floor and is the leader of their team. Sean also excels in football as well as track. Sean will continue his education in the fall and play basketball and possibly football. He has yet to decide on prep school he will attend.
Yamirelis is a rare type of player. She is relentless in her pursuit of reaching her full potential both as a player and a person. Not only does she shine on the basketball court, she also maintains a 4.0 GPA, is a two year member of National Honors Society, participates in the Best Buddies program and coaches youth basketball. Yami embodies what all student-athletes strive to be. She is an outstanding student and member of the community, and she takes every moment on the court as a chance to challenge herself and improve. She was the sole captain this season for Chicopee and never took that role lightly. Not only was she the program’s leading scorer, but she was also a pillar of emotional and mental stability for the team. She is an incredible leader; no matter how the game is going, she always works to her full capacity, contributing to the team in any way she can, whether that’s scoring, rebounding, steals, hustle plays or assists. Her teammates can always count on her to show up, work hard and to fulfill her role on the team. She will be attending Wilkes University in Pennsylvania to study pharmacy and play basketball.
The Western Mass Players of the Year will receive their awards during halftime of their respective game at the Western Massachusetts All-Star Game on Friday, March 25, on the Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. The first game of the evening will feature the Class C and D boys’ teams at 5:30 p.m., followed by the girls’ matchup at 7:00 p.m. The final game of the evening will showcase the Class A and B boys’ teams at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets for the All-Star Games will be available on at the Hall of Fame box office the night of the event and will be good for all three games that evening (Adults: $10, Students, $5).
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame Museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame Museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.