Hoosac School (NY) 2026-27 Player Profiles
Founded in 1889, The Hoosac School is a coeducational college preparatory boarding school for grades 8-12 and post-graduate students in Hoosick, NY, 30 miles east of Albany, near the Vermont border. In 2018, Athletic Director Mike Ryan brought in Bojan Grubisic and Nemanja "Nemo" Maric to build its men's basketball effort into a high level prep basketball program. They have achieved that. Hoosac's AAA team played its inaugural season in 2018-19, and four of its five starters from that first year went on to earn full DI scholarships. Since then, Hoosac has regularly sent graduates on to D1 programs and has beaten national powers such as Brewster Academy and Northfield Mount Hermon. Many of Hoosac's players also train year-round with the International Sports Academy (ISA). They live in ISA's dormitory, just yards from its basketball court, while completing their academic program at Hoosac. The result is a level of daily, basketball-specific development.
This season the program again has two teams of college prospects. The AAA team, coached by Aleks Mijenovic, competes in the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AAA division and the Power 5 AAA conference. The AA team, coached by Maric, competes in the New England Independent Prep League (NEIPL) AA and the Power 5 AA conference. A significant part of the program's success comes from tapping into high-level international talent pools, such as the FIBA circuit. Consequently, Hoosac's rosters are loaded with foreign national team, college-bound talent. Below, we profile the AAA team's 2026-27 roster
Yunxi Chen (2027) 6’1 guard - From China, Chen is a competitive and versatile backcourt player who brings scoring ability, playmaking, and energy to the court. Chen is comfortable handling the ball, creating his own shot, attacking the basket, and finding teammates in scoring positions. He can also space the floor with his perimeter shooting and uses his quickness to make an impact defensively. His ability to play both guard positions gives him versatility within different offensive systems. As he continues to develop his strength, consistency, and decision-making, Chen is building himself into a well-rounded guard with the potential to compete at the next level.
Avery Council (2027) 6’1 point guard - From Rochester, NY. He is a versatile guard who excels at finishing around the basket, shooting from the perimeter, and creating opportunities for his teammates with his passing. Council brings strong work ethic, competitiveness, and consistency to the court, always looking for ways to improve his game. He takes pride in working hard to accomplish his goals and is committed to developing as both a player and teammate. His ability to score, make plays for others, and compete at a high level makes him a promising prospect with a strong desire to play at the next level.
Emrik Diarra (2027) 6’1” shooting guard - From Montreal, Quebec, during the 2023–2024 season, Diarra won a state championship in Canada with his high school team. A quick and competitive guard, he brings energy and intensity on both ends of the floor. He is a strong three-point shooter who can score in multiple ways, create opportunities for his teammates, and use his basketball IQ to make effective decisions. Defensively, he takes pride in guarding the perimeter and competing on every possession. Diarra continues to develop his game with the goal of becoming a complete player and competing at the collegiate level.
Aleksandar Dikic (2027) 6’8 forward - From Vienna, Austria, Dikic has standout three-point shooting and ballhandling skills. Dikic played in Austria for six years, competing in the Austrian First League, EYBL, and numerous other tournaments. For the last three years, he played with Cacak94 in the top league in Serbia. He has also competed in both the third and first Serbian men’s leagues and was invited to the Serbian National Team training camp. His ability to push the ball in transition, stretch the floor, and play effectively from the post makes him a very interesting player for the upcoming season.
Kaan Guler (2027) 6’4 guard - Guler is a versatile player on both ends of the floor. With his size, long wingspan, and court vision, he creates opportunities for teammates and finds big men inside. He is a confident shooter and scorer who can attack the basket, score from mid-range, and knock down shots from outside. Defensively, he uses his length and basketball IQ to guard multiple positions. Guler has competed in Grind Session competition against top recruits in the country. He brings a competitive mindset and is willing to do whatever his team needs to win. Whether scoring, defending, or creating for teammates, Guler finds ways to impact the game.
CJ Johnson (2027) 6’4 guard - An athletic wing who plays with an aggressive and versatile style. He is a strong downhill attacker who can get to the rim and finish above the rim with powerful dunks. He can also create his own shot from all three levels and is a high-energy defender who uses his athleticism and physicality to make an impact on both ends of the court. Overall, CJ’s game is built around his athleticism, scoring ability, versatility, and aggressive approach.
Peter Li (2027) 6’5 guard - Li's game is built around shooting, defensive grit, making plays for others, aggressive rebounding, movement without the ball, and team-oriented play. Li is an elite teammate on and off the court, always displaying strong body language and leadership. At his size, he has the physical profile to operate primarily as a shooting guard while also playing as a wing when needed. His handle assists the point guard’s efforts to bring the ball up, while his mix of American and European playing styles allows him to fit into a variety of offensive systems. Available scouting evaluations suggest a player who contributes in several areas in addition to high-volume scoring. 4.0 gpa 1400 SAT
Mihajlo Malinic (2027) 6’10 forward/center - From Novi Sad, Serbia, Malinic is a versatile forward with the vision of a point guard. He has represented Serbia twice, most recently at the 18u EuroBasket Division B, where he averaged 7.3 rebounds per game in just 16.1 minutes per game—the highest rebounds-per-minute average in the tournament. He also has prior experience competing in Division A the summer before. Malinic most recently played in Spain and has a natural ability to push the ball and go coast-to-coast. He has a strong left hand and is highly confident finishing with it, making him a unique threat for a player his size. Overall, Malinic's versatility makes him an exciting prospect.
Lazar Milovanović (2027) 6’9 wing - Milovanović has experience competing in Serbia’s First League. He possesses an elite combination of size, athleticism, and skill, with an exceptional vertical jump that allows him to elevate well above the rim and play with tremendous explosiveness. Lazar is an outstanding shooter with a smooth, confident stroke and the ability to consistently knock down shots from the perimeter, making him a serious threat from the outside. Despite his size, he moves extremely well and has the versatility to score in multiple ways. He also has excellent court vision and is an unselfish, highly effective passer who can create opportunities for his teammates. His combination of size, elite jumping ability, shooting, playmaking, and versatility makes him a highly intriguing prospect.
Petar Vasović (2027) 6’6 small forward - From Serbia, Vasović is a versatile player who combines size, athleticism, and skill on both ends of the court. He can attack the basket, finish above the rim, shoot from the perimeter, and use his length and athleticism to make an impact defensively. He has played basketball at a high level in Serbia and continues to develop his game while competing in the American style of basketball. His work ethic, athletic ability, and willingness to improve make him an exciting young player with a high ceiling.
Marios Finokaliotis (2028) 6’3 guard - From Greece, Finokaliotis has competed at the highest 18u level in Europe with Olympiacos Piraeus. He can run the floor with his playmaking, operate effectively behind the arc, lead the team, and create opportunities for teammates from anywhere on the court. His unique skill set and high ceiling make him an intriguing prospect in today’s game and a valuable addition to any team.
Samuel Li (2028) 6’3 point guard - Originally from mainland China, Li has been playing basketball in the United States for the past three years. Li represented the Chinese National 15u Team in 2025, played professional basketball overseas with Hong Kong Eastern this past summer, and recently competed with the San Francisco Pro-Am team against multiple D1 prospects and professional players. He is a highly skilled defender who can pick up full court and apply pressure from 94 feet, while also creating opportunities for his teammates from anywhere on the court. Li brings strong court vision, competitiveness, and energy to both ends of the floor.
To accommodate college scout visits, Hoosac holds a schedule of Fall Open Gym runs, the details of which can be found by clicking here.
The AAA team’s 2026-27 game schedule and results can be found by clicking here.
The AA team’s 2026-27 game schedule and results can be found by clicking here.