Woodstock Enters the High Level Prep Basketball Arena
The Woodstock Academy is an independent day and boarding, co-educational, college preparatory high school for grades 9-12 and postgraduate. They offer day and boarding students extensive programs in academics, arts, and athletics, supported by state-of-the-art facilities in their STEAM Center and Loos Center for the Arts. It is located in the idyllic rolling hills of Connecticut's northeastern corner, 35 miles west of Providence and 72 miles southwest from Boston.
This summer, Woodstock entered the high level college basketball prep realm in the biggest of ways. Nearby Putnam Science Academy closed due to financial reasons. Staying solvent was not Putnam Science’s strength, but playing prep basketball at the highest of levels was. With the school’s closing, its prep coaching legend, Tom Espinosa moved his program and several of its current pool of players moved over to the greener pastures and better facilities at Woodstock.
While at Putnam, Coach Espinosa had created a dynasty. Among many other successes, his teams had won four of the last five Prep National tournament championships, and he typically sent his entire rotation of players onto play in the college ranks each year.
This year, at Woodstock, they will again be contenders at the highest levels given the players that will suit up, as profiled below. The team is head will compete in both of the nation’s two toughest conferences, Overtime Elite and the New England Basketball League.
The key players in the program are as follows:
Kelvin Clement (2027) 6’5 guard - From Manchester, England, 2025 England National 16u team. Clement is very athletic, springy and a ferocious dunker. He plays tight and aggressive on ball defense. He has been building a pedigree as one of Europe’s top prospects. Video highlights RTB profile
Zack Dawson (2027) 5'11 point guard - From Miami, FL, 2025-26 Sun Sentinel 5A-7A Co Player of the Year. Dawson has speed, toughness, and ability to control games. He is a bucket and is a wizard in the pick-n-roll game. Has received multiple D1 offers, including Iona, Fairfield, Incarnate Word, Hostra, Florida A&M, North Florida and Loyola (MD). Plays club ball with Tre Mann Elite. Video highlights RTB profile
Ty Grudzien (2027) 6'2 guard - Grudzien transferred in from Marianapolis Prep (CT) where he was 2025-26 All NEPSAC B-Small Honorable Mention. An athletic guard, who demonstrates an exceptional skill with ball handling and passing. Grudzien possesses a high IQ of the basketball game and is very unselfish with the basketball. He is a high level playmaker who attacks the basket with aggression and composure always being balanced and on two feet. He has exceptional range and can also stretch out the floor effectively. Grudzien is a tremendous leader who is very vocal on all ends of the floor. He is an exceptional defender who is known to sacrifice his body and make the hustle plays most players often avoid. Plays club ball with Middlesex Magic. 3.6 gpa Video highlights RTB profile
Jason Nistrio (2027) 7'0 forward - Nistrio is a developing big with elite size and a genuine international pedigree. He played for Italy National 20u Team in 2026. In 2024, he played for Italy at the FIBA 17u Basketball World Cup, where they finished as the runner-up to the USA.
Anthony “Ant” Pannell (2027) 7'0 center - Pannell is an emerging rim runner from Bertram High (PA). He has towering height, an enormous wingspan and mobility that makes him a defensive force. He is still fairly new to the game, and building his offensive skill set accordingly, but he looks to follow the same developmental path that Espinosa has used for an impressive list of dominant college bigs. Plays club ball with Philly Pride. PH profile
Ari Ramos (2027) 6’0 guard - Ramos is a combo guard who can stretch the defense with his shooting. His high basketball IQ gets him into the right spots, both offensively and defensively. He possesses a good handle that enables him to handle pressure and run an offense. He can guard the 1-3 positions. 3.8 gpa RTB profile
Jalen Taggart (2027) 6'4 guard - #8 ranked player in New England by Prep Hoops. #12 ranked player in New England by NE Basketball Journal. The #3 ranked prospect in Connecticut by NERR. 2025-26 Big 6 All Conference First Team. 2025-26 New England Basketball League Third Team. 2024-25 New York Section V Class AAA MVP. Taggart is an all around scoring threat, who will go off on scoring sprees. He picks his spots well, sticks the outside shot with consistency and gets in the open floor with a full head of steam. He plays adrenaline and swagger. Has received multiple D1 offers, including Oklahoma State, Hofstra, Fairfield, Iona, LaSalle and Gardner Webb. Plays club ball with City Rocks. NERR profile PH profile RTB profile
Antoine Caughman Jr. (2028) 6’6 guard - From Keenan High (SC). 2025-26 South Carolina AAA Region IV Player of the Year. 2025-26 SCBCA All-State. Caughman has phenomenal positional length and explosive athleticism to make plays game-in, game-out. He has a 5 star’s sweet, high release, high elevation jump shot. Surpassed 1,000 points scored in his sophomore year. Has received multiple D1 offers, including Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Indiana, Coastal Carolina, Ole Miss, California-Berkeley, UCLA and South Carolina. Plays club ball with Upwards Stars SE-3SSB. 3.9 gpa Video highlights PH profile RTB profile
Kyle “Bright” Delves (2028) 6’2 point guard - A transfer from Mount St Charles Academy (RI), #5 ranked player in New England by Prep Hoops. Top New England prospect watch list by NE Basketball Journal. 2024-25 All NEPSAC Class AA as a freshman. Delves is strong, explosive, and athletic, with an elite ability to get downhill and finish with either hand. When he’s not getting to the rim, he has a reliable midrange float game and can also post up both smaller and larger defenders. He has started every game since his freshman year, contributed by scoring, facilitating, and defending. A High Major future likely awaits as his game continues to grow. Has been offered by Wake Forest, Providence, Duquesne, Rutgers, Fairfield University, UAB and Rhode Island. Plays club ball with Team New England. 3.0 gpa NERR profile profile
Isaac Olaniba (2028) 6’8 small forward, Mt St Charles Academy (RI) - #15 ranked player in New England by Prep Hoops. Top New England prospect watch list by NE Basketball Journal. Olanbia is a long, intriguing prospect with a sky-high ceiling. Olaniba is one of the most productive prospects in the region right now. He brings so many tools to the table along with his long frame that make him a legitimate two-way impact. His motor seems never-ending and the consistency at which he plays above the rim results in a bulk of rim-rocking finishes or emphatic blocks as he spikes the ball into the stands. He's still polishing his overall skillset, but there were plenty of flashes with the ball and as a spot-up shooter that make you feel good about the long-term upside with Olaniba. Has been offered by UT Arlington and UAB. Plays club ball for Team New England. NERR profile PH profile
Luca Tignanelli (2028) 6’2 guard - From Toronto, Canada, Tignanelli is a quick release dependable shooter. He enhances that skill by being good at moving without the ball to get open at the right time. He also has the shot fakes, quicks and smarts to make aggressive close-out defenders regret over-playing his long ball threat. 4.0 gpa Video highlights
David Djan (2029) 6'10 forward - The #2 ranked prospect in New England by Prep Hoops. Djan is a high level athlete with impressive physical tools and a motor that runs on high. He has great length and uses it to his advantage as a finisher around the rim, disruptive defender in passing lanes, and shot blocker in the paint. He finishes plays above the rim and does a nice job of rolling out of ball screens or operating as a lob threat off of teammates drives. He does a great job of running the floor in transition, has the agility to guard in space, and shows signs of some comfort making decisions with the ball in his hands. PH profile RTB profile
TJ Espinosa (2029) 6'3 guard - Possesses the highly coveted coach's son game IQ. Espinosa thrives off the dribble, beating players with his handle and rising right into shots. His shot from outside will fall in bunches. RTB profile
Amyas Hall-Chiari (2029) 6’3 guard - From Worcester, MA. Hall-Chiari is a skilled guard who can score in many ways. He is a reliable catch and shoot threat and has the athleticism to blow by defenders off the dribble. With that athleticism he uses it to create a lot of havoc with his on-ball defense. RTB profile
Eric Raskins (2029) 6’1 shooting guard - Raskins is moving up to the prep level after playing varsity for Putnam Science Academy varsity last year. He can shoot the long ball and has a floater game. Video highlights
To accommodate college scout visits, Woodstock holds a schedule of Fall Open Gym runs, the details of which can be found by clicking here.
The team’s 2026-27 game schedule and results can be found by clicking here.