Worcester Academy is Coming Back for More Hardware
Worcester Academy located in Worcester, MA was founded in 1834 by a group of local leaders. The school was initially established as the Worcester County Manual Labor School for Boys, with the goal of combining education with practical work, and later evolved into a college preparatory school for both boys and girls, eventually renaming itself Worcester Academy in 1894. They were key in founding the Worcester Academy Athletic Association in 1885, and along with many other Eastern boarding schools, helped pioneer the growth of athletic competition in the United States.
Their mens basketball team is a college basketball feeder program. It vies annually for a seed in the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AA tournament. In doing so, they face some of the toughest prep school competition in the nation. They have achieved outsized success, including winning the challenging AA tournament last year and in 2023. WA also has a proven track record of getting their athletes in front of hundreds of collegiate coaches through tournaments, open gyms, and in-house events. Among its multitude of former players that have gone on to success at the next levels, includes two current very successful NBA coaches, Rick Carlisle and Michael Malone.
The team's 2025-26 game schedule and results will be found here.
The team is coached by Jamie Sullivan. Coach Sullivan grew up around Worcester Academy and has been with the school since 1998. As head coach since 2011, he has sent players to all levels of college basketball and been named NEPSAC AA Coach of the Year multiple times. A Jamie Sullivan coached team is focused on more than just winning basketball games. They’ll do volunteer work, be visible in the community, and learn life lessons off the court. Each year he looks for players with the same passion he has where he can build a relationship not only on the court but off the court. The 2025-26 roster is again stocked with the college prospects as profiled below.
Anthony DeJohn (2026) 6’4 guard - High motor two-way player. Gifted athlete with a lot of bounce. Plays off two feet. Great footwork in and out of the paint. Bullies guys at the rim. Shoots well off the catch. Scrappy and strong defensively. Takes charges. Plays AAU with Middlesex Magic. NERR profile
Diesel Kahawai (2026) 6’0 guard - A tough 3 & D player, with a quick release. He is a catch & shoot threat with decent range from deep. He hits the backboard hard. Plays AAU with The House We Built. 4.1 gpa Video highlights
Jordan McFadden (2026) 6’2 guard - Combo guard. A smooth shooter who can play off the bounce. Shifty east-west handles. Can finish against bigger defenders. Shot 45% from 3 last season. Plays AAU with The House We Built. Video highlights
Yagiz Yildiz (2026) 6’2 guard, Worcester Academy (MA) Red - An off-the-ball shooter with a good feel finishing. Yildiz takes charges and dives for loose balls. Scrappy. Plays AAU with New England Elite. Video highlights
Cole Blackburn (2026) 6’7 wing - Blackburn is a lengthy and athletic wing with offensive versatility to score the ball at all 3 levels. His skill set allows him to attack both in halfcourt sets and in transition, where his athleticism and ball-handling shine. He is adept at creating his own shot and finishing around the rim. He shoots it well from behind the arc which stretches the floor and forces defenses to extend, opening up opportunities for both himself and his teammates. His agility and athleticism allow him to defend multiple positions while also getting into passing lanes and rebounding the ball. He earned All Independent School League Honorable Mention as a sophomore. Plays AAU for Middlesex Magic. NERR profile
Cole Callahan (2027) 5’8 point guard - Quick release with a clean touch around the rim. Callahan can shoot off the bounce with solid range. Plays AAU with The House We Built. NERR profile Video highlights
Cavan Gardner (2027) 5’10 point guard - A lefty that is a good decision-maker with a clean shot. Plays AAU with Worcester Sting. Video highlights
Josiah Reyes (2027) 6’1 guard - Tight handle with a quick first step. He has a knack for making the right play. He defends 94 feet while keeping offensive players in front of him. Underrated shooter. Plays AAU with Team New England. 3.7 gpa NERR profile Video highlights
Chris Vinson (2027) 6’3 guard - A lefty combo guard with a soft touch and good shooting ability. He has a smooth pull-up from the mid-range. Coming off an injury that kept him out last season. 3.6 gpa Video highlights
Aadarsh Yalamanchili (2027) 6’6 forward - A true sophomore with a long wingspan. He is a shot blocker. He has good footwork and is a capable 3-point shooter. Plays AAU with The House We Built. 3.6 gpa NERR profile Video highlights
Hunter Berry (2028) 6’1 guard - Berry is a skilled guard with a quick handle. He is a great shooter off the catch and bounce. Plays AAU with Middlesex Magic. Video highlights NERR profile
Dylan Lyons (2028) 6’6 wing - Lyons is a great athlete with an intriguing frame. Strong driver. Video highlights NERR profile
Jack Rye (2028) 6’9 forward - Projected to probably grow to 6’11. Rye has a strong finishing ability at the rim. He moves well and is able to score off the bounce. Inside-outside threat. He can make plays out of ball screens and off the catch. Video highlights
Wesley Stromme (2028) 6’1 guard - Stromme is a shooter with the ability to get downhill. He has a good feel offensively. Plays AAU with ASA. 3.5 gpa Video highlights
To accommodate college scout visits, WA holds a schedule of Fall Open runs, the details of which can be found here.