2025 Founders Tournament Player Profiles
For the past 34 years, the prep school national powerhouse, St Thomas More School has hosted a mid-season tournament at their campus in Oakdale, CT called the Founders Tournament. The founder being honored is Jim Hanrahan (1923-2006). He founded the St. Thomas More School in 1962 and served as the school's Headmaster until 1997 and Chancellor thereafter. Before founding the St. Thomas More School, he was the third men's college basketball head coach of the Fairfield University Stags from 1950 to 1958. He was inducted into the Fairfield University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.
Given the level of play that teams willing to travel to Oakdale and compete with STM, the tournament always features high talent and high potential players that will go on to be impact players at the collegiate level. This year is no different, and below we profile the college prospects in this year's event.
Schedule
Saturday, January 10
5pm St Thomas More School (CT) vs Team Thetford (QUE)
7pm Lee Academy (ME) vs College Montmorency (QUE)
Sunday, January 11
12pm Consolation Game
2pm Championship Game
St Thomas More School from Oakdale, CT @StThomasMoreBB
Head coach: Jere Quinn 2024-25 game schedule and results
Jaeden Robley (2025) 6’5, 172lbs guard (San Diego, CA) - Robley is a lengthy shooter with a fluid stroke and ability to leverage his catch-n-shoot. He has the height and size to defend a couple of positions, and he is a functional spacer for high volume creator. RTB profile
Tahlan Pettway (2025) 6’2, 135lbs, guard (Worcester, MA) - 2023-24 All NEPSAC Class AA at Masters School (CT). Pettway is a smooth and creative point guard who facilitates the game and scores at different perimeter levels. He is a comfortable midrange shooter who probes between the slots and allows plays to develop. He is a consistent paint toucher and PNR prober. Holds offers from Le Moyne College, Hampton, Le Moyne, Rider and Manhattan. Plays AAU with City Rocks. RTB profile
Kieran Mullen (2025) 7’0, 214lbs forward (Vancouver, BC) - Mullen has real promise as a stretch big. can handle the ball, and he has a strong mid-range game. He is also a good at finishing around the rim. Effective rim runner, vertical protector, foot speed and neuromuscular base to switch. Real promise as a stretch. Low hanging developmental fruit on the offensive side of the ball. Holds offers from James Madison and Montana State. RTB profile
Hiro Inoue (2025) 5’10, 164lbs point guard (Tokyo, Japan) - In his second season with the program, Inoue is a creative scoring guard who relies on his shooting gravity. Productive range extender and OTD shooter. He is comfortable shooting off of lateral and negative movement. He is not a PNR handler but is a solid second-side and late shot clock creator. RTB profile
DJ Hawkins (2027) 6’8, 173lbs forward (Farmington, CT) - Hawkins is a fluid scoring guard who can play between the slots as a PNR threat or on the wings in a secondary handler role attacking tilts. He is a smooth off-the-dribble shooter, and his pace and ability to play at several speeds and levels gives him promising upside as a high usage creator. Offered by Bryant. Plays AAU with Expressions Elite. RTB profile
London Jemison (2025) 6’8, 198lbs small forward (Bloomfield, CT) - (university of Alabama commit) #59 ranked player in the nation by 24/7 Sports. #9 ranked player in New England by Prep Hoops. Jemison is an off-ball scoring wing who builds his offense around his catch and shoot. London shot 42% at the prep level last season from 3 and is at 43.5% on the EYBL circuit. He has the burst to attack tilts and the verticality to pressure the rim and challenge bigs. He is a versatile defender with a 6’10 wingspan and an ability to contain quicker ball handlers between the slots. All NEPSAC, Class AAA as a junior. Received multiple D1 offers, including Virginia, Xavier, Villanova, Notre Dame, Cincinnati and Syracuse. RTB profile
Brandon Benjamin (2025) 6’8, 216lbs, forward (Newark, NJ) - Benjamin is a monster on both sides of the ball. He is great at protecting the paint and collects rebounds at a high rate. He has both jump shooting ability and high level of ability to score in the paint. Benjamin has elite length and a 7’2 wingspan. The wingspan allows him to play a lot bigger, which is saying a lot for a guy who is already 6’8. He has the potential to be a great and versatile MM D1 defender. Absorbs guards phenomenally on switchable exchanges and guards 3-5 seamlessly. Vertical spacer in PNR drop. Catch-n-shoot threat as a popper in small doses. He can attack out of place bigs in closeouts. Holds offers/interest from MAAC, MAC, Sun Belt, A10 level schools. RTB profile
Bryce Goldman (2025) 6’6, 196 lbs small forward (Los Angeles, CA) - (UC Irvine commit) (Currently out with an injury) Led his California high school in scoring, rebounding and assists. 2024 All Stage Gold Division, Compton Magic tournament. He is a scoring guard with a mature frame and a lot of strength. He uses his physicality and pace to find space at multiple levels—and is a shot maker from both 3 and in the midrange. His on-ball creation makes him a comfortable secondary ball handler and his ability to create and find space consistently tilts the floor. Plays AAU with BTI Select. 3.9 gpa RTB profile
Shuto Sakihama (2025) 5’8, 170lbs point guard (Okinawa, Japan) - (Decommitted from Merrimack College in November) Sakiham is a pass-first, processing point guard who facilitates out of the pick-n-roll and digests the entire floor. His burst and handle allow him very consistent and relatively easy paint touches—and he has athleticism that transcends his size which allows him to sneak rim attempts up on the backboard or challenge secondary help if he has a step. He can defend bigger than his position, gets under high-hipped wings nicely and chokes space. RTB profile
Mustapha Esicki (2025) 6’6 guard (Istanbul, Turkey) - Esicki is an exponential finisher in the open court. Plays with pace and is very proficient from behind the arc. Defensively, Mustapha is a good on ball defender, but he is an excellent team defender. Constantly leading his national team in Turkey in tip balls and steals. RTB profile
Christian Humphrey-Rembert (2026) 6’9, 201lbs, small forward (Grand Rapids, MI) - (Brown University commit). Humprey-Rembert is a good off-ball slasher with secondary creation skills and a rapidly improving catch-n-shoot game. Shot has transitioned from flat chin release to consistent and healthy ball height with a good motion. Provides secondary rim protection, handler absorption in a drop, and lengthy gap support. Plays substantially above the rim and can challenge High Major bigs in the restricted area. RTB profile
Harry Scully (2025) 6’3, 192lbs, guard (Dublin, Ireland) - Plays for the Irish National Team, and this will be his inaugural season in the USA. He is receiving a wide spectrum of interest as he had a high usage/scoring role in Ireland this summer. He is a good off-ball shooter and is fair at secondary creation in the midrange. He has a sound feel and is a productive ball mover. RTB profile
College Montmorency from Laval, Quebec @GoNomades
Lee Academy from Lee, ME @LeeAcademyHoops
Head coach: Dan Haynes 2024-25 game schedule and results
Jair Matheis (2025) 5'10 point guard - From Connecticut. Matheis has elite quickness, pure PG with the ability to create for himself and others. He pushes the ball, and he will guard 94 feet. Offered by Siena and Bryant.
Landon Voros (2025) 6'2 guard - From Maine, Voros is a lefty shooter with high level driving finishing skills. He is very crafty with the ball and a high level passer. He has a high IQ and is everywhere on the defensive end. Played 2 years at the AAA NEPSAC level already, has ability to do a postgrad year. Projected to land D2+.
Tyrell Green (2025) 6'1 guard - From Rhode Island, Green is a combo guard, who is very good at getting into the paint and to the rim. He is a good shooter, needs to improve off movement. One of Lee's top defenders. He is strong and has great side-to-side quickness. He is capable of scoring in big bunches. Projected to land at the D2 level.
Austin Omandi (2025) 6'6 small forward - From Kenya, Omandi is an athletic forward, who plays above the rim on both side of the ball. He has long arms and is very good in transition. A versatile defender, who can switch onto any spot, and will rebound. He is also a high percentage 3pt shooter. Projected to land Low Major+. Has received offers from Wilmington College, Hamlin College and Asbury University.
Tejan Rugette (2026) 6'3 guard - From England, Rugette is an athletic and high level guard. He plays above the rim and uses his dribbles with a purpose. He is a crafty finisher, who will also push the ball and can knock down the 3. He is a quick handed defender with a lot of upside. Projected to land Mid Major+.
Grgo Katic (2025) Belgium 6'7 wing - Katic is from Belgium and can score at all 3 levels. He has elite footwork and balance. He is long limbed, strong and will rebound. He is capable of attacking in transition. He will post up smaller defenders or take the bigger ones out of the paint. He has a high release shot. He can guard multiple positions. He is projected to land at the Mid Major level.
Dziugas Pauzuolis (2025) (Senior) 6'3 point guard - From Lithuania, Pauzuolis is a crafty PG with elite vision and passing. He is a lefty shooter, who can get to the rim and finish. He is very good at getting teammates involved. He is an aggressive defender with long arms.
Orestas Seputis (2025) 6'4 wing - From Lithuania, Seputis is a versatile wing with traditional European characteristics. Very good footwork, high IQ and has very good 3pt range. He has long arms and is an active defender. He has decent quickness and is a willing passer. He can attack from perimeter and create for others. Projected to land Low Major.
Markus Navarro (2025) 6'8 forward - From New York, Navarro can score with his back to the basket or from a face up. He has an elite touch around the rim but usually dunks everything he can and finishes hard. He will roll off a screen and understands angles. He is a very good rim protector and has elite hands. He has a solid body and will continue to add muscle. Projected to land Mid Major.
Anthony Troncellito (2025) 6'2 guard - From New Hampshire, Troncellito is a tough, do-it-all guard. He is strong, has a quick first step. He is very good in the mid-range and as a set shooter. He is a high level defender and pursues rebounds. He is projected to land Low Major+.
Terrance Clark (2025) 6'4 guard - Clark is from New York, Clark is an athletic tough scoring guard. He has quick handles, limits his dribbles when he attacks and goes hard. He gets in great finishing position and finishes through contact. He is both a set shooter and a playmaker. Clark is a great on-ball defender. Projected to land Low Major+.
Souleymane Sylla (2025) 6'10 forward - From Mali, Sylla is a long and athletic 4/5, with elite foot work and great touch around the rim He can also shoot mid-range and 3pt shots, and he can score with his back to the basket. He hunts rebounds and will block shots/rim protect. He has a lot of upside. He has decent strength, will be better when he adds some more weight. projected to land Low Major+.
Milos Suput (2025) 6'5 wing - From Bosnia, Suput is an elite shooter, over 43% last two seasons from beyond the arc. He handles the ball well and has a high IQ. He can create his own shot, catch and shoot and shoot from off of movement.
Team Thetford from Thetford Mines, Quebec @Team_Thetford
Head coach: Armel Mampouya
Lajoie Malekusa (2025) 6’4, 195lbs guard - From Brussels, Belgium, Malekusa has a smooth, fluid shooting stroke. He is known for his unselfish play style, and he excels at creating opportunities for his teammates.
Dannick Gagne (2025) 5’10, 160lbs guard - From Beauce, Quebec, Gagne is a dynamic shooter who excels off pin-downs, on the move, and off the dribble. Known for his ingenuity and adaptability, he poses a significant threat from beyond the arc, seamlessly displaying his formidable mid-range skills.
Princeton Ferdinand (2027) 6’4, 172lbs guard - From Montreal, Quebec, Ferdinand is known for his slashing ability and skill at drawing fouls. He has an excellent feel for the game without the ball, using backdoor cuts and intelligent movement to get his points.
Nassim Temime (2025) 6’7, 225lbs power forward - From Marseille, France, Temime is renowned for both his rebounding ability and his ability to find cutters. He is highly effective in pick-and-roll situations with a great ability to pop. He has a smooth shooting stroke.
Kylian Lascot (2025) 6’6, 205lbs forward - From Paris, France, Lascot plays with a relentless motor. He is proficient on the offensive boards. He is defensively versatile, able to guard multiple positions and effectively switch positions during pick-and-roll situations.
Sairic Birba (2027) 6’5, 178lbs small forward - From Matoury, French Guyana, Birba is a great role player, known for his strong defensive impact thanks to his long wingspan. He always plays for the team, never forces anything on offense. His cheerful outlook is a key asset to the team.
Eliott Drouin (2027) 5’9, 140lbs guard - From Levis, Quebec, Drouin is known for his spot-up shooting ability.
Nolan Diba (2027) 6’3 185lbs combo guard - From Ottawa, Ontario, Diba has great skills on both offense and defense. He is a three-level scorer who excels in transition and loves making plays at the elbow. His energy and versatility make him an important player on both sides of the court. Offered by University of Denver.
Insa Sane (2025) 6’8, 215lbs power forward - From Paris, France, Sane is known for his solid defensive rebounding.
Samuel Sande-Kanga (2028) 5’9, 145lbs guard - From Cayenne, French Guyana, Sande-Kanga has a pass-first mentality and good court vision. He is also known for applying pressure 94 feet.