Worcester Polytechnic Institute commit Ryan Vedovelli named WMass Player of the Year
By Meadow Barrow | MBarrow@masslive.com
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame made an announcement on Monday, revealing the recipients of the 14th annual Western Massachusetts Player of the Year awards: Pope Francis’ Ryan Vedovelli and Monson’s Olivia Chrzan.
“It means so much,” Vedovelli said. “It’s just an awesome, awesome accomplishment, knowing that all the hard work over the years has paid off, and my coaches and teammates pushing me throughout these past four years have been definitely a contribution to this achievement and award that I was able to receive. I was definitely shocked, but definitely happy to win this award.”
As a four-year varsity starter and two-year captain at Pope Francis, he has averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. But what truly sets him apart is his commitment to making others shine. “Definitely scoring, but I love getting everyone around me better, so passing to them, getting them open shots and just being unselfish is great to win games,” Vedovelli said. “I was able to do that with a lot of good players by my side.”
Over the years, Vedovelli has learned invaluable lessons in leadership and teamwork. “Definitely don’t let your actions bring down your teammates, because you’re the leader and you’re leading by example,” Vedovelli said. “So, showing good emotion throughout the games and leading with your voice, and also being a leader in the classroom as well, showing that it’s not just sports, it’s also academics.”
A true force on the court, Vedovelli has helped Pope Francis win over 70 games, all while hitting the milestone of 1,000 career points — a feat he achieved with a 25-point performance against Springfield Central. He also made history as Pope Francis’ all-time leading scorer and was named Player of the Game at the Hoophall Classic, where he put up 26 points against Holyoke.
As a three-time Western Mass. Champion in basketball, Vedovelli has earned recognition across multiple sports. He’s been named to the All-Western Mass teams in basketball, soccer, and baseball. In soccer, he was named Western Mass. Player of the Year, leading his team to a championship title. However, it’s his first Western Mass. basketball championship that he cherishes most. “It was just a great time that season, we were just bonded as a family that year, and it showed that year when we won Western Mass for the first time in Pope Francis School history,” Vedovelli said.
Off the court, Vedovelli’s commitment to academic excellence is unwavering. He maintains a 4.0 GPA and is set to play basketball at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) next year. Beyond sports, he’s actively involved in Key Club, Special Olympics, and the National Honor Society.
His advice for younger athletes? “Everything doesn’t happen overnight,” Vedovelli said. “You’ve got to work hard in the offseason, even if you’re not getting playing time, keep working hard in practice, because the coaches will see your effort. Be smart and do your homework and work in the classroom, and stay after if you need help, because academics are very important in life, and if you don’t have good academics, then you can’t play sports.”