Carlson Named Western Mass Player of the Year
SPRINGFIELD Mass. – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame HAS announced the recipients of the 13th annual Western Massachusetts Player of the Year awards – Khalil Carlson of Monument Mountain Regional High School and Ava Azzaro of Northampton High School.
“We again praise the outstanding seniors who were selected as Western Mass All-Stars, and extend our congratulations to Khalil and Ava on their Player of the Year honors,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “We are certain that each of these talented young athletes will make Western Mass proud wherever they continue their basketball and academic journeys.”
Carlson, a four-year starter for the Monument Mountain varsity team, finished his career with 1,511 points, scoring his 1,000th point on Dec. 14, 2023, in a 97-52 win over Easthampton High School. He broke the school scoring record for boys on Dec. 27, 2023, in a 67-50 win over Clinton High School.
He was selected First Team All-Western Mass two times (2022-23). As a captain this year, Carlson led his team to a 22-2 record, averaging 23.1 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, and advancing to the quarterfinals in the Massachusetts Division IV State Tournament.
On Friday, he was recognized by the Berkshire County high school basketball officials with their annual sportsmanship award.
Outside of basketball, Carlson has been a member of the National Honor Society for two years, and participated with Monument Mountain's inaugural Unified Basketball Team in 2023.
The Western Mass Players of the Year will receive their awards during halftime of their respective game at the Western Massachusetts All-Star Game on Thursday on the Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
The first game of the evening will feature the Class C and D boys’ teams at 5:30 p.m., followed by the girls’ matchup at 7; the final game of the evening will showcase the Class A and B boys’ teams at 8:30.
Tickets for the All-Star Games will be available at the Hall of Fame box office the night of the event and will be good for all three games that evening (Adults: $15, Students: $10). Advance tickets are available online here.
Berkshire County high school seniors chosen for the all-star games include:
Class C and D boys
Frank Field and Joey McGovern, Hoosac Valley; Brendan Ward, Lenox; and Jacob Howland and Walter Mazza, McCann Tech.
Girls
Brooke Bishop, Drury; Charlotte Goodnow, Pittsfield; and Taylor Garabedian, Hoosac Valley.
Class A and B boys
Khalil Carlson, Monument Mountain; Desmond Cobb, Mount Greylock; Christian Maturevich and Jamal Sistrunk, Taconic; Pat McLaughlin, Wahconah; Da'Sean "Nunu" Brown and Malachi Perry, Pittsfield.