2023-24 Hoosac School Season Preview
Founded in 1889, The Hoosac School is a coeducational college preparatory school for grades 8-12 and post-graduate students in Hoosick, NY, 30 miles east of Albany, near the Vermont border. Six years and one global pandemic ago, Athletic Director, Mike Ryan brought in Bojan Grubisic and Nemo Maric to bring the mens basketball program up to the highest level possible. They have achieved that, and then some. Last year they were a Top 20 team in the New England Prep School computer rankings, competing in the NEPSAC Class AAA. This year, they opened their season with a thrilling 103-102 win over defending National Champion Putnam Science.
Part of the program’s success is due to them tapping into the high level international talent pools, such as the FIBA circuit. Consequently, their 2023-24 roster, head coached by Maric is loaded with national team and college bound talent. Maric could work at the United Nations, in that he has a successfully integrated a team made up of 12 different nationalities:
Unai Fernandez (2024) 6’6 point guard - Fernandez was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. He has a very high basketball IQ and high level court vision. He loves to make the pass and make his teammates better, but is a capable scorer and a very good shooter. As a senior, this is his first year as a point guard, and he is catching his stride, getting better at the role every day. He knows how to use his length. 4.0 gpa
Efstratios Kalliontzis (2024) 6’11 center (La Salle University commit) - This Greek big man is a rebounding machine on both ends of the floor. Very good at positioning himself on both ends of the floor and getting involved in every rebound. He is strong, and likes contact. He has a high IQ, and is a pass first center who loves to make plays for his teammates.
Aleksander Pachucki (2024) 6’6 shooting guard - Pachucki is a Canadian elite sharpshooter. He is the best scorer on the team. He has already had a game with 14 made 3’s this year (against Putnam Science) which topped his 12 made 3’s from last year. He can shoot it off the dribble, off of the catch, or off of staggers. He is a clinic on supreme shooting ability. High IQ player, with a very good ball handling ability too. Coachable and humble. 3.8 gpa
Leo Ryott (2025) 6’8 forward - This junior from Sweden is the role player/teammate that every team needs. He has high energy, a great attitude, and is very very vocal on the court, 3 and D type of player. Coachable, humble, competitor and winner. He made the buzzer beater shot that defeated the defending National Champions in the season opener.
Milos Sarenac (2024) 6’4 small forward - Sarenac is a Swiss Army knife type of player. He can do it all and is often the best player on the court. He can affect the game in multiple ways, making the right reads, creating shots, smart steals, rebounds, score points. His older brother plays for Marshall University. 3.8 gpa
Kani Topuz (2024) 6’8 forward - Team captain. Topuz is a long, athletic, and fierce competitor He plays above the rim and is a very good shooter. This lefty from Turkey brings energy and good attitude every day. Very coachable and eager to learn more. He is being recruited by Fordham University.
Relja Vranesevic (2024) 6’9 forward - Vranesevic played basketball on the same club as Nikola Jokic, and has that same high IQ. He earned his nickname “Baby Jokic” for having the similar style of play. He loves to make the pass, can play with his back to the basket and score with either hands. He is also a really good 3 point shooter. Very skilled with the ball, and has underrated ball handling ability. He uses his IQ on both ends, defensively always making the right rotations on time. 3.9 gpa
Ege Kazicioglu (2024) 6’3 point guard - Kazicioglu is a good ball handler. He played more as a shooting guard, prior to joining Hoosac, so he has a good shot making ability, and is very confident in his shot. This is his first year in the USA, and is getting more accustomed to the style and speed day-by-day.
Maximous “Maxi” Koutouris (2024) 6’6 forward - Koutouris was born and raised in Cyprus. He is a long and athletic wing player. He has very huge hands, and uses those to his advantage. He played for the junior Cypriot National team. He is a smart player, who has worked on his shot and improved it quite a bit.