Milton’s Vincent Osazee, the state’s high 2026 basketball prospect, is flourishing with Purpose Prep Academy

With follow winding down, and all eyes fixated on him within the fourth-floor gymnasium of the Northampton Sq. complicated within the South Finish, Vincent Osazee stepped to the free throw line as his teammates playfully serenaded him with “Over-rated!” chants.

The 16-year-old Osazee didn’t appear to thoughts. Because the state’s high participant within the Class of 2026, and No. 65 on Rivals’ record in his graduating class, Osazee is used to the highlight. He calmly swished each photographs, then gave his teammates a lighthearted smirk to remind them that this was mild work.

With the emergence of Osazee, Boston-based Purpose Prep Academy has one thing to show in 12 months 2 competing independently in opposition to prep faculties and different elite New England packages. Purpose Prep, which opened its season Saturday in opposition to Busche Academy (Chester, N.H.), supplies coaching, examine corridor, group service, and mentoring alternatives to predominantly inner-city gamers with a zest for basketball.

The 6-foot-8-inch Osazee, a four-star prospect who grew up in Eire and moved to Milton at age 11, found basketball at 12 and has exploded onto the nationwide scene over the previous 12 months. He already has gives from Rutgers, Arizona State, George Mason, and extra, and excessive curiosity from Wake Forest and Arkansas. Final month, he toured Boston School and Harvard.

“I noticed the potential in him,” mentioned Timmance McKinney, co-founder and head coach of Purpose Prep. “I knew what he may do and what he may very well be. It simply occurred lots sooner than I assumed. From unknown and no gives, in a single 12 months he’s simply skyrocketed.”

Earlier than Osazee found basketball, he performed soccer, ran observe, and shined as a Gaelic soccer participant in his residence nation. When his household moved to Milton, and he was already 6-3, his buddies bombarded him with the inevitable query almost each tall individual has heard in some unspecified time in the future.

“Do you play basketball?”

“I picked up a basketball,” Osazee mentioned, “and it modified my life.”

Osazee recalled his first three-on-two, two-on-one drill, and the push he bought as he laid the ball up and into the ring. He first dunked in eighth grade and began taking his craft extra significantly. That’s when it actually clicked that he may flip this into one thing greater than a passion.

He ratcheted his coaching to the subsequent stage and began waking up as early as 4:30 or 5 a.m. to get to the courtroom by 6. Now, Osazee — who has a 4.0 grade-point common at Milton Excessive College and commutes to the South Finish for basketball — takes near 10,000 photographs per week.

In August, Osazee burst onto the scene on the CP3 Rising Stars Nationwide Camp in North Carolina, and he has saved that momentum ever since. He’s pleased with himself for the way far he’s come and is making certain he unlocks his full potential.

Teammate Treyvon Morning, a postgrad guard from Dorchester, likened Osazee’s sport to that of Milwaukee Bucks famous person Giannis Antetokounmpo, in that he’s aggressive, thrives all around the courtroom, and has a relentless motor.

Fellow teammate Mazen Elbeik put it merely: “He’s going to be a monster.”

“He’s by far the hardest-working child I’ve ever coached,” McKinney mentioned. “He’s nonetheless working. His sport’s evolving each day.”

Osazee, who averaged 16 factors and 10 rebounds in 12 months 1, determined to hitch Purpose Prep due to his relationship with McKinney. His dad and mom most popular that he keep residence and face premier competitors.

He tasks as an enormous on the subsequent stage, however at Purpose Prep, McKinney encourages him and his teammates to point out their versatility and work by means of errors. As Osazee put it, he can “play with freedom.” McKinney is aware of that setbacks occur. It’s all about the way you get better.

McKinney, a Jamaica Plain native, has devoted his life to serving to native athletes keep away from falling into the identical traps he did. He was on observe to play Division 1 basketball, however his grades prevented him from doing so.

He launched the Undivided Basketball AAU program, and he and his sister, Leanna Knight Armstrong, determined the group wanted Purpose Prep, as effectively. Some gamers pay, however none greater than $3,500, and the aim is to incorporate anybody who suits in effectively with the tradition.

With assist from assistant Jacob Wren, McKinney recruited a lot of his AAU gamers and added just a few others. Purpose Prep even has a Class of 2030 sixth-grader, Rahshjeen Benson, who earns common taking part in time.

Osazee is the face of this system, however 6-9 Class of 2027 massive Logan Lang, shifty 2026 guard Adrian Howell, and the postgrad guard Elbeik are just a few of many others with noticeable expertise.

Lang, who unleashed a deadly behind-the-back stepback at follow, already has a proposal from Excessive Level College. Howell has a killer crossover and particular really feel for the sport. The 6-5 Elbeik, a Jamaica Plain resident who glides across the courtroom and options an elite fadeaway, has garnered curiosity from UMass Lowell and Stonehill.

McKinney is all about offering children who love the sport, and want an area to get buckets, with an outlet. The health club isn’t glamorous, however it has hoops, basketballs, and coaches and gamers who care deeply.

“Coach T was one of many first coaches to ever imagine in me and my capability,” Elbeik mentioned, “so coming right here was a no brainer. We’re right here to get higher and exit this 12 months and show all people unsuitable.”