SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has announced the winners of the 14th annual Western Massachusetts High School Player of the Year awards. Two local students have been honored for their outstanding achievements on the court and in the classroom. Ryan V edovelli - Pope Francis Prep Vedovelli has been a dominant force at Pope Francis, excelling as a four-year varsity starter and two-year team captain. This season, he has averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists per game, leading his team to over 70 victories in his high school career. Vedovelli surpassed 1,000 career points with a standout 25-point performance against Central and cemented his legacy as Pope Francis' all-time leading scorer. At the prestigious Hoophall Classic showcase, he earned Player of the Game honors with a 26-point outing against Holyoke. In addition to his basketball achievements, Vedovelli is a three-time Western Mass. champion and a multi-sport standout, earning All-Western Mass. recognition in basketball, soccer, and baseball. He was also named Western Mass. Player of the Year in soccer, helping his team secure a championship. Off the court, Vedovelli is an exemplary student with a 4.0 GPA and is actively involved in Key Club, Special Olympics, and the National Honor Society. he has committed to playing basketball at Worcester Polytechnical Institute (WPI) next year. “Once again, we celebrate the exceptional seniors chosen as Western Mass. All-Stars and congratulate Ryan and Olivia on earning Player of the Year honors. We have no doubt that these talented young athletes will continue to make Western Mass. proud as they pursue their basketball and academic careers.” John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame Olivia Chrzan - Monson High School Chrzan has been a fixture on the Monson girls' varsity team since seventh grade, playing a pivotal role in Western Mass. championship victories in 2019 and 2020. This season, as team captain, she led a squad made up mostly of eighth and ninth graders to the WMass Class D Championship Game and the State Tournament. She holds Monson High School's all-time scoring record for both boys and girls, finishing her career with an astonishing 2,287 points. Chrzan averaged 28 points, 12 rebounds, and three triple-doubles in her senior season, earning First Team All-Western Mass. honors every year since seventh grade. Beyond basketball, she excels academically, ranking second in her class. Her future plans remain undecided. Vendovelli and Chrzan will receive their Player of the Year awards during halftime of their respective games at the Western Massachusetts All-Star Game on Thursday, March 20. The games will be held at the Basketball Hall of Fame's Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams in Springfield. The evening’s schedule is as follows: 5:30 PM – Class C and D boys' teams 7:00 PM – Girls' All-Star Game 8:30 PM – Class A and B boys' teams Tickets for the Western Massachusetts All-Star Games will be available at the Hall of Fame box offices on the night of the event. Each ticket provides access to all three games. Advance tickets can also be purchased online. Local News Headlines West Springfield celebrates Irish pride and culture on St. Patrick’s Day Belchertown School System faces $2.1 million deficit, Prop 2½ override proposed Basketball Hall of Fame names 2025 Western Mass. Players of the Year Springfield crews put out apartment fire on Carew Street WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less