THE SPORTS REPORTS: CORNING'S NOLYN PROUDFOOT NAMED ZIFF LAW FIRM 'BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF YEAR;' CORNING'S CARTER PROUDFOOT, JOHNSTON ALSO EARN ALL-REGION TOP HONORS (April 30, 2026)

The Sports Reports
It was quite a year for boys’ hoops, especially in Corning as the Hawks made history this season. There was also some big performances from other teams across the region as well.

Nobody had a bigger performance than Corning’s Nolyn Proudfoot. The sophomore put up 29.6 points per game this year as he led Corning to the state final four. He also averaged 9.5 rebounds per game, and 2.1 steals per game, making him The Sports Reports All-Region "Boys Basketball Player of the Year."

Joining Nolyn as a major award winner is his brother, Carter Proudfoot. Carter was one of the best full court defenders in the area, and helped the Hawks execute their defensive game plan. Carter also put up 12.2 points per game to go with 2.9 steals per game, while shooting 41-percent on 3-pointers, making him the "Defensive Player of the Year."

Leading this group was Corning coach Mike Johnston. The Hawks had an unbeaten regular season, won the Section IV title, and reached the state semifinals, making Johnston the "Coach of the Year."

Candor’s Jakobe Foster was one of the top scorers in the area. Foster put up 19.7 points per game to go with 8.3 rebounds per game, 5.7 assists per game, and 3.1 steals per game to be the "Offensive Player of the Year."

Athens had a bounce back year, and a big reason for that was the improvement of James Friend. 

Friend proved to be one of the best rim protectors in the area at 4.2 blocked shots per game, plus 8.2 points per game, and 7.6 rebounds per game, making him the "Breakout Player of the Year."

North Penn-Liberty returned to the District IV, Class A game with sophomore Conner Lewis a big reason for that. Lewis put up averages of 8.3 points per game, 10 rebounds per game, and 2.1 steals per game to be the "Newcomer of the Year."

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2025-26 ALL-REGION
BOYS BASKETBALL
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nolan Proudfoot, Corning;
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jakobe Foster, Candor;
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Carter Proudfoot, Corning;
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Conner Lewis, North Penn-Liberty;
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: James Friend, Athens;
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Mike Johnston, Corning.

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2025-26 ALL-REGION
BOYS BASKETBALL
FIRST TEAM
Nolyn Proudfoot, Corning: See above.

Carter Proudfoot, Corning: See above.

Jakobe Foster, Candor: See above.

Kyler Stevenson, Corning: Stevenson scored 17.7 points per game, while grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game, and 2.1 steals per game.

Eli Stanton, Northeast Bradford: Stanton averaged 10.3 points per game, 3.9 assists per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and 2.3 steals per game for the District IV champions.

Andy Hermansen, NP-Mansfield:  Hermansen put up 14.9 points per game with 6.2 rebounds per game, and 3 assists per contest.

Rocco Sayers, Notre Dame:  Sayers scored 18 points per game with four rebounds per contest, and three assists per game for the Section IV champions.

Darien Harris, Elmira:  Harris scored 11 points per game and three rebounds per game, along with being a defensive force.

Hogan Shaw, Waverly:  Shaw scored 17.3 points per game with 3.1 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per contest. He also made 58 3-pointers on the season.

Trey Teribury, Troy:  Teribury scored 16.4 points per game to lead the NTL.

SECOND TEAM
Donald Makie, Candor: Makie scored 18.4 points per game to go with 4.1 rebounds per game while hitting 43 3-pointers on the season.

Boom Thompson, Towanda: Thompson scored 10.6 points per game to go with 5.5 assists per game, 4.7 steals per game, and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Luke Kreger, NP-Liberty:  Kreger scored 13.9 points per game while adding 4.5 rebounds per game, and 3.1 assists per game.

Max O’Connor, Notre Dame:  O’Connor scored 18 points per game and grabbed 3 caroms per contest.

Julian Colon, Elmira:  Colon scored 14.2 points per game, while grabbing five boards per contest.

Jason Harer, NP-Mansfield:  Harer averaged a double-double of 14.4 points per game, and 10.4 rebounds per game.

Darrius Farrell, Towanda:  Farrell scored 11 points per game and grabbed 2.7 steals per game.

Tristan Veruto, Newark Valley:  Veruto scored 12.5 points per game, while shooting 52-percent from the field.

Luukas Carling, SVE:  Carling averaged 17.7 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, and 1.2 blocks per contest.

Gavin Kithcart, Tioga:  Kithcart averaged a double-double of 15.2 points per game, and 10.4 rebounds per game.

THIRD TEAM
Lucas Schultz, Athens:  Schultz scored 13.9 points per game to go with 4.8 rebounds per game, and 2.1 steals per contest.

Colin Fletcher, Wellsboro: Fletcher scored 13.5 points per game while hitting 48 3-pointers on the season.

Cooper Brown, Northeast Bradford:  Brown scored 14.4 points per game and grabbed 4.5 rebounds per game for the District IV champions.

Evan McTish, NP-Liberty:  McTish averaged 14.6 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per contest.

Manelik Jenkins, Notre Dame:  Jenkins was a strong defensive player for the Section IV champions.

James Friend, Athens:  See above.

Carter Rieg, Owego: Rieg scored 12 points per game and grabbed 5.5 rebounds per game.

Kohl Hogue, Corning:  Hogue put up 10.5 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, and 4.7 assists per game.

Marquis Bradley, Edison:  Bradley scored 13.7 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per contest.

Markell Garner, Towanda:  Garner averaged 10.4 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, and 2.7 blocks per game.

Jackson Bombard, Tioga: Bombard averaged 12.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. He canned 21 3-pointers on the season.

2025-26 ALL-REGION NEWCOMERS
Conner Lewis, NP-Liberty: See above.
Aiden Briggs, Athens
Jha Muniz, Edison
Michael Sutryk, Notre Dame
Braiden Judson, Waverly
Jack Pipher, Waverly
Josiah Pesesky, Troy

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