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

With apply 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’ checklist in his graduating class, Osazee is used to the highlight. He calmly swished each pictures, then gave his teammates a lighthearted smirk to remind them that this was mild work.

With the emergence of Osazee, Boston-based Cause Prep Academy has one thing to show in 12 months 2 competing independently towards prep colleges and different elite New England applications. Cause Prep, which opened its season Saturday towards Busche Academy (Chester, N.H.), offers coaching, research corridor, neighborhood 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 yr. He already has provides 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 Cause Prep. “I knew what he might do and what he might be. It simply occurred lots quicker than I believed. From unknown and no provides, in a single yr he’s simply skyrocketed.”

Earlier than Osazee found basketball, he performed soccer, ran observe, and shined as a Gaelic soccer participant in his house nation. When his household moved to Milton, and he was already 6-3, his buddies bombarded him with the inevitable query practically each tall individual has heard sooner or later.

“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 frenzy he obtained 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 really clicked that he might flip this into one thing greater than a pastime.

He ratcheted his coaching to the subsequent degree 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 Faculty and commutes to the South Finish for basketball — takes near 10,000 pictures per week.

In August, Osazee burst onto the scene on the CP3 Rising Stars Nationwide Camp in North Carolina, and he has stored that momentum ever since. He’s happy 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 recreation to that of Milwaukee Bucks famous person Giannis Antetokounmpo, in that he’s aggressive, thrives everywhere in 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 recreation’s evolving each day.”

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

He initiatives as a giant on the subsequent degree, however at Cause Prep, McKinney encourages him and his teammates to point out their versatility and work via 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 neighborhood wanted Cause Prep, as nicely. Some gamers pay, however none greater than $3,500, and the aim is to incorporate anybody who suits in nicely with the tradition.

With assist from assistant Jacob Wren, McKinney recruited lots of his AAU gamers and added a couple of others. Cause Prep even has a Class of 2030 sixth-grader, Rahshjeen Benson, who earns common enjoying 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 a couple of of many others with noticeable expertise.

Lang, who unleashed a deadly behind-the-back stepback at apply, 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 wish an area to get buckets, with an outlet. The gymnasium 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 skill,” Elbeik mentioned, “so coming right here was a no brainer. We’re right here to get higher and exit this yr and show everyone fallacious.”