The Rye Boys Basketball team advanced all the way to the Sectional championship game in 2025 under first-year head coach Tommy Proudian. With a full year of experience under his belt, and a strong group of returning players, there is plenty of buzz around the Garnets ahead of the 2026 campaign.
“We are very excited for this upcoming season,” Proudian told MyRye.com. “We had a great run to the Section championship game last year, and hope to contend for the Class A Section championship.”
The roster experienced some turnover, most notably losing four-year starter Jake Kessner to graduation, but the pieces are still there for Proudian. “We have a very athletic roster with seven returners and solid editions coming up from JV that will help bolster our roster and be key contributors off the bench this season,” the head coach told MyRye.com. “We plan on using our depth and athleticism to our advantage.”
Both Carson Miller and Henry Shoemaker were crucial contributors as juniors in 2025, and will step into even larger roles as seniors this winter. They will both serve as co-captains for the Garnets in their third year at the varsity level.
“[They are] incredible young men who are unselfish and very well respected by all their teammates,” Proudian described Miller and Shoemaker. “[They] set great examples of hard work and dedication to hone their craft.”
The Garnets have a streaky schedule on tap for the upcoming season, with a five-game road trip to start the year, counterbalanced by a six-game homestand from late January into February. The action kicks off on December 12 against Byram Hills, who the Garnets host on January 9. That home matchup kicks off a string of four consecutive home Friday night games – 1/9 vs Byram Hills, 1/16 vs Suffern, 1/23 vs Eastchester, and 1/30 vs Woodlands. “Because it’s Friday night, [there is] always great energy and atmosphere,” Proudian said.
The regular season finale is yet another game Rye has circled on the schedule – a road contest against perennial Catholic League powerhouse Iona Prep on Friday, February 13. The game wraps up a busy, exciting schedule for the Garnets, who are looking to build off of a 17-7 record last year and a Sectional championship game appearance.
