After a historic 2024 season, the Foran boys’ basketball team looks to keep momentum rolling and follow up with a successful season of their own. Battling through the loss of key players to college and prep schools, the Lions are taking advantage of the warm weather and working on their craft.
The Lions had an impressive season last year, posting the best record in program history at 19-6 and reaching the Southern Connecticut Conference semifinals for the first time in school history.
The team featured multiple All-SCC First Team players in John Johnson and Jaxon Staples, and head coach Ian Kirkpatrick was recognized as the 2025 SCC Coach of the Year.
This season, players will step into bigger roles and assume new types of leadership. Foran is fixed on building chemistry and proving that last year’s season was no surprise.
With a fast-paced offense and a scrappy defense, the Lions look to return to the SCC tournament.
Despite losing three varsity starters, senior Joe Meade remains confident in the underclassmen’s ability to fill those roles.
“Our returning varsity players plan to teach the younger guys how to play and stay poised, and have guys from the JV to step up and learn quickly how to be productive on varsity,” Meade remarks.
While the chemistry and players may be different, everyone in the program has the same goal in mind.
Meade states, “The team has a couple of goals set, like having a winning record and beating Law twice, but more importantly, we would like to make the state’s tournament and the SCC tournament.”
Junior guard John “JM” Johnson returns for a third year. Johnson says, “I think last year’s momentum is definitely going to help this year, just like translating all the hard work and energy we had last year. I feel like the culture is still definitely there despite some of our guys not being on the team anymore.”
Even though the team is hopeful for this season, returning players still acknowledge their biggest weaknesses.
Johnson adds, “A skill we need to work on is definitely defense and rebounding. We’re not the biggest team this year, so rebounding is going to be big.”
The boys’ first game will be on December 16 at Fairfield Warde, and their first home game will be on December 19, 2025 against Xavier.
