2025 Darrow Prep Profile

Thursday, October 2nd, 2025

The Darrow School made their mark last season in their first season in AAA, and head coach Antonio Anderson will have them ready to compete once again.

 

In their first season at the AAA level, the Ducks compiled a 23-10 regular season record, a remarkable turnaround from their 7-22 record across the 2023-24 season. While they finished with the third seed in NEPSAC AAA, they also made their school debut in the National Prep Championship Tournament.

 

Let’s take a look at what Anderson and his staff have to work with this season.

 

The Returners

 

Haisi Mayben and Hunter Te Ratana lead the way as returning seniors on the squad who will surely be focal points to what they run this season.

 

Mayben’s fiery energy will provide a boost whenever he’s on the floor as the guard plays with a motor, knocks down shots, and has improving floor vision as a passer. Te Ratana will look to be a top-scoring option for the squad as the 6’4” wing can really see them fall. The New Zealand native has a smooth outside shot, gets downhill very well, and serves as another solid ball-mover in their offense.

 

Nalajah Christopher enters his second season under Anderson, as he goes into his junior year. Christopher brings a quick, twitchy game as he can provide a spark with his ability to self-create and make shots. Yann Kamagate is another returner, as the sophomore big man has one of the highest ceilings on the squad. Kamagate is a bouncy big man who can really thrive above the rim. His return from injury will be much anticipated. 

 

The Newcomers

 

While the Ducks have an influx of new talent from out of the region, there are a few newcomers who have stood out in the New England ranks already: TJ Allen, JJ Martinez, Nick Barnes, and Will Carty.

 

Allen is a young junior guard who made a name for himself at St. Sebastian’s in Needham before transferring this season. His ability to use his strong body to get downhill and finish in the paint is a standout trait he brings to the floor. Martinez, a transfer from St. Mary’s, will look to make an impact as a shotmaker alongside the talented group.

 

Barnes joins the team as a postgraduate from St. John’s Shrewsbury and should be a coveted high-academic guard. He plays his tail off, limiting mistakes with the ball, attacking the rim, and will be a big distributor of the ball for the Ducks. Carty, a big man from Watertown, has an improving touch inside the paint and will look to refine his post-game over the next two winters. 

 

The new names to the region joining the Ducks AAA squad include Jamison Thrower, Jack Seiders, Zane Sikaneta, Thor Grissom, Cooper Te Ratana, and Ben Van Bulck.

 

With these newcomers, the versatility the offense adds is notable. Grissom will serve as a knockdown off-ball shooter who thrives off the catch, using his quick, consistent mechanics to get his shots off. Seiders adds more shooting to the squad, but at the wing. Standing at 6’7”, his ability to space the floor will be key, while he is very switchable defensively as well.

 

Thrower is one of the most athletic players on the squad and will be one to apply pressure to the rim when he steps onto the floor. His ability to make pull-up shots is another key part of his scoring arsenal. Sikaneta will be a defensive weapon for the Ducks as he brings great wing size and is a competent defender across multiple positions on the floor.

 

Ben Van Bulck brings size to the five spot, standing at 6’10”, and will be a key post scorer for the team. His soft touch and ability to impact the game off screens are notable aspects of his game. The younger brother of Hunter, Cooper Te Ratana, is another high-flying athlete with a massive ceiling to keep an eye on as he joins as a sophomore this season. 

 

Defining Characteristics

The Ducks have a ton of depth on their roster with a wealth of guard and wing talent. Even at the center position, they have three guys who can be a competent platoon for the team throughout the season. 

 

A key characteristic of an Antonio Anderson squad is playing hard and putting a lot of time into their conditioning, and that, combined with their depth, will allow them to keep up with the most talented of squads.

 

The Bottom Line

Darrow will once again boast one of the more talented squads at the AAA level this season, and will look to keep the momentum going as they build off of last season's success. 

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