Azar Swain honored as MA Gatorade Player of the Year

WESTON — Tucked alongside the picturesque Nonesuch Pond in Weston, The Rivers School prides itself on a tradition of excellence, both in education and athletics.  This past season, the Red Wings boasted a basketball squad featuring a pair of stalwarts, but only one walked away with the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year Award.

Azar Swain, a senior from Brockton, was honored Thursday in a brief ceremony on campus as the state’s top player. Swain, who will play next year at Yale, paired with Villanova-bound Jermaine Samuels to lead The Rivers School on and off the court. Both players deserve platitudes, but add Swain’s academic excellence with the consistent character he displayed and the winner was clear-cut.

“It’s really special,” said Swain. “I’m just so thankful that things turned in my favor throughout my time here. I don’t really aim for a high accomplishment like this. I never pictured I’d be the Gatorade Player of the Year, but it actually happened so I’m really thankful.”

“No one sees the work that he puts in,” said Samuels, a 6-8 forward who typically was the focus of opposing defenses. “Honestly, he’s the one that deserves a lot of the credit and this one just proves it all. He deserved it. He put in all the work and his dedication was better than anyone else’s.”

The trophy, presented Thursday by Swain’s head coach, Keith Zalaski, reads, “Athletic Excellence, Academic Achievement and Exemplary Character.”

Zalaski knows he’s been fortunate to have such a talented player leading his team.

“They don’t get the full coverage that the MIAA athletes get and that’s fine,” said Zalaski. “The nice thing for these guys? Every game they are lining up against super-talented and competitive kids. Every night’s a battle in different ways. Just like we have guys who are going to Yale and Villanova, we go against guys who have 10 or 11 college basketball players. It’s a true test every time we line up.”

Swain's magic on the court can be seen on YouTube clips for now, but next year the spotlight will shine a bit brighter as he joins a Yale program that won the Ivy League championship in 2015 and 2016 and knocked off Baylor in the opening round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament. His goal when he entered The Rivers School was to become a well-rounded person and ultimately go to school in the Ivy League.

When asked where he sees himself ten years from now, Swain said, "Hopefully with a degree – a Master's. If I'm able to play professionally maybe I'll take that opportunity, but if that doesn't work out or I want to take another road, hopefully I'll have my own investment firm where I deal with professional athletes."

Even as a prep school senior, Swain has a firm grasp on what's ahead of him.

"I wouldn't call him necessarily a perfectionist," said Zalaski. "But he is highly dedicated to his craft, whatever that craft is."

"No matter what, I can go to him for advice when it comes to improving my game," said Samuels. "I consider him as knowing everything about the game because he just puts so much effort into it. He looks out for me."

Cox Media Group