Aaron Cote has been making shots his entire life. But on May 1, the Wareham star took the biggest one yet — signing with Coffeyville Community College, one of the top JUCO basketball programs in the nation.
The move marks a major leap for the 2026 Standard-Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year and Dave Cowens Award winner, who became the first SouthCoast player ever to win three basketball state titles. Now, he's trading the familiar hardwood of Massachusetts for the wide-open plains of Kansas.
"Their program has a good history," said Cote, reflecting on his decision. "The assistant coach was telling me about all the people who came through and went on to play in the G League or Division I. I said, 'I might as well take the shot.'"
And it's a shot that's been a long time coming. Just a year ago, Cote's dream felt like a distant possibility after a season-ending ankle injury required surgery and kept him sidelined for most of his junior campaign. But true to his champion's spirit, he came back stronger than ever.
As a senior, Cote powered Wareham to its third straight state championship in four years, averaging an eye-popping 25.1 points, 4.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game. He also became the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,593 points — a testament to his relentless work ethic and love for the game.
"It feels like a dream come true, but it's just the start," Cote said. "This is a stepping stone to playing college basketball. It's always been one of my dreams."
That stepping stone is a deliberate one. With offers from schools closer to home, Cote chose to go far — 1,500 miles from Wareham — to focus entirely on his craft. Wareham head coach Steve Faniel praised the decision: "When we were looking at schools, we asked, 'What is the path of least resistance to get to your goal?' He's there to play basketball and do school work. With nothing else around him, I think he can lock in and focus."
For a young man who's already made history in Massachusetts, Coffeyville represents the next chapter. And if his track record is any indication, Aaron Cote is ready to take his shot — and make it count.