Wareham's basketball phenom Aaron Cote has spent years perfecting his shot—but his biggest one yet came off the court. On May 1, the three-time state champion signed with Coffeyville Community College, one of the nation's top JUCO basketball programs, setting the stage for the next chapter of his remarkable journey.

"Their program has a great history," said Cote, who was named the 2026 Standard-Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year and the Dave Cowens Award winner. "Coach Weigner told me about all the players who came through and went on to play in the G League or Division I. I figured, why not take the shot?"

It's a bold move for the first SouthCoast player ever to win three state titles. But Cote sees it as a calculated step toward his ultimate goal: playing at the highest level of college basketball possible.

"I had options closer to home in Massachusetts, but I chose to go far away and lock in on basketball and school," Cote explained. "This feels like a dream come true—but it's just the beginning."

Wareham head coach Steve Faniel echoed that sentiment. "When we looked at schools, we asked what path had the least resistance to get him where he wants to go. At Coffeyville, he's there to play basketball and do schoolwork. With nothing else around, he can really focus."

Just a year ago, that dream seemed distant. Cote suffered a season-ending ankle injury during his junior year that required surgery. But he returned stronger than ever, leading Wareham to its third straight state championship in four years. As a senior, he averaged 25.1 points, 4.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game, becoming the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,593 points.

From injury comeback to signing day, Cote's story is a testament to resilience—and a reminder that sometimes the biggest shots are the ones you take when no one's watching.