Great Hearts Roosevelt Wins CAA State Championship

The Great Hearts Roosevelt boys varsity basketball team completed a remarkable season by winning the 2026 CAA Division I State Championship. With a first-year head coach and a roster composed entirely of underclassmen, the Aces defied expectations on the basketball court this year.

In addition to the state title, Coach Sawyer Wellman won CAA Coach of the Year, and sophomore Tavis Oatman won CAA Player of the Year. Oatman and fellow team captain, sophomore Prince Yahokim Johnson, both won All-State honors. Yahokim Johnson averaged 10.6 rebounds per game, 18.5 points per game, and 65% field goal percentage, while Oatman averaged 22.2 points per game, 4.9 assists per game, and shot 75% on free throws.

“Coming into this season, there was a lot of excitement,” explained Coach Wellman. “We knew we were returning some talented players like Gavin White and the Johnson brothers and adding a really dynamic player in Tavis Oatman. Mike Schauer, the Head Coach of the Men’s team at Wheaton College, once told me when I was the team’s manager that 90% of winning basketball games is about having good players. We knew our Roosevelt Prep team had some great players, now it was up to us to figure out the last 10%.”

Wellman said he knew they had to grow if they wanted to beat a team like Wickenburg in the state final this year. “We played them twice last season, our first as a varsity program, and got embarrassed each game, losing by an average of 50 points. All summer long, as players came in to work on their game, we put the score of our loss to Wickenburg on the scoreboard, 76-24, to remind our team where we wanted to go.”

According to Wellman, the collective goal of the team was to get 1% better every day, to play mentally tough, and to play together, sacrificing their own personal desires for team success. “I am extremely proud of how our players came together to do this. From the players at the top of the roster who had had to learn to play together and trust one another, to the guys on the end of the bench, who showed up to help our team get better every day without receiving much outside recognition for their invaluable role on our team. They are the reason we were successful.”

The vision for the basketball program at Roosevelt Prep is to help athletes grow into young men of character through building relationships and pursuing excellence in basketball. While winning was not their end goal, it was the byproduct of a dedicated group of imperfect young men straining together to improve themselves and one another day after day.

“Winning the state championship was incredibly fun. Truly a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. I believe that things in life are valuable only insofar as they bring you closer in relationship to those around you. The relationships our team has forged with will bear fruit long after the glow of a state championship fades.”

“This championship reflects the culture our program is trying to build—one centered on attitude, preparation, and effort,” added Athletic Director Carl Wunsch. “Coach Wellman did an outstanding job leading this group, and our players committed themselves to improving every day and playing for one another, which ultimately led to a very special season.”

Congratulations to the Roosevelt Aces on an unforgettable season and a remarkable state championship. Their achievements reflect the hard work, character, and teamwork that define Great Hearts athletics. We eagerly look forward to seeing what this talented group will accomplish in the seasons ahead. Go Aces!

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