The Final Go Around is a senior season project powered by Hoop Diaries, created to highlight the journeys of selected seniors as they navigate their final year of high school basketball. For the 2024-25 season, I've chose four seniors to follow closely-tracking their stories, learning more about them both on and off the court, and diving deeper into the moments that define their last ride.
Francesco Schiro
Francesca Schiro is a 4-year athlete for Hillsborough High School Girls basketball team. She finished with 2,106 points career points, making her the school's all-time leading scorer. Every year was a sign of progression for her as an athlete. We've been tracking Cesci since her early years at GRIT Basketball back in 2022. The dedication of working on her craft because she knew the goal was there for her to grab. After falling short of a championship game berth at Rutgers in the 2023-24 season. Hillsborough aimed for redemption and the path was a journey to remember. They battled all the way and reached their goal. "Rutgers is cool and all, but it'd be even cooler if we won." Leading the way for her team, Boro captured their first NJSSIA Group 4 state championship in school history on March 16, 2025 after going toe-to-toe with West Orange in a 55-52 victory. Stamping her legacy with the program on her final moment.
Mia Gestosani
Mia Gestosani, a 4-year student at Mount Saint Mary Academy. Not only did she leave her mark there, but she set the foundation for the girls coming into the basketball program. With her head coach Ryan Shellhammer leading the way. He gave Mia the keys from the very start. Finishing with 1,465 points scored, she became a focal point for her team. Every moment was filled with honor and trust for Mia’s senior year. Throughout all the wins and losses on the season, she always stayed transparent with her teammates. Giving them full confidence to play their best, but have fun most of all.
Mia is continuing her career at NJIT with the Lady Highlanders. The goal was to always be dominant on the court, but off the court she’ll be studying Data Science. It’s all about making a good living for herself. Being able to give back to her parents, family and the Filipino community that invested into her from a very young age.
Precious Gem Wheeler
After tearing her ACL in 2023 which sidelined her junior season. Precious was on a mission to make her senior year at Franklin High School one to remember. Not only through triumph and faith. She learned so much about her artisty in the recover process. She's more than a hooper. Music, painintg, drawing and writing make her so ecletic off the court. Precious favorite form of art is murals. A class ran by Ms. Mac at Franklin High School is an art teacher who allows her students to explore all their creative avenues. She's been apart of 7 murals in the school, with 5 of them being her own. One thing Precious likes to speciallize in her art is her people. A black artists through thick and thin. Each works of art revolves around the crafts of showcasing her people. Her 'Warrior Life' and 'Nas' mural resemble more than just the people in her school, but how everyone can relate to the concept of showcasing who we are. Headed back to basketball, the senior year didn't go as planned, but it was about being a big sister to her teammates. Every squad goes through adversity and its best to be honest in those moments for the betterment of the team. It's bigger than basketball and Precious is a walking example of that. Lastly, Precious will be taking her talents into the Big-Ten conference at Rutgers University. She aims to use her platform not only to be a great player, but aspire girls just like her to chase their dreams.
Tyler Simpson
Tyler Simpson is a humanitarian who proves every day that his purpose extends far beyond the game of basketball. A four-year student at Solebury School, he built a strong foundation both on and off the court, becoming a leader on his team from the moment he joined. Tyler embodies what it means to be a Solebury student. Although Tyler primarily played football in his youth, he eventually transitioned into basketball—a shift that marked a turning point in his life. With the support of GRIT Basketball, he became one of the most impactful players to ever wear a Solebury jersey. In his junior year, he reached the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career points—an incredible accomplishment for an athlete who has worked so hard to get to where he is. Tyler's senior year didn't unfold as expected. The Spartans faced challenges and weren’t always on the winning side. Still, Tyler maintained a positive attitude, one that inspired his teammates and laid the groundwork for the next generation of leaders in the program. His commitment extended beyond the court—whether in early morning training sessions or late-night EMT shifts, Tyler consistently made space for growth and service. Now that his high school career has concluded, Tyler is turning his attention to his business, TJA Distributors. The company is dedicated to offering high-grade products that emphasize sustainability and environmental responsibility—restoring our planet one step at a time. Solebury School was his first official partnership, and the support has been overwhelming. Tyler is committed to building on that momentum each day. Faith plays a central role in Tyler’s journey. He has a close relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and holds firm in never compromising that bond for worldly success. Throughout his life, Tyler has experienced moments of divine clarity, reinforcing his belief that trusting in God brings ultimate purpose and understanding. Though basketball gave him a platform to express his passion, he embraces that God had other plans—and never questioned the path laid out for him.