Putnam Science Academy heading to Overtime Elite
PUTNAM — Putnam Science Academy’s men’s basketball program is taking another major step onto the national stage. After capturing five national prep championships since 2018, the Mustangs are now headed to Overtime Elite (OTE), one of the premier high school basketball leagues in the country.
Led by longtime head coach and athletic director Thomas Espinosa since 2002, Putnam Science Academy has built one of the top prep basketball programs in America. The recent success of the Mustangs has gained national attention, and now the program will join Overtime Elite beginning next season.
Putnam Science will continue to compete in the New England prep school circuit while also playing a weekly OTE schedule. The league will feature nine teams from across the country, including programs from Florida, California, Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia. Putnam Science Academy will be the only New England team in the league.
OTE is widely considered the “NBA of high school basketball,” featuring many of the best players in the nation. The exposure the league provides is unmatched and will elevate the profile of Putnam Science Academy even further. With the move, the Mustangs are expected to become one of the most recognized prep basketball teams in the country.
The transition will also bring increased travel and national attention, but excitement around the program is at an all-time high. Putnam Science is expected to host an OTE showcase event later this year, likely in November or December, featuring several other OTE teams.
Many former OTE players have already gone on to the NBA, and numerous Top 50 recruits from each graduating class choose the league to compete against elite talent.
Espinosa reflected on the journey that brought the program to this moment.
“It’s been a long road — a lot of ups and downs, a lot of challenges, a lot of obstacles — but this is pretty special,” Espinosa said. “I can’t really put into words what this means for our program. People wouldn’t believe how far we’ve come, where we started from, and now to be playing in OTE next year is something I can’t describe.”
“I want to thank all my former and current coaches for helping us get to this point, and all my former players who really bought into what we do here and committed to us. They helped us get to this point, and I can’t thank them enough.”
Espinosa also made sure to recognize longtime assistant coach Josh Scraba for his role in the program’s rise. “I can’t thank my longtime assistant Josh Scraba enough as well,” Espinosa said. “That guy has been by my side for most of this crazy ride. I trust him and love him like a brother. I wouldn’t have wanted to be on this ride with anyone else.”
Putnam Science Academy has won five national championships in program history, capturing titles in 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2025. The program has also sent more than 150 players to Division I basketball programs, including several who have gone on to play in the NBA.
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