Photo Caption: North High School’s Joe Okla ‘24 drives to the hoop during a game for Worcester State University. Okla and the Lancers recently won the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship, alongside Head Coach Al Pettway. (Photo Credit: Worcester State University Athletics)
WORCESTER – Friday, March 6, 2026 – Three championships in four seasons mark a sports dynasty. For North High School’s Joe Okla ’24, it has become a personal reality.
Okla and the Worcester State University Lancers recently won the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championship, defeating Westfield State 73-71. The sophomore forward earned Tournament MVP honors, averaging 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
The latest title was especially meaningful for Okla after spending last season away from competitive basketball and reuniting with former high school head coach Al Pettway at Worcester State.
“It feels amazing to win another championship, especially with Coach Pettway,” Okla said. “After being away from basketball, it makes this one even more special. It’s a blessing to be back doing what I love, and to share that moment with someone who’s believed in me the whole way. It means everything.”
While at North, Okla, Pettway, and a roster loaded with Worcester basketball talent captured back-to-back Division 1 State Championships, including consecutive undefeated seasons and a 45-game winning streak. The run marked one of the most dominant two-year stretches for any basketball team in Massachusetts history.
“It all started with our bond, friendship, and brotherhood,” Okla said of those teams. “I feel like that’s a big thing when it comes to being a team, being one, being a family, and just always having each other’s back.”
Joe Okla, alongside his teammates at North High, raise the 2024 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Conference State Championship trophy following a 59-52 win against Franklin on March 27, 2024. (Photo Credit: Kyle Prue)
After graduating from North, Okla enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst with hopes of playing Division 1 basketball. Instead, he found himself on the sidelines for the first time in years, focusing mostly on his life as a student during his freshman year.
The time away helped him reset. He settled into the demands of college life, explored potential career interests, and continued playing basketball in men's leagues. Still, something was missing.
“It made me realize how much I love the game,” Okla said of the time away. “I wanted to put myself back in a position where I could succeed (as a player).”
That realization led him home. Okla enrolled at Worcester State University at the start of the 2025-26 school year, reuniting with head coach Pettway, who took the job at his alma mater following the 2024 championship season at North.
For Okla, the transition back to competitive basketball was seamless, due in large part to the familiar presence pushing him to be his best on the court, in the classroom, and as a leader for his new team.
“He has always preached that it’s bigger than basketball. He wants me to be a good basketball player, but he always wants me to be a better person,” Okla said of his relationship with Pettway.
Joe Okla holds the ball at the top of the three-point line during a game for Worcester State University. (Photo Credit: Kyle Prue)
During the season with the Lancers, Okla quickly made an impact, earning MASCAC Rookie of the Week honors in the first two weeks. By season’s end, he collected nine Rookie of the Week awards and was recently named MASCAC Rookie of the Year. His teammate Johnny Annan, a Worcester Technical High School alum, was named MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year.
“After being away from competitive basketball for a year, there were a lot of doubts and challenges so to come back and be recognized like that is really special,” Okla said. “I’m grateful for my coaches and teammates who supported me through the process.”
As a senior at North, Okla interned at Roosevelt School, working alongside sixth grade students, answering their questions about life after elementary school and offering daily encouragement. During his senior night, the final regular-season home game of his high school career, staff from Roosevelt surprised him in the stands, each wearing a shirt with his name and number.
For Okla, memories like these, moments that showcase his leadership and its impact on others, may stand out even more than the on-the-court success once it’s all said and done.
“Worcester Public Schools always felt like a community,” he said.
Story Note: The Worcester State University men’s basketball team saw its season come to an end on Friday, March 6, 2026 with a first-round loss to University of Mary Washington in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. Joe Okola (North High) finished with 10 points and five rebounds, while Johnny Annan (Worcester Tech) scored 21 points for the Lancers.