Oakwood Connections at the Duke-Stanford Basketball Game

It was more than just a high-stakes matchup at Maples Pavilion last Saturday; it was a fun meetup for several members of the Oakwood School community. As Duke faced off against Stanford, the stands were filled with familiar faces, proving that the bonds formed on our campus stretch far into the prestigious arenas of collegiate athletics.

The game featured a special full-circle moment for Oakwood's Associate Head of School, Dr. Cameron Helvey. Watching from the stands, Dr. Helvey cheered on Jack Scott, a Senior Guard for the Duke Blue Devils. Jack was a student and basketball player of Dr. Helvey's at The Hun School of Princeton from 2019-2022, and Jack lived all three years in the same residence hall where the Helvey family lived at the East Coast boarding/day independent school.

The Oakwood presence was also felt on both sides of the court. Dr. and Mrs. Wilmot, accompanied by current students Sean Wilmot and Shayan Bahrainy, were in high spirits repping their Duke pride in honor of their son, Rohan Wilmot, an Oakwood Class of 2025 alum and current freshman at Duke University. Meanwhile, the Ota family was in attendance cheering for Stanford, celebrating their family's legacy at the university. Despite the collegiate rivalry, the spirit of the afternoon was one of camaraderie. After the game, fans from both schools gathered court-side to take a group photo with Jack Scott, celebrating the shared independent school connections that brought them all together.

This gathering serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of the independent school network. Whether in the classroom or at a major Division I game, Oakwood prepares students to thrive at their top-choice colleges across the country. Seeing our faculty, alumni, and current families together at such a high level underscores the school's mission and the enduring impact of an Oakwood education.