The Fall sports season has come to its conclusion, which means its time to head inside if you want to see any athletics. One of our schools most successful athletic programs kicks off another season filled with high expectations this winter. I’m talking about basketball.
It’s always hard to replace players that have been a part of the program for so long. Last year, the team had four seniors. Dylan Enslin provided a strong effort off the bench and gave quality minutes when he started. Alex Servetnick and Sal D’Angelo started at small forward and point guard, respectively, and did everything you could ask of them. You lose a lot of steals, three pointers, and good passing with the absense of those guys. And who could forget Matt Fusaro, who scored 48 points in a single game at Radnor last year. Fusaro is a Harriton basketball great, with over 1000 career points and the team’s leader in rebounds and steals in his senior year. Matt has gone on to play at the next level at DeSales University. All four of these guys contributed to last season’s success where the Rams made the playoffs and lost a heartbreaker at Marple Newtown in the first round.
After losing all of that experience, one would think this is a rebuilding year. However, its quite the opposite. The team has added many seniors who did not play last year. Mike Allen, Samir Muhammad and Stephan Clayton will all try to show head coach Jesse Rappaport that they have what it takes to help this team go farther this year. Then there are returning varsity players Matt Sherman (sophomore), Ryan Kelly (junior), Marquis Baker (senior), Lorenzo Useche-Rodrigo (senior), and Adam Heller (senior). Sherman and Heller are guards, Baker and Useche-Rodrigo are forwards, and Kelly is a F/C. Players who were part time varsity but are now officially varsity are Itay Levy, Andre Dixon, Ryan Farley, and Evan Soloff. All four of these guys are big men; Levy and Dixon are long range shooters while Farley and Soloff are true post players. Ben Bernstein, a junior point guard who was a JV player last season, got the call up from coach “Rapp.”
Sherman, Baker, and Kelly seem to be the leaders of this new look Rams team. Sherman, the youngest player on the team, will start and everyone has sky high expectations of him. He is deadly from three-point-range and can drive on anyone. Sherman also forced a lot of turnovers and rarely missed from the foul line. Baker started some games last year, but was a true sixth man. When he got playing time last year, he was a double double machine. This year he could average double digit points and rebounds this year, along with at least a block a game, as he also led the team last year in stuffed shots. As a sophomore, Ryan Kelly held his own against the biggest guys in the Central League last year, something that coaches league-wide took note of. He has only gotten bigger through the offseason and playing football, and looks to become a top rebounder this year. He was top 3 in steals and assists last year, and for a big man was an exceptional free throw shooter. With these three guys leading the way, the Rams look to do serious damage to the Central League this season.
Everybody, come to the basketball games this year. Look at this team compared to last, and it’s a lot better in every way. More experience, more talent, more athleticism and more skills. If you have the impression that Harriton sports aren’t “amazing,” well I think you’ll be surprised once you show up to a boys Rams game this season. Show them support; they’ll love it. If you were part of “The Herd” last season, get ready to stampede again this season. Support your friends and classmates, and show up to the games. This season will be a magical one.
The first home game is Thursday, December 16 against Haverford. Pull out your old Herd t-shirt, find a couple of bucks, and show up that night at 7:30. You won’t want to miss it.