After winning their unprecedented seventh straight Hudson County boys’ basketball tournament championship last February, the Hawks of Hudson Catholic were devastated by the pomp and circumstance of graduation a few months later. The Hawks lost two McDonald’s All-Americans in do-everything guard Jahvon Quinerly (Villanova), the two-time Hudson Reporter Player of the Year, and forward Louis King (Oregon) as well as guard Luther Muhammad (Ohio State) and workhorse forward Shackylle Dezonie (Wesleyan). It’s a graduation contingency that not a lot of programs can recover from.
But veteran head coach Nick Mariniello has been pleased with the Hawks’ summer program. The team advanced to the finals of the Jersey City Recreation High School Summer League at Hamilton Park, as well as participating in a team camp at LaSalle University in Philadelphia.
“The kids have done some great things over the summer,” Mariniello said. “We’ve lost about four games total and won about 22. And we still haven’t had our full group together for one game, because kids are traveling and playing AAU ball. I’m very happy with the state of the program. It’s really not about wins and losses at this point.”
When a team loses four quality seniors, it leaves the door open for others to step in an inherit enhanced playing time.
It leaves returning senior Danny Rodriguez as the team’s main go-to guy.
“His leadership has been fantastic,” Mariniello said of the 6-foot-5 Rodriguez, who has received his fair share of mid-major college scholarship offers. “He understands what it takes from a senior. I’m impressed with the way he’s acted as a leader.”
Jonathan Delgado, a fellow senior, will more than likely slide into a starting role at shooting guard.
“He’s done a good job this summer,” Mariniello said. “He’s also grown into a leadership role. I’m very impressed.”
Junior Danny Mendez, a 6-foot-1 junior athletic off-guard, has been the Hawks’ best defender during the summer months.
The Hawks’ rotation will more than likely feature three sophomores in 6-foot-4 Shane Dezonie (Shackylle’s younger brother), 6-foot-4 Tristan Jeffries and 6-foot-2 Justin Glover, who missed all of last season with a foot injury.
The Hawks will welcome two extremely promising freshmen in 6-foot-5 Antonio Sellers, the son of former St. Peter’s College hoop standouts Keith and Felicia Harris Sellers. Felicia Harris, the former head girls’ basketball coach at the school, was recently named as the St. Peter’s recipient of the MAAC Hall of Fame along with the legendary Harry Laurie.
The other promising freshman is 6-foot-3 guard Zion Cruz, who will move in the Hawks’ rotation right away.
“I’m excited about coaching this group,” Mariniello said. “The camaraderie is good. The chemistry is good. Obviously, we lost a lot. We still have to figure out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to play, but I’m looking forward to coaching this group.”
The Hawks will also welcome a new coach in former Marist head coach Frank Burno, who will serve as an assistant to Mariniello this season.
“I’ve known Frank for a long time,” Mariniello said. “He works very hard at what he does. His personality fits our group. I’m looking forward to working with him.” – Jim Hague.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
