Union City High School head boys’ basketball coach Drew Morano doesn’t want to look at it that his Soaring Eagles, the defending Hudson County Tournament and NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group IV champions, are wearing a bulls’ eye now that they’re at the top of the pedestal.
“Everyone knows we lost a lot to graduation,” said Morano, unbelievably beginning his 21st season as a head coach in Union City, either with the defunct Emerson High School and now Union City for the last decade. “So people don’t expect us to win the county again. Hudson County basketball is still Hudson County basketball. Every single game is a war. Every night, everyone plays tough, scrappy basketball. We have some of the best coaches in the state right here. The teams that make the plays will win the games.”
A year ago, it was Morano’s teams that made the plays, especially down the stretch in the county and state tournaments. The Soaring Eagles won 23 games, many of those of the thrilling variety, with the ones in the playoffs memorable. It seemed like every night, another member of the Soaring Eagles stepped up and acted as the hero.
But there was always one constant. Gabe Johnson, who averaged 18 points per game and led the Soaring Eagles to county and state championships enroute to being named The Hudson Reporter Player of the Year, has taken his talents to Caldwell University, where he’s already a standout.
“There’s only one Gabe Johnson,” Morano said. “We’re not going to replace him. He meant so much to the program. We’re going to try to compete without him. We had an unbelievably balanced and unselfish team with Gabe. I’m so proud that they’re all doing well and participating in athletics in college. That was a special group of kids. We played some beautiful basketball in the county tournament. The state tournament, we gutted out some games.”
The Soaring Eagles have not been left without any talent. In fact, they have one of the best returning players in New Jersey.
Sophomore do-everything Maurice Odum is back. The 6-foot-1 Odum showed some flashes of brilliance last year as a freshman and he will be the main cog for the Soaring Eagles this season.
“As a freshman, he made some big plays for us,” Morano said. “He’s a dead-eye shooter. He has great hands and sees the floor well. I have to tell myself that he’s just entering his sophomore year. He’s poised and polished already. When I see the things he does, it amazes me and he just keeps getting better.”
Odum is definitely one of the key players to watch in Hudson County this season.
Another key contributor is junior guard/forward Devin Gomez. The 5-foot-11 Gomez is a hard-nosed, tough competitor.
“He is a real tough North Hudson style guard,” Morano said. “He goes to the basket strong and can hit the open shot. He’s a great threat for us.”
Senior Brandon Marquez is a 5-foot-8 point guard who transferred into Union City from North Star Academy last spring and is eligible to play right away.
“He’s been a nice fit for us,” Morano said of Marquez. “He’s a real good kid. He’s a good floor general. He can create tempo and help us make shots.”
Senior Arturo Maldonado is a 6-foot-3 power forward who will be spotted around the basket.
“He’s been with us a while, so he knows the system,” Morano said. “He can also shoot the ball.”
Senior Diohanny Guzman is a 5-foot-9 guard who has been tabbed as the captain of the team.
“He can really score,” Morano said. “He was our best player in the summer league. He really opened some eyes with his play over the summer. He knew his chance would come. He just waited it out/ He’s going to play a big role with us this year. I’m proud to call him the captain.”
Junior Moises Cruz is a 6-foot-4 forward who was on the Union City junior varsity squad last season.
“He just keeps getting better,” Morano said. “He’s learning something new every day. He has a great finish around the basket. I’m excited that this team has so many younger guys that will return next year.”
Senior Bryan Amparo is a 6-foot forward.
“He’s a slasher who can get to the basket,” Morano said. “He had a very good summer.”
Amparo has been slowed in the preseason with an ankle injury.
“We hope to get him back quickly,” Morano said.
Junior Javy Figueroa is a 5-foot-10 forward.
“He does all the dirty work for us,” Morano said. “We put him in the game and he always does something good. He’s in the mix to get a lot of playing time for us. It’s a credit to him and how hard he has worked.”
Sophomore Johnny Lopez is a 6-foot guard.
“He’s learning fast,” Morano said. “He will come off the bench for us.”
Senior Jose DuBon is a 5-foot-9 guard.
“He’s a gritty guard,” Morano said of DuBon. “He plays good defense.”
The Soaring Eagles are scheduled to tip off defense of their county title against the team that the Eagles knocked off the perch as eight-time county champ Hudson Catholic in the season opener Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at Union City.
They will then play their second game of the season against Barringer Monday afternoon at 1 p.m, then head to the Neptune Holiday Classic (Lincoln is also in the eight-team field) beginning Dec. 26.
Needless to say, Morano is pleased with his basically new squad.
“At the very least, we will compete,” Morano said. “I think if his team goes out and plays hard every night, the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”
Four of the last five years, the Soaring Eagles made it to the Hudson County Tournament semifinals. This is definitely a team that could be there come late February.
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com. You can also read Jim’s blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com, follow Jim on Twitter @ogsmar and listen to the Hudson County Sports podcast on YouTube. This week, Jim continues his chat with legendary St. Peter’s College coach Mike Granelli.
