Player’s Choice News and Notes
by Ray Floriani
RAMAPO, N.J. – Midway through the first half, Lou Weijnert was in a position to which he is usually unaccustomed. His River Dell (NJ) girls team was looking at a double-digit deficit and struggling on both ends of the floor. During the regular season the roles are reversed. At the Northern Bergen County school, Weijnert runs one of the more successful girls programs in the state. On this Saturday Morning he was without a few key players, notably outstanding 6′ senior Alyssa May, and it showed.
The recurring theme during the late July edition of the Player’s Choice showcase at Ramapo College’s Bradley Center was who was missing. The same weekend, the AAU Nationals were being contested in our nation’s capital. That forced several teams to bow out of Player’s Choice and depleted some squads such as River Dell who chose to compete. At any rate Player’s Choice had a few less teams but still had a quality event. Two courts were in use both days with seven time slots for the games. Each team played two games per day. The schedule also kept the players in mind as your two games could be in the morning or afternoon session. AAU often necessitates more than two games and it is not uncommon to see them allocated over a ten-hour time interval.
“It was a good experience for the kids,” Weijnert said on Sunday morning. “We were without a few kids like Alyssa (May) but it gave the younger kids a chance to show what they can do. We are going to be young this year so this gets them ready. Also, these games do not count on my won-lost record.”
A number of Division II and III coaches were on hand. There were several D-I assistants from schools as Rhode Island, Cincinnati, Seton Hall, Fairfield, St. Peter’s, LIU, Delaware and Wagner.
Director Wayne Brunck was pleased with the turnout and talent on hand. During one break Brunck noted, “I received a call from Washington on my cell phone from a Division I coach at the AAUs. He wanted to know where a certain player was. I said she’s right here.” Brunck added with a laugh. “The coach went all the way to D.C. to see this player and we had her here.”
The teams were divided among AAU squads and high school teams. Among the teams was Pascack Valley (NJ), an outstanding program coached by one of the premier coaches in the state, Jeff Jasper. “He doesn’t look old enough to have 800 wins,” said Cincinnati assistant Dave Dagostino. Actually Jasper is at 700-plus, hitting that milestone in 2005. He’s been at Pascack Valley over three decades and is simply an outstanding teacher of the game. Practices are his classroom and games the tests his players usually pass with flying colors.
Speaking of Dagostino, he’s excited about joining the Big East Conference school as an assistant following a stint as head coach at D-II Jacksonville State (Alabama). “They (Cincinnati) were in most of their games and had a few tough losses. Last year was tough as they had to make a big step up to the Big East. It’s easier for the rest of the league to adjust to a few new schools but when you come in you have to adjust to a whole new conference membership.” Dagostino’s head coach at Cincy is Laurie Pirtle, who has been at the school for two decades. “She does a great job” Dagostino said, “and during her tenure she’s outlasted several university presidents and about four conferences.” And Bob Huggins.
Game of the tournament (from my officiating vantage point and also from several viewing scouts): Paramus Catholic over Ocean City in a close contest on Sunday. Two strong New Jersey programs whom Brunck said, “probably wouldn’t face each other unless it came to a TOC (Tournament of Champions).” Paramus Catholic of northern New Jersey is coached by Al Roth. Ocean City, under the direction of Paul Baruffi, hails from just south of Atlantic City. Paramus Catholic utilized pressure early but Ocean City handled it with poise and got a few transition baskets off it. The game was closely contested, with both teams making small runs to pull ahead by five to seven points on occasions. In the stretch Paramus Catholic made several big plays, then took care of business from the free throw line to preserve the win.
Notables
Jut a few among many:
- Nancy White 5’7″ Soph Ocean City – Showed a lot of poise especially against full-court pressure. White can put the ball on the floor and makes sound decisions.
- Danielle Barber 5’7″ Soph. Middle Township(NJ) – Another sophomore, Barber caught the eye of a number of coaches. A hustling take-charge player, Barber can score but looks to set up her teammates first.
- Paramus Catholic – No real marquee player to note but there is a wealth of young talent. Roth has a solid group of underclassmen that has good chemistry, is athletic and will be heard from. Soon.
Once again Greg Galati was on hand. Greg does it all here, coordinating officiating assignments, working a few games, showing visiting coaches where the locker rooms and their courts are located and even coaching his NJ Mavericks AAU team. Amazing.
Injuries are part of the game but Ocean City lost a key player Saturday who suffered a knee injury falling out of bed at the hotel and landing the wrong way.
Player’s Choice has at least one event slated for Fall at Kean College in New Jersey.
