Malacari’s Market | The youth surrounding King’s Men’s basketball team began the year as a detriment to the team’s overall success. But now, days before the hunt for a playoff berth comes to a halt, it’s the underclassmen that are the leading factor in King’s late-season success.
For King’s Men
‘s basketball coach J.P. Andrejko, coming into the 2014-2015 season with such a young team might have been a bit concerning, but it has turned into his secret weapon when facing talented opponents on this late-season stretch.
Andrejko began the season starting all underclassman. John Fazzini, who is an academic junior, is only in his sophomore campaign from an athletic standpoint. Fazzini started the season off as the starting point guard but was moved to shooting guard as the season progressed. John is a scorer and has been filling up the stat sheet of late. He is averaging 17.2 points over his last five games. King’s in 4-1 in those contests.
John’s younger brother Chris is a freshman guard who brings a strong demeanor to the hardwood. The youngster is always in attack mode and at an early point in his development, that is something to be impressed with.
Chris loves initiating contact and that shows as he has gone to the free throw line 96 times on the year and has hit 75 percent of his free bees. Those 96 trips are 37 more then the next closest guard.
The Fazzini brothers improvements over the season have been a very big addition for the Monarchs this year and will be a focal point in the offense along with sophomore Dan Rutecki for years to come.
Rutecki, a 6-5 sophomore from Springfield, is putting together a fantastic year. The forward, who is averaging 14 points and 7 boards has been the catalyst for the King’s offense all year. The versatile underclassman can score from all over the court. One of the most impressive parts of Rutecki’s game is his ability to knock down free throws as he shoots 85 percent from the stripe.
This trio usually leads the Monarchs on the offensive end and, for the the most part, need to for the team to be successful.
The youth does not with subside with just three. Freshman, Dan Borner began the season as a starter but has since been moved to a bench role as one of the two seniors on the team, Rich Douglas, has entered as the starting point guard.
Along with Borner, Tanner Reyan and Tyler Burns, all underclassmen, find themselves on the court at times to spell Douglas and other guards.
As aforementioned, there are only two upperclassman on the roster, but both are considered team leaders. Douglas is the decision-maker and has played a true point guard role that King’s was desperately missing in the beginning of the season.
His housemate, and good friend Tim O’Shea, has been a quality bench player all the year. The muscular 6-3 senior is an all around player who has developed well on both ends of the court.
Has King’s had points in the season where they have looked like the young team they are? Of course, especially in their latest match-up with cross-valley rival Misericordia where they almost blew a double digit lead and nearly lost the game. But, the team will rely heavily on their underclassman through this playoff push.
Will they get in? Who knows. But what has become fact, is that King’s basketball is taking a huge step in the right direction. Not only this season where they are staged to make the playoffs for the first time since their 2009-10 campaign. But, more importantly, for years to come.
Vito Malacari is a college freshman from Wilkes Barre studying mass communications. His email address is VitoMalacari841@Kings.edu. HIS OPINIONS ALSO DO NOT EXPRESS THOSE OF WRKC OR ITS STAFF. “Malacari’s Market” appears every Monday. Follow him on Twitter @VitoMalacari23