For many at Darien High School, December is the best time of the
year. The combination of Christmas break, and the release of the House
Basketball rosters may actually be overwhelming. The preseason rankings are a
ritual that could in most cases be compared to finding a needle in a haystack,
because of the raw difficulty in locating a powerhouse team. However I have put
whole-hearted research into the following rankings and will stand by them until
the madness ensues on Opening Day December 11th. So without further adieu…
*NOTE: At the bottom, there is a graphic comparing the two sets of rankings
Conor’s Rankings:
1. Knicks
A strong senior presence is crucial to having success in the
league and with the core of seven seniors this team is definitely a title
contender. Look for point guard Dylan Carruthers, point forward Chris
Chiamulera, sharpshooter Jack Foley, and the dominant Carter Watt (all seniors)
to carry this team deep into the playoffs come springtime.
2. Nuggets
Fairfield Prep phenom and senior Austin Crane is back in
action and ready to destroy defenses with every aspect of his game. Don’t be
surprised to see fellow senior Brad Magnusson put up big numbers as well; this big
man has a solid post game while also being able to spot up from 3-point land.
The Traver brothers are also reunited this season to make a strong duo.
3. Nets
House all-star and junior George Reed will continue to drop
a ridiculous amount of points and with a game-changer like senior Dan Murphy,
this team can go toe-to-toe with any other team in the league. Senior Christian
Cochran will have a big presence down low, while junior Anthony DiMeglio will
be a major threat from the 3-point line.
4. Heat
This year, junior Charlie Travers will be taking his talents
to the Middlesex Middle School gyms on Sunday afternoons. Senior Chris Rehm
will also be an influential player in the league this year. The Heat squad is
looking to take the league by storm. Oh, and did I mention that the Brannigan
twins are also on this team?
5. Lakers
Seniors Brendan Donohue and Zach Basu highlight the immense
talent the Lakers have this year. With a strong core of juniors including Matt
Sherwood, 3-point specialist TJ Adiletta, and John Mackie, the Lakers are bound
to have a successful season.
6. Thunder
My team is blessed with four players that stand 6’2 or
taller. Juniors Cooper Drippe and Jamie Schwartz look to make their mark on the
league while senior Jay Patrick will establish himself as one of the premier
big men in the league. Junior Colin Cochran is always a scoring threat and I
plan on knocking down a few shots.
7. Jazz
Harry Gillespie looks to lead the Jazz to a solid season
with fellow seniors Nick Kunze and Cameron van de Graaf controlling the post
area. A senior backcourt duo of Matt Plank and Andrew Nault give this team two
ball-handlers and adds to the already great amount of experience.
8. Celtics
A team filled primarily with juniors, these youngbloods will
look to make a statement on the court. Juniors Philip Rech and Matt Pettit give
this team scoring threats, while the man that is Jack Feeley will use his
rebounding prowess to find easy points from the boards. He can also knock down
a three ball every once and a while.
9. Mavericks
Former DHS players Sam Bowtell and Danny Siemers (both
juniors) return to house this season and look to use their high school
basketball experience to win games. Private school player Henry Soule is also a
solid house player who has shown off his knack for scoring in previous seasons.
I see the X-factor of the team being Trevor McGovern, a proven leader who can
dish assists left and right.
10. Bulls
The Pendo brothers are a dangerous combination with Kevin
being an All-Star point guard and Matt being a powerful big man. These two will
guide the Bulls to a solid record, but I do not see them being title
contenders.
11. Cavaliers
Senior Blake Lange has always been a strong presence in
every season and will look to continue that with a team lacking in height.
Junior Alex Hager is the team’s lone big man and will cause problems in the
paint, but without a fellow big man this team can struggle. Junior Stephen
Barston is a scoring guard returning from high school basketball looking for a
smooth transition into house basketball.
12. Wizards
A team led by a lefty trio of senior Graham Helgans and
juniors Peter Archey and Michael Maccarone, this team can be an underdog that
can cause upsets. Even though this squad has a great amount of talent, when
compared to all the other teams the Wizards just seem a little lackluster.
George’s Rankings:
1. Knicks (Coach Carruthers)
The preseason #1 overall spot is given to the team that
shows a hefty amount of house experience combined with an abundance of
athleticism. Though led by senior stud Dylan Carruthers and soccer legend Chris
Chi, the core falls on the passionate shoulders of Carter Watt and
the precision shooting of Jack Foley. This team has all the makings of a team
that may be wearing a ring in March.
2. Thunder (Coach Davey)
Unlike the #1 preseason team, the Thunder are led by a group
of finesse juniors starring Conor Davey, Cooper Drippe, and Jamie Schwartz, somewhat
of a “big 3” if you will. This team has speed, size, and skill and appears to
be a lot similar to last year’s Michigan State. Don’t be surprised if this team
makes a run come playoff time.
3. Nets (Coach Boe)
Not to flatter myself and place my team in the top 3, but I
do believe the Nets have what it takes to dominate the 11/12 league this year.
The point guard play of Dan Murphy led his team last year to a final against
the Lakers. This year, Murphy has the support needed to win back-to-back ’ships.
The size of Christian Cochran and the overall play of yours truly should prove
to be a deadly scoring combo throughout the course of the year.
4. Heat (Coach Grady)
Charlie Travers. Charlie Travers. Charlie Travers. That is
pretty much all you need to know about the Heat. There is no hiding the Blue
Wave basketball star in this year’s house basketball rankings. Charlie proved
his worth last year on the DHS hardcourt, and has set his sights on a successful
year of house ball. Look for senior Chris Rehm to be the “Dwayne Wade” to
Travers’ “Lebron James” all winter on a house team that sure looks like it will
be marvelous to watch.
5. Wizards (Coach Archey)
The most athletic team in the league this year, the Wizards
pace of play will be a spectacle. Soccer speedsters Michael Maccarone and
Graham Helgans will probably still be in outstanding shape come house season,
leading to a plethora of fast-break points for the Wizards. Don’t count out
other key players on this team such as juniors Peter Archey and Tyler “Tino”
Constantino as they will display true grit on both sides of the ball.
6. Celtics (Coach Nixon)
I truthfully believe in the overall team play of this year’s
Celtics squad. A team that is sure to have a ton of fun is also home to a bunch
of very talented young players. Juniors Jack Feely and Philip Rech are good
friends off the court and could transform that relationship into a recipe for
house supremacy. Solidified by various sidekicks, like senior Luke Mangan and junior
Liam Donoghue, spreading the rock should not be a problem for the C’s.
7. Nuggets (Coach Traver)
Will senior Austin Crane be enough to power the Nuggets to a
winning season?
That is the question on everyone’s mind in the world of
house ball. He hails from globally hated Fairfield Prep but brings some of that
edge onto the courts along with his spectacular dribbling ability and court
vision. Junior Jack Griffiths is a beast. The dude is huge. Looming over most
in the league, Griffiths’ 6’4’’ frame should present many issues for opposing
teams on the low block, if he cares enough to show up.
8. Cavaliers (Coach Barston)
Senior Blake Lange still should prove to be a scoring leader
in the league again this year. Teaming up once again with the defensive-minded
senior Mac Koorbusch, Lange and the Cavs will have to overcome a lack of
overall depth to see victories over the course of a long and grueling year.
9. Bulls (Coach Pendo)
Junior Kevin Pendo has as much skill as anyone in the league
year after year, but did not dominate as much in 2012 as he had in past years.
Kevin and senior “Twin Tower” brother Matthew Pendo have unmatched chemistry
that may or may not power them to victories on the court. Look for this team to
struggle early but eventually fall full-throttle into the coaching tactics of
Superdad and coach Mr. Pendo.
10. Jazz (Coach Alter)
Senior Harry Gillespie, a scoring threat on the stadium
field in the spring and in the North/South Gym in the winter, owes it to the Jazz
to command the court this year. Alongside a player who is not offensively or
defensively lacking in senior Andrew Nault, Gillespie and the Jazz will have a
long way to climb in this year’s rankings. Junior Dylan Cunningham understands ‘ringanometry’
(the gathering of rings) and don’t be surprised if the Jazz are a surprise team
this winter, as they could jump out and stun teams at the top of the rankings.
11. Lakers (Coach Sherwood)
The Lakers have some scoring talent delivered through the
distinguished fingers of junior Matthew Sherwood and senior Brendan Donohue. They
also have years and years of house experience in House OG’s Patrick
Winter and T.J. Adiletta (both juniors), but in my opinion lack focus needed to give this team
the prowess they need to succeed. However, there definitely won’t be a lack of focus
in terms of this team’s Swagger Factor.
12. Mavericks (Coach Smith)
The final team in this year’s preseason rankings
is the Mavericks. They have 3 players that have experience in the Darien High School
program in juniors Danny Siemers and Sam Bowtell, as well as senior Myles Ridder,
but lack a true scoring threat. Maybe this team can mix and mash there way to
victories but as of now, their future looks pretty much as grim as it gets when
it comes to house ball.
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