Sharpshooter Suriel has emerged into player Suriel.Emerson junior becomes more of a complete playerEasily the biggest surprise of the 1999-2000, Hudson County boys’ basketball season had to be the Cinderella story of the Emerson Bulldogs, who went from outcasts and also-rans into HCIAA finalists and NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group III champions
Led by rookie head coach Drew Morano, the Bulldogs shocked the local hoop scene with their miraculous play down the stretch, especially after it appeared as if the Bulldogs were not even going to qualify for post-season play.
Probably the biggest surprise among the team of surprises was sensational sophomore Manny Suriel, who absolutely caught fire in the final month of the season, leading the Bulldogs to the improbable playoff run. Suriel came from practically nowhere to become the Bulldogs’ leading scorer in both the county and state playoffs.
"That gave me a lot of confidence," Suriel said of his brilliant close to his sophomore campaign. "I think we all started off slow last year and picked up the pace at the end. Nobody knew who I was, but they started to notice me at the end."
"When you’re the leading scorer on a state sectional champion, people are going to notice you," Morano said. "Manny snuck up on some people as a pure spot-up shooter and he’s always been one of the best shooters I’ve ever been around. He’s a special shooter."
But a successful and highly touted basketball player cannot live on simply a jump shot. The player has to develop an entire package – going to the basket, posting up, playing with abandon and authority.
"Ever since August, I’ve been telling Manny that the time had come for him to step up and dominate," said Morano, the son of Emerson coaching legend Hank Morano. "I knew he was a very bright, intelligent player. But he needed to realize that."
"Without a doubt, I knew that I had to do more things this year," said Suriel, a 6-foot-2 inch junior. "People knew who I was, so that was going to make things a little harder. But that just made me work harder. I had to get my teammates more involved. They always expect me to shoot. But I had to do some other things. I knew things were going to change for me. There was a little pressure on me, knowing that all eyes were going to be on me. But I wanted to be ready for it."
After the first two games of the year, Suriel didn’t seem to be ready. He scored a total of just 10 points in the two games, one of which the Bulldogs lost to neighboring rival Memorial.
"I think he started off the year, waiting for people to find him on the floor," Morano said. "But that wasn’t going to happen anymore. Manny had to become more assertive, go and get the ball and find the shot on his own. He had to realize that he was not going to be able to stand alone on the perimeter and knock down threes [three-point shots] anymore. He had to create his own shots, go by guys."
Since Suriel realized that the scoring was not going to be handed to him, he’s been on an absolute tear. He’s averaged nearly 23 points per game over the last four games, all of which were Emerson victories. He had 28 points in a win over cross-town rival Union Hill last Wednesday and had 23 in a win against Memorial, the same team that he scored just six points against two weeks ago.
For his efforts, Suriel has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week this past week.
Morano has been pleased with the way Suriel has progressed, first since last year and definitely in the past two weeks.
"It’s a case of a good player working hard to get to the next stage," Morano said. "I think it’s a maturity thing. He’s taken upon himself to create his own shots. He’s had a nice run lately and people are beginning to notice that he can do things on his own."
Morano said that Suriel’s defining moment of late came in a recent game against Snyder.
"Manny had a very good defensive player draped all over him for the whole game," Morano said. "A year ago, he would have ended up with perhaps four points and we wouldn’t have heard much from him. But this year, he worked hard to get his 17 points, got to the free throw line and made some plays. That’s all part of the maturation process. I think he’s a good player stepping up when he’s called upon. But he still has a long way to go."
Plus, Suriel always has that picture perfect jump shot to fall back on.
"I think he’s the best pure shooter in the county," Morano said. "His stroke is beautiful. I’m just happy that we’re beginning to see that Manny Suriel is not just a spot-up shooter anymore, that he’s becoming Manny Suriel the player."
Suriel said that there was a time that he used to get nervous before playing in a game. Not anymore.
"All that nervousness went away," Suriel said. "I’ve learned a lot about what I have to do. I can sense that people notice me. Nobody said my name last year but they do now. Lately, I feel like I’ve been on a groove. I feel the touch. If I don’t feel it, then I give up the ball. But lately, I’ve been feeling it."
And the box scores have been proving it.
CAPTION
Emerson basketball standout Manny Suriel