St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, with its affable coach Phil Martelli, has always been a place where local basketball players, especially products of St. Anthony High School, have settled in nicely as college players.
People like former St. Anthony standouts Dwayne Lee and Ahmad Nivins have enjoyed great careers with Martelli and the Hawks.
Well, in a span of about a week, the Hawks gained one and lost local off their basketball roster.
First, the school announced that former St. Anthony forward A.J. Rogers had been released from his scholarship and was free to transfer to another program. Rogers played sparingly over the last two years with St. Joseph’s. It’s not sure where Rogers will end up.
Then, it was learned that St. Peter’s Prep All-State forward Ronald Roberts has signed a letter of intent to head to St. Joseph’s, after getting his release from his original commitment to St. John’s.
Roberts had originally narrowed down his choices to St. John’s and St. Joseph’s during the recruiting process, but when former St. John’s coach Norm Roberts (no relation) was terminated, Ronald Roberts decided to opt out of the letter of intent and make his way down to Philly.
Ronald Roberts will do well with Martelli, who is definitely a players’ kind of coach and is well liked by everyone who he comes across. It’s a shame that it didn’t work out for Rogers there…
Speaking of Rogers, it’s now astonishing that four of the famed six St. Anthony senior players from that magical 2008 national championship squad who all signed Division I letters of intent are now headed to different schools from the initial ones they signed with.
It started when Tyshawn Taylor originally signed with Marquette, but then went to Kansas after former Marquette coach Tom Crean left Marquette for Indiana. Then, Jio Fontan left Fordham for USC and Mike Rosario bolted from Rutgers to go to the University of Florida. Now Rogers has left St. Joe’s.
Only Travon Woodall (Pitt) and Alberto Estwick (Fordham) have remained at the schools with which they originally signed. Maybe that’s just a sign of the times, but it certainly proves that the college basketball recruiting world is extremely fickle…
There was a nice piece in the Star-Ledger about Jersey City native and former local coach Robert Kanaby retiring as the head of the National High School Sports Federation at the end of the year.
Kanaby, who got his start in high school sports teaching and coaching at places like Union Hill and St. Anthony, became a major fixture in New Jersey high school sports when he eventually became the executive director of the NJSIAA, then moved on to Kansas City and the National Federation 17 years ago.
Bob Kanaby was always good for Hudson County sports and was a shining light for other local administrators to follow. We’re hoping he treasures his retirement, as he so richly deserves…
Speaking of Union City, the city’s resident sports guru, namely Nick “Whizzer” Mastorelli, wrote in to report that the annual Emerson High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame dinner was a huge success. It was held last Thursday night at the Landmark II in Rutherford. Almost 400 people attended the dinner, which honored Joe Gambardella, Ed Kochakian, Henry Albanese, Ronald Hertel, Adriano “Joe” Bermudez, Robert Rubbinaccio, Luis Concepcio, Vanessa Vargas, Joe Marini and Miguel Merrick.
Another special inductee was Mohamed Rodriguez, who was a standout basketball and football player from 1990 through 1993, earning All-Area honors as a football player. Unfortunately, Rodriguez passed away a few months ago. His induction certainly drew plenty of emotions.
Mastorelli reported that people came from all over the country to return for the dinner. Emerson High School may no longer exist, but the school’s legacy lives on with the Hall of Fame.
Mastorelli also reported that the organization has given out seven $1,000 scholarships to Union City student/athletes over the last two years. In the nearly 20 years that the dinner has been held, the Emerson Alumni Association has presented almost 150 scholarships to worthy Union City student/athletes. It’s truly remarkable and a credit to all those in Union City who care about history and care about giving back to help others…
Formula One auto racing in Jersey City? Are we for real? Thank goodness people like the Liberty State Park activists, Mayor Jerramiah Healy, and the state Department of Environmental Protection stepped up and stopped this idea before it started to gain steam. There is enough auto racing on the streets of Jersey City already. Ever see the taxi cab stand on Journal Square? …
Hudson County Freeholders Bill O’Dea and Jeff Dublin have stepped up their efforts to see if there is a way to stop the plan that calls for the elimination of the athletic programs at County Prep and High Tech after this spring season. Parents of the students at both schools have also rallied behind the cause.
But in reality, it’s probably a valiant effort that will fall on deaf ears, because the schools have already informed coaches that the programs will be eliminated at the end of the current year. It may be a case of being a little too late to save the programs…
Hudson Reporter High School Baseball Top Five: 1. High Tech (17-5). 2. Union City (16-7). 3. Bayonne (14-8). 4. North Bergen (15-7). 5. St. Peter’s Prep (11-9).
Hudson Reporter High School Softball Top Five: 1. North Bergen (16-6). 2. Hoboken (14-2). 3. High Tech (12-6). 4. County Prep (16-4). 5. St. Dominic Academy (13-6).
And before the people in the Mile Square City go ballistic about the softball rankings, considering that Hoboken defeated North Bergen earlier this week, the proof is in the pudding. Win again in the county tournament and the ranking will change. One win does not change an entire ranking. We still believe that the Bruins are the better team. But that could be subject to change in the county tournament semifinals this week…
The Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame dinner was scheduled to be held Thursday night. Congrats to all the inductees, especially North Bergen’s Pat Sempier, the state’s resident place kicking and punting guru, who earned the Marty Seglio Memorial Community Service Award for his dedication in working with kids all over the state and not taking a single dime. Sempier truly exemplifies the meaning of that award… — Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.