Giraldo hits the mark as pro hoop star in Colombia
Former Marist, Monmouth standout now looks to pro career elsewhere
At one time, he was among the best and brightest point guards in New Jersey, a gem coming from one of the tiniest towns around. John Giraldo went from Guttenberg to Marist High School and quickly etched a place as one of the best hardwood generals in Hudson County history.
In 1992, Giraldo earned All-State honors, leading the Royal Knights to the NJSIAA Parochial B state championship and a berth in the Tournament of Champions final against Shawnee. He was precise with his passes and deadly with his jumpers, averaging 19 points and eight assists per game for coach Mike Leonardo’s fine squad.
After Marist, Giraldo headed to Monmouth University, where he re-wrote the school’s record book, becoming one of the Hawks’ all-time leading scorers and assist makers, leading the Hawks to the Northeast Conference title in 1996 and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Soon after graduation from Monmouth, Giraldo was invited to participate in the National Basketball Association’s tryout camp in Portsmouth, Va. The prestigious camp is by invite only, so Giraldo knew he had a future – albeit somewhere – in professional basketball.
"Once I got invited to Portsmouth and I did pretty good there, I knew I had a chance," Giraldo said. "I hired an agent [Keith Glass], who had some good contacts."
One of which was with a professional basketball league in Colombia, South America, where Giraldo’s parents hail from.
"The owner of the team in Colombia had read about me in Street & Smith’s Magazine and in the newspapers," Giraldo said. "I went around, got my passport and paperwork and I was off to Colombia."
Giraldo had instant success in his parents’ native land, averaging 25 points per game and earning the Most Valuable Player of the league. He earned a decent salary, like $30,000 a year, which wasn’t enough to get rich, but was enough to keep him playing the sport that he loved.
"It was decent enough to make a living, but I was always living out of a suitcase," Giraldo said. "There wasn’t a lot of security there. You had to be willing to travel all the time."
But still, Giraldo was a star in Colombia and remained there for two years. Some Americans struggle in Colombia basketball. Former NBA standouts like Dwayne "Pearl" Washington couldn’t cut it. But because Giraldo was considered almost a native of the country, he was looked at as a hero.
"It took a lot of pressure off, because there is a lot of pressure on the Americans to do well," Giraldo said. "They’re expected to come in and carry the load. But I came in as a native and it definitely helped. There were no big expectations and I was able to do well right away, scoring like 25-27 a game. The coach just gave me the green light."
In Colombia, the No. 1 sport, of course, is soccer. The fans are so fervent about their soccer that the drug lords have actually executed players for not performing up to standards. When sports becomes life and death, needless to say, the pressure becomes intense.
But the fans are into their basketball as well.
"Surprisingly, all the basketball games sell out as well," Giraldo said. "It’s crazy. There is a real respect for the game of basketball in Colombia and definitely draws a lot of people. I definitely worry about not making the big free throw, but I never have to worry about possible consequences for missing. I don’t think it’s that bad."
After his two-year stint in Colombia, winning the MVP each year, Giraldo moved on to stints in Venezuela and Portugal for one season each, before coming back to Colombia, where he just finished his third season – winning the league’s top player award again.
Giraldo just returned to his native Guttenberg three weeks ago at the conclusion of the Colombian professional season. He is currently biding his time, working as a substitute teacher at Anna L. Klein School, while awaiting the next move in his professional basketball career. At age 26, Giraldo feels he still has some quality playing time ahead of him – perhaps even a shot at the NBA.
"I would like to get a shot to stick with an NBA team in camp, but if that doesn’t happen, I’m honestly pretty happy playing in South America," Giraldo said. "I have some contacts with some foreign agents, so we have to see what’s going to happen. But I really think things are going to get better for me. I’ve played well in international tournaments and I think I’ve made a name for myself."
Giraldo is hoping that perhaps he can get picked up to play in more lucrative professional leagues in Argentina, Brazil or possibly Europe.
"I never want to sign a contract too early and eliminate my options," Giraldo said. "I would prefer not to go back to Colombia. I’ve already done well there. I think it’s time for me to move on. I have developed a reputation as a solid player and I think I can handle my own there."
In the meantime, he’s just Mr. Giraldo to the kids at Klein School.
"Actually, when I get assigned to a class of the younger kids, they all ask for my autograph," Giraldo said. "Mr. [Joe] Forenza (the school’s vice-principal who served as an assistant at Marist when Giraldo played there) has shown the video of me playing to the kids, so they know who I am. I like coming back, because you never forget where you came from. I know a lot of people would love to be in my shoes, playing pro basketball, so I have to take advantage of it."
Giraldo was also happy to see his collegiate alma mater, Monmouth, do so well this year and make its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since he played in 1996.
"I went down to Greensboro [to see Monmouth play Duke] and it was weird, being on the other side, watching them play," Giraldo said. "I’m very happy for them, that they got back on track. It brought back memories."
Just like the memories Giraldo brings to avid Hudson County followers, when they turn the clock back a decade to his high school glory days.
"Those were fun times," Giraldo said. "They were some of the best times of my life."
Chances are that John Giraldo still has some good times remaining in his basketball soul.