The NCAA men’s basketball tournament is down to the Sweet 16 and will have a Final Four at weekend’s end.
As March Madness continues to wind its way toward the final destination in Dallas next weekend, there was a very interesting matchup in the round of 16 that took place in Memphis Thursday night, a reunion of sorts of two of the most storied products in St. Anthony basketball history.
Florida, which entered the tourney as the top-ranked team in the country, was set to face off against UCLA.
Florida has former Friar standout Rashon Burno on its coaching staff. Burno, the Jersey City native who went on to be a star player at DePaul, is in his second year as an assistant to head coach Billy Donovan.
UCLA has former Friar standout Kyle Anderson as its starting point guard. Anderson, the North Bergen native, has become one of the best all-around players in college basketball. Recently, Anderson became the first player to record 500 points, 300 rebounds and 200 assists in a single season in more than two decades. Anderson has a very good chance to earn All-America honors when the season’s voting takes place next month…
So whoever wins between the Gators and the Bruins, there will be a Friar alum moving on…
Speaking of Bruins, North Bergen football standout Justin DeLorenzo signed a scholarship letter of intent to attend Alderson Broaddus University in West Virginia, becoming the third member of last year’s team to sign a scholarship letter.
DeLorenzo, the fine wide receiver, joins teammates Dominick Trautz and Kristian Nunez as scholarship players. Trautz, the standout quarterback, and two-way lineman Nunez had previously signed letters to attend Cheyney University in Pennsylvania…
Lincoln head football coach Robert Hampton reports that his players Caleb Hebron and Tyrik Darby are also considering scholarship offers…
The Jersey City Free Public Library will host a special presentation on Thursday, April 10 from 6-8 p.m. when Ray Robinson II, the son of legendary boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, will make an appearance, along with members of the new Jersey City Recreation youth boxing program.
The younger Robinson will speak about his father’s Hall of Fame boxing career and will distribute 50 copies of the biography he wrote about his father entitled, “Pound For Pound: A Biography of Sugar Ray Robinson” to the first 50 children who attend the presentation.
The presentation will take place at Middle School No. 7 on Laidlaw Avenue in the Jersey City Heights, the home of the Jersey City Recreation boxing program…
The wicked winter weather forced two of the area’s top baseball programs to fly south to prepare for the upcoming season. Defending Hudson County champion St. Peter’s Prep and top challenger Marist both traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for several scrimmages to get ready for this week’s season openers.
And yes, despite the sub-freezing temperatures that have enveloped the area, baseball and softball seasons are slated to begin Tuesday, so dress warmly…
Kudos to Zachary Naszimento, the young son of Weehawken athletic director and football coach Zach Naszimento, for his involvement with Sharing Seats, an organization that helps families with special needs to receive tickets to area sporting events.
Young Zachary was able to attend Knicks and Rangers games recently because of the organization and was featured on the NBC-TV news with reporter Pat Battle. Zachary’s television appearance was seen by hundreds of local viewers who spotted the Secaucus youngster on the tube.
Zachary and some of his special needs friends will play in a charity basketball game this weekend against the Lyndhurst police department, a game that has “Zacky Boy” very excited and practicing. Zachary was also excited to learn that his name was going to appear in the local newspaper because of it…—Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.