|
|
Sophomore A.J. Rudowitz (Monroe Township) |
|
|
Freshman Vince Rosario (Cardinal McCarrick) |
|
|
Junior Nick Smith |
Emery Konick Jr., Staff Writer
(This article originally appeared in the January 3, 2008 issue of the Home News Tribune)
Forward Nick Smith could well be called a basketball Pied Piper for virtually transforming Stonehill College into the Greater Middlesex Conference East.
Three years ago, the 6-foot-7, 230-pound Smith made his debut at the Easton, Mass., college after earning Home News Tribune Player of the Year honors for his play at Colonia.
Smith was so impressive as a rookie he was named the Freshman of the Year in the Northeast-10 Conference.
Two years ago, with Smith and the GMC as the basketball talent references, A.J. Rudowitz of Monroe headed to Stonehill. He, too, earned HNT Player of the Year honors and also became an instant hit at Stonehill.
The GMC colony has doubled to four for this season.
Stonehill won the Vince Rosario sweepstakes after last season.
Rosario was the GMC scoring king for two consecutive seasons as a shooting guard for Cardinal McCarrick in South Amboy. The 5-10, 160-pound guard was one of the finalists for HNT Player of the Year selection after shattering school and Middlesex County records for 3-point shooting.
The fourth GMC graduate is Darrell Carroll, who starred at St. Joseph. He captained the Falcons last season and gained GMC all-star laurels.
As the Stonehill season heads into the 2008 phase, the GMC graduates have been making major contributions in different ways as the Skyhawks upped their record to 10-6.
Smith is the leading scorer on Stonehill with 209 points for a 16.1 average. Rudowitz is the No. 1 rebounder with 76 for a 5.6 average. And Rosario is third in 3-point shooting with 27, just two off the second spot.
Offensively, Smith, Rudowitz and Rosario have accounted for 50.1 percent of Stonehill's point total. They have poured in 488 of Stonehill's 973 points.
And Smith and Rosario have been the long-range bombers for the Division II college. The duo had fired in 60 treys, or 52.6 percent of the team's total.
Off the boards, Smith, Rudowitz and Rosario have snared 104 rebounds, or 24.4 percent.
There is no question that Smith is the leader on the team. In registering the 16.1 scoring average, he has sizzled with his shooting, clicking at a 47.7-percent rate from the floor while playing 30.6 minutes per game.
These figure to be exciting times for Smith. The business major has boosted his career total to 980 and should crack the 1,000-point mark in the very near future.
Smith is No. 2 in 3-point shooting with 33-for-52, a 40.2-percent pace. Last year, Smith led Stonehill in scoring and rebounding. He tallied 489 points for a 17.5 average. Off the boards, he notched 172 rebounds. He was an NEC-10 All-Star Second Team selection.
In his award-winning freshman campaign, Smith averaged 8.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game and led the conference in 3-point shooting percentage at 43.0 percent.
The 6-6, 210-pound Rudowitz has been a strong two-way performer. Rudowitz has scored 145 points for an 11.2 average and has been torrid in his shooting at 51.0 percent on 52-for-102. He has swept the boards for 76 rebounds, including a team-high 56 defensive boards.
Rudowitz is the Skyhawks' No. 1 shot blocker with 12. Rudowitz is No. 3 in steals with 13 and No. 3 in assists with 28 while playing 28.2 minutes per. He was one offensive rebound shy of controlling both aspects of the game.
Last year, Rudowitz racked up 171 rebounds for a 6.4 pace while posting 340 points for a 12.1 average, which was third on the team.
Rosario, who hails from Perth Amboy, has become the "super sub" for Stonehill. He has come off the bench 11 times in 13 games, yet is averaging 22.5 minutes of playing time. He has notched 134 points for a 10.3 average.
Rosario is a bona fide 3-point shooter, be it high school or college. At Stonehill, Rosario has exploded for 27 treys in 63 attempts (42.9 percent). Rosario was No. 2 in steals with 15.
Carroll is the 6-6, 195-pound forward who had seen action in one game. At St. Joseph, Carroll was an All-American in his senior year when he served as captain.
Smith recorded a season high six 3-pointers while firing in 24 points in 24 minutes to help power Stonehill to an 86-62 triumph over Mercy College.
When Stonehill edged Bryant, 59-56, Rudowitz played a big role with 14 points and five rebounds. Rosario unleashed four 3-pointers to give Stonehill a 45-41 lead in a see-saw battle.
Smith, Rudowitz and Rosario graduated from their respective high schools as all-time scoring kings.
Smith registered 1,771 points at Colonia, Rudowitz fired in 1,536 points at Monroe and Rosario rang up 1,996 points at Cardinal McCarrick.
