Season Preview: Experienced Boys Hoops Squad Begins Season On Thursday
David Creed •
As Willis Ferreira prepares to begin his 14th season as the varsity boys basketball coach and 33rd season overall as a varsity basketball coach at Nantucket High School, he feels excited about the group that returns several key players with varsity experience after having very little varsity experience on his team last year.
“Last year, there were some growing pains,” Ferreira said. “People don’t see it that way, but there was really only one guy who had varsity experience (Amare Bramwell). Ethan (Jarrett) was coming off a broken leg and didn’t play much before he got hurt. But I like this group. I think our small lineup is probably going to be our best lineup. We have some bigger guys, but they don’t have much experience.”
Sophomore Burke Lombardi will be the team’s point guard and look to build off a strong freshman year as the team’s leading scorer. Senior Vallon Jeanty will enter his second year as a varsity scorer and one of the Whaler’s top scorers.
“With (senior Gaven Smith), we really have three guys that can really shoot it,” Ferreira said. “I need a bounce back season here from Amare. Ryder (Tartamella, senior) looks really, really good. He isn’t very big, but he is really tough and plays very hard. Overall I am going to have different lineups that play different styles. We might have to press with a certain group and sit back and play zone with another group.”
Sophomore Yuri Saunders is one of the notable big men who will be returning while Jarrett went off to private school this year. Some other key players returning include senior guard Jake Grant, sophomore guard Joao Silva, and junior guard Aspen Silva, who is injured but will be ready to return at some point this winter. Ferreira also said junior Russell Simpson brings toughness and likes his game.
The Whaler’s scrimmaged Holbrook on the road Monday, and Ferreira said he felt it went well. The two teams played five 10-minute running quarter scrimmages.
Nantucket begins their season on Thursday, December 11th on the road against Bourne High School at 3 p.m. You can view their full schedule here.