 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) STRONG COMMITMENT: Hun School senior star Idris Hilliard fights his way to the basket in a game last winter. Hilliard, who has already committed to play at Division I power St. Joseph's after graduation, will be focused on ending his Hun career with a bang. Last Friday, Hilliard netted 12 points as Hun cruised past Life Center 83-44 in the season opener for both teams. In 2005-06, Hilliard averaged 16.8 points a game, earning All-Prep honors. |
On paper, the Hun School boys' basketball team has the makings of a juggernaut.
The Raiders feature gifted 6'7 senior forward Idris Hilliard, who has already committed to play with Division I power St. Joseph's after graduation.
The other forward, junior Lance Goulbourne, a multi-talented athlete who led Hun to the Prep A boys' tennis crown this past spring, has the D-I scouts drooling.
That one-two punch of Hilliard and Goulbourne would be enough to make Raiders formidable but for good measure the Hun lineup will also feature senior 7-footer Will Martell and 5'11 junior point guard Doug Davis, a Philadelphia native who led Prep Charter to the Pennsylvania Class AA championship last season.
Last Friday, Hun didn't wait long to show that it could be every bit as formidable on the court as it looks on paper, jumping to 43-12 lead over Life Center Academy by the first half of the season opener for both teams.
Hun cruised to an 83-44 victory as Hilliard and Martell each scored 12 points with Davis adding 13.
In assessing his team's opening night effort, Hun head coach Jon Stone was understandably pleased.
"I was happy with the way we played hard and the way we shared the ball," said Stone, whose team went 17-9 last season, advancing to both the state Prep A and Mid-Atlantic Prep League semifinals. "We have a lot of weapons and different people can step up on any given night."
On Friday, senior forward Sean Pucciarelli stepped up the most, scoring a game-high 17 points with five assists and five rebounds.
"He's been doing a great job; he developed a lot last year and he worked hard over the summer," said Stone. "He's carried that into this season. It was great to see him have a good game like that."
On most nights, though, Hun will be looking for Hilliard to have great games. In 2005-06, Hilliard averaged 16.8 points a game, earning All-Prep honors. "Idris did a lot of great things last year, he's going to be even better this year," said Stone, whose team will next be in action when it plays at Blair on December 6 before competing in Peddie's annual invitational tournament from December 8-10.
"I think he is happy with his college choice; the recruiting process can be draining and he can relax and focus on the season."
Goulbourne is getting his focus back after dealing with some injury problems. "He was injured a bit on the preseason," said Stone of Goulbourne who had four points in the season opener. "He's starting to find his rhythm. Lance and Idris will draw a lot of attention."
Point guard Davis figures to draw plenty of attention with his versatility. "He has fit in well with the other players, the guys really like him," said Stone. "He can get to the rim, he can shoot the ball, and he can distribute it."
One of his more conspicuous targets will be the 7'0 Martell. "He's getting better everyday," said Stone. "He has soft hands, nice touch, and can run well for a big man. His best basketball will come at the end of the season; it's going to be fun to watch."
Stone will also have fun watching two key members of his supporting cast, junior guard Matt Florio and junior forward Mike Russo.
"Matt is so steady; he's such a competitor," added Stone of Florio who was a star midfielder for the Hun boys' soccer team this past fall.
"He's in the middle of everything just like he is in soccer. Mike plays hard. If he wasn't so good in baseball, he could be a college basketball player. He's got a good build and he's gotten stronger. He doesn't fill up the stat sheet but he does a lot for us."
While Stone knows his team has a lot going for it, he realizes that its chance of winning titles could come down to intangibles.
"A lot of it depends on staying healthy," said Stone, noting that the Raiders were hampered last winter by an injury to star forward Josh Davis.
"The guys have to share the ball and develop good chemistry on and off the court. I think this team has that kind of chemistry. It's a long season, you can have talent but you also need the players to get along well."
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