(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: ENGLISH LESSON: Hun School boys’ basketball player Grant Fiorentinos looks for an opening in recent action. Last Saturday, Fiorentinos, a native of London, England, scored a season-high 14 points to help Hun top Hill 52-40. Hun, now 6-7, plays at Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on January 23 before hosting Lawrenceville on January 26.

With English Import Fiorentinos Starring, Hun Boys’ Basketball Overcomes Hill

Bill Alden

Grant Fiorentinos is a good enough basketball player to compete for England’s Under-18 national team.

But with his basketball ambitions extending beyond the English hoops scene, Fiorentinos has come across the Atlantic to join the Hun School boys’ basketball team to become even better.

“One of my coaches on the English national team saw Hun as a great education and a basketball school and led me to come here to perform,” said junior center Fiorentinos, speaking in a clipped English accent.

“I need the academics and basketball to get into that Division I college and then every boy’s dream, the NBA after that.”

Last Saturday against visiting Hill, the 6’10, 215-pound Fiorentinos displayed the type of game that will garner the attention of D-I coaches, scoring a season-high 14 points and grabbing some key rebounds as Hun pulled away to a 52-40 victory.

“I tried to get as many points and rebounds as I can to help my team win,” said Fiorentinos.

“I think we did a good job of passing and sharing the ball and I was the open man. I showed aggression.”

Hun came into the evening looking to be aggressive collectively, coming off an 82-48 loss on Thursday to St. Patrick, the top-ranked team in the nation.

“We knew that this game counted in our league so it was a more important game actually than St. Patrick,” said Fiorentinos.

“We came out with high intensity. I think we adapted well offensively and defensively and we executed.”

Hun’s sharpest execution of the evening came in the fourth quarter when the Raiders went on a 10-0 run to break open a close contest.

“We came out stronger than ever in the fourth quarter,” said Fiorentinos, reflecting on the win which improved Hun to 6-7 overall and 2-1 in Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) play.

“We came out to prove a point and not let it get to a close situation. We didn’t want it to get down to a one or two point game. We played good defense.”

Hun head coach Jon Stone liked the strong effort he got from Fiorentinos in the win over Hill.

“He has had some ups and downs this season for a variety of reasons,” said Stone, who also got some good work in the paint from 6’8 junior Will Wise.

“We knew he always had it in him. He came out and played confidently tonight. He made a big difference and showed what he can do. He and Will Wise are two very good players and they are guys who can make the team great. We need that out of both guys.

Hun needed a win after the lopsided loss to St. Pat’s two days earlier.

“I was happy with our overall effort tonight,” said Stone, who got a game-high 15 points from Tyler Melville.

“It is always good to get a win after a loss. We still did some things tonight that weren’t great. We are still learning and growing.”

Stone has been getting some great things every night from post-graduate guard Melville.

“Tyler is so steady, he is so rock solid,” asserted Stone of the Plano, Texas native. “He means a lot to this team. His leadership and ability to make plays are really outstanding.”

In Stone’s view, Hun has the ability to be an outstanding team. “I think we are getting there,” said Stone, whose team is at Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on January 23 before hosting Lawrenceville on January 26.

“We certainly haven’t peaked this year but that’s OK. We are coming together a little bit and I think we our best games are ahead of us.”

Fiorentinos, for his part, is looking to peak down the final stretch of the season.

“It is my first year here,” said Fiorentinos. “Now I am adapting and grasping things. I can show what I am really made of and hopefully bring more wins to the team.”

Return to Previous Sports Story | Return to Top | Go to Calendar