By Lorenzo Recupero
Basketball season for Everett High School is on freeze until the opener in December, but that hasn’t stopped some of the returning players from heating up their game during the summer months.
“I grew up in Everett and to see the energy for basketball how it is now in the city is a beautiful thing,” said incoming head coach Stanley Chamblain, who moved to the city during middle school and couldn’t recall a time when basketball was such a buzz.
“We had [summer leagues] but the energy, and buzz around the city for basketball isn’t like it is now,” he said, “Its so important to have the summer leagues not only for the players to continue to work on their game but just to help keep kids focus away from the computer screens,” he said.
Since the season ended in April, EHS basketball players have only had several weeks off. In the first week of June, Everett’s summer league basketball started up and culminated the second week of August.
Following the close of the summer leagues is the opening of more than one fall league in the area, including leagues played at St. Mary’s of Lynn and Lynn Classical each Tuesday and Friday.
The third fall league is hosted by Cambridge Rindge & Latin and plays it’s games every Saturday.The fall leagues start the week after Labor Day and run through Thanksgiving.
The constant exposure to the game and competitive competition encountered in the fall and summer tournaments is key for player development, according to Chamblain.
“It’s so important. It ensures the players are working hard. It’s a great way to go against other teams we may see during the year. And it’s not going to be any indication of how our season will go, by any means, but just a chance to see how other teams are looking,” said Chamblain, who noted Everett was last season’s champion of the St. Mary’s Fall League.
“For me, personally, it’s a great thing that shows the players who attend are really committed. It shows they are open for the challenge,” said Chamblain.
Summer team members included Monte Campbell, Nate Mehu, Jaden Mahabir, Erick Thompson, Amir Dottin, Kayo Dias, Paulo Rodrigues Silva, Louie Phillipe, Marvel Vilmont, Kevin Ariste, Dimitry Philippe, and Ralph Enayo.