Ryan Frankel has spent much of his brilliant and productive Collegiate career overlooked, whether it was serving as a complement to the program’s star seniors two years ago or second fiddle to Connor Huff last year.
He wasn’t overlooked by The Post’s readers over the last week. The MIT-bound point guard won last week’s NYPost.com poll asking, “Who is the city’s top boys basketball league guard?”
Frankel received an astounding 15,010 votes of the 30,251 cast, which was good for 49.62 percent. He beat out Xaverian’s Dillon Burns, who picked up 8,039 votes (26.57 percent) and Holy Cross’ Marquise Moore and his 1,982 votes (6.55 percent).
“It’s definitely an honor,” Frankel said. “I know I was really lucky to have a lot of family and friends I know vote for me repeatedly. It was just an honor to be included on that list. I know a lot of those other players and they are great players at great schools, and a lot of them are going to play at the next level really high.”
Frankel, few people know, didn’t start his career at the Upper West Side powerhouse which has won the last four NYSAISAA Class B and New York State Federation Class B crowns. He spent his freshman year at Horace Mann before transferring to Collegiate, a school he felt better suited him in the classroom and on the court.
“Collegiate embodied everything I wanted in my high school experience,” Frankel said. “It’s turned out really well – everything I could’ve asked for.”
The Dutchmen are happy to have him. After serving as a secondary piece to the state championship team as a sophomore, Frankel emerged as a top-flight point guard last year. Huff scored the winning basket in the New York State Federation Class B final against Salesian, but he was free because Frankel drew the entire defense off penetration.
As a senior and one of the team’s few capable ball handlers, Frankel has been under a lot of pressure. He’s a co-captain, along with Huff, and is being asked to assume a lot of playmaking duties. He’s actually enjoying the responsibilities though and has picked it up of late. He scored 17 points in a big 64-56 victory over league rival Fieldston and poured in 24 to lead 13-2 Collegiate past CHSAA Class B foe St. Agnes.
Currently, the Dutchmen are tied atop the Ivy Prep League with Poly Prep. Despite the four straight state titles, they have failed to win the Ivy the last the last two years, a major goal.
“Right now we’re really focused on winning the league,” he said. “It would mean a lot for us to be able to do that.”
While his future is extremely bright – MIT is one of the best university’s in the country and the basketball team has become a Division III national power and has been to the NCAA Tournament the last two years under coach Larry Anderson – Frankel is squarely focused on the present. He’s determined to go out on top.
“Knowing it’s my last go-around, I really want to make it count and accomplish all our goals, really make it a memorable season,” he said. “I’ve worked really hard in the past and this year us seniors have an extra drive.”