Ryan Frankel is back running the point for Collegiate. (Denis Gostev)
The centerpieces of Collegiate’s fourth straight NYSAISAA and New York State Federation Class B title team, Connor Huff and Ryan Frankel, return. Integral glue guy Willie Gwathmey is also back, joined by a slew of talented and long newcomers.
The Dutchmen, it would seem, are an odds-on favorite to get back to Albany. Ray Voelkel isn’t disputing that, but the longtime coach isn’t ready to anoint his team quite yet.
“We were further ahead last year at this point,” he said. “Hopefully things will fall into place, but we’re far away from being a good team at this point. We’ve struggled in our scrimmages.”
At the crux of the matter is a horde of newcomers and inexperienced players new to Collegiate’s intricate system Voelkel bases off Duke. It’s based on movement, screens and backdoor cuts that can be difficult to pick up.
“It’s pretty complex,” Frankel said. “We run a lot of things. Coach pays a lot of attention to deal, and that’s part of what makes him such a great coach. But it’s hard at first. It does take time for younger guys to pick all of that stuff up and feel comfortable to improvise within the offense.”
On paper, Collegiate is improved. Huff and Frankel are a year older and more experienced. Unlike last season, the 6-foot-4 Huff has plenty of help inside from 6-foot-5 sophomore Henry Frye, 6-foot-5 junior Mark Jazbik and 6-foot-3 senior Imran Hassan. Six-foot-four junior Elias Bresnick is unsure if he will play basketball; he may commit to soccer, though a decision has yet to be made.
“I’m hoping he decides to play,” Voelkel said of Bresnick, a sweeper who helped the Collegiate soccer team repeat as NYSAISAA champions two weeks ago. “He would’ve been one of the first guys off the bench. He’s a good athlete and rebounder. He would definitely be a good role player for us.”
Frankel, a sharpshooting uncommitted lead guard, will run the point. Junior Carter Lewis, a 6-foot-1 wing, has shown promise during the preseason, as has skilled 5-foot-10 junior T.J. Edwards. Senior Pasal Croak is one of Collegiate’s top defenders at 6-foot-1.
“The key for us has been equal scoring,” Voelkel said. “We haven’t been relying on anyone by themselves. If people key on Ryan, then other people step up. … I’m hoping for fairly even scoring and Ryan and Connor should be a little above everyone else.”
As enjoyable as last year was – Collegiate upset favored Burke Catholic and Salesian in the Federation tournament – Voelkel was disappointed by Collegiate’s close to the regular season in the Ivy League. The division, he said, was there to be won, if not for the Dutchmen stumbling the finish line. State titles are the end-goal but winning the Ivy is significant, too.
“That’s our first goal – to win Ivys,” Frankel said.
Voelkel has high hopes, which is why he hasn’t been thrilled with his team’s preseason. He would not only like Collegiate to win a fifth straight NYSAISAA and Federation title and win the Ivy Prep League, but fare well in a competitive non-league schedule he has compiled.
“If the younger guys can learn the style and learn how to do things properly, this team can be good,” he said. “It could be a very good team with the senior leadership we have. But one weak link can take a team down.”