The game’s biggest shot was nothing but a drill for Kinu Rochford.
“My coaches always tell me box out, find your man,” the former James Madison standout said. “I saw Sean [Armand] shoot it. I saw it was going to bounce a little to the left. That’s my drill.”
The 6-foot-6 forward shed his defender, grabbed the rebound and converted a putback and drew a foul with 17 seconds left. It provided the final margin for the Brooklyn Stompers in a thrilling 57-56 win over R2K in the opening round of the Dyckman playoffs Wednesday night. The hustle play left his coaching staff to yell, “That’s what he does,” from the sidelines.
“He is the local Anthony Mason,” Brooklyn Stompers coach Ronnie Francis said of Rochford, who finished with 15 points. “All of his points are scrappy points.”
R2K had two more chances. Nets rookie Tyshawn Taylor had his baseline drive blocked by A.J. West and Jamel Ferguson wouldn’t go in the closing seconds.
It was a big victory for the tight-knit program of all college players that includes Fordham’s Branden Frazier and Iona’s Armand. It was the first time in three seasons playing unlimited that the group has gotten past the first round of the playoffs. They have been playing together since the sixth grade.
“It shows we are trying to develop kids,” Francis said. “We try to take them to these tournaments so they can get exposure.”
He believes Rochford will be one of the players people will take notice of once they see him. He took the long road to get to FDU.
Rochford didn’t play at a traditional New York City basketball power, attending Madison instead. He averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds as a senior, then spent two seasons at Globe Institute of Technology. There, he averaged 14 points and 14 rebounds a contest while earning the Region XV Player of the Year honors as a sophomore.
“He destroyed junior college,” Francis said.
Rochford felt comfortable with coach Greg Vetrone at FDU, saying he was 100 percent honest with him throughout the recruiting process. He told Vetrone he would be a workhorse for him if he gave him a chance. Rochford was right. He averaged 9.3 points per game and hauled in 6.8 boards while starting 20 games.
“I realized it’s [about] preparation,” Rochford said of Division I basketball. “It’s not like a [regular] game. They scout you real well, your ins and outs.”
He can’t wait to get back to FDU for his final season, and is looking to improve his defense and rebounding. The process of proving himself continues.
“He’s the most underrated talent in New York,” Francis said. “Everywhere we take [him] now, he’s destroying.”