KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — At 6-foot-11 and 265 pounds, Adonis Delarosa is one of the nation’s biggest players. The Christ the King forward is also one of its most improved.
The Bronx native has dropped 30 pounds since March, he impressed last week at the Reebok Breakout Challenge in Philadelphia and is in the midst of a big July with the New York Lightning.
College coaches have noticed his progression. Drexel, SMU, Providence and Hofstra have offered the skilled big man scholarships while Pittsburgh, Memphis, UConn, St. John’s, Temple and Tennessee have shown interest, Lightning coach Chris Williams said.
“I was surprised, but that’s what I’m playing to do,” said Delarosa, who has helped the 16U Lightning get out to a 2-0 start at Nike Peach Jam in Augusta, Ga. “That’s what I’m playing for. Now I know everybody’s watching. I know I have a target on my back.”
Christ the King head man Joe Arbitello isn’t surprised by all the schools suddenly calling for the rapidly improving big man — he saw glimpses of such potential during Delarosa’s sophomore season, before he dropped the weight.
“I think he’s going to be the best player in New York City in a year,” Arbitello said. “He’s gonna be a load to deal with.”
The younger brother of Florida International forward Joey Delarosa, Christ the King’s rising junior attributes his skyrocketing recruiting and improvement on the court to his better conditioning. He is eating better and working out more.
He set up camp in the Christ the King weight room once the Royals’ season ended in March, has put in time on a local track near his Bronx home during the sweltering summer and has done even extra work, on an individual basis, with CK girls junior varsity assistant coach Ahmed Allen, who lives close to him.
“I can run up and down the floor and not get tired,” Delarosa said. “All the moves I couldn’t do [before], I can do [now]. It’s made me a lot better.”
One Division I coach familar with Delarosa said he could still lose a few more pounds, which would give him the stamina to sprint up and down the court at a quicker pace.
“He can catch, has soft hands around the basket and a decent feel for the game,” the coach said. “He can be as good as he wants to be if dedicates himself to his fitness, keeps working on his game and has the desire to dominate.”