The school season cannot come soon enough for Chris Gaston. The Fordham star piled up individual accolade after individual accolade as a freshman – he was the Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year and scored the most points as a freshman in school history. But the losing drove him crazy. This is a guy who was on a national championship team at St. Anthony’s (N.J.) in high school.
Fordham went 2-26, including 0-16 in conference play, last year. Coach Dereck Whittenburg was fired during the season and replaced with former Hofstra head man Tom Pecora in May. Gaston is chomping at the bit to get started.
“Got a whole new team, got a whole new set of guys coming in to produce, got a new coach with a whole new mindset of winning,” the 6-foot-7 forward said. “That’s all I’m thinking about.”
Gaston was superb last season, averaging 18 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. He was the lone bright spot in a dismal campaign for the storied program. To his credit, he’s sticking it out and Gaston gushed about the team’s incoming recruits after a 26-point performance to lead R2K to a victory against Bedford Y at Hoops in the Sun in Orchard Beach on Saturday.
Fordham has a pair of New York City guards – Lamount Samuell Jr. out of Boys & Girls (by way of Notre Dame Prep) and Bishop Loughlin’s Branden Frazier – coming in. The Rams also have signed 6-foot-7 forward Marvin Dominique of Winchendon (Mass.) and 6-foot-10 star big man Kervin Bristol out of Broward (Fla.) Community College.
“This year I think we can really win a couple games, really make a run,” Gaston said. “Making it to the [Atlantic-10 tournament], that would be a good look for us.”
He said he wasn’t happy to see Whittenburg, assistant coach Jared Grasso and company go, but Gaston admitted he saw the writing on the wall. He understands the way things work in Division I college athletics.
“It’s always a time for a change when you’re losing,” he said. “Something’s gotta change. Somebody’s gotta change.”
Gaston is looking forward to a new lease on life with Pecora and his staff. The new coaches have made a concerted effort to recruit the area more than ever. Fordham already has a commitment from John F. Kennedy star guard Jeffrey Short for 2011 after he preps for a season.
“Having a relationship with one another, having a family type of relationship, going out there, working to the best of our abilities,” Gaston says Pecora’s message has been so far.
This summer, Gaston has been working out hard, trying to add muscle and improve his jump shot. His abilities as a faceup power forward are well documented, but he’s trying to get better. With help on the way, it’s easy to see why he’s looking forward to the leaves changing and the season starting already.
“I can’t wait,” Gaston said with a laugh.