Boys' Basketball

Athlete of the Year - Justin Mazzulla, Hendricken

Posted 7/9/15

Justin Mazzulla may have been just a sophomore this season, but one would’ve never known by watching the Hawks’ guard. 

Mazzulla paced Hendricken on the offensive end, leading the …

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Boys' Basketball

Athlete of the Year - Justin Mazzulla, Hendricken

Posted

Justin Mazzulla may have been just a sophomore this season, but one would’ve never known by watching the Hawks’ guard. 

Mazzulla paced Hendricken on the offensive end, leading the team with 14.3 points per game while typically drawing the other team’s best player on the defensive end as well. 

“Justin had a very good sophomore year,” Hendricken head coach Jamal Gomes said. “He made a lot of improvements to his game and got bigger and stronger.” 

Although Mazzulla was only a sophomore, his natural leadership abilities shown bright throughout the course of the season. And, according to Gomes, the way that Mazzulla approached the game was infectious. 

“I love a lot of things about Justin, but what I love the most is how hard he plays at both ends of the floor,” Gomes said. “He is a multi-dimensional type of player and we had to play him at multiple positions this year. He was always up for it – we had him play guard at times and also had him play down low.” 

“He’s a natural leader and was respected by his teammates. He has a way of injecting a sense of urgency in his teammates, and you can see that in practices and games.” 

It’s not just the basketball talent, though. Gomes noted that Mazzulla is also an outstanding student and kid. 

When a team has a kid like that at the front of its roster, the ceiling for the team becomes that much higher. 

“You don’t always find that level of commitment and coachability,” Gomes said. “That’s what separates Justin from the rest.” 

Gomes believes that Mazzulla will only continue to get better too, as he fought off knee injuries for much of the season. 

Mazzulla, who is now healthy, is playing on the AAU circuit this summer and Gomes is thrilled to have him coming back for his junior season next winter. 

- M.M.

ALL CITY TEAM

Dimitri Rosa, Hendricken

Chris Duchesneau, Pilgrim

Josh Muto, Warwick Vets

Adam Brice, Toll Gate

HONORABLE MENTION

Preston Santos, Hendricken

Trevor Lawton, Hendricken

Ira Lough, Hendricken

Ethan Schneider, Pilgrim

Kyle Rice, Warwick Vets

Kevin Martin, Warwick Vets

Jeremy Batista, Warwick Vets

Tyrone Weeks, Pilgrim

Joel Johnson, Toll Gate

Austin Ouimette, Toll Gate

COACH OF THE YEAR

Mike Batalon, Pilgrim

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