What do Rye High’s boys’ basketball and football teams have in common?
By Melanie Cane
What do Rye High’s boys’ basketball and football teams have in common? The answer should be eight players, but since star football and basketball player Conor Murphy is out for the season due to the ankle injury he sustained in the Rye-Harrison football game, the answer is seven players, three of whom are captains. The tri-captains are: Jay Little (G/F) and Daniel Magnum (G), both seniors, and junior Drew Abate (F). Coach John Aguilar says these boys, as well as senior Radin Mahdavi (G) and junior Andrew Livingston (G), are the players to watch. They are also the only returning players as four of the five starters from last year graduated, including All-Section player Max Twyman.
Key newcomers include Zach Holmes and Ilir Biga, both seniors; juniors Tim DeGraw, Will Durkee, and Pierce Crowley; and George Kirby and Patrick Hull, both sophomores.
With only five returning players, Coach John Aguilar says the team is in the process of creating a new identity for itself and they hope to peak towards the end of the season. He is looking forward to “the creative process” and to working with some great athletes. He said the team’s strength is its speed and aggressiveness.
The Garnets have a very tough schedule, with seven of 18 games against AA schools, one of which is Byram Hills, which went to the County Center three years in a row.
The currently 2-1 Garnets meet the Bobcats at home December 18.