A Star is Born

Printed in the JFK Press

FRESH FACES AT JFK

The JFK girls basketball team has relied on strong senior leadership to advance deep into the PSAL playoffs the past two years.
This season, O’Neil Glenn needs a few freshmen to play significant roles if the Knights are to be successful.
Glenn expects freshman forward Leshauna Phinazee and frosh guard Chelsea Custidio to compete for starting spots. Either way, both first-year phenoms will play big minutes in the Knights’ season opener next Wednesday.
Fellow freshmen Dmitria Abbott, Deaisia Acklin and Chelsea Custodio also could make important contributions.
The coach said he noticed some “growing pains” when the Knights scrimmaged CHSAA power Mary Louis earlier this month, but he’s optimistic that the first-year players can quickly adapt to the high level of competition in Bronx/Manhattan ‘AA.’
“We’re not rebuilding, we’re just renewing,” said Glenn, who is beginning his 10th year behind Kennedy’s bench. “I don’t think anyone expects us to be as good as we’ve been in the past when you lose so much the last two years, but we’ll see.”
Robyn Jenkins, Teara Shaw and Keonti Powell return from last year and will give Kennedy stability and firepower in the backcourt, along with Jazzarae Campbell, a junior guard who led the Knights JV to the city title.
Darleen McLeod, Nene Coulibaly and Iraida Santiago will patrol the paint for the Knights. Glenn doesn’t need his frontcourt to do anything fancy: “Rebound, rebound, rebound,” Glenn said when asked what he’s expecting out of his forwards and center.
The coach isn’t dwelling on the significant talent the Knights have lost over the past two seasons; Tatiyiana McMorris, who led the Knigths to the 2007 final, is a sophomore at Marquette and Danay Collier, who helped JFK reach the semis last year, is a freshman at Monroe Community College in Rochester.
Despite the loss of all that star power, Glenn says this group could reach similar heights. “We have girls on our team who started numerous times last year,” Glenn said. “The goal is semifinals or better. We just have to come out and play.”

CHSAA GIRLS

An Era Comes to An End and A New Beginning

Hi Fam,
As of November, 2008, I was let go from my job. Now, you may say this is a sad event, but I have to say, this time has given me a full aspect of true friendship. I was called by people on my job I did not expect, and received no calls from the ones I did. It has also allowed me to sit back and look at just how life throws you a monkey wrench and what we do with it. I have a job interview December 2nd and hope all will go well. If not, I will persevere.