Red Knights are missing just one piece — but it’s a big one
With the return of five guys who saw starting time for a state championship team Reading High looked like a slam dunk to speed to another Berks Conference championship and challenge for district and state titles again.
The return trip has proven to be bumpier than imagined.
In June assistant coach Matt Flowers, a key presence in Reading’s two state title teams, left to become head coach at Muhlenberg.
In July All-State pick Daniel Alcantara was taken down hard going up for a dunk and suffered a broken bone in his lower back. He was sidelined for three months.
In August Amier Burdine, a key bench guy as a sophomore, suffered a broken collarbone playing football and was sidelined throughout the fall.
Both players are back and playing well again as the Red Knights get set for their season-opener Friday at Bollman Center against Philly power Imhotep Charter.
The Red Knights are loaded with expectations, as you might expect from a team that returns a pair of All-State picks, including Ruben Rodriguez, from a PIAA Class 6A championship.
Rick Perez, now in his 11th season as Reading’s coach, is quick to remind that there are no championships awarded in December. He’s doing his best to tamp down expectations.
“This is a new group,” he cautioned. “We have to preach that every day. There’s no state championship talk. I don’t want to (hear about) national rankings, state rankings. Our focus is: ‘We’re gonna win tonight.’ It’s (the media’s) job to talk about the future.”
The Red Knights might be deeper and have more perimeter shooting than the team that went 26-2 and took down nationally ranked Archbishop Wood 58-57 in the state final.
They have proven weapons in Rodriguez and Alcantara, their top two scorers a season ago; defensive stoppers in Myles Grey, Xavier Davis and Burdine; an experienced, gritty three-year point guard in all-division pick Joey Chapman; and a potential zone-buster in emerging junior guard Aris Rodriguez.
They’re missing just one key piece: Moro Osumanu.
The 6-6 All-State center is now playing at West Chester University and there is simply no replacing him. He was the soul of the team. The heartbeat of a group that was carried by its passion and emotion. He was the linchpin to the defense, the element that allowed them to finally shake Wilson and that drove them through the state playoffs.
Osumanu willed Reading over Archbishop Wood with a transcendent performance that saw him score a game-high 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting and grab a game-high 12 rebounds. He was even better on the defensive end, buoying an effort that held Wood 20 points below its scoring average.
“Damn, I’m gonna miss him,” Perez said wistfully.
To replace Osumanu it’ll take a collective effort. Alcantara, at 6-5, is the tallest player on a relatively small front line. He’ll see some time defensively in the post, as will the 6-2 Davis and 6-1 Burdine.
“This team has to take on its own identity and find their own way to protect the rim,” Perez said.
They’ll counter their post shortcomings, he said, with some “hellified” perimeter defense, and they’ve got the guys to do it, starting with Grey, a lockdown defender who drew some tough assignments a year ago.
“Any sophomore who can guard (Stevie) Mitchell (of Wilson) and (Rahsool) Diggins (of Wood). . . you’re pretty darned good,” Perez said.
Grey worked his way into the starting lineup midway through last season and became a vital piece of the puzzel.
“He’s our glue,” Perez said. “He’s the guy. It’s not like he’s incredibly athletic but he just has this grit. He can take on anybody or anything.”
Grey knocked down 16 3’s in 28 games and has improved his range and stroke. He’ll be part of an attack that should prove lethal from behind the arc. Ruben Rodriguez hit 40 3’s and Alcantara 30. Aris Rodriguez, the younger brother of graduated starting guard Rene, might be the best pure shooter of the bunch.
“There won’t any shortage of shots going up,” Perez assured.
Alcantara, a third-team All-State pick as a junior, averaged 14.0 points last season and figures to do much more this season. He’s a gifted wing who can play inside and out and run the floor.
“He’s very physical,” Perez said. “He gets to the basket at will. I don’t know what the record is for free throws, but he’ll get there, because of how hard he goes to the basket.”
Ruben Rodriguez averaged 14.6 points and showed his mettle as an all-around, clutch player. In his first two varsity seasons he has a pair of district gold medals; he was the point guard as a freshman when Muhlenberg won the District 3 Class 5A championship.
“He’s just a winner, and that’s the bottom line,” Perez said. “He can make any shot, compete from any position.”