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Step down may
be step up
Unfortunately for Luc Brittian, this is not a bide-your-time kind of thing. There was no guarantee, despite having already dedicated two years to the Putnam Science Academy basketball program, that he’d be a rotation player in 2019-20.
“I say all the time, Luc’s a very, very good basketball player,” said Mustangs coach Tom Espinosa. “He’s a scholarship player. But it’s very difficult to play here.
“We’re one of the best prep school teams in the country. It’s not easy to play. I feel for him because he’s deserving to play. But we just have so much talent, it’s tough to get in the rotation.”
And now, a third or so of the way through the season, it appears that Brittian’s best shot will come with a step down from the Prep team to the Varsity team.
For his part, Brittian, who two years ago was on the Varsity team before earning his spot on the Prep team last year, doesn’t utter a word of complaint.
“I think they’re giving me the most opportunity to showcase my talent,” said Brittian, who hails from nearby Storrs.
"I’m trusting coach Scraba, coach Espo with my basketball career and hope I make the most of it. At this point, I just want an opportunity to play and showcase my talent. Whether it’s Prep team, Varsity team, it doesn’t matter.
“I trust coach Espo with my basketball career. I trust that he knows where to point me. The Varsity and Prep thing…there’s a lot of guys on the prep team that are better than me, that get the higher D-1 looks.”
The coaching staff presented Brittian just before Thanksgiving break with the option to remain on the Prep roster by play limited minutes or join the varsity team and be part of the first wave of the rotation.
Coupling the lack of playing with the fact that at this stage of the season the Prep team isn’t having a lot of hard practices, Brittian understood Varsity would give him the chance to play and get better, as well as be seen by college coaches.
It may not have been an easy decision, but agreeing to join the Varsity team was logical. And he will continue to suit up for the Prep team as well.
“I’ve always believed in the saying ‘Trust the Process,”” he said.
“Basketball is a hard sport to receive a scholarship and play at the college level so I’ve always had it in my mind to always be patient.
Said Espinosa: “I give him a lot of credit because a lot of kids couldn’t do that. A lot of them would think it, ‘This is my third year. It’s my turn to get a shot.’ He’s not a complainer. He just comes out and gives it his all every day.”
Brittian, who at 6-foot, 6-inch and 210 pounds cuts an imposing and physical presence, is regarded as a Division II player at the collegiate level. He currently holds an offer from St. Michael’s in Vermont, and has other schools staying on contact and showing some interest.
“I’m fine with D-II,” he said. “I’m grateful to even receive a scholarship because there are a lot of people that don’t even get that. So whatever I have, whatever I end up with and end up taking, I’m appreciative of that. It’s where the shoe fits.
“The type of team we are, the players and athletes we have, and all the schools that want these players…the fact that I’m on the prep team, it shows me that I’m able to play with them. I’m a player that can play with the type of player who’s going to a high-major college. That’s an eye-opener for me.”
Brittian’s got a couple thoughts on what he wants to major in (criminal justice or business). But he knows he wants to keep playing basketball, in college and then overseas after that.
“I’d just like the opportunity to just keep playing and see where it brings me,” he said. I love the game. It’s always been something that’s been my go-to if I was going through something. Basketball was always my get-away. Basketball means a lot to me. I think it’s my therapy.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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