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Greg Canzater, the new girls’ basketball coach at Putnam Science Academy, joked recently that he was having a little trouble getting teams to agree to play “because I guess they think we still have all those big Division I players.”
PSA’s top three scorers from last year, all now committed to Division I schools, are no longer with the program. But Canzater wants to be clear – the cupboard is not bare, and the Mustangs will not shy away from any expectations of what Putnam Science basketball is.
“You walk in the gym and you see the Final Four banners on the women’s side and the four national championships on the men’s side,” he said. “There is already an expectation of Putnam Science and a bullseye on Putnam Science. So the expectations when the players walk in the door is that ‘we have to be this thing.’ I don’t run away from that. I came to Putnam knowing that and trying to meet and keep that.”
Canzater, who began his coaching career 15 years ago and was most recently the women’s coach at Bunker Hill Community College, believes he has a roster to make that possible.
There are only two players returning from last year – Helin Yoztyurk and Ruby Pebane, neither of whom saw much playing time – so it is essentially a brand-new team. Nine of the 12 are international students, which adds another dimension to coming together. But Canzater, who loves his teams to play fast, fast, fast, is getting them to understand how hard they will have to play at this level, which is a big piece of the battle.
PSA has three, maybe four, Division I prospects in the mix. Ekaterina “Kate” Lipatova, a member of the Class of 25, is already garnering plenty of college interest. She’s a 6-foot-4 rebounding monster, but it’s her shooting ability that separates her right now. Canzater called her a knockdown shooter who will be even more dangerous as she learns the places in the offense where she can find mid-range opportunities as well.
“She is an avid proponent of shooting the basketball,” Canzater said. “Her motor allows her to score at the basket when she wants to. But Kate will tell you right away she loves shooting it more than anything. I’ve told her that as long as she is an active rebounder and protects the rim, I don’t mind her taking any shot, because she can shoot it.”
Carlota Lopez, Class of 24, is the floor general who can do all the things a point guard should do. But the best thing about her game may be that when all else fails, she can get to the rim.
“She is going to be one of the better scoring guards in New England,” Canzater said. “In my coaching career, she is the craftiest finisher around the rim. Floaters, reverses, finishing over size. She’s special in that regard.”
And then there is Class of 26 guard Alba Granell. She just turned 15 and is the best two-way player on the team. If she grows another couple of inches over the years, look out for sure.
“She probably has the brightest future on our roster,” Canzater said. “I’d argue that she’s our best defender. She is a downhill threat getting to the basket and she’ll play a little bit of point guard for us. She very much embodies that European style of game. I think she is going to be special.”
Tatiana Bell has another year after this and could develop into that fourth Division I player on this roster. A versatile wing who is getting better in her decision-making going to the basket, Bell might not yet realize how good she can be.
“She has more offensive gifts than she’s realized in the past but we’re going to try to open those doors,” Canzater said. “In terms of reaching that potential, she can be a much more engaged defender. She’s going to have to defend three different positions for us, and that will only help her stock.”
Yoztyurk didn’t play much last year but has come back this year a different player. A gym rat, she’s just better and stronger, and is going to play a lot and likely start. Pebane is a captain if for nothing else but her high character. She is one of the hardest workers on the team and does all the right things. Alicia Jimenez is one of three big-time shooters and showing she can defend as well as any guard on the roster.
Helena Kovacic is probably the slightest player on the team but absolutely one of the toughest. She dives on the floor, she takes charges, she’s a vocal leader. And she can flat-out shoot it. Lina Ostos, like Pebane, brings character qualities that are hard to quantify. “She is ultra-positive with everybody throughout practice,” he said, “and that allows us to play through mistakes. You need that on your team.”
Carmen Plata averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds playing in the Boston Public Schools last year, and while that production likely won’t be duplicated, Canzater called her the angriest rebounder on the team and someone who can simply impose her will on the glass. Khaya Skene is similar in that regard, as her father was a Division I offensive lineman “and Khaya has the shoulders,” Canzater said. “When she gets that trigger, she starts moving bodies.” She is also the most vocal leader on the team and a terrific shooter. Elif Goksel is a high IQ player who played in the post a lot back home in Turkey but has shown the ability to play out on the wing here. She’s one of the players who I didn’t know about but came in and had game right away,” Canzater said. PSA is not a NEPSAC member but is going to play a lot of high-level NEPSAC teams. “Winning a national championship, that comes from us being consistent and sticking to the process, and everybody playing for each other,” Canzater said. “I tell them right away if we’re not here to reach for the national championship, this is not the place for you. But I am always throwing out there that come March 5-8, I want us to be in position to knock down every team we play. Simple as that. That’s the absolute end goal.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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