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By Doc Cody
The Putnam Science Academy Mustangs are coming off a basketball season where they recorded the most victories in a season, when they posted a 20-6 record. Since the inception of varsity basketball in 2006 the performance of the Mustang hoopsters has improved each successive season.
Entering the 2011-2012 season under the school’s only basketball coach, former Worcester State University basketball captain Tom Espinosa, the Mustangs are excited about the upcoming season. Despite losing leading scorer Desmond Williams, who is currently playing at Rhode Island Community College, the Scientists are looking to bigger things this season.
“This is a good group of high character players. I’m proud that six of our 12 players are honor roll students. This translates to quality play on the court and hopefully another successful season,” said coach Espinosa.
Providing offensive firepower will be 6-foot, 1-inch junior guard Dayshon Smith, who arrives from Rice High School in the Bronx. Smith will be relied on to fill the hoop with basketballs as well as serving as a combination shooting and ball handling guard. Although only a junior, he’s already receiving feelers from a number of Division I colleges.
Another guard, who’ll be relied on for his defensive prowess, is 6-3 Shaun Lawton also a New York product who last played at Long Island Lutheran. A “jack of all trades,” he’ll also see action as a forward.
Freshman Johnny Joseph from Brockton, Massachusetts could be an impact player despite his youth. Although only 5-10 Joseph has great court instincts and maturity beyond his years. Also expected to see action in the backcourt are a pair of seniors Arif Mehmedovic of Hartford and Furkan Kinas from Kayseri, Turkey. Fatih Ulukaya from Tampa, Florida, the younger brother of former Mustang and PSA career rebound leader and 2010 graduate Enes Ulukaya, is also in the mix.
A pair of athletic power forwards, Oscar Assie and returnee Tyree Robinson should give the Scientists versatility and strength in the frontcourt. The 6-5 Assie, who hails from Bridgeport comes to PSA from 2011 Connecticut Class LL champion St. Joseph High School. He’s being sought after by a number of New England’s top Division II programs.
Robinson started for the Scientists last season, averaging 9.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest. He has great leaping ability and blocked 42 shots in his initial season. He spent the summer with his AAU team BABC, which went on to win the National Championship in Arkansas.
The center position will be occupied by 6-4, 235-pound Keon Scott from Pocono, Pennsylvania. The rugged Scott is expected to give the Mustangs solid post play, where he’ll be relied on for rebounding and inside scoring. The remainder of the squad includes senior Yusuf Eraslan from New Jersey, and sophomores Sergen Kimas and Berkan Tuylu.
“We’re not the biggest team in comparison to some of our opponents but we’ll make up for our size with our athleticism. Everyone on the team has a role and they have all accepted what we expect of them,” said Espinosa.
The Acads opened an ambitious 30-plus game schedule on the road at Post University JV and Masters School. They’ll see tournament action in the prestigious Hoop Mountain Prep Torunament at Marianapolis in early December. On Dec. 16 the team will participate in a New England Prep staple, The Doc Hurley Classic and on Jan. 15 they have an opportunity to show their wares in the BABC Classic in Dorchester, Mass.
Locally they have a home and home series with Hyde-Woodstock (Dec. 12 at 4:30 p.m. and Feb.6 at 4:30 p.m.), travel to Marianapolis (Jan. 13 at 4 p.m.) and go to Pomfret School (Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m.). The schedule is dotted with some of the most successful prep teams in New England including the likes of Cushing Academy, St. Thomas More, Notre Dame Prep, Brewster Academy, Brimmer & May, St. Andrews and West Point Prep. The season culminates on Feb. 24 and 25 with the Northeast Prep Tournament.
“This is by far the toughest schedule in our brief history. Playing as an independent prep school allows us some flexibility in scheduling the teams we do,” said Espinosa.
Now in its sixth year of varsity competition, Putnam Science Academy with an enrollment of 180 male students will also have a junior varsity and thirds program this season. Espinosa is joined on the coaching staff by five local experienced assistant coaches. Jim Logsdon is the team’s first assistant, while Eric Mauer serves as the director of basketball operations. Josh Scraba is back for his fourth season as an assistant, while Mike Peters assists with scouting and recruiting. Dan Gomes joins the staff for his first season.
The Scientists have been busy in the basketball lab cooking up a winning formula for the 2011-2012 season, hoping the results will continue to reward Master Scientist Espinosa.