By JOSH NEWMAN
Special to ZAGSBLOG
NEW YORK – As Steve Masiello had, then lost the South Florida job and was placed on leave by Manhattan when it was discovered he did not have his college degree, everyone wanted answers.
With the searching and waiting for answers carrying on in Riverdale through late March and early April, 2014 recruit Samson Usilo waited patiently.
“I was just very quiet about the situation because I didn’t want to start thinking too much about what was going on,” the 6-foot-5 Nazareth Regional senior said after scoring 17 points as his white team defeated the black team, 102-99, in the Jordan Brand Classic regional game on Friday evening. “The only thing I decided to do was sit there, relax and see what happens.”
“At first, I didn’t have any reaction, I was OK. I know him very well and I’m very close to him, so I didn’t react towards that.”
On April 7, less than a month after he coached the Jaspers to the MAAC Tournament title and a near-upset of Louisville in the NCAA Tournament, Manhattan announced Masiello would return as head coach once he completed his degree requirements.
If Manhattan had opted to let Masiello go, the futures of Usilo and the rest of the Jaspers’ four-man recruiting class could have been thrown into flux. Instead, everything remains on schedule.
“When I heard he was coming back, I knew I didn’t have to worry about nothing, he just has to go back and get his degree,” Usilo said. “I have to just focus on my school and finish strong. It doesn’t change anything. I love Coach Masiello. He’s a very good coach, everyone makes mistakes. What it did, you can’t change it. He just has to move forward.”
On Friday, Usilo showed a good mid-range jumper, a willingness to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, and a knack for perimeter defense in registering four steals.
With the Jaspers set to graduate a standout senior backcourt of Michael Alvarado and George Beamon, the opportunity to see the floor early in 2014-15 may be there for Usilo.
Count white team and Bishop Loughlin head coach Ed Gonzalez among Usilo’s supporters.
“He’s a tremendous player, his athleticism and how strong he is,” Gonzalez said. “I mean he can shoot the ball. Manhattan College got a steal there. I mean, they got a great player in him and he’s a great kid. My interaction in practice and also here, he does whatever you ask him to do. He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with down the road. He’s a good player.”
