BY ROBERT ELKIN | Basketball is extremely popular in Manhattan with the public and private high schools and on the pro level with the Knicks in action during the fall, winter and spring months. In the summer, there are the W. Fourth St. and Rucker outdoor leagues in the Village and Harlem, respectively.
But as of this writing, the Knicks, for one, can’t provide wining action on the court, and the way they are currently competing, it’ll be hard for them to qualify for the playoffs.
Still, spectators are hoping to find the best brand of hoop action in their area.
The best of the crop could even come from Division III competition.
At press time, the Baruch College Bearcats have captured six of seven overall games, and are 3-0 in the CUNY Athletic Conference. The conference includes nine NCAA Division III colleges, including John Jay, Hunter and other CUNY schools in Manhattan.
And there’s no finer gym to catch some exciting action than Baruch’s court on Lexington Ave. at E. 24th St.
Action resumes on Tues., Jan. 6, after the Christmas-New Year’s break when the John Jay Bloodhounds visit the Bearcats’ lair, known as the ARC Arena, for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
Some of the Baruch players have certainly impressed and deserve to be looked at.
The scoring and rebounding of senior Granville Gittens and freshman Chimaechi Ekekeugbor, both forwards, and the playmaking of junior Ed Roscigno are leading the offense for Baruch, who as a team have the potential to go far once again in the standings.
Some of the spectators who came out last Friday night to watch Baruch win a 62-49 thriller over York College of Queens really wanted to see one player who has the ability to score points in double figures. They were somewhat disappointed that the Cardinals’ Omar St. John didn’t start, as he sat on the bench for the first half for disciplinary reasons stemming from a previous game. He entered the game at the start of the second half.
Who would ever think that a member of a team that won a state championship would further his basketball skills at a Division III college?
But Bryler Paige, a 6-foot freshman guard, did and is now at Baruch after an illustrious high school career at Christ The King in Queens.
Paige has the background, plays an all-around basketball game for Baruch, and can certainly set up the plays from his position. He felt that Baruch was best suited for him to continue his education and athletics at the same time. In order to attend Baruch, he had to give up football, since Baruch does not field a gridiron squad.
His high school coach, Joe Arbitello, and Baruch’s coach, John Alesi, know each other, thus making Paige’s transition from high school to college much easier.
Alesi carries a roster of 16 players, including four seniors.
