Hawks Plan to be Competitive

“We’re not the most talented team, but our goal is to be the most competitive team,” admitted Cardinal O’Hara Boys Basketball Head Coach Tony Pulvirenti to his players.

Sophomore guard Justin Hemphill echoed his coach’s message about being competitive. “We have to bring the intensity every night,” Hemphill said.

Cardinal O’Hara made some improvements in Pulvirenti’s second year as Head Coach of the Hawks. O’Hara looks to continue to improve this year after finishing with a record of 8-17 overall and 2-11 in Monsignor Martin league play in 2015.

Cardinal O’Hara’s 2015 campaign came to an end in the first round of the Manhattan Cup to Nichols.

“I feel like we are going to be better than last year,” Hemphill said. “We are coming back this year knowing we shouldn’t have lost the playoff game.”

Hemphill is expected to lead the way for the Hawks as a sophomore. The 6’4″ guard averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks last year. He also led O’Hara in free throws and field goal percentage.

“I judge the team based on the first two weeks of the season. This has been the best first 11 days of practice I’ve since I’ve been at O’Hara. We have a good group of returning guys, we have some new guys coming in that will help us,” Pulvirenti said. “I’m pretty optimistic.”

Senior Rene Velazquez has been impressed with the team so far. “We are looking really good,” Velazquez said. “A lot of the young guys from last year got better mentally and physically”.

O’Hara returns three starters from last year; Hemphill, Velazquez and Nasir Benton.

“Justin (Hemphill) took on the role as the go-to-guy early,” Pulvirenti said. “I expect not only a jump in statistics but also leadership from him.”

Benton is one of the team’s top defenders who can guard almost any position on the court. Velazquez was one of the team’s best rebounders last year. The senior also has the ability to score inside or on the perimeter.

Pulvirenti also expects senior PJ Parker and junior Mike Clark to bring some experience to the backcourt for O’Hara.

The Hawks lose Charles Debose to graduation this year. Debose led the team in points and assists last season.

The Hawks hope they have a lot of depth behind Hemphill and Benton at the guard positions with sophomores Jermaine Haynes and Brandon Broadnax. Freshmen Terrell Mullen, Jaedin Cottman and upperclassman Remir Velazquez and Adam Connelly, as well as sophomore Lockport transfer Torree Cheatham are expected to contribute this season.

O’Hara opens the season at Daemen College in the Pastor Cooper Showcase on Dec. 7 when they take on Health Sciences at 8:30pm.