A season ago, Joe Niego and Zach Grabowski were role players for Brother Rice’s best team ever.
The Crusaders finished runner-up in Class 3A, and the entire starting lineup — led by Southwest Regional Player of the Year Marcos Gonzales — graduated. Coach Conte Stamas also left.
But under new coach Rick Romeli, Rice surpassed a lot of expectations this season. The Crusaders finished 23-11 after falling 64-54 to Homewood-Flossmoor on March 3 in the Class 4A Joliet West Sectional semifinals.
“The growth from June through now has been exceptional,” Romeli said. “I think a lot of it had to do with our seniors that really bought in.”
“I was able to see those moments (last season), those big moments and I felt like that really helped me this year,” Grabowski said. “Now, I’m a senior, and I had to come in, do my job and I had to work to show these young men.”
Grabowski had a team-high 11 points against H-F, while Niego added 10. The two are headed down different paths, with Grabowski looking at studying to be an electrician or go into construction management while Niego plans to join his brother, Nick, to play basketball at St. Francis in Joliet.
Romeli understands it’s not an easy decision to walk away from sports and respects the decision. But he still believes Grabowski has the talent to play at the next level.
“Zach, I truly believe he’s probably one of the better athletes on our roster,” Romeli said. “And he mentally took huge steps as the season went on, and I think if he wanted to, he could be a college basketball player.”
Niego even eyes being a coach one day once his time on the court ends.
“I wanna stay in the game for as long as I can,” Niego said. “I would love to coach a high-school dynasty but I have to work my way up. Hopefully, God will allow me to stay in this game and coach after my college days.”
Adam McBrearty finished with nine points, including a tough and-1 in the fourth quarter, while Uriah Davis had eight points against the Vikings. These two are both expected to play a big role next season.
“He’s got a bright future in front of him,” Romeli said of Davis. “Physically he’s a bigger guard. He can handle the basketball and he can shoot the ball from the perimeter which we saw tonight.”
Both Davis and McBrearty came in as transfers this season. The roles they played were crucial to the Crusaders’ success, according to Niego.
“I don’t think that we would have won 23 games without them, to be honest with you,” Niego said.” “And I’m excited ’cause they’re juniors.”
After seeing what was accomplished in year one of the Romeli era, the Crusaders are feeling confident in the direction the program is heading.
“Hopefully we kind of set the foundation this year and set the standard that we can be super successful moving forward,” Romeli said.
“The best is yet to come for them,” Niego said. “I expect them to win state championships with him because he’s such a great coach.”