Photo courtesy of Tamir Fudge/Shot by Cozy.
By David Cordova
When one thinks of sports and Hispanic culture, most think of people from specific countries playing sports like soccer or baseball. But there is definitely one that’s getting a growing trend of players from Hispanic countries or Hispanic descent: basketball.
Flashback to the mid-1990’s, when Felipe Lopez tore the door down and made his presence felt throughout the high school basketball scene, as the Dominican-born hooper was considered the No. 1 prospect in the high school class of 1994 out of the now-defunct Rice High School in Harlem.
During the summer time in New York City, you can also check out the Dominican Power team at the Dyckman Basketball Tournament in the Inwood section of Manhattan, where they have been known to play a good brand of basketball and have been a favorite of the local community in the area.
However, across the Hudson River in New Jersey, there have been players of Hispanic descent that did their thing, such as former Seton Hall standout Angel Delgado, who was born in the Dominican Republic, but attended high school at The Patrick School, then in Hillside, and was one of the Garden State’s best players in the high school class of 2014, before enjoying four years at the Hall, leading the Pirates to a Big East championship in 2016 and winning the Big East Rookie of the Year award as a freshman and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as a senior, while also leading the nation in rebounding and also winning the Haggerty Award as a junior. He now plays professionally in Turkey.
Another player of Latino descent that held the Garden State down with his play is New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, who was a standout at St. Joseph Metuchen High School, and led them to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title back in 2012 when he as a sophomore. Around the same time, he was chosen to play for the Dominican Republic National team at the age of 16. Also, during his high school career, he was selected to play in the 2014 McDonald’s All-American Game and was a first-team Parade All-American and the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
These days, at St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, there is also a certain type of Latino culture happening on the boys varsity basketball squad. But this involves a coach and three players.
The coach, is Alex Mirabel, a native of Jersey City, has been reaching a level of prominence since the beginning of his tenure as the head coach in the fall of 2013. Since his time at the school on Grand Street, he has been a five-time winner of the Coach of the Year in Hudson County and has led the Marauders to a couple of HCIAL (Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League) titles and also a sectional championship last season.
However, he has been coaching the Dominican Republic’s national team for their U17 teams for the last few years. This past summer, he was a part of the staff with the U18 FIBA AmeriCup in Argentina, which finished in fourth place and were 4-2 through six games. On the team were players from the Dominican Republic, but also players that are from states such as New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Then there are two guards on the Marauders squad that played on the Puerto Rico U17 squad in Turkey. Richie Rosa and Mason Santiago, now juniors, were key figures in the Marauders success last season as sophomores, helping lead them to a 26-3 record, an HCIAL title and an appearance in the North Jersey, Non-Public A championship game.
This summer in Turkey, Rosa averaged 8.6 points and Santiago averaged 7.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
There is also one player who is a newcomer to the Marauders that is also a top-flight prospect that will definitely elevate the squad and bring things to greater heights and is also a Latino.
Keiner Asprilla, a center, was born in Colombia and has just transferred over from Don Bosco Prep, whom he led to New Jersey, Non-Public B state championship and whom beat St. Peter’s Prep in the sectional finals.
Then there is also a fifth player with a Latino background in Oscar Martinez, who is a transfer from All Hallows High School in The Bronx, which is just across the Hudson River in New York City.
With all five, there is definitely a great culture amongst them, especially with a coach that can communicate in both languages, in a huddle on the court and also, off the court. Also, all four are from islands rich with history in sports and also in other areas.
This season, they will be a force throughout New Jersey, as the Marauders will be playing in some great events.
Starting this Saturday, they will be playing in the NJ Basketball Coaches Showcase in Montgomery, New Jersey against Colonia. Then on Dec. 27-28, they will also be playing in the Miami Holiday Invitational at Miami Senior High School in Miami, Florida against schools such as North Broward and Westwood, both of whom are schools from the state of Florida.
On Jan. 18th, they will be playing in the Dennis Gregory Memorial Classic at Caldwell University in Caldwell, New Jersey against Seton Hall Prep. And lastly, they will be playing in the Metro Classic on Feb. 6th and Feb. 8th at Franklin High School in Franklin, New Jersey and will be playing against Garden State powerhouses such as the defending NJSIAA Non-Public A state champions, St. Rose and Plainfield.
Also, the Marauders are one of eight teams that are in the Big Jersey Basketball League, and will be playing against schools in the league on four dates: on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1st John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson against Bergen Catholic and also on two more dates at Caldwell University, which will be on Jan. 12th against Rutgers Prep and on Jan. 26th against the aforementioned Don Bosco Prep.
There will also two great non-league home games against two out of state teams this month, such as Dec. 19th against the aforementioned Miami Senior and on Dec. 23rd against CHSAA powerhouse St. Raymond.
When you take that NJ Transit bus or even the PATH train to a Marauders home game this season, look on the bench, and you’ll see Orgullo Hispano, which means Hispanic Pride in Spanish. When the coach and the four players on the court take the court this season, they won’t only be playing for their neighborhoods and their families here in the States, but also the countries they were either born in or represent.
When you’re Latino, it’s all about representing your flag. These guys definitely do it to the fullest.
Dave's JOINT 
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