ALBANY— Bronx-native Adonis Delarosa sat on the victorious Christ the King bench with his head between his legs and teammates celebrated around him.
The 6-foot-10 center’s mind was else where despite just leading the Royals past Long Island Lutheran 58-52 for their second straight state Federation Class AA boys’ basketball crown last Saturday night at the Times Union Center in Albany. Delarosa, while elated with the victory took a moment to remember that this was his last high school game.
“One that that was mind boggling was my season was over,” Delarosa said. “Win or lose the season was over. Now it’s a new stepping stone in life.”
He will make his college decision on April 18. Delarosa has offers from St. John’s, Fordham, South Carolina, Rutgers, Miami and Purdue among others. South Carolina head coach Frank Martin, Alabama head man Anthony Grant, Rutgers assistant Van Macon and Miami assistant Michael Hunger all watched Delarosa compete in the Federation tournament this weekend. He said he’s used his senior season as a distraction from make a choice.
“Now I really have to sit down and think over that school I will be attending in the fall,” Delarosa said.
The program he picks will be getting the city’s best big man in the class of 2013. Delarosa 13 points and six rebounds in Christ the King’s 54-51 overtime win over Benjamin Cardozo in the semifinal had six points and 23 boards in the title game. His two-handed follow slam of a Rawle Alkins miss pit the Royals up 55-50 with 1:57 left in the game.
“I think that dunk probably sealed the game,” Delarosa said.
Kirkland leads Dwight in Class B semifinal loss: Senior guard Pee Wee Kirkland, a Bronx native, scored 22 points for Dwight in an 80-52 loss to eventual state champion Westhill in the boys’ basketball Class B state Federation semifinals last Saturday. Dwight fell behind 25-2 after the first quarter, but only outscored by a point the res to the way.
“I just tried to start scoring because I saw the lead going up and up and up,” Kirkland said.
He said his college plans are still up in the air and he plans on hitting the travel ball circuit again to get looked at by more coach. Despite not winning a Federation title, Kirkland enjoyed earning Dwight its first NYSAISAA crown since consecutive titles from 1997-98.
“It’s amazing,” he said.
Notes: Westhill coach Kevin King and Regis headman Kevin Cullen have both called the Bronx home and squared off for a Federation Class B girls basketball crown. Westhill (Section 3) bested Regis 56-46 in the final on Sunday afternoon.
Bronx native and Drexel commit Tyshawn Miles scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in a 71-65 loss to Holy Trinity in the Class A state Federation boy’s basketball semifinals last Friday
