There are open gyms and then there is Cardozo’s open gym.
Ron Naclerio, the zany longtime coach with an endless Rolodex of college coaches, hosted his seventh annual Cardozo High School College Exposure Workout in Bayside, Queens on Friday.
While the event failed to break its previous record of 96 coaches in attendance, Naclerio said close to 60 were in the house. Virginia Tech, Virginia, St. John’s, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Xavier and Louisville were all on hand. Hofstra head coach Mo Cassara and Iona’s Tim Cluess also made the short trip. But the event isn’t just about Division I programs; there were plenty of Division II schools there, too, such as Queens College, Adelphi and C.W. Post.
Other schools host a series of open gyms during the fall, but at Cardozo, where Naclerio has to jockey for gym space with the girls volleyball team and other such sports, he prefers to load up for one big event. He sets the date early, so coaches can plan ahead of time.
Naclerio makes it worthwhile by producing a 14-page packet for coaches that include the Judges’ schedule, player bios and comments from him on them. This year has an added dimension: player photos.
One college coach in attendance said while the Judges’ talent is down – “there were more coaches than players” he joked – Naclerio is reason enough to attend. For one, the coach said, he always seems to have new players in his building, and it’s a respect favor for Naclerio who has done so much for many of the college coaches in attendance.
As for the players on hand, 6-foot-8 Jermaine Lawrence, one of the top sophomores in the city, opened some eyes. He has already taken an unofficial visit to Virginia Tech and he impressed Louisville on Friday. Another college coach noted his quick second jump and advanced ball handling for someone his size.
“He has a shot to be really good,” one coach said of Lawrence, who averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds per game for the JV last year. “He can handle the ball for his size. Like most kids his age, he needs to get stronger and probably a year on varsity will help his decision-making. Clearly he has size and hops.”
As for the current seniors, guards Chris Gayot and Shelton Mickell and forward Marquis Barnett performed solidly. The three have also drawn interest from a variety of Division I programs, but have yet to receive any offers. Mickell is particularly intriguing, a 6-foot-3 combo guard with a sweet stroke from beyond the arc and handle like a point guard. He has, however, yet to put it all together. Naclerio said Temple took notice of Mickell, who has already drawn interest from Hofstra and several other mid-to-low major programs.
“He showed flashes,” another assistant said. “He can play for someone.”
That is the case for many of the Judges, be it Division I, II or III. That’s the beautify of Cardozo’s open gym. It’s a showcase event for the entire program, not just its elite players.
