LYNN — The Classical boys basketball team has been building up from the foundation over the past few years, and the Rams are feeling plenty positive heading into the 2019-2020 season. Head coach Jasper Grassa is coming into his third year at the head of the program and has spent a lot of quality time with the players on this year’s roster.
“I think the guys really are just getting more comfortable with the program,” said Grassa, who took over for his father Tom three years ago. “Things are becoming second nature and guys have adjusted to my style of coaching.”
Things have been building up incrementally over the past two years under Grassa’s eye. The Rams went 12-9 and suffered a first-round tournament exit in his first year as coach, then they improved to 16-7 with a trip to the Div. 1 North quarterfinal last year. Both seasons ended with losses to Lowell, a Div. 1 powerhouse from the strong Merrimack Valley Conference.
“The guys are starting to see that those are the kinds of games you’re going to see in the early rounds of the tournament,” said Grassa. “We’re going to have to beat those kinds of teams if we want to make a run, and it really shows that everything matters during the season.”
Classical graduated four crucial seniors from last year’s team in Jaylen Johnson, Dyrrell Rucker, Malik Anderson and Deontae Plouffe.
“Those senior guys had been in the program for a few years, so the main thing we’re going to miss with them is the leadership they brought,” Grassa said.
But there are still several key players who are returning to the roster in 2019-2020, and it all starts with junior guards Jeff Hill and Jeff Barbosa and senior guard Brandon Summers. Eusebio Quintana, Angel Garcia and Tony Palavra are also expected to make a big leap forward in contributions this season.
“We have some talented guys here this year,” Grassa said. “I think we definitely have the talent to compete, we’re just looking for the older guys to step up into that leadership role.”
The shortened preseason is now all but over for Classical, but the Rams were able to get in a couple of practices as well as scrimmages against New Mission and Woburn.
“This is the shortest preseason I’ve ever had, as a player and as a coach,” said Grassa. “We’ve had two practices and two scrimmages. I haven’t really even had time to think about how short the preseason has been, it’s just happened.”
Classical opens up the season at home against Northeastern Conference foe Salem Friday night (7).
“The plan is to go out and get good shots against their 3-2 zone,” said Grassa. “We’re going to try to get to the rim, draw fouls and hopefully not throw up a bunch of threes. (Salem) is always an athletic team, so we’re expecting a tough battle.”