It’s rarely easy when a coach takes over a program as successful as Grady’s, but Mark Seltzberg is facing more challenges than he initially expected.
The Falcons’ best player, Jamel White – who helped guide Grady to the PSAL semifinals as a junior – will be academically ineligible until at least February.
“It’s going to hurt us,” Seltzberg said of the loss of White, considered by many to be one of the best 10 players in the PSAL. “He’s definitely a Division I-caliber player, but it’s something we can overcome. But it may make us more balanced in the end.”
Seltzberg replaced longtime coach Jack Ringel, who, along with former Robeson coach Larry Major, won’t be back this season. Seltzberg, Grady’s JV coach and varsity assistant for the past six years, will have his work cut out for him, as will Robeson’s new coach, ex-Eagle Todd Myles.
Seltzberg’s job is especially tough without the 6-foot-2 White, who scored nearly 20 ppg as a junior. Thanks to ill-conceived league rules there is a chance the guard could return just before the playoffs in February, despite missing nearly the entire season.
While Grady remains a top team, little else will remain the same at the Coney Island school. Seltzberg has completely changed the Falcons’ offense – a risky move, considering Ringel’s more deliberate style netted the school three PSAL titles in 23 years.
The adjustment is fine with senior Basil Leslie.
“We’ll be a running team, which is what we all like to do,” Leslie said. “Having Jamel out will hurt, but we’ll make up for it and he’ll be ready for the playoffs to get us to the Garden.”