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. ” . . . But it may make us more balanced in the end.”
Seltzberg replaced longtime coach Jack Ringel, who, along with former Robeson coach Larry Major, stepped down this season. Seltzberg, Grady’s JV coach and varsity assistant for the past six years, has his work cut out for him, as does Robeson’s new coach, Todd Myles.
Seltzberg’s job is especially tough without the 6-foot-2 White, who scored nearly 20 ppg as a junior. Thanks to league rules there is a chance the guard could return just before the playoffs.
Grady remains a top team, but little else will remain the same at the Coney Island school. Seltzberg has completely revamped the Falcons’ offense – a risky move, considering Ringel’s more deliberate style netted the school three PSAL titles in 23 years.
“We’ll be a running team, which is what we all like to do,” said senior Basil Leslie said. “Having Jamel out will hurt, but we’ll make up for it and he’ll be ready . . . to get us to the Garden.”
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The Bob Kronisch Memorial Classic will be held Friday at Tilden High School. The matchups are Boys & Girls vs. St. Edmund Prep, 4:30 p.m.; Tilden vs. FDR, 6 p.m. and South Shore vs. New Utrecht, 7:30 p.m.