Gerry McNamara: Having Terrific Senior Year

It wasn't long ago that this site called outstanding senior point guard Gerry McNamara "the Bobby Orr of basketball." If you have little information stored in your memory bank on who Bobby Orr was, here is a short history lesson.

Orr played mainly for the Boston Bruins in the 1970's and revolutionized the game of hockey from a defenseman's view. Orr was the first to rush the puck from one end of the ice to the other on a consistent level and score goals in bunches.

Orr led the Bruins to two Stanley Cups and was one of the prettiest hockey players to watch. He would zig and zag around defenders much like what McNamara does when he runs the fastbreak from one end of the court to the other.

"He is one of the best players in the 2002 class," said East Coast talent scout Tom Konchalski of McNamara's skills.

Mr. Konchalski, who has seen several thousand players over the past two decades, is right. McNamara is worth the price of admission. He will also be a much better player on the college level because Gerry will be surrounded by a higher level of player.

McNamara has averaged 30 points a game so far this season as a senior. However, he is a very unselfish players. McNamara was one of the few players at the ABCD camp to pass first and shoot second from the guard position. He is a true team player.

Gerry is also averaging six assists and seven rebounds per contest. "I have been working on my strength," McNamara told us. "I want to be stronger before I play in the Big East."

McNamara, 6-1 and 170 pounds, will play for Syracuse University next season and add some punch to a very interesting future lineup for head coach Jim Boeheim. McNamara has progressed very nicely under Bishop Hannan head coach John Bucci, one of the best in the business. "Our team is 13-2 right now," McNamara said. "We're 7-1 in conference right now."

McNamara is now shooting for a state title and then it's off to the Big East and Syracuse University.