The youthful Centenary University men’s basketball team has a distinct Mercer County flavor to it this season, and the Ewing High feeder system is playing a big part in it.
Not only did former Trenton Catholic Academy standout Chris LaBelle take over as interim head coach one game into the campaign; Steinert grad John Giordano is a team captain. And then there is the freshman duo of Kenny Rankin and Naire Preston, former Blue Devils now making an immediate impact on the program.
Preston originally planned on going to Cabrini until the school shut down. When he decided on Centenary, it was a bonus for both Rankin and LaBelle.
“They were super well-coached by coach Shelly (Dearden),” LaBelle said. “You take that, and add in the fact they have a really good connection playing with one another. Especially on the offensive end, they find each other all the time. I think it’s a huge help for each of them playing with someone they’ve played with before.”
The statistics bear that out.
Through the Cyclones first eight games, Rankin led the team in scoring (14.1 points per game), rebounding (5.0 per game) and assists (17) while playing forward. Preston was third in scoring (10.0 ppg), second in shooting percentage (.468) and first in steals (12). The guard is also a defensive stopper.
For Preston, the Hackettstown school has provided a thankful landing spot after some uncertainty when Cabrini folded.
“When I first got that email I automatically sent it to everybody I knew,” Preston said. “I was confused about what was gonna happen. But I know I made the right decision with my family and the coaches at Centenary. I knew this school was a good fit for me, because I knew somebody that was going here. And someone that was familiar with the program a little bit because of coach Paul.”
He was referring to Paul Jones, a former Ewing/Centenary player who was recently elevated from Blue Devils assistant to head coach when Shelly Dearden stepped down in late November.
Along with Jones’ input, Naire also had a friend waiting to greet him.
“I knew I would have that sense of brotherhood since I knew Kenny,” Preston said. “And also guys around the area — Trev, coach Chris, it was good to have some familiar faces.”
Rankin was also encouraged to try Centenary by Jones and Dearden, saying “Coach Paul felt this was the best decision for me. I visited, liked it. I needed a small school.”
He got more than he bargained for upon discovering Preston might be coming.
“He sent me a text and said, ‘I’m going on a visit there,’ and I was like ‘Well, all right.’” Rankin said. “I saw him on the visit and I was happy he came. We already had chemistry growing up. We’ve played since elementary school together so that chemistry is now unstoppable on the court.”
They are also finding immediate collegiate success. In assessing one another, neither player is remotely surprised at what the other is doing.
“It’s nothing new, I know he can shoot, play defense, get to the basket,” Rankin said of Preston. “He pretty much does everything. I’ve seen him do it all his four years at high school, all throughout middle school.”
Naire had the same assessment of his friend, saying “I already expected it since I’ve known him my whole life. I wouldn’t have expected anything less.”
It has been anything but smooth for the incoming players, however, as LaBelle’s promotion took everyone by surprise. Dirk Kelly, who came in as head coach last season, abruptly stepped down due to personal issues.
LaBelle, a former Cyclones standout who graduated in 2022, joined the men’s team as an assistant this year after serving under Rose Haller as a women’s assistant last season. When Kelly left, the Hamilton product was suddenly in charge.
“I was a little bit nervous with the change,” Rankin said. “I didn’t know how the team was gonna react or how it was gonna affect our play. I just kept my head focused and put the team before my emotions. I knew Chris was gonna be a great coach, because he was a great assistant coach when he helped us in practice. I knew he would be able to take the next step and take over.”
Before he decided on Cabrini, Preston was recruited by LaBelle, so he had familiarity with him. Still, the change took him aback.
“At first it was a shock,” he said. “I think it was a shock for everybody in the program. But I had a lot of faith in coach Chris. He’s been here the whole preseason. I was ready for him to step up and take that job. I think he’s done a pretty good job already.”
Those praises come despite the fact Centenary was 1-7 as of Dec. 5. But the team is filled with youth as Shawn Falk is the lone senior in the starting lineup. The regular rotation is filled with freshmen and sophomores.
“I see the potential,” Rankin said. “We’ve had a couple mental lapses but we’re right there. All these games we played were winnable, all these teams we’ve played were beatable. If we come together as a team and learn about each other more, we’ll be good in the long run. We have a lot of new transfers, a lot of freshmen. We need that chemistry and bond and we’ll be good.”
Preston feels that with the all-important Atlantic East Conference games beginning this month, the Cyclones will be a different unit.
“We’re a young team, we’re still trying to figure it out,” he said. “I know by January we’re taking that next step and we’ll be able to compete with the teams in our conference.”
No matter how things turn out, Centenary is bolstered by having two talented freshmen as the nucleus of their team for the next several years.
“It’s a little bumpy right now, they’re going through a rebuild, but once those guys take the reins, they’re gonna run with it,” said Giordano, a junior in eligibility who’s unsure if he’s returning. “They’re two great players. It’s just that stage in the road where you gotta rebuild.”
In Rankin, the Cyclones have a player who stands just 6-1 but is dominating bigger opponents inside by using extra strength he gained from weight training over the summer. Kenny admitted he had no such thoughts of coming in and starting as a freshman, and was hoping just to get some minutes. But his hard work in the off-season and pre-season has paid off.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to move guys around in the post like I’m able to do,” he said. “I thought guys would be way stronger than me and outmuscle me. I’ve been able to have my way in the paint most of the time and been able to move them around, get rebounds and get lay-ups and and-ones.
“I’m basically doing the same thing I did at Ewing. I’d rebound, push the break, dribble out. Coach Chris has the confidence in my abilities, so that gives me more confidence to do it.”
LaBelle has been impressed at how quickly Rankin adapted to college ball.
“The hardest thing for a first-semester freshman is adjusting to the speed of the game and the physicality,” the coach said. “To see him impose his power on third- and fourth-year guys, it’s been really fun to watch.
“I put a lot of responsibility on him early and he’s stepping up to the plate. I kind of challenged him. We were having a hard time finding the kickouts and finding that extra pass. In one game he led the team in assists. He just continues to improve and he puts the team first.”
LaBelle can lump Preston in that group. Naire credits Giordano for helping him adjust, saying “the first day we had practice he sat me down and told me what to do, how to do it, just to get me used to how college teams are gonna play.
“My job now is to get to my spots, play defense the way I know how to play. I play on the ball a lot, make the other guards make bad decisions. On offense I’m just playing my game. I’d say I’m most surprised at how I’m getting downhill, finding the kickout or finishing over a taller guy. ”
Preston added that the speed and strength of other players were the biggest adjustments, noting that “ I didn’t think my freshman year would be how it’s been. Coach Chris has thrown me in the fire. The first game I had to get used to it. Now I feel like I can compete with a lot of guys and get after it, like in high school.”
LaBelle felt it was unfortunate that Cabrini closed but felt fortunate it resulted in getting Preston.
“We knew he could play, that was an awesome acquisition just before school started,” the coach said. “There’s a lot that gets thrown at you as a first-semester freshman. I’ve put a lot of stress on his shoulders and he’s risen to the occasion every single time so far.
“He’s probably one of our better off-ball defenders. We call him the dog of the team. Every possession he’s running all over the place. He’s gotta do everything guys don’t want to do and he can score as well. That’s definitely why he’s out there.”
And he’s out there with his lifelong pal from Ewing, which makes it that much better for both of them. And the program as well.
Kenny Rankin,
