If it’s really true that it takes one to know one, it would make sense to ask Jeff Molinelli and Jason Malloy about Danny Garcia.
Garcia, a Hamilton High West senior, is being honored at the Nottingham Ballroom on May 4 at the Rev. Clarence O’Shea Memorial Awards Breakfast as this year’s Jack Cryan Award winner. This will be the final year for the breakfast, which began 25 years ago by alumni from the original Trenton Catholic High School.
The Cryan Award is in memory of Jack Cryan, a scrappy guard for the Notre Dame High and Rider College basketball teams who died from cancer while still in his 20s. It is given to the Mercer County player who best illustrates the class, dedication and desire Cryan displayed both on and off the court.
Previous winners include Malloy, who coached Garcia for the past three years as Hamilton’s head coach; and Molinelli, who has coached against Garcia for three years as Hopewell Valley and Lawrence head coach.
“Dan Garcia embodies what the Jack Cryan Award is all about,” Molinelli said. “First, he cares about others than himself. This year for Hamilton, he was their glue that kept them together. He did a great job of getting their team into their offense and hitting the big three-pointer when they needed it.
He did everything that Malloy told him to do, and did it to the best of his ability with great effort.
“He is a player of great character as well,” Malloy said. “He just does what needs to be done. He does not showboat or play out of character of himself. He does whatever it takes to win. When we played them this season, it was one of our most physical games of the year, and he did a great job of staying composed and making the big plays for his team.”
Former Steinert coach Roger Bigos, who is receiving the breakfast’s major honor as the Clarence O’Shea Coaching Award winner, is in charge of finding the Cryan winner. When he contacted Malloy, the words “Dan Garcia” couldn’t come out of the West coach’s mouth fast enough.
“This is a great choice,” Malloy said. “When Mr. Bigos asked if I had anyone worthy to nominate, I immediately thought of Dan. He is very deserving of the award.
“I remember from when I won it and attended the breakfast, that they talked about how this award doesn’t necessarily go to the best guard in the area but someone who represents their team and community in the right way and plays the game the way it’s meant to be played. With Danny having such a great year for us this year and with the type of student and athlete he is, I couldn’t think of a better recipient for this award.”
What immediately jumps out about Garcia is that his motor is always running, whether his actual performance is outstanding or not so good. While some players get lethargic if they’re not scoring points or getting their shots, Garcia never let it affect him. He could make five straight 3-pointers, or score two points in the entire game and yet never downshifted when it came to scrappiness and hustle.
A lot of that has to do with some advice his older brother Tim, who now attends Rowan, gave to him.
“He always told me, “You need to play the way you always play against me,’” Garcia said. “He’d see me in (Grice) middle school basketball and I would be a little timid. He said to play in high school like I was playing against him, and to get a little more aggressive.
“And it worked. I can’t stand losing to my brother.”
Garcia, whose main focus is being Hamilton baseball’s starting shortstop, is the fourth Hornet to claim the honor along with Malloy, Bob Rossi and Troy Stevenson. He knows exactly what it means.
“I’ve read about (Cryan) on line and heard about it through people talking and saying it’s a character award,” Garcia said. “I mean, just to end my high school basketball career like this, it’s a huge honor to win that award.”
Garcia and junior Tyleer Wrenn formed one of the top starting backcourts in the Colonial Valley Conference this year. They helped Hamilton go from 4-20 to 17-9 and reach the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III semifinals before losing to Group III finalist Ewing.
With a new attitude permeating the Hornets, Garcia felt it wasn’t difficult for anyone to display hustle.
“Coming off a year like we did my junior year, we all knew team leaders had to work even harder,” Garcia said. “Once we started winning games, we wanted to keep winning, so going out and hustling wasn’t too hard.”
Even during a bad shooting game?
“If I’m missing shots it can be a little tough,” he said. “But I still have to play defense. I know if I do that, I’ll start hitting shots sooner or later. You still have to contribute.”
Malloy quickly pointed out that Garcia’s hustle meter is always clicking at a rapid pace.
“Danny gives 110 percent the entire time he’s on the court,” the coach said. “If he is having a rough night shooting he definitely doesn’t let that affect the rest of his game. I may have to remind him to keep shooting and let it fly but he will always defend well, handle the ball, and be a leader for his teammates.”
It’s something seen by opposing coaches.
“My impression of Dan is that he is a very solid point guard that makes other players around him better,” Molinelli said. “He always works hard and you know, night in and night out, that he is going to give you his best effort.”
Those kind of comments are music to Garcia’s ears.
“There’s nothing better,” he said, “then when someone can say that you’re always playing hard.” Especially when the guys who are saying it, both played the same way.
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