Domenic Raymond learned to love basketball as a little kid — after it got taken away from him.
“It started when I got cut at a very young age,” the Nottingham High senior forward said. “It was in the second grade and I got cut. I would see all my friends talk about how they were on the team and how they had games, and I would just sit there and say, ‘I wish I was on a team.’ After that, I had a burning in my heart and a determination. I just wanted it so bad.”
He went out and got it. In a big way.
Raymond is one of the key figures for a Northstars team with high aspirations this year. After transferring from Trenton Catholic Academy, Raymond averaged 12 points and eight rebounds last season while collecting 46 assists and 23 steals. He helped Nottingham to the NJSIAA Group III state championship game, and returns this year with 3-point sniper Donte Alexander and wingman Jordan Raba (injured much of last year) to give Nottingham a strong inside-outside attack.
Having him don the Blue & Gold was like hitting the lottery for Stars’ coach Chris “The Baron” Raba.
“I used to always see Dom courtside at every TCA game,” Raba said. “I have Dom on film two years in a row, when we played TCA in the semifinals and finals of the Mercer County Tournament; of him sitting courtside watching. He’s just one of those kids that eat, sleep, drink basketball. He’s a gym rat.
“Dom was part of one of the greatest CYO teams of all time, coached by the legend, Bob Fusik. Over a three-year period they lost one or two games and they played parishes all over the state. I was at the CYO when Dom was named MVP. I turned around to my older son (Brandon), and said, ‘Damn, I wish he was going to Nottingham!’ We had no doubt that if Dom came to Nottingham, he would be an All-County player.”
Raba eventually got his wish, and his All-County prediction also came true.
But if it wasn’t for Raymond’s burning desire, he would never have gotten this far.
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After being cut, he worked even harder to make the Our Lady of Sorrows CYO team in third grade. Getting help from his mom, Isabella (formerly Doyle), and dad, Sam, both McCorristin (now TCA) grads, Dom grinded it out. Isabella and her sister, Margaret Doyle, played on state championship teams for the Iron Mikes (Sam played baseball).
“My mom helped me a lot,” he said. “She helped me wake up before school. I’d go to the YMCA, she’d help me shoot at a young age. I had a feeling I would make the team in third grade. Other kids weren’t doing what I was doing.”
In sixth grade Raymond transferred to TCA and enjoyed playing for the aforementioned powerhouse, coached by Fusik.
“He’s one of the best in the state,” Raymond said. “He taught me how to use my left hand. He had AAU games at Incarnation, and I played on his travel team. I was with him a lot.”
Dom was on the high school JV team as a freshman and played sparingly his sophomore year, collecting 42 points and 32 rebounds in 21 games. Despite his limited time, Raba knew about Raymond’s potential, but figured he would only just see it from afar.
“Dom always went to Catholic school and his whole family was really invested in McCorristin and TCA,” the Baron said. “So I knew when he was little that we had no chance of him coming to Nottingham even though he lives right around the block from the school.”
But Raymond’s disillusionment with the coaching staff, coupled with the threat of TCA closing down, caused him to rethink things. He transferred to Nottingham along with the since-graduated JP Dickerson.
“I knew Raba, I used to go play against Jordan at the CYO in Trenton,” Dom said. “I used to see Coach Raba all the time, just say ‘Hi, how ya doing.’ I love coach Raba. I wanted to play for him. I just had to adjust (to new teammates) for maybe like a week or two. They accepted me with open arms. I was grateful for all of them.”
Raba was impressed with Raymond’s willingness to fit in and do whatever was asked of him; rather than trying to do whatever he wanted.
“The most difficult thing for transfers to do as part of a new team is sacrifice,” the coach said. “It’s very easy for transfers to come in and be selfish. That’s typically the norm. That was a huge reason why Dom seamlessly fit right into our program and culture. He has that winning DNA, and that means more to him than individual stats and accolades. Dom hates to lose!”
Raymond made an immediate impression with his relentlessness underneath providing numerous putback buckets and defensive boards. Unfortunately, he was less than half-speed for the state semifinal win over Moorestown and state final loss to Ramapo.
“It was terrible,” he said. “I had to go get needles in my legs. I needed acupuncture just so I could even walk. I couldn’t even bend my knee in the car. I couldn’t run. My thighs were like cement.
“I think it (held me back), but that’s in the past. I’m worried about right now. It’s gonna be a great year.”
Over the summer, Raymond focused on improving his all-around game, knowing that at his size he will likely be a perimeter player in college. He worked with former TCA standout and current Harlem Globetrotter La’Keisha Sutton on dribbling “and all the fullcourt stuff,” and worked with Camden High assistant Maurice Clarke on his shooting and ball handling.
“It’s perimeter stuff,” he said. “I’m trying to become more of a guard.”
And while that bodes well for his future, Raymond will still be depended on for inside work this season.
“Dom’s role really isn’t going to change much this year,” Raba said. “We are expecting him to average a double double. He is going to be more boisterous on the court, in the locker room. He knows that we need his energy to get us going. We expect him to dominate.”
At 6-3, Raymond gives away inches to opponents fairly regularly; but has found ways to work around that.
“It doesn’t matter how big they are, if you’ve got a bigger heart you can do anything you want,” he said. “It also starts with your footwork. I got a coach, Dianne Tomosi, she’s helped me tremendously with my footwork. It’s all about moving, knowing how your defender moves and reacts.”
It’s part of a work ethic that is second to none.
“I put in seven hours a day,” he said. “I’m being for real. I’m ready.”
Raymond cherishes every minute he can get on the court and knows to never get carried away with himself.
“You always gotta stay humble,” he said.
In his mind, being humble means working nonstop — even when he’s not allowed.
“Most of the time we have to kick him out after practice, or he gets caught sneaking into the gym by our athletic director or custodians,” Raba said with a laugh. “He just can’t get enough. What makes Dom a tenacious competitor is he has a strong will to succeed. He understands that success starts with hard work. You can’t persevere in anything unless you put in hours of work a day.
“No one puts in more time than Dom. He will lift with our team. If he misses, he will lift with the football team. There’s no secret why Dom is successful. He doesn’t take for granted his success. He understands the hard work that is needed to become a good basketball player.”
He also realizes the same thing is required in the classroom, which is why Dom proudly sports a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society.
“I approach my schoolwork and my game the exact same way,” he said. “If you want something in life you gotta go for it. You can’t just half stuff. I’ve made the honor roll every year. I made the National Honor Society at TCA and now at Nottingham.”
He is looking for his team to be honored as a repeat sectional champion along with possibly winning county and state titles.
“Reaching the finals last year helped us a lot,” he said. “Coming into this year our experience is gonna help some of the other kids that didn’t experience it. We’ll keep building off of that. I think we’re gonna do really good this year. We all gotta stay connected and follow what coach Raba and coach Anth (Anthony “Jelly Bean” Alston) want for us.”
Everyone wants the same thing — to be the best. Should that happen, Raymond will be a big piece of the puzzle.
“He is a coach’s dream, and a great teammate,” Raba said. “He holds everyone accountable in our program.”
Including himself, which is something he has done ever since a coach incorrectly deemed him unworthy in second grade.
Domenic Reymond takes aim on a free throw for Nottingham High School basketball last season against Hightstown. (Photo by Wes Kirkpatrick.),
