(This is the first in a three-part series on three Staten Island teens’ experiences at a New Jersey basketball academy)
It all started quite innocently for Qadir Martin, Jalen Munson and Michael Spisto.
And all because of basketball, to boot.
The long-time teammates had just completed an AAU scrimmage at New Jersey’s Patrick School last year when they were approached by former Curtis hoops coach Rich Buckheit -- then Patrick School’s athletic director -- and a man named Chris Chavannes.
The latter is Patrick’s president and boys’ varsity basketball coach.
"They let us know they were starting a basketball academy for 7th and 8th graders,'' said Mike Spisto, Michael’s father. "They wanted to know if we’d be interested because they believed it would be something that would help the kids develop both athletically and academically.''
The name of the new institution is the Basketball Academy at the Patrick School (BAPS) and is located in Hillside, N.J. The idea is to incorporate four basic aspects of education, one elective and four important facets of basketball into the daily rigors of a school day.
For the Martin, Munson and Spisto families, there were so many things to consider and, unfortunately, no parents available for advice since the school hadn’t opened yet.
Martin and Munson, both St. George residents, attended the Morris Intermediate School (I.S. 61) in West Brighton while Spisto, a Westerleigh resident, went to the Markham Intermediate School (I.S. 51) in Willowbrook.
There were obviously a host of questions that needed to be answered for the former CYO teammates (Sacred Heart), all of which were understandable.
Was getting them to and from New Jersey on a daily basis feasible? Would they miss being with their friends? Would the academic aspect of the Academy be up to par?
Not to mention tuition. Was it affordable?
"We came to the decision that they’re really, really good people who understand both the importance of academics and athletics,'' said Mike Spisto, noting BAPS’ director of academics is Michelle Cadeau and director of basketball is Tarik Robinson. "They’re good at handling kids and making it a family-oriented environment.
"Once everything was presented to us, it really wasn’t a hard decision to make.''
"We were satisfied with the way the (Academy) was doing things and eventually, the kids decided they wanted to go,'' added Kareem Martin Sr., Qadir’s dad. "We thought it was a good opportunity for several reasons and the fact (Qadir, Jalen and Michael) wanted to go together helped make the decision easier.''
Qadir Martin, Michael Spitso and Jalen Munson, left to right, are each a part of the Basketball Academy at the Patrick School's inaugural class. (Courtesy of Kareem Martin Sr.)
Once the decision to go for it was made, the boys needed to apply, go for interviews and write essays. They turned out to be three of the 80 applicants that qualified and, eventually, 7th-graders Martin, Munson and Spisto were selected as part of the inaugural group of 40.
"The whole process, from the time we first heard about it until finding out they made it as part of the initial group, took four months,'' said Spisto. "It was a long time.''
The trio started school in September and, fortunately, Mike Spisto, who works as an academic advisor for athletes at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, is able to bring them each morning. He brings them home a good portion of the time as well.
With classes beginning daily at 8:30 a.m., they leave from Spisto’s house at 7:05 each morning. Traffic, of course, is unpredictable both ways, so there’s usually a good deal of time spent in the car.
Much like a high school/college schedule, class times are different each day.
"I’m impressed,'' said the elder Spisto. "It honestly reminds me of what college students go through and, to me, this is preparing them for high school. They’re going to know what to expect right from the start when they get to that point.''
The boys’ echoed Spisto’s way of thinking.
"I have no regrets,'' said 13-year-old Qadir, who, at 6-foot-2, is on pace to reach, if not pass, the height of older brothers Phil (6-3), Kareem Jr. (6-3), Hassan (6-7) and Malik (6-4). "I think it’s definitely helping me get ready for both high school and college.
"Sometimes, we’re in the car a long time and I want to get home,'' he added. "But overall, I feel lucky. It’s been a good experience for me.''
"It’s everything I thought it would be,'' added 14-year-old Jalen. "I wanted to go. I knew it would be a better experience for me for both school and basketball and it’s been exactly that.''
Michael Spisto, meanwhile, said he initially had worries about getting up a bit earlier than usual, but says it hasn’t been a problem. The point guard also has no regrets over making the decision to call the basketball academy his new home.
"When I get home, I don’t have to go back out again if I don’t have to,'' the 13-year-old Spisto said. "Because of the things I do with basketball at school, I don’t have to worry about doing things (basketball-wise) after school.
"When I get home, if my homework is done, I can just take a shower and go to bed if I want to.''
(Next week: Part 2 in the three-part series -- the education aspect of The Basketball Academy at the Patrick School)