Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — The Cushing Academy boys’ basketball team took to the floor for the first time this season the last day of November and, with the help of Portsmouth’s Andrew Chrabascz, came away with a New England Prep School Athletic Conference Class AA victory against St. Andrew’s School.

The Saints were able to stay close to the visiting Penguins and trailed by just one point at halftime. Chrabascz, mostly ignored on the offensive end, had just four first-half points. He roamed the baseline and the high post with his arms raised calling for the ball but did not receive it as often as his coach would have liked.

“One of the things I told our guys at halftime is we’ve got our best player who hasn’t touched the ball but three or four times,” said Cushing coach Barry Connors. I told them to get the ball in the middle.”

Cushing players did get the ball to Chrabascz in the post more in the latter half and he responded with 10 points to finish with 14 for the game. Not surprisingly, Cushing pulled away in the second half and won 58-43.

“The fact of the matter is everything we do is going to be through him,” said “We’ve got good kids, good players, good pieces around him. He’s our centerpiece.

“We’re going to go as far as Andrew Chrabascz takes us and I know that. I think our kids know that too. They’ve just go to do a better job of getting it down.”

Chrabascz helped the Portsmouth High School basketball team win the Division-Two state title as a sophomore in 2010. He didn’t return for his junior year, opting for Cushing Academy, a prep school in Ashburnham, MA, just north of Worcester instead.

Chrabascz repeated his sophomore year at Cushing last season, and honed his hoops skills even more. This season in particular his game and physical stature have blossomed.

When Chrabascz left Portsmouth he was 6’5” and about 210 pounds. Against St. Andrew’s in pre-game introductions he was announced as a 6’8” forward. He also clearly has put on some bulk.

“The thing I like about Andrew is he doesn’t do the beach workouts with the body stuff,” said Connors. “He works real hard. He does the stuff that really helps his game, the core and the lower-half stuff. The stuff that’s going to make him bigger, stronger and better.

“The trainer told me the other day he weighs 243 pounds. I couldn’t believe it. He doesn’t look like he’s carrying that much weight.”

Chrabascz never has been a person to shy away from hard work. If he’s not on the basketball court, or in the classroom teammates and coaches know where they can find him.

“I’ve always had good work ethic. I’ve been in the weight room every day,” Chrabascz said. “I’ve put on a lot of weight, good weight. It’s good because I get to bump with kids like (teammate) Tyler MacFarland who’s almost a man-child. Cushing is a great school for me maturity wise.”

All aspects of Chrabascz’s game have improved since his arrival at Cushing. Coach Connors is impressed with most facets of his game, particularly with his improved mid-range jumper.

“He really is shooting the ball a lot better,” said Connors. “One of the things I talk to him about is when he gets the ball on the baseline in that zone, he needs to start shooting that 15-footer because he can knock it down.”

The player credits a local hoops work-out guru with developing his jump shot. But he knows he still is expected to hold his own in the paint.

“My all-around game has improved. I’ve been working with Chris Herren now for three years so that’s helped my perimeter stuff. But I’ve always been a down-low guy so I’ve got to keep the footwork and stuff like that. I just work on my game every day to try and better myself.”

Chrabascz not only is a student of the game, he also hits the books hard. His success in the classroom, coupled with his basketball prowess, has drawn the interest of a handful of universities.

“He’s a great student,” Connor said. “Places like Davidson have offered him. Places like Harvard and Penn are recruiting him. When you’ve got a kid who’s that good a student, that good a player and that good a person, he makes me look good.”

A player’s junior year is probably the most important to college recruiters. Most schools try to get players to commit to attending their institutions at this time. The attention apparently doesn’t phase Chrabascz who seems to be taking everything in stride.

“I just want to enjoy the season,” Chrabascz. “It’s a challenge every night in this league. It’s great. We’ve got a good team. Colleges are interested of course. We’ll just take that a day at a time. I’m just going to enjoy the season a lot.”

Seems Chrabascz’s teammates heeded their coach’s wishes about getting Chrabascz the ball in their next game. Chrabascz scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead Cushing to a 69-61 triumph over Lee Academy. Chrabascz really does seem like he’s going to enjoy the season.