Post-Grad Experience Working for Santavenere
When P.J. Santavenere made the decision to do a post-graduate year at Rise Academy he knew he was taking the road less traveled.
Not only was he making the rare decision to leave the New England region, arguably the national hub of prep school basketball, but he was also choosing a post-graduate program that wasn’t necessarily a school at all.
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rise Academy “provides an advanced alternative to high school basketball” according to their website. Essentially, it is a comprehensive basketball program with no educational requirements. Instead, educational options exist at various schools in the area depending on the needs of the particular student.
After graduating from Middletown High School last year, Santavenere wasn’t far off the NCAA Clearinghouse standards for qualification, so now the vast majority of his days are spent working on developing his athleticism and basketball skills.
A typical day consists of an early morning skills workout on the basketball court, participation in a morning spin class, a strength and conditioning session in the weight room, and later in the day a full team practice.
The program is atypical to be sure, but in Santavenere’s case it is proving to be effective.
“When P.J. first came to us he was so raw athletically,” said Rise head coach Vin Sparacio. “He just needed some structure on and off the court, but he has come a long way in a short amount of time and is starting to show his leadership skills.”
A classic late bloomer, Santavenere just began to tap into his potential towards the end of his high school career when he averaged just over 14 points per game as a senior at Middletown while showing a consistent shooting stroke and the ability to play high above the rim. Nevertheless, the six-foot-two guard knew his best basketball was still ahead of him.
Now, after three months at Rise, Santavenere is bigger, stronger, and more explosive than ever before and also boasting a much more polished skill set. He’s also shown his versatility, playing both the point guard and shooting guard positions on a consistent basis.
“I don’t really like to speak on how much I’ve improved,” said the humble post-graduate. “I prefer when others take notice of any change in my game, but I know how hard I’ve been working.”
Well others have been noticing. In fact, Santavenere has attracted attention from “a bunch of D1, NAIA, and local D2 schools” according to Sparacio, including the likes of Southern Illinois, Eastern Washington, and Delaware.
One of Santavenere’s best games of the season took place on a recent trip to New England powerhouse Brewster Academy. While the contest was a lopsided one, with Brewster scoring a 110-70 win, Santavenere was a bright spot for Rise Academy, scoring a season high 33 points.
“P.J. stepped up when we went up to Brewster,” Sparacio said. “That’s one of the best things I can say for P.J., when the big occasion comes along, that is when he steps up.”
Santavenere will look to keep things going in the right direction when he returns to Philadelphia following a break for the holidays and with plenty of big games still left on the schedule, the Connecticut native has never been closer to his goal of earning a division I scholarship.
P.J. Santavenere