Brandon Russell might be one of the biggest surprises in the Catholic League this year.
He’s everything but to the Raiders.
Russell is a senior wing on the Archbishop Ryan High School basketball team, and last year, you probably saw him playing his role to perfection.
On a team with plenty of talent, including Thomas Sorber and Darren Williams, two Division I players and First-Team All-Catholic selections, Russell wasn’t asked to be a scorer. Instead, he’d play suffocating defense, help handle the ball and do his best to get his teammates open looks at the basket.
He played the role to perfection and the team advanced all the way to the Catholic League championship game.
Sorber is now at Georgetown. Williams is at Florida Gulf Coast. The Raiders lost nine seniors to graduation and returned only two players with a lot of varsity experience. The other is point guard Matt Johnson.
Ryan needed someone to step up and become the go-to player on the offensive side of the floor. It was a question many around the league had, but everyone who wore black and red knew who the man for the job was.
“I knew we graduated nine seniors, two Division I commits and we needed someone to become a scorer,” Russell said. “I knew I could score, when I was a sophomore, I averaged 15 a game at Pennington. That wasn’t my role last year, my role was to be a defensive player and get stops.
“I worked really hard all spring and summer. I worked out with my AAU team, I worked out with my dad. He’s not a coach, but he played growing up, so he knows a lot. And I worked with Coach Joe (Zeglinski) and the staff. Coach Joe played Division I, he taught me to get to my spot. And his brother Sammy has worked with me on my shot. I’ve had a lot of help.”
The rest of the league was put on notice in the team’s third PCL game when Russell scored 36 in an overtime victory over Archbishop Carroll.
He leads Ryan in scoring and he’s a massive reason for the team’s recent winning streak that includes triumphs in four of its past six games.
Russell came into the season with plenty of confidence. He also has the blessing of some Ryan basketball legends.
“Before the Carroll game, I didn’t play too well in the first two games because I was sick, had a 103-degree fever and I didn’t play well,” said Russell, who lives in Hamilton, New Jersey. “Before the Carroll game, I got a call from Thomas. I knew him since middle school, our moms are friends, he was one of the main reasons I came to Ryan. He told me he knew I was going to do it, and then after the game, he called me to say he was right. He’s a good friend and very supportive.
“Darren Williams talks to me all the time. He’s a great friend, he plays like that big brother role for me. He helped me, tells me he knows I can do it. Both of them really help me, we’re still close. The whole team is still close.”
Russell is now doing the same thing for his younger teammates that his former teammates did for him.
“We don’t have a lot of guys who played last year, but we knew we were going to be OK,” Russell said. “We worked really hard during the summer. We knew we had a lot of good players to replace, but we had a lot of guys who just needed a chance. They’re doing great now.”
Russell has also grown as a player.
His game has expanded to be equally equipped to score by getting to the rim or hitting from distance.
“I think the biggest difference for me is I’m not just taking what defenses give me,” Russell said. “The game has slowed down a lot for me. It has a lot to do with the people who helped me. I was lucky. They helped me and I worked for it.”
Russell is now trying to do for Ryan what Sorber and Williams did for the team last year.
“Coach Joe told us every game now is a playoff game,” Russell said. “We have to put ourselves in the best position for the playoffs. Then we need to see what we can do to get back to the Palestra. Every game is important now.”
Russell is also looking toward the future.
He’s received a number of offers, and he’s optimistic he’ll land in a great spot.
“I want to major in kinesiology,” Russell said. “I want to stay around sports, I’d love to be around the game and athletes. I’d like to help people get better.”
He also has other big goals.
“Honestly, the biggest goals is to get to the Palestra, win the PCL chip, and of course make it to states my senior year,” Russell said. “I’d love to make All-Catholic, but that’s a secondary goal. My main goal is to win games and go as far as we can as a team.”
Russell has high hopes for the Raiders and he’s thankful to the people who helped get him here.
“My dad is a great coach and leader, but my mom has been a huge influence,” Russell said. “My mom is big about being a good leader. She shows positive body language. She lets you know things are going to be good when they aren’t going well. She’ll keep me calm at games even.
“And the team itself. Coach Joe and the coaches are huge. But my teammates, too. They look at my actions, so I can’t have any slip-ups. I want to set a good example like the guys before me. We love playing for Ryan.”
