High school stars coping in face of shutdown from coronavirus
Kurtis Henderson figured he was going to be a busy camper these days.
A two-time Boston Herald Dream Teamer from Catholic Memorial, the junior guard was getting ready to begin taking some recruiting trips. That was before the coronavirus brought the sports world to a screeching halt.
“It has been a little frustrating,” said Henderson, who averaged more than 25 points a game last season. “I had seen some of the guys go through the process and I was getting excited about it. I spoke to a lot of coaches during the season, had a lot of communication with them.”
With Catholic Memorial and all other Massachusetts schools closed for at least the next six weeks per order of Gov. Charlie Baker, Henderson no longer has the friendly confines of the Ronald S. Perry Gymnasium to hone his game. It has forced him to be a little creative in order to stay in shape.
“I’ve been able to shoot a little bit at some of the outdoor courts in Brockton,” Henderson said. “I’ve also been working out with a personal trainer and doing some stuff at home.”
Shay Bollin figured she was going to rack up some serious frequent flyer miles in April. A two-time Boston Herald Dream Teamer from BridgewaterRaynham, the highly-regarded sophomore guard was planning on attending showcase events in Pennsylvania and Atlantic City, but those have been canceled in the wake of the coronavirus.
“It’s been a hard time for a lot of people with the coronavirus,” Bollin said. “I’m just very thankful that my family and friends are healthy and I hope it stays that way.
“I do feel badly for the juniors who were planning on taking visits to colleges and now they can’t. I’m fortunate in that I was able to do some of that sooner.”
Bollin literally has a built-in advantage over many of her competitors.
“I’m fortunate that we have a court in my yard, so I am out there shooting every single day,” said Bollin, who plays for the Bay State Jaguars. “I’ve also been in contact with my coaches and they’ve given me drills to work on. I’ve also been able to do some running and lifting.”
BC High sophomore Mike Loughnane is itching to get back on the court. The All-Scholastic guard had grown accustomed to honing his skills inside McNeice Pavilion, but that is no longer an option.
“It’s pretty boring sitting around here and not being able to play basketball,” Loughnane admitted. “All I can really do is pushups and situps, little things to stay in shape.”
Loughnane does have one built-in advantage. The person he sits across from at the dinner table happens to be his high school basketball coach. Bill Loughnane, himself a former standout at Boston Tech and Northeastern, isn’t about to let his son become a couch potato.
“I’ve been telling him to get out of the house,” Loughnane said. “Go out for a run on a nice day to stay in shape. I just don’t want him to get lazy, I want him to stay as active as possible.”
Former Fenway star guard Davonte Sweatman recently returned home after Lawrence Academy closed down due to the virus. Like Loughnane, he has not been able to find an open gym to do something as simple as shoot around.
“It’s been tough since they closed all the gyms,” said Sweatman, who transferred to Lawrence Academy last year. “I’ve been lifting weights, watching some highlights, doing whatever I can do to get better.”