Saints’ signee playing in Glens Falls in Federation event
Sutherland shooting for title with West Genesee
Even with his high school team enjoying unprecedented success this season, West Genesee senior Luke Sutherland kept close tabs on the college program he verbally committed to back in August.
Sutherland, a 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward, followed Siena men’s basketball online, knowing he’ll suit up for the Saints next fall.
“I tried to watch every single game I didn’t have a conflict with,” Sutherland said. “For the most part, I knew exactly what was going on. I really kept a close eye on them all year and I was texting the coaching staff through the whole season, so I pretty much treated it like it was my own team.”
After Siena coach Jamion Christian left the Saints for George Washington on Thursday, Sutherland said he’s still “100 percent committed” to Siena and thinks interim coach Carm Maciariello has a good chance of getting the job.
Siena fans who are inclined to travel need to take just a 45-minute drive up the Northway to see Sutherland finish his high school
career this weekend.
West Genesee, fresh off its first state championship, will take on Christ the King in the Class A A Federation semifinals at 6:15 p.m. Friday at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. If West Genesee wins, it will play either South Shore or Long Island Lutheran in the championship game at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
“I know from social media stuff there’s some people coming up to watch me, so that’s awesome,” Sutherland said. “Again, it’s an opportunity not many people get to have, to play in a high school game right down the street from where they’re going to spend the next four years. So that’s really exciting.”
All three recruits who signed with Siena during the early period in November had successful senior years. Guard Shawn Walker Jr. was named first-team all-state among Virginia independent schools and led Bishop Sullivan Catholic of Virginia Beach to a conference championship.
Forward Kyle Young helped Bethlehem Catholic to a 26-4 record and the second round of the Pennsylvania state tournament.
Sutherland is the one who’s still playing after West Genesee, from the Syracuse area, knocked off Brentwood 70-57 to win the state title in Binghamton.
“It was wild,” he said. “It was one of those things that all season, we didn’t really look ahead to it, you know what I mean? We just went by every single day and we just kept playing.”
Siena coaches went to watch Sutherland in Binghamton and the staff, including Maciariello, is expected to be in attendance in Glens Falls on Friday.
“It’s awesome having them come out and support you because they’re busy people,” Sutherland said. “They’re taking the time out of their day and just coming out and watching me play means a lot.”
They’re watching someone who Sutherland says has grown as a player this season. He’s taken on more responsibility, playing every position from shooting guard to center. While his scoring average has dipped slightly to 20 points per game this season, his rebounds and assists are up.
He’s also coping with highpressure situations that he didn’t encounter often before this year.
“Last year, we weren’t really expected to do much in terms of winning-wise,” he said. “It was a different type of environment than this year, with a lot of pressure. I’ve had to have the ball in my hands in big situations, big plays. This year, I got more comfortable in situations like those and I definitely feel I’m more complete of a player. I had a lot more weight to carry.”
Siena will add Sutherland, Walker and Young to a roster that should be deeper and more athletic than this year’s 17-16 edition.
Sutherland has become friends with Young, whom he met on his official visit to Siena. Sutherland and Walker have yet to meet, but they’ve exchanged numbers and stay in touch.
“We’re in a group chat and throughout the season we’ve been sending each other highlights and stuff,” Sutherland said. “Shawn put together a crazy year and Kyle put together a crazy year. I’m super excited to play with those guys as well as the guys already up there, so it’s going to be really fun.”
Note: Siena freshman guard Jalen Pickett was named first-team alldistrict I by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. District I consists of programs from the Metro Atlantic Athletic and America East conferences.