Wareham’s Gibson on the move to NY
Transfers in attempt to land a coveted Division I scholarship
Before the sun even comes up, Darien Gibson has a basketball in his hands.
And while the 5:30 a.m. wake-up calls are difficult, everything on the court comes naturally for the talented Gibson.
Those early-morning practice sessions have become a staple in Gibson’s basketball-centric life. This is what he wanted all along and what pushed him to choose the prep school route when the former Wareham standout recently transferred to the Hoosac School in New York.
“This is just different. I just wanted to be out here and start working a lot,” Gibson said. “I’m doing this for myself and I’m also doing this for my family and everybody that has supported me.”
When Gibson’s junior season at Wareham concluded last March in the Division 3 South semifinals with a loss to Burke, Gibson believed he had played his final game for the Vikings.
Gibson planned to attend Lexington Christian Academy this year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school wasn’t taking any new boarding students and Gibson was back at Wareham.
That was until Hoosac reached out and Gibson saw the chance arise again to play on an elevated stage in the New England Preparatory School Athletics Council. Gibson toured Hoosac in December and the pull from a school known for producing top-end basketball talent, including Omari Spellman, who currently plays for the New York Knicks, was too strong to pass up.
Three days into the New Year, Gibson moved into Hoosac, where his days begin and end with basketball. After his morning of basketball and breakfast, Gibson goes to his classes, followed by hours either spent on the hardwood or in the weight room.
“I knew I wasn’t going to stay four years at Wareham,” Gibson said. “But I didn’t know that I was going to go all the way to New York. I thought I was going to (go) to a prep school (in) the area. This is a really good opportunity so I had to take it.”
Gibson exhibits a quiet demeanor, but his play on the court over the last three years at Wareham spoke volumes. The 5-foot-11 guard, who reclassified as a junior, earned his way into the starting lineup for the Vikings as a freshman by showcasing terrific court vision and athleticism. Gibson also possesses an accurate long-range shot and can create off the dribble for himself and his teammates.
Gibson was Wareham’s second-leading scorer and a South Coast Conference All-Star a year ago.
“When he first got here, he didn’t say two words to anybody,” said Wareham coach Steve Faniel. “By the time he’s leaving here, the ball was in his hands and he was calling out the plays and he was an extension of myself. The growth that he was able to make in that three years was huge. It didn’t happen by accident. The kid is a worker.”
It was no coincidence either that Gibson could put together stellar performances like the one against Nauset last winter. Gibson torched the Warriors for 29 points on 11-of19 shooting – six of those were 3-pointers – while also recording six assists and three steals.
“I feel that was like, ‘Ok, this kid has arrived. He’s pushing to be our best player now. He’s not a role player anymore,’” Faniel said. “He was unbelievable that night.”
Now Gibson is taking the next step toward achieving his ultimate goal of playing Division 1 college basketball.
“It’s like you’re training like a pro,” Gibson said. “It’s just getting me better.”