The school year is almost over, and next year’s recruiting classes are finalized, barring any last minute surprises. Nick Tarantino, Middlebury class of 2018, visited campus recently for the school’s Preview Days, spending the night on campus and attending class. He was kind of enough to find a few minutes to sit down and talk with me at lunch. Tarantino is a 6’7″ PF out of BB&N in Cambridge, Mass, who brings a long wingspan, intense defense, and a versatile offensive game to the floor. Tarantino will be part of a recruiting class replacing Middlebury’s successful 2014 class that featured PG Joey Kizel, SF/PF James Jensen, C Jack Roberts and G Nate Bulluck.
Joe MacDonald: What’s basketball like at BB&N?
Nick Tarantino: When I initially was recruited there it was totally a football school. The basketball program was kind of in shambles. The basketball team was all football players. They were athletic but they weren’t really skilled. I came in my sophomore year, and we improved each year, and this year, my senior year, we had the best year in school history. We had 20 wins, we beat the number one seed in the playoffs. Our coach got his 500th career win. It was just an awesome season. It was kind of awesome to just build your own program.
JM: What’s the best memory of your BB&N career?
NT: Getting that playoff win this year vs. Choate. They had so many great players, highly-touted, and we beat them in their place.
JM: Have you played AAU basketball?
NT: I’ve played for the Boston Warriors since 8th grade.
JM: How does that compare to basketball at BB&N?
NT: It’s a lot different, because you’re playing with city kids some times, you’re playing with public school kids, which is very different than playing prep basketball. Much more fast-paced, more scrappy, but it improves you as a player overall, just seeing the different styles. And then just the travel, you get more exposure. You get to play around the country.
JM: What was the recruiting process like for you?
NT: Basically, at the end of my junior year colleges started contacting me, and all through AAU season, more and more colleges contacted me. There were a lot of D-III colleges, but I really was looking for a high academic school like Middlebury, so I kind of narrowed it down to the NESCAC schools and WPI. Middlebury, actually, didn’t come in until very late, mid-August, maybe. As soon as Coach Brown contacted me I wanted to come up and do a visit because I had heard so much about this school and about the basketball program. When I came up I loved it.
JM: Was there a moment when you knew Middlebury was right for you?
NT: I just think the overnight visit. Just getting to know the team, and just getting to hear how the guys loved it here.
JM: How did you get along with the guys on the team?
NT: I’ve met the freshmen [class of 2017] guys. That’s pretty much it. But they all seem really nice. And I’ve seen a couple games and they seem to have a really talented group of seniors [class of 2015] coming back next year. I’m really excited for it.
JM: What do you think about the level of player here as opposed to at BB&N or in AAU?
NT: It’s totally different. The speed of the game and the size. I would most definitely be a center in any high school league and here I could probably play power forward, and there’s some schools, like Amherst and Williams, that have guards my size.
JM: How do you feel about Coach Jeff Brown?
NT: He’s awesome. I’ve heard so many great things about him. I’m just so excited to play next winter for him.
JM: Have you competed against any other NESCAC players in high school or AAU?
NT: Yeah, a ton of kids. Conn College has a huge freshman class coming in. They kind of have a pipeline with the Middlesex Magic [a rival AAU program]. The MVP of my league is going there, Aaron Swanson. A kid from Choate is going there. A kid who was on my AAU team is going there.
JM: Are you looking forward to continuing some of those rivalries?
NT: Oh yeah, definitely. Not just rivalries, but I just like competing against those guys. They’re great people, I don’t dislike them or anything, but it’s always fun to have competition.
JM: How would you describe yourself as a player?
NT: I think I’m unselfish for the most part, sometimes a little too much. I’m willing to give it all for my teammates, sell out my body, take charges, grab rebounds. The team definitely comes first. I don’t even look at the stat book after the game. As long as the scoreboard favors us, I don’t care.
JM: How do you see yourself fitting into the team on the floor?
NT: I can play inside-out, so I’ll give the team some great spacing. I think I can defend the 4 and 5 spot for the most part. If I get quicker, maybe the 3, but I’m still a little ways away from that. If I get quicker laterally.
JM: Would you compare yourself to James Jensen defensively?
NT: I would love to be able to do what he did. That would be awesome. He was a great player. He kind of reminded me of Shawn Marion almost with those long arms and being able to cover 1-5.
JM: Who’s going to win the NBA Championship?
NT: I’m gonna go with the Spurs. They have the best coach in the NBA and that’s how you win. It’s all strategy, it’s all the grinding, the halfcourt offense, the halfcourt defense. I mean it’s fun to watch teams like the Thunder and the Clippers and the Heat because they’re up-tempo, but that doesn’t always pull it out in the playoffs. You saw that three years ago when Dallas beat Miami in the championship.
Thanks again to Nick Tarantino for sitting down with us, and best of luck next season.