In today’s hoops landscape, there are various
instruments capable of gauging a player’s statistical impact and effectiveness
on the floor. For promising incoming freshman Allessia Carlo, the best aspect
of her game is an immeasurable intangible which cannot be computed: Heart.
Despite being a tad undersized, Carlo possesses the
fleet of foot and competitive nature that gives her a savvy well beyond her
years.
An accurate depiction of a gym rat, Carlo has spent
much of the summer of 2017 bettering all components of her game. Carlo averaged
13 points and five assists, quarterbacking the New York Pride AAU team to six
out of seven tournament victories on the Zero Gravity circuit. Carlo’s blend of
tactical playmaking, unselfishness, and outside shooting allowed her to lead by
example for the Pride, coached by longtime Westchester/Putnam County hoops
pioneer Aldo Redendo.
“What Allessia brings is rarified court sense, tenacious
defense, and ability to get to the rim with either hand and finish,” said
Redendo, who envisions an memorable four-year career at Kennedy Catholic for
the point guard.
“She was one of seven eighth-graders that competed
on a team at the ninth grade level and she put game-changing matters into her
own hands during tough moments. Her ball handling has blossomed and her IQ is
off the charts. She’s really a student of the game and she continues to soak up
knowledge and pick things up at a quick pace. She may not be the biggest guard,
but she makes that up in her skill-set and her decision-making and her quickness.”
From last summer to this summer, Carlo improved in
every statistical category. Redendo said the most noticeable changes was her
hunger for the big moment and commitment to the little things. By dishing key
assists, taking charges, facilitating the transition game, and delivering key
stops in high-pressure situations, Carlo was super-active across all 94 feet.
“She wins the plus/minus category whenever she is on
the floor,” Redendo explained. “She is already able to make those around her
better and she’s still developing. I’m looking for her to ultimately become a
four-year starter at Kennedy, with an impact that’s really felt by her
sophomore year. If she continues to progress and sustain this work rate, that’s
where the bar is set.”
While it seems Carlo is just starting to garner
recognition, she’s built quite the resume in staying devoted to her craft. She
averaged a team-best 16 points for her St. James the Apostle (Carmel, N.Y.)
this past season, taking home the Jim Normile Outstanding Player Award this
year.
The work ethic applied on the court seems to mirror
her work in the classroom. Carlo has earned a steady supply of academic
hardware these past three years, with high honors and honors recipient status
from 2015-17.
She was named salutatorian of the 2017 Graduating Class, an
arduous task given the highly competitive academic environment of such a school system.
Away from the regular season, Carlo leaves herself
with little time to rest on her laurels. She’s been instrumental in leading her
team to Brewster Super League championships in 2015, 2016, and 2017. She’s
played for Playmaker Academy on the AAU circuit and also competed in the Spooky
Nook Hoops Classic, helping pilot her team to a championship in May of 2016.
She’s displayed both aspects as a point guard,
orchestrating the offense as a dish-first creator while simultaneously pacing
her team, scoring-wise.
“Offensively, Allessia is a major threat with the
ball in her hands,” explained Christopher Tychostup, her CYO coach with St.
James.
“She knows how to get players involved, can beat
defenders off the dribble, and finish around the basket. When she sees her jump
shot go in early in games, she becomes very hard to defend. In her final year
with the program, she averaged 15 points to lead her team into the playoffs.
Defensively, she has fast feet and active hands. She can play in the zone as
well as match in the man-to-man and really shut a player down.”
All of these tools have prepared Carlo for the next
chapter in her career.
At a Kennedy Catholic program that values its
storied basketball tradition, expect Carlo to offer immediate and lasting
contributions.