Boston Warrior AAU Boy's Basketball: Warrior News: Transfer DiPanfilo learning from Bp. Fenwick coach

In The Paint , Mike Grenier
Salem News

After putting up an impressive 18-5 record and reaching the Division 3 North semifinals last year, the Bishop Fenwick boys basketball team has different expectations this season.

With only one starter, Mike Clifford, returning, head coach Sean Connolly emphasizes that he'll be doing a lot of teaching before the inexperienced players catch on.

If you're an impatient player who wants to be good right away it can be a frustrating time, but the news is sweet music to Crusaders junior guard Nolan DiPanfilo.

DiPanfilo, a transfer from Malden Catholic, was robbed of his sophomore season by back woes that kept him out of the lineup for all but 4-5 games. The primary reason he transferred to Bishop Fenwick was to learn from Connolly, who scored more than 2,400 points for the Crusaders before playing at Providence College and Ohio State.

"I got minimal playing time last year," said DiPanfilo, "but I came to Bishop Fenwick with high expectations to be one of the leaders for this team. I came for coach Connolly. I want to be a sponge around him, soaking up everything I can."

DiPanfilo made a strong early impression and has worked his way into the starting lineup at shooting guard. He lacks size at 5-foot-9, but he's not afraid to take it to the rim and he can take a lot of pressure off the 6-foot-8 Clifford inside if he can become a consistent force from outside.

"He's a really good mid-range player," Connolly said of DiPanfilo. "He's got a nice pull-up jumper and he's pretty strong in the paint. I see him as one of our top scorers. Hopefully, that's the way it'll work out for us."

DiPanfilo is proving to be a good listener and is applying those lessons in practices and games, according to Connolly.

"It's probably tough for him to learn a whole new system and make all the adjustments he has to make," said Connolly, now in his fourth season as the Crusaders head coach. "But he's picked up everything we've talked about it. I think he's going to be a huge part of this team."

There's another DiPanfilo on the Bishop Fenwick roster, too. Nolan's brother Brett DiPanfilo is a freshman and is already two inches taller than Nolan at 5-foot-11. It looks like Brett will stick with the varsity and be part of the rotation off the bench.

"He's a good defender and shows some toughness," Connolly said of the younger DiPanfilo. "He's got a pretty good handle for a young player."