From New Jersey To South Texas: 2013 PG John Azzinaro

Seems like everytime you look up that Houston and Dallas are getting talented move ins from out of state. (eg: Tony Mitchell & Jamal Branch). I had a chance to catch an impact move in to the City of San Antonio a couple of weeks ago while attending the GASO-College Station event.

Meet John Azzinaro who has made his way from the basketball mad State of New Jersey to the Lone Star State. Azzinaro is an honor student, and was the starting point guard as a freshman this past year for San Antonio O’Connor where he averaged 7 ppg & 3 assists. It’s no small feat to do that at a Texas 5A school under any circumstances but as a kid making his transition to a whole new culture and set of friends it’s particularly impressive.

In my brief time watching Azzinaro he showed great leadership and unselfishness in his game. His handles were tight, and several times he penetrated and pulled up for a sweet mid range jumper. True PG’s are hard to find. Understandably, Azzinaro misses his pals back home and the aggressive East Coast style but he said he loves the food here in Texas and that the folks are friendly. (Don’t forget the girls John, they’re the BEST..lol)

It’s a small world as I quickly found out that his Pops, John Sr. knows one of my close friends in Philly. Rick Barrett, who runs the Midnight Madness Event in late September gave me rave reviews on the youngster. Not bad, an endorsement on the East Coast and now here in Texas!

What Young John likely doesn’t realize is that Texas is the new recruiting hotbed with 120 D-1 signees per year. Always tough to tell how frosh will continue to develop but my gut tells me the kid’s a hard worker and is right on schedule for his senior year. He’s now one of Coach Max’s “ones to watch”.