Athletic News

Mark Bevacqua transfers to Blair Academy

By Joby Fawcett
June 25, 2009
Times-Tribune.com

Mark Bevacqua has transfered to a prep school that features one of the top basketball programs in the country.

A two-time All-Region player at Holy Cross, the 6-foot, 6-inch center has enrolled at Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey. He had one season of eligibility remaining with the Crusaders

“I went down there for an informal visit, and they had a reunion game of former players, and it is just way too big an opportunity for me to pass it up,” Bevacqua said. “I didn’t want to be five years down the road and wonder what if?”

In one season at Bishop Hannan and two at Holy Cross, Bevacqua developed into a force in the paint.

As a junior, the Nicholson resident led Holy Cross to the Lackawanna League Division II and District 2 Class AA titles, averaging 13.7 points and 7 rebounds per game. In the playoffs, where the Crusaders advanced to the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals, Bevacqua averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game.

He earned the Division II player of the year honor after averaging 11.3 points per game.

Once again, Bevacqua had a big postseason, scoring 17.3 points per game as Holy Cross repeated as District 2 Class AA champions.

“It will be a challenge being away from home,” said the 17-year-old Bevacqua, who has enrolled at Blair as a junior. “The last seven years, I’ve been playing with the same five guys in AAU and high school, so I’m going to miss those guys. That was the biggest factor that I had to consider, not being able to play with those guys anymore.

“As far as I know, they support me.”

This summer, Bevacqua is playing AAU basketball for JBHoops, coached by John Bucci, from Riverfront Sports Complex and the Upstate Elite in Syracuse.

“Mark is a good kid, and we wish him well,” Holy Cross coach Al Callejas said.

Blair Academy, which is coached by Joe Mantegna, has an NBA alumni list that includes Royal Ivey, who was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, Luol Deng, a member of the All-Rookie team in 2005 for the Chicago Bulls and Charlie Villanueva, a first-round pick of the Bucks in 2005.

Currently, there are 12 Blair Academy graduates playing NCAA basketball.

“The competion is tough, and you have to work to get to that level or you get caught and overwhelmed by it,” Bevacqua said. “It will be good competition, and I want to see how far I can go.”

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