Next week RBC will have an open gym (September 11th). It will be there first open gym of the fall. There no question will be a number of coaches on the sidelines watching. That’s because RBC has more talent perhaps than any team in New Jersey top to bottom. They have size, shooters, ball handlers and of course D1 players up and down the roster. There players have more offers than a beauty queen. They also have LOLA GIORDANO, whose game since the live period has gone to another level. She just might be the biggest story on the RBC roster before the open gym period ends. That’s because right now she has put it all together.
This past summer, Lola Giordano had a summer with the NJ RISE U16 Team She was as they say “the straw that stirs the drink” the captain of the ship. It was she that kept order for Ellen Masonious’s RISE team. The Rise was one of the most successful AAU teams this summer. But like a lot of talented teams. Didn’t get the exposure it deserved at times. Lola Giordano, in a lot of ways because of this; just may be one of the most under recruited players in the Shore Conference. Now that may sound silly. But D1 players can be under recruited as well. That’s because Lola Giordano has changed in just over a month. Her game has expanded and she has become not just a complete player. But one of the best as well. She takes a back seat to no one these days.
Too often we talk about kids getting better. Too often when you tell kids they need to work harder and improve they get offended. The parents get offended. There inner circle gets offended. Too often kids want to hear not the truth but rather the feel good stuff. Too often kids and there parents what you to sell the myth to college coaches of their kids development. I for one will never do this because coaches have families and jobs. Lola Giordano doesn’t need a myth, she doesn’t need sweet words whispered in her ears. That because these days Lola Giordano is handling her business in a major way. As freshman she was known for her gritty, tough hard nose style of play, she was the ultimate warrior. She was also a defensive stopper. She played both the point and off guard. But like all young talented players Lola Giordano had holes in her game. She was an inconsistent shooter. While she had good vision, at times she could be loose with the ball. She also was up and down finishing at the rim. This summer during the live period, she showed improvement in these area’s. If a coach caught her play they certainly saw this improvement. But what coaches haven’t seen, and what they will see next week is the DYNAMIC IMPROVEMENT recently. All I can tell coaches is to get ready because your in for a treat.
To say Lola Giordano is shooting well these days is an insult to her. That’s because these days Lola Giordano is shooting the ball as well as anyone period. Recently at NBS camp she was machine like. It seems everything she threw up found the bottom of the net. We are talking all week. But then she got to the rim with such explosive force at times it was hard to believe this was the same kid that we had just watched in July. The passing was lights out and the defense… well let’s just say has gone to another level. I have seen kids make a jump after the live period in the past. But I’m not sure I have seen many blossom the way Lola Giordano has in recent weeks. Lola Giordano right now now looks like one of the best guards in the Shore Conference. She is playing that well and that’s not talk. This coaches is a fact!
I watched Lola Giordano come shoot at the gym last week. It’s a real tribute to her that she has taken ownership of her game. She has come a long way since making FIRST TEAM ALL FRESHMAN. It’s clear she is focused and not satisfied by past success. She is clearly chasing greatness these days. College coaches are going to be shocked next week. They’re going to be asking if what they are seeing is real. I can you, it’s real. I can tell you Lola Giordano is in the gym putting in the work. Nobody has to “BULLSHIT” a coach about her desire or commitment. That too is very real.
When you ask Coach Joe Montano about LOLA. His first words are not her jump shot, not her elite passing skills, not the amazing transformation. No!!! the first thing the winningest coach in shore history says is… “she is a great teammate and better person” . She that starts in the home. That starts with the parents letting a kid grow. Letting a kid ride thought the hard and good times without interfering and complaining. You see it’s impossible not to love Lola Giordano the person. She is that kid that makes your culture elite. She does what UCONN Coach Danny Hurley likes to say, “the winning shit”. Lola Giordano is the kid that makes you want to be in the gym everyday. Next week college coaches are in for a major surprise. Ivy and Patriot Schools will learn she is an elite student. I may have trained a few kids in those leagues. In fact those two leagues are recruiting a few of my kids now. So let me give my friends all some advice…. LOLA GIORDANO IS AS GOOD AS ANY OF THEM. To the mid majors of the world. This will be the answer to a lot of your problems… but then again, hey what do I know, I’m never right …hehehe!
NEXT WEEK FALL TRAINING STARTS!