Marvin Prochet is finally becoming everything he was told he could be.
The former Boys and Girls standout, turned Long Island Lutheran star, put all his gifts as a basketball player on his display during the state Federation tournament at the Times Union Center in Albany last weekend. The 6-foot-7 junior forward dazzled in the Crusaders, 68–52, semifinal victory over Green Tech by scoring 26 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. But he fouled out early in the title game loss to Christ the King, and LuHi was never the same defensively after that.
“He’s able to do everything,” said Crusaders coach John Buck. “He makes it look pretty easy.”
That’s because he’s been working hard the last two years on being more than just a big body in the paint. Prochet was being groomed to be a big guard instead of just a forward even before he transferred out of Boys and Girls following his sophomore year. There, head coach Ruth Lovelace and assistant Elmer Anderson gave him a chance to be a point guard. Prochet averaged 12 points, nine rebound and four assists that year.
Prochet isn’t the primary ball handler since coming to LuHi. That job belongs to point guard Chris Atkinson and star guard Devonte Green. But when Green injured his ankle in the semifinals, Prochet had no problem taking on some of the guard’s duties.
“Today was the day to step up and Chris needed help,” Prochet said. “He was a little tired.”
Prochet, on the other hand, was a ball of energy, happy to be back in Albany where he won a Class AA title as a freshman with Boys and Girls. Buck says the normally quiet Prochet plays better when he’s loose and animated.
“I bring the energy,” Prochet said. “Whatever you need, I got it. Energy, charges, rebounds. I got you.”
Being able to score in a variety of ways is also a trait of his. Prochet shot 11-for-15 from the field in the semifinals. He converted baskets on coast-to-coast drives, on put backs of offensive rebounds, and by knocking down jumpers. Buck called it his best game, considering the circumstances, in a Crusader uniform. His skill set has garnered him college scholarship offers from St. Bonaventure, Iona, Seton Hall and Quinnipiac, as well as interest from Minnesota, Drexel and Hofstra.
“Big players step up in the bright lights,” Prochet said.
He left for LuHi to find a place he felt he could stay better focused on becoming the best player and person he could be. Prochet credited Buck with really pushing him, especially in the team’s down time leading up to the Federation tournament.
“When we had this whole month off, we have just been working in the gym everyday,” Prochet said.
If last weekend was any indication, all the time and effort is paying off.
