RISING STAR: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Gary Jennings looks to pass the ball in a game last season. Last Saturday, junior guard Jenkins scored 20 points in a losing cause as PDS fell 67-41 to Hillsborough in its season opener. In upcoming action, the Panthers host WW/P-North on December 18 and Episcopal Academy (Pa.) on December 20. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Eugene Burroughs liked the vibe he saw around his Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team as it went through its preseason preparation.
“The kids are really excited with the camaraderie that we have this year,” said PDS head coach Burroughs, who guided PDS to a 12-10 record and the Prep B state final last season. “The kids are really doing a great job, connecting off the basketball court which is something that has been a focus in our program. This group has really taken it to the next level.”
Junior guard Gary Jennings (338 points, 61 rebounds in 2024-25) has taken things to a higher level when it comes to his leadership skills.
“He has taken the next step off the court and on the court of trying to lead and teach the young guys,” said Burroughs, whose team fell 67-41 to Hillsborough last Saturday in its season opener. “His ability to practice at a more intense level and be more vocal is something that has transpired this year in the first week of practice. I am a firm believer of how you practice leads to how you play. I think that has been a focus of his, trying to play harder and be focused longer in practice and that will increase his play during the season.”
In terms of Jennings’ play, Burroughs is looking for him to fine-tune his game.
“One of the big focuses I have for Gary is for him to be more efficient on the basketball court, with fewer turnovers, making more shots and not being a high volume scorer,” said Burroughs of Jennings who tallied a team-high 20 points in the season opener. “Part of that is his growth as a basketball player recognizing opportunities and situations. There are times when you have to make plays and there are times when he is the recipient of someone else making a play for him.”
PDS will be depending on sophomore Obakunle Egbeleye (25 points, 19 rebounds) to make more plays this winter.
“Obakunle came off the bench last year and played spot minutes; he will be in the backcourt this year,” and Burroughs. “Last year, he was a freshman who was trying to find his way playing varsity and transitioning to the details that a player needs to be successful in our program. He definitely has some raw, natural ability. He has definitely made a jump this year in his skill set of making basketball plays. My focus with him is just learning how to play within the system.”
While senior Danny Rozenblat (55 points, 25 rebounds) is coming back from a shoulder issue, Burroughs believes he can make a big impact this winter.
“He is a pick and pop forward, he will be a wing forward for us this year,” said Burroughs. “Because of his surgery, he was limited in his summer workouts. He came back late this fall after he was fully cleared for contact and is still working through that. I am looking forward to him having a really good year. Last year we were looking for him to make some shots and take some threes. He needs to have confidence to put the ball on the floor and to be multi-dimensional with his ability to drive the ball and shoot the ball. His leadership is the best I have had since I have been here at PDS. He has taken on a bull by the horns approach to leadership in our basketball program. He has done a phenomenal job of organizing the guys.”
In the frontcourt, junior Zalin Pack (106 points, 51 rebounds) is playing with more confidence.
“Zalin was finding his way through the season last year; he had some good moments, I am looking for him to have more consistent moments this year,” said Burroughs. “I have seen progression this year with his focus and his ability to understand what we are doing a little more. That is going to lead to him having more success. Physically, he looks great. He has been aggressive, he has been doing some really good things. He is like a four (power forward). I think you are going to see him do a lot of different things offensively.”
Freshman Luke Novak is primed to do some good things in his debut campaign for the program.
“I think Luke is going to be a really good basketball player; he is skilled right now, he is more like a forward,” said Burroughs. “We are really working on him to be a versatile player for us. He will definitely contribute right away. Each day he has gotten better. He is a kid who could make moves around the basket with his back to the basket which is something we really haven’t had. He about 6’3, so he has some length to him. He can be on the perimeter, he can make threes, he can drive the ball, and he can make plays. He is probably one of the most versatile guys I have had since I have been here. As a freshman, he has been poised enough to play like he is a junior.”
The trio of senior Aiden Luciano, senior Collin Myat (8 points, 4 rebounds), and sophomore Cameron Kelemen gives the Panthers some depth.
“Aiden is working out the kinks, he is in great shape — I think he is excited to play basketball,” said Burroughs, noting that Luciano was sidelined last winter due to a wrist injury. “Being a senior, just having a guy like that in our program is going to be helpful. He is a great kid, the guys on the team like him. He can do some of everything. He can make a three, he can drive the ball, he can handle the ball, and he can rebound the ball. Collin has a really solid first week of practice, this is the best I have seen him play. He has good size, he can make a shot. He is doing a great job communicating on defense. He could be a guy to come in and get some rebounds, move the ball and play some hard defense. Cameron is going to be getting some time this year. He can shoot the ball. He can rattle off two or three three-pointers. A lot of teams play zone against us and he can break up a zone defense.”
With PDS hosting WW/P-North on December 18 and Episcopal Academy (Pa.) on December 20, Burroughs is looking for his squad to do a good job of running its offense.
“One of the things I have been stressing with them is focusing on the details,” said Burroughs. “With the things that we work on in practice, it is can we transition to those things in the game. Last year, I don’t feel we executed at the level that we should have executed. This year the team has been focused on that. I think we hit our stride late in the year where we were doing some good things offensively. I think this year we are going to start the season off that way; it is going to be exciting to see us trust each other offensively to move the ball and share the ball.”
In addition, the Panthers will need to show some grit to go with their execution.
“I think one of the things we have to get better at as a team is our ability to be physical and rebound,” added Burroughs. “We don’t have the tallest team, we don’t have the most physical team so rebounding the basketball is going to be a huge thing for us. I think we will be solid enough defensively but at the end of the day you can play great defense but if you can’t rebound that shot, it is an issue. Last year, other teams were rebounding roughly 50 percent of their missed shots. If we can rebound that ball and finish off the stop that will make a difference.”