Boys' Basketball
About the Team
Our Boy’s Basketball team has experienced great success over the past few seasons. Appearances in the Non-Public B state playoffs, the Morris County Tournament and Conference championships have been just part of the story under Head Coach David Grande. The program is focused on the student-athletes having a high level experience while learn basketball skills and game strategies on all levels- Freshmen, JV, and Varsity. Each season the team lays out their own goals and standards to live up to while they are together. The varsity team takes an overnight trip each year to play a game, watch an NBA or NCAA game, visit a college, and spend time together off the court and outside the school atmosphere. The team has also held practices on the floor of the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia- home of the 76ers. Like other MC sports, the boys play in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference in the Independence Division and are part of the North Non-Public B State Section.
Recent MC Basketball Accomplishments:
2015-2016 Season- Reached MCT Semi-Finals (first time since 1992)
2014, 2015, 2016- 3 Consecutive NJAC Independence Division Championships
2016- Amir Allen finishes as MC Boys 4th All Time Leading Scorer
MC Boys Top Scorers
1- Dave Halloran (1975-1979)- 1,860
2- Mike Luzzi (2000-2004)- 1,676
3- Greg Bartoli (1992-1995)- 1,575
4- Amir Allen (2013-2016)- 1,470
Recent MC Basketball Accomplishments:
2015-2016 Season- Reached MCT Semi-Finals (first time since 1992)
2014, 2015, 2016- 3 Consecutive NJAC Independence Division Championships
2016- Amir Allen finishes as MC Boys 4th All Time Leading Scorer
MC Boys Top Scorers
1- Dave Halloran (1975-1979)- 1,860
2- Mike Luzzi (2000-2004)- 1,676
3- Greg Bartoli (1992-1995)- 1,575
4- Amir Allen (2013-2016)- 1,470
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About the Coaches
David Grande, Head Coach
The game of basketball has always been an important part of Coach Grande’s life. In 2011, he was hired as the Head Basketball Coach at MC and since then the team has seen increasing win totals, success at all levels of competition, and some priceless experiences for the players in the program. Coach Grande has arranged out of state trips to play games against schools like Malvern Prep (PA), Archbishop Curley (MD), and Archmere Academy (DE). The teams have watched NBA and NCAA games, practiced on the Wells Fargo Center floor, and visited colleges such as Villanova, St. Joseph’s, and West Chester University. He believes that these off the court experiences help bring the team together and give them some great memories. He has also used his Philadelphia connections to bring some highly successful coaches into Morris Catholic to work with the players. They include Barry Brodzinski (Internationally Renowned Shooting Instructor), Jim Casciano (Current Men’s Coach at Johnson & Wales), and Jim Rullo (Current Men’s Coach at Neumann University).
Coach Grande played college basketball at Drexel and West Chester after years of playing throughout various leagues and at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. After graduating from West Chester, he earned a Master's Degree in Marketing from Widener University. In total, Coach Grande has been coaching basketball at various levels (grade school through Division 1) for over 30 years including stops at NJIT and Oratory Prep most recently. Off the court, he is the President of Vitusa Products, Inc. of Berkeley Heights and the co-founder of Cherished Creations- a 501-C3 charity aimed at improving the lives of underprivileged and seriously ill children. He and wife have been married for over 40 years and live in Millington, NJ where their three children bring all eight grandchildren to visit regularly.
Coach Grande played college basketball at Drexel and West Chester after years of playing throughout various leagues and at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. After graduating from West Chester, he earned a Master's Degree in Marketing from Widener University. In total, Coach Grande has been coaching basketball at various levels (grade school through Division 1) for over 30 years including stops at NJIT and Oratory Prep most recently. Off the court, he is the President of Vitusa Products, Inc. of Berkeley Heights and the co-founder of Cherished Creations- a 501-C3 charity aimed at improving the lives of underprivileged and seriously ill children. He and wife have been married for over 40 years and live in Millington, NJ where their three children bring all eight grandchildren to visit regularly.
Rob Hall, Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach Hall has been a coach with the boys program at Morris Catholic for 13 years. During his 20 years as a coach at the youth and high school levels, he has coached football, basketball, and baseball for various programs. He holds his fulltime job as VP of Operations for Medcare Health. His wife and their three children have all graduated from Morris Catholic.
Nick Berg, Assistant Varsity Coach
Nick Berg, Assistant Varsity Coach
Entering his 10th season with the boys program, Coach Berg has spent time as the Freshmen Coach and the JV Coach at MC. He handles stats and reporting for each Varsity game as well as coordination of video through Hudl. He ran Cross Country and played basketball and baseball at Morris Catholic from 2001-2005. After graduating from The Catholic University of America in 2009, he began working as a Mechanical Engineer at the US Army Armaments Center at Picatinny Arsenal. He and his wife are both Morris Catholic graduates and reside in Allamuchy Township.
Mark Griff, JV Coach
Carmine Verducci, Freshmen Coach
Coaching Staff
Mr. David Grande
Boys Basketball Varsity Head Coach
Mr. Rob Hall
Basketball Assistant Varsity Coach