Former HHHS Athlete Kyle Latorre Making a Point at Kean

Although Hasbrouck Heights High School is known for doing well in many sports, the small school has never really been considered a basketball school.

But that might be changing.

As a freshman at Kean University, Aviators alum Kyle Latorre started in 11 of the 26 games for the Cougars and averaged 13 minutes a game. More importantly, he started the last four games of the season including the final game of the season, a loss to New Jersey City University in the New Jersey Athletic Conference semi-finals.

Heading into his freshman year he knew there were doubters out there since he came from a small school that specializes more in football. "I just used it as motivation," said Latorre.

Even he was skeptical about getting at least one start no less 11 games.

"I never thought that I would start as a freshman," said Latorre who compared college with high school hoops. "The game is faster paced and you are going up against bigger and stronger players than you are."

One of the highlights for Latorre was being named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week last February. In the 75-61 loss to New Jersey City University he compiled 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 24 minutes on the floor.

Latorre helped the Cougars ring up an 18-8 record that was the school's best mark in more than a decade. Latorre averaged 3.3 rebounds a game, second best among freshmen.

As late as his junior year at Hasbrouck Heights, basketball was not on his radar for college.
   
Going back to when he was deciding where he was going to college, he was really looking at playing football in the next level. "I didn't think that I was going to play college basketball since more schools were looking at me for football."

The incoming Kean University sophomore had several colleges including NCAA Division 1 schools in New Jersey along with Pennsylvania and New York looking at him to play football where he played defensive end and offensive tackle.

And last fall was difficult not seeing him on the football field for the first time in several years and it was a little strange to watch the football games at Kean.

Although he does not miss the grind of football. "The wear and tear was too much on the body," said Latorre.

But for Latorre, the interest of Kean and other schools in playing college switched him to the hard court. "Basketball is my first love," said Latorre.

It was in March of his senior season at Heights when he decided to head to Kean for basketball.  He knew that it was going to be tough. "When you play college sports, there are no guarantees," said Latorre.

And he knew that basketball would not be easy. "When you play college sports there are no guarantees," said Latorre. "If you work hard, you are rewarded."

For the Hasbrouck Heights graduate one of the keys that helped him in his freshman year was playing several summer league games and work before the start of the 2010-11 season. "There is a lot of grind time (summer league)," said Latorre.

And the hard work paid off as he found out that he was going to see minutes when he was one of the 14 to 15 players in a preseason game at the University of Wyoming. "He said that you’re going to start and take a flight to Wyoming," said Latorre. "It was a blast and an experience playing in front of thousands of people."

For his freshman season one of his best games came on Feb. 7 when he notched his first college double, double with 11 rebounds and 13 points in the 75-64 win over Stockton. 

In his freshman season he was more of a post up player. During the time between last season and his sophomore year, he is working on other areas than just hitting the boards.

"I am working on my shooting and being a better perimeter player and not just a center," said Latorre. "I am trying to get more confident with my outside shooting. You have to adapt by going against guys who are 6-9 and 6-10.”