A Head Above, Albano Soars Into Graduation Day

Tonight, James Albano will join the rest of his 2010 classmates as they celebrate their graduation from Ridgewood High School. Many students will be feeling sky-high thanks to their recent accomplishments, but for the 6'6''Albano the sensation figures to be nothing out of the ordinary.

During his four years on the Ridgewood hardwood Albano spent much of the time rising above the competition to become one of the most prolific scorers in school history. His senior season alone helped cement his status as an all-time great. Albano averaged close to 25 points per game while collecting first-team all league, first-team all suburban and second-team all county honors.

"I'm going to miss Ridgewood High School a lot," Albano said. "The friends I've made and the people I've met have become a big part of my life, and they can never be replaced. Over the years I've learned so much from my teammates, teachers and coaches and they have been instrumental in making me the person I am today."

Albano will now head to Allentown, PA where he will attend Muhlenberg College as he figures to once again dominate on the basketball court. The swingman possesses a rare combination of size, skill and athleticism, which has enabled him to become a multidimensional player capable of beating his opponents in a variety of ways.

This past season he was a match-up nightmare for opposing coaches as he routinely exploited the other team's weaknesses by posting the smaller players and blowing by the bigger ones. As if that wasn't enough, he also showcased a silky smooth jumper with range far beyond the three-point line.

However, as he heads to the collegiate ranks, Albano is well aware that he must continue to improve in order for him to enjoy success on the next level.

"I'd say my number one priority over the off-season is to improve my total athleticism including strength, quickness and lateral movement. I know my opponents will only continue to get bigger, faster and stronger, so I know I need to do same. I plan on being in the weight room for a minimum of three times a week while also playing a lot of basketball whether it is strictly drills or live competition."

Although being a force on the basketball court is a priority for Albano, it is not his only concern. He wants to major in business management while also expanding his knowledge in other fields, as well.

"I'm looking forward to getting in the classrooms and learning about a lot of interesting subjects whether it's philosophy, psychology, biology, sociology—you name it, I find it all very intriguing."

Albano appears to be a student both on and off the court, and it is something he stresses to the incoming freshmen who hope to follow in his footsteps.

"My advice to them is to listen to [freshman coach John] Fiochi and learn as much as you can from him. Before I met him, my game lacked intensity and purpose, but he did a great job getting me ready for the type of effort it takes to succeed on the varsity level."

As for the 2010-2011 varsity team Albano had this to say, "As young as we were last season, the team figures to be even younger this upcoming season. My advice for the older guys is to lead by example and show the underclassmen what a 120 percent effort level really looks like. Each and every individual has to step up and give his absolute best effort and if they do that there's no doubt they will be successful."

Graduation starts at 5 p.m. at the RHS Stadium.