By Joseph Staszewski
The expectations around Kollyns Scarbrough were heightened entering her final summer of travel basketball before her senior year at Christ the King.
Last year around this time, Scarbrough was making a name for herself among college coaches after being generally unknown up until that point. This time around, the 5-foot-11 wing, who previously played with the NYC Warriors, needed to solidify herself as a Division I prospect.
Scarbrough ended the live period playing for Coach Tom Catalanotto and the NYC Bulldogs and the New York Gauchos with interest from Hofstra, Sacred Heart, Cornell, Albany, Iona, Boston College, Manhattan, Drexel, Marist and James Madison. Scarbrough is looking forward to finishing the recruiting process and finding her next home.
“It’s getting exciting now,” she said. “It’s getting time to actually narrow the list down. I’m excited to start seeing schools and go on visits. It’s kind of overwhelming.”
Scarbrough doesn’t have a scholarship offer yet, but is planning visits to Hofstra, Cornell and Albany. She wants to trim down her list by September and reach a decision in the early months of the school season.
She embraced the increased role and opportunities that came with playing with Catalanotto. Scarbrough was one of the oldest and most accomplished players on the team and had to become more of a vocal leader. Catalanotto raved about her ability to be a second coach on the floor.
“She just understands the game,” he said. “She is always talking to the kids on the court. She comes back to the huddle and she tells me what’s going on.”
What has also happened is Scarbrough is rounding out her game. She has improved her mid-range jumper, free throw shooting and ball handling in preparation of playing a small forward in college. Catalanotto gave her freedom on the offensive end that helped make her a consistent double-digit scorer.
“He let me push the ball up more,” she said. “I was able to stop and run some plays like a guard would.
The athletic Scarbrough, who plays power forward for the Royals, is a tremendous rebounder and scorer in the paint. The All-Queens First Team selection by TimesLedger Newspapers tallied 19 points and 15 rebounds in a win over eventual state Federation champion Bishop Ford late in the year. Catalanotto saw similar things this summer.
“She was able to take a post player out midrange and knock down some shots,” he said. “She is very accurate around the rim on a put back.”
Scarbrough is looking forward to showing off her improved skills with a Christ the King team that will be one of the favorites to win the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I title before leaving the comfort zone of high school. She is looking forward to the month ahead and finding the right college.
“Next year I’m going to be in the real world,” Scarbrough said. “It’s scary and exciting at the same time.”
