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Chip Reitano always keeps his cell phone nearby.
At any moment, one of his Neumann-Goretti girls’ basketball players could call with a request to open the school gym.
Last summer, Alison Nelson was one of those players, calling morning and night to get into the gym for some practice. Luckily, the calls usually came later in the morning or early afternoon.
"It didn’t matter [what time Nelson called]," Reitano said. "These kids know all they have to do is pick up the phone and I am there for them."
In Nelson’s case, those endless hours in the gym earned her a spot in the Saints’ varsity lineup. This is the same athlete who spent a majority of her freshman season watching from the bench.
"It’s very exciting," said the 5-foot-9 Nelson, who has started all 11 games for the Saints. "It’s a lot different. It’s fun being able to experience varsity basketball."
Nelson, of Second and Greenwich streets, entered the week averaging 6.5 points per game.
The guard-forward said she still finds it hard to believe she is a varsity starter.
"I don’t think it has clicked in yet," she said. "There are times where I don’t think it’s real. I don’t know if it’s just for now or I am just dreaming."
The crash course in varsity ball included starting three games at last month’s Crescent Bank Holiday Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
"It was hard moving up so fast," the 15-year-old said. "It was a big change. I had to adjust quickly. I am working harder because I want to stay in the starting lineup."
Cracking the Saints starting lineup isn’t easy. Seniors Shante Cummings and Jimerea Lee are Division I scholarship athletes heading to the University of Central Florida and juniors Gloria Brown and Jasmine Daniels are both getting some early college attention.
Nelson’s starting role is a result of her dedication.
"Most of it was her doing," Reitano said. "She spent the summer playing AAU basketball [with the Philadelphia Comets] and working hard all the time. She is putting in the time because she wants to play on the next level and doesn’t want to wait until she is a senior [to get noticed]."
NELSON SAID HER veteran teammates are helping to make her a better player. If she is doing something wrong in practice, they’ll point it out. The athlete knows she is going to experience her share of growing pains, as there is a big jump from junior varsity – where she got a majority of her minutes last season – to varsity.
Prior to her freshman year, Nelson’s only playing experience was in recreational leagues at EOM, Front and Moore streets, and the Catholic Youth Organization.
"I am just a beginner learning how to be a better player," she said.
Offensively, Nelson’s game is still a work in progress. There have been games like last month’s win over Springside, where she finished with 15 points, and others like last week’s victory over West Catholic when she tallied just two points. Reitano said if Nelson is having a bad game offensively, she still plays great defensively.
"That’s the sign of a good player, when you stay focused and pick up your game on the other end," he said.
Nelson is a lot more confident this year, Reitano said. In December 2004 the Saints traveled to Fort Lauderdale for a holiday tournament, the then-freshman made the trip as a team manager and filmed every game. Reitano quickly took note of how Nelson wanted to be part of the team and he added the rookie to the varsity roster.
"She is genuinely appreciative of getting the opportunity to dress varsity," Reitano said. "For Alison, it’s an honor to be on her varsity high school team. She made the commitment and her confidence grew."
Nelson thinks her Saints have what it takes to win their first Catholic League title since 1978, when they were known as the Goretti Lambs. In March, Neumann-Goretti ended its 19-year postseason drought. They lost to eventual champs Cardinal O’Hara in the first round, but, this time around, nothing less than a championship will do.
"We have great shooters, great defense and a great center [Brown]," Nelson said. "All we need is heart and we’ll go all the way. I definitely think we have a better chance of going all the way."
Unlike some of her teammates, Nelson still has three years to win a Catholic league title. While traveling down that Catholic League title road, she is hoping college coaches take note, as she dreams of playing Division I ball at Villanova.
Reitano said he sees a bright future for Nelson.
"She is a good player and is just going to get better," he said. "She has so much potential. Alison hasn’t even touched the surface as to how good she can be."
