City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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(Ed. Note: This story is part of CoBL’s “Prepping for Preps” series, which will take a look at many of the top high school programs in the region as part of our 2023-24 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

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Vince Mostardi knows that many eyes aren’t going to be on Rustin entering the season.

Not in the deep Ches-Mont, where several district 6A powerhouses reside. Not in 5A, where last year’s runner-up Unionville — another Ches-Mont squad — returns the bulk of its core. Maybe not even in West Chester, considering the preseason hype that West Chester Henderson’s built up. 

“I think a lot of people are going to count us out just because we had four seniors that played last year and played a ton,” he said, “but the expectation for us is the same that we’re going back to play in the Ches-Mont playoffs and we’re going to be in the mix for a district title again. 

“That’s the type of confidence that we have and that I have going into my third year — I feel a lot more confident than I did going into my last two years.”

Bayard Rustin High School, opened in 2006 as the third school in the West Chester Area School District, only had one boys’ basketball coach in its history until Keith Cochran stepped aside two years back. Mostardi, who played at Archbishop Carroll and Penn State-Brandywine, has kept the Golden Knights competitive in his first couple seasons, going 11-12 (6-4 Ches-Mont American) in 2021-22 and 13-15 (8-2) last year.

Mostardi’s squad got better as last season went on, performing well in the division and earning the No. 12 seed in the District 1 5A tournament. They pulled off one of the postseason’s bigger upsets, toppling No. 4 West Chester East — led by Cochran’s son, K.J. — to earn a semifinal game against eventual champ Radnor. That also clinched them a berth in the state tournament, though Archbishop Ryan ended that run in the first round.

Mostardi has a lot to replace from that group, including senior guard Ian Schlesinger — who poured in 23 points in the win over East — as well as Tyler Giunta, who’s on the roster at Immaculata, plus Matt Nochumson, Sam Sproull and Jake Crispino from last year’s rotation. The only starter back is junior guard Chase Hatton, though the standout football player wasn’t able to do much on the hardwood before Rustin’s gridiron season ended in late November.

“It’s a lot of new guys,” Mostardi said. “Time will tell, it’s one of those things. [...] I learned that we’ve got some guys that are really looking to fill the roles of those seniors from last year.”

Senior wing Ryan Jaross (6-2) forward Chaz Davis (6-7) and junior guard Ben Malley (5-10) all return from last year’s varsity roster.

“The leadership role really jumped on me quickly,” senior wing Ryan Jaross said. “I had to work quickly, getting the guys together, finding that culture, that camaraderie [...] I feel like I learned a lot from the seniors last year, they just taught me a bunch of lessons, which has really helped me.”

Senior wing Travis Bargo (6-5) and senior Danny Batchelor (6-1) are expected to be in the rotation after coming up from the JV roster; senior guard Drew Petty (5-10), who played as a sophmore but not last season, is also expected to vie for minutes. The Golden Knights also added a transfer from Malvern Prep, junior Vincent Iacone, a muscular 5-11 guard and shooter who’s going to be in the mix for a starting spot. 

The development of Davis (above, left), a lanky post with good length, is critical in a Ches-Mont that’s full of size. Downingtown West (Zeke Staz), Coatesville (Larry Brown) and Henderson (Nelson Lamizana) all have quality 6-7 or 6-8 forwards up front, and an otherwise-undersized Rustin squad would have some real trouble in the post with all of them. Now they at least have someone who can look them in the eye and defend the rim.

“It’s huge, because we can work the ball in and out, especially with the shooting that we have this year, I feel like Chaz will be a big presence,” Jaross said. “Offensive rebounding, that’s where we lack a little, and he can really, really help with that.”

The Knights will be tested early, with a visit from Downingtown West on Dec. 5 and trip to Sun Valley a week later; visits from Unionville and Phoenixville will be additional tests before the calendar year even hits 2024. 

Just how quickly they can gel, with several football players having to re-acclimated to hoops season, is critical towards getting off to a good start. But just like last year, Rustin knows a strong close makes an even bigger difference. 

“I think our biggest key is how we’re going to defend and rebound the ball,” Mostardi said. “I think if we can put that together on the defensive end, we’ll be successful.”