NORWICH —The Norwich Free Academy boys basketball team makes an impression as soon as it enters the gym for pre-game warmups.
Javen Foster, a 6-foot-6, 215-pounder with a marble-chiseled physique, throws down dunks like an NBA player. Tyrone Cummings, a 6-2 forward whose vertical leap measures over three feet, can also dunk. Four of NFA's starters display a feathery left-handed outside shot with 3-point range.
"We're Lefty [University]," NFA coach Dave Cornish said. "I've never had so many lefty shooters, and I'm not used to that. We may have to start running offense to the left side of the court. All of our lefties can go right or left."
NFA features an impressive array of athletes, featuring three senior transfers in Foster, Cummings and Austin Cannon, a 5-10 shooting guard from Mashantucket who played at St. Thomas More last season.
Sophomore point guard Tony Williams makes the offensive go
But the player who makes the offensive go is a common-looking player with a common name - sophomore point guard Tony Williams.
Williams scored a game-high 22 points, including a 13-point personal scoring run in the second quarter with three 3-pointers, to help NFA down Fitch, 76-60, in an ECC Division I match between conference title contenders. The Wildcats are 2-0, opening with a comeback 61-55 win over Classical, a talented defending Rhode Island state finalist team from Providence.
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Williams, a 6-foot player from the Wildcat JV team last year, may have a common name, but he exhibits uncommon basketball savvy for his age.
"That's Tony Williams," Cornish said. "He's a sophomore but plays like a senior with a high basketball IQ like the greats. He pressed a bit in our opener. I took him aside before tonight and said, 'Tony, relax, just let me coach you and you'll be fine. and do as we ask.' He said he was alright and showed what he could do. That's the kind of play we expect from Tony. People don't know but Tony's a good player."
Williams has directed a balanced offense in NFA's first two games. Foster led NFA in the opener with 17 points and 12 rebounds, followed by sophomore shooting guard Nazier Rembert's 15 points, which included three 3-pointers. Cummings added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Williams tossed in 10 points himself.
In just his second varsity game, Williams played toe-to-toe with Fitch All-ECC Division I returnee, senior point guard Yaniel Hernandez (22 points).
Like in the opener, NFA trailed early against Fitch until Williams went off in the second quarter.
He also fed Foster (12 points) for his first dunk, a two-handed slam that electrified a good crowd. The other loudest cheer came when Cannon (13 points) hit a 35-foot heave just before the halftime buzzer for one of his three 3-pointers to give the Wildcats a 37-30 halftime edge.
'We play like a team'
Ranked No. 7 in the GameTimeCT state preseason poll, NFA blew the game open with an effective press in the third and fourth quarters.
On Tuesday night the Wildcats rolled pastCapital Prep, 87-60, to improve to 3-0. Cummings collected 23 points,eight rebounds, six steals and five assists, Foster and Nazier Rembert each scored 16 points, whileWilliams and Cannon chipped in 15 points apiece.
Cornish welcomes more consistency on the defensive end.
"We have a long way to go," Cornish said. "I just want energy. I've always coached that way, priding myself on defensive energy. Just turn the energy up. If you work hard good things will happen."
Foster gives NFA a low-post presence it hasn't seen in a while. Last year's center, 6-5 Max Pierre Louis was a solid rebounder and ran the court well, but Foster is a big-time shot blocker and intimidator.
Foster blocked four Fitch shots, pinning one against the backboard. He admits to getting a rise over the crowd's reactions to his leaping ability.
"When I jump, the whole crowd goes, 'Ohhh!.' Foster said. "I loved the sound of the crowd when they saw me dunk for the first time."
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Foster is enjoying his senior year at NFA. He played for Bloomfield two years ago as a sophomore.
"NFA is more like a family than other schools I've attended," Foster said. "We play like a team. Most of us at times want our own buckets, but we're like brothers out there. Plus, the education is better here. I'm excited to be here. I think we can go far. We just have to keep playing together and show up mentally."
