Brian Daniels — Emerging Basketball Star

Name, Age: Brian Daniels, 16

School:

Accomplishment: A Briarcliff transplant, Daniels has excelled both academically and athletically at the school.

Key to Awesomeness:

Basketball has helped sophomore Brian Daniels develop and mature as an individual on and off the court.

“Brian is a great kid maturing into a wonderful young man,”  Head Coach Matt Evangelista, who teaches history at Daniels' former high school, Walter Panas wrote in an email. “He is growing up both on and off the court."

“He has really blossomed at Briarcliff,” he said of the 16-year-old. “His grades have improved and he has been a model citizen at school, basketball and life. Many people have worked with Brian and I know that he is so thankful for each person’s time and effort.”

While one would think basketball has helped Daniels succeed in other aspects of life, the standout 6'4 athlete has managed to exceed expectations in the post-season.

“His grades are better already,” Paul Zeidan, Daniels' student advocate, said.

Some may remember Daniels from last year’s Walter Panas varsity squad. This year the developing sophomore made the switch to Briarcliff’s program, where the advanced special education program has also proved to be more suitable to Daniels needs.

Zeidan, who is also a Briarcliff English and resource room teacher, initiated the current six-year old CASSTLE (Collaborative Academics and Social Success in a Therapeutic Learning Environment) program that caters to students with special needs; a program available only at Briarcliff and unlike any other at other schools’ in the state.

Daniels first picked up a basketball in the seventh grade thanks to the companionship and encouragement of friend Vaughn Dweck–who currently plays at Panas and saw potential in Daniels' height.

The pair played together on the tri-county basketball team at St. Columbanus Church in the eighth grade, along with participating on the Panas junior varsity team, until varsity freshmen year last season–which has led up to this past season.

“He really carried us in a few games this year,” Evangelista said of Daniels 20 points and 12 rebound performance at Croton (Feb. 9), and 20 point 14 point performance at Port Chester (Dec. 7).

“He really played really very well in nearly all of our games,” he said, including the . “He is an excellent scorer around the basket and is improving on his footwork around there."

Evangelista said Daniels continues to improve on his game further away from the basket as well.

“His mid-range jump shot is becoming a weapon and he is much better while facing the basket,” he said.

Daniels has even impressed himself according to Evangelista.

“Brian is such a physically gifted young man that he is literally able to do things one that he didn’t know he could do the day before,” he said.

The student athlete credits basketball’s atmosphere to his success.

Daniels enjoys everything from the fans, “I like playing in places that are loud,” he revealed.

The adrenaline from a packed house on any given night has also helped the evolving star work harder.

“Brian’s work ethic is also improving,” Evangelista said. “He understands that in order to keep improving he will need to keep working on his game.”

The college level is also a possibility for Daniels.

“I think that if he is in the right situation that he has the possibility of becoming a high level college player,” the educator said.

In the short-term, Daniels will be relied upon to take over for graduating senior and All-Section payer and offensive star Tim Blair.

“The experience that [Daniels] gained over the last two years playing varsity will really pay dividends for him as he moves forward in his career,” Evangelista said. 

Do you know a kid, teen or group who has raised money for charity, scored the winning goal at the big game or regularly helps out in the community? We want to hear about it! Send your nominations for individuals, teams or groups of kids to sarah.studley@patch.com and they could be featured in an upcoming Whiz Kid column.