There was a noticeable void on the
St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) bench at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., two weeks ago.
Gone was head coach Kevin Boyle, the architect of five NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title teams and largely responsible for turning the tiny, private school into a national power.
Kevin Boyle
File photo by Louis Lopez
He's also the focal point of "Celtic Pride" by Brian Fitzsimmons, which chronicles St. Patrick's 2010-11 season – one that included a run as the top-ranked high school team in the United States.
Released in November, the book gives a historical account of how Boyle elevated the program with players like Derrick Caracter, Samuel Dalembert, Corey Fisher, Al Harrington, Shaheen Holloway, Kyrie Irving, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Mike Nardi and Dexter Strickland.
Fitzsimmons fleshes out the relationship between Boyle and St. Patrick and legendary
St. Anthony (Jersey City) head coach Bob Hurley. The author couldn't have scripted a more dramatic culmination as the unbeaten rivals meet in the postseason while holding down the top two spots in the national rankings.
Boyle left St. Patrick for
Montverde Academy (Fla.) following the season, ending a 23-year run at the school. His new program is 16-3 this year and won the Kingdom of the Sun Holiday Classic in December.
St. Patrick is in a state of transition under new head coach Chris Chavannes and a new-look roster. The Celtics are 7-5 but could be back in the Tournament of Champions title hunt with a young squad that includes standout junior wings
Jared Nickens and
DeAndre Bembry.
Fitzsimmons can be found on Twitter
@FitzWriter. The book is available on Amazon and other online book sellers.
