James Sorrentine '08, a standout player for Saint Michael's College the last four years, will serve as the program's part-time second assistant coach in 2008-09.

"I am very excited to work with James this upcoming season, as he is fully aware and committed to the student-athlete experience here at Saint Michael's," said head coach Tom O'Shea. "He will bring great energy and passion to his work with our student-athletes."

Sorrentine completed a stellar four-year playing career in February. He is the program's all-time leader in career 3-pointers with 340, including a single-season record of 97 as a freshman in 2004-05. Sorrentine also holds the program record with 10 3-pointers in a game, set against Pace University on Dec. 10, 2005. He currently ranks 14th on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,433 points.

Sorrentine has close family ties to coaching, as his father, Tom, was a long-time coach at Saint Raphael Academy in Rhode Island, and his brother, former University of Vermont standout T.J. Sorrentine, recently accepted an assistant coaching job at Brown University.

"James just completed an outstanding career for us, and is someone who has coaching in his blood," said O'Shea. "He is one of the hardest workers that I have ever coached."

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Pump up the jam

The Cieplicki family has longstanding ties with both the University of Vermont and St. Michael’s. Sam’s brother Kyle Cieplicki, a senior, was on the men’s basketball team at UVM until they lost on Sunday, ending their season. His uncle, Bernie Cieplicki, works as the coordinator of athletics at St. Michael's, recruiting and facilities.

Sam Cieplicki has been on the courts for most of his life and while he first shied away from his brother’s path of basketball, as time went on, he began to find his own love for the game, he says.

“I think at first, I was wanting to do my own thing and be my own person, but over the years, especially the last couple of years, [Kyle] has really taught me the importance of work ethic--especially with my game,” Sam says.

Sam Cieplicki plays guard on the men's basketball team at New Hampton School.. (Photo courtesy of Sam Cieplicki)

Having been away at NHS, Sam Cieplicki has developed as a player and a student, but is missing his home in Vermont, he says.

“I really want to get back to Vermont to play basketball,” he says, “I feel really comfortable there. I’ve been around [St. Michael’s] for many years.”

While Sam was never planning to attend UVM for basketball, his decision to attend St. Michael’s was an easy one, he says.

“St. Michael’s was what I was looking for; I was definitely happy with the opportunity to go there,” he says.

Sam anticipates being able to apply the skills he learned while playing against strong competitors at NHS, to his game at St. Michael’s.  Practice does make perfect, and he is ready to put that practice into play upon arriving in the fall, he says.

He describes himself as a devoted player willing to challenge himself on and off the court.

“I’m a really hard worker, especially in the classroom,” Sam says. “I’m motivated to do the best I can, that attitude translates onto the court, I always want to do my best.”

The Cieplicki dynasty

Sam’s teammates and coaches are happy that he has decided what’s best for him.

The college process can be a difficult one, but everyone involved wanted him to make the right choice as a player and student, he says.  While the first time at college can be intimidating for any first-year student, Sam Cieplicki has the training from New Hampton to guide him through the beginning weeks, he says.

St. Michael’s men’s basketball coach Tom O’Shea has known the Cieplicki family since he started working for the college in the summer of 1989, he says.

The 2007-2008 St. Michael's men's basketball team. (Photo courtesy of Seth Cole)

The Cieplicki family has played for St. Michael’s legend Doc Jacobs, O’Shea says.  Doc Jacobs was the first athletic director at St. Michael’s known for putting the athletic program on the map, he says.

Sam Cieplicki will be the first in his family in many years to play for St. Michael’s.  O’Shea tried recruiting his brother Kyle to be a Purple Knight before he made the decision to join the team at UVM, he says.

“Sam’s a good shooter, and he has a great feel for the game,” O'Shea says.

Zaf Bludevich, senior associate athletics director at St. Michael’s is excited at the prospect of having another Cieplicki become a Purple Knight as well, he says.

“It’s always great to have local kids because it brings media attention [to the school],” he says.

The Cieplickis have family ties that extend through the St. Michael’s and UVM communities in the basketball realm.  Sam’s father played basketball at St. Michael’s for two years before completing his college career at St. Lawrence, Bernie says. Bernie played for the UVM team and coached men’s basketball at St. Michael’s on and off since 1997.

“Whatever Sam does here, as long as he works hard no matter what happens, he will do the Cieplicki legacy proud,” Bernie says.

Knight of the basketball court

Kyle is thrilled that Sam has made the decision to attend St. Michael’s, he says.

“I think it’s a good decision for him, basketball-wise and academically,” Kyle says.  “We have a lot of history with St. Michael’s and I think it’s great that he decided to go there.”

Sam Cieplicki shoots a free throw on the court. (Photo courtesy of Sam Cieplicki)

While the Cieplicki family does have a longstanding history with both schools, Kyle is excited for his brother to make a name for himself at St. Michael’s, he says.

Kyle has faith that his brother will continue to improve as a player, he says.

“The key is just to keep improving, and I think Sam has a really good work ethic and he will continue to do that wherever he is,” Kyle says.

Perhaps the reality that the brothers will not be playing together at the college level is bittersweet, but everyone seems happy that Sam is going to do what makes him happy, and become a Purple Knight, Kyle says.

Everyone who knows about Sam’s decision to join the basketball team at St. Michael’s is excited at the prospect of having another generation of the Cieplicki family to join the Purple Knight’s community, as both player and student, Bernie says.
 
The determination that carried his family through many generations of basketball stars in Vermont will set the standards high for Sam; the challenge doesn’t seem to worry him, Sam says. He looks forward to making his own mark, he adds.