Buzz, Latest
NEXT OF KIN
Published by Petar Djuric on November 30, 2009
For years, the sight of Nazareth Long dribbling down court calling the play, while small forward Juwan Brescacin comes of a screen. And as the pass comes to Juwan from Naz’ the fans watching know the result. It’ll be just like every other time they’ve seen it over the past six years they’ve been playing together. Swoosh! A slow back-peddle before the ball fully enters the hoop, they both acknowledge each other and get back on defense.
by: Big Shot Images
They have been playing with each other ever since they realized basketball chose them. If you ask the people who know them best, they would all tell you the same thing: they are practically brothers. “They are inseparable” Juwan’s mother, Diana Brescacin, tells me. “Juwan has always spoken highly of Naz’ and when I finally met him, it was obvious that their friendship went beyond what I had known. They would even finish each others sentences.” Mrs. Brescacin says with a sense of pride in her voice, like they are both her sons. Their AAU coach Tony McIntyre agrees that their friendship is as close as brothers and their game’s just as close in passion. McIntyre, who has been their coach and close basketball mentor for the past three years says he has seen their respective games improve incredibly. The two first played together three years ago on the Mississauga Wolverines, a local OBA team in the city that both boys grew up in. Coach McIntyre brought the boys in to play on his AAU team, Team Takeover Canada, and noticed their talents early. Naz’, as he prefers to be called, is your typical hard-nosed point guard. At 6-foot- 3 180 pounds, he can handle the ball with such ease and can blow past defenders on cue. An unselfish player, Naz’ shows his complete game by adding just as many assists as points in most games. Juwan on the other hand is a 6-foot-6 210 pound natural scorer with a pure jump shot, the taller Juwan is more of a threat either under the basket putting shots back or on the wing ending your day early with his jumper. The type of player coach McIntyre says, “You build a team around.”
This upcoming basketball season will mark the first time in three years the two boys won’t be playing together. Both boys have transferred to prep schools in the states, Nazareth to the widely known Montrose Christian School in Maryland, and Juwan to Culver Academy in Indiana. Nazareth joins a powerful Montrose team, and with hard work has cracked the starting line up. “When it comes to crafting his skill, Naz is one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever seen.” says McIntyre. Meanwhile Juwan has come into his own at Culver Academy and while currently holding down the starting shooting guard spot on his varsity team, Juwan also plays wide receiver on the school’s football team and was named best wide reciever in Northern Indiana. While coach McIntyre mentioned their efforts on the court, he wasn’t about the let their hard work off the court go unnoticed. “Both kids are very dedicated to their academics and give just as much effort to their books as they do on the court.” Juwan is currently on the dean’s honour roll list at Culver, while Naz’ keeps a high grade point average.
Playing basketball without each other to lean on is something both boys are going to have to get used to, but the ultimate goal of scoring a scholarship is the key goal that keeps them driven. They both have heavy interest from top programs all over the country. Juwan (2012 class) is being heavily recruited by Indiana and has programs like Providence, Illinois State, and East Carolina also interested in him. While Nazareth (2012 class) is on many top program’s radars, and after a successful season hopes to see offers pour in. Although they won’t be playing together this year, they soon hope to meet back up at the top. The tag team of “brothers” once known to dominate the courts in Toronto has taken their respective games down south in separate locations in hopes to gain more exposure. ”When they get back for Christmas break, they’ll pick up right where they left off.” Diana adds.
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