Alanzo Frink Blossomed into A Huge Option Down Low for St. Joe’s
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| St. Joseph’s Alanzo Frink contests an inbounds pass against South Brunswick in the 2016 GMCT Boys Championship at Kean University on February 25th. Frink, who earned tourney MVP honors with 25 points in this game, was selected GMC Hoops Sophomore of the Year. |
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–Early on in the 2015-16 season, the St. Joseph’s Falcons were figuring things out. There were obviously great pieces there with the likes of top returnees Bree Tyree and Branislav Vujadinovic and the additions of Tyus Battle, and his younger brother Khalif, but perhaps the biggest prize not only for this season, but also for the next couple years to come, lay down low with sophomore transfer Alanzo Frink.
Over the first month and a half of the season, St. Joseph’s did manage to play well despite still sorting things out. Battle was putting up solid numbers while Tyree turned in a solid stretch of games from the middle of January into February. Meanwhile, Frink the younger brother of former St. Anthony’s standout, and current star at LIU-Brooklyn, was putting up good numbers. In his first 12 games, he totaled 111 points, or an average of 9.25 points per contest.
However, over the last 16 games of the season, Frink became more of a fixture in the Falcon offense, and became a key third option, which helped ease the load somewhat on Battle and Tyree while also opening things up more offensively. Of those last 16 games, Frink scored in double figures 12 times including a 25 point performance in the GMCT Boys Championship against South Brunswick (56-48 win) that helped him garner tourney MVP honors, and a 31 point effort in the 98-69 victory over Notre Dame in the Non-Public A South Semifinals.
His development over the course of the season, and his emerge as the new star at St. Joseph’s helped him become the 2016 GMC Hoops Sophomore of the Year. For the season, Frink tallied 126 field goals, 6 threes including one memorable trey at the end of the third quarter against St. Augustine’s in the Non-Public A South Championship, and 67 free throws for 335 points, or 12 points per game. Frink also averaged 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game according to NJ.com. In 28 games played, Frink scored in double figures 18 times including the final eight games of the season.
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| St. Joseph’s big man, Alanzo Frink, showed some versatility at the right time with this three pointer at the end of the third against St. Augustine’s in the Non-Public A South Championship on March 10th |
In the 2016 Greater Middlesex Conference Boys Tournament, Frink averaged 17.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Then, in the Non-Public A South State Tournament, he continued to play well by averaging 22.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per contest. Frink along with Khalif Battle and a talented group of juniors that includes Letrell West, Xavier Townes, Malachi Walker, Mike Granda, and Dexter Jackson will all be back next season to lead St. Joseph’s not only back to the top of the GMC, but also Non-Public A as well.
2016 GMC Hoops All Sophomore Team
First Team
- Alanzo Frink–St. Joseph’s*
- Rob Saydee–Timothy Christian
- Kristian Chapman–Colonia
- Alex Santiago–Bishop Ahr
- Matt Hoyt–Monroe
- Luke Patel–Monroe
Second Team
- Jake Robel–Middlesex
- Branden Barnes–Piscataway Tech
- Joe Sampson–East Brunswick
- Curtis Nesbit–Woodbridge
- Kemari Persol–Woodbridge
- Frank Lehman–Colonia
- Jordan Davidson–Piscataway
Third Team
- Riley Watkins–Metuchen
- Mattias Arrindell–Piscataway
- Derek Astarita–Sayreville
- Naafi Powell–Carteret
- Haaziq Daniels–Edison
- Tyler Ha–Middlesex
- Vinnie Guardiola–Spotswood