Long Island BBallers Excel At Football

When you think of 6'6" wing Marvin Prochet '15, 5'9" point guard Chris Atkinson '15, and 6'2" shooting guard Devonte Green '16, you think of three of the best players for Long Island Lutheran on the basketball court.

While that will never change, you also now should look at them as gridiron stars as the trio have decided together to try something new and play on the Crusaders football team this fall.

You may be surprised to hear that such talented players on the hardwood would try their hands at football, a sport none of the three have played on the high school level before, but it's something that their basketball coach says didn't come as a huge shock to him.

"They have talked about it for a while, almost jokingly it seemed, but they like being kids and wanted to go out there and do this and I supported them," Crusaders basketball coach John Buck said about their football decision.

Buck says that he feels that playing football has been a great opportunity for Green, Atkinson, and Prochet to interact with students they may not otherwise have, and he believes that seeing three of the schools biggest stars on the most popular sport in the school go out and play football also helps bring the LuHi school community together in a way.

Not shockingly after their first game, the three are proving to be quick learners on the football field. They all played when they were younger, but it's been 4-5 years since any of the three last strapped on a football helmet, but you wouldn't have been able to tell by each of their performances in the Crusaders 46-34 victory over Riverdale in the Bronx.

Atkinson, who holds many MAAC level offers in basketball, played both offense and defense. He was a Wide Receiver on offense and had 6 receptions for 154 yards and 2 TD's, while he was a Cornerback on defense and returned an interception 50 yards in the 4th quarter for a touchdown to seal the win for Long Island Lutheran.

Prochet, who holds offers from many local Division 1 basketball schools, also played both offense and defense. As a Wide Receiver he had 2 catches for 28 yards and a touchdown, while as a Defensive End he had 8 tackles, including 3 tackles for losses.

Green, a major D1 basketball recruit who is the brother of San Antonio Spurs wing Danny Green, was used primarily as a Running Back and while he didn't score a touchdown like his teammates, he had a very solid 4 carries for 39 yards on the day.

Buck, who was unable to attend the game in person as the game was in the Bronx and he was at home helping take care of his newborn son, said he wished he could've been there, but he was so excited to get the chance to watch that he made sure to be a part of the football meeting the day after the game.

"The football staff were going to watch the tape of the game the next day so I went up and watched it with them," Buck said. "I was so happy and proud of them."

He feels that playing football will actually help them on the basketball court this season, helping give them added toughness and discipline in their quest for a Class "AA" Federation Championship.

Because of football though, Prophet, Green, and Atkinson will not be participating in basketball open gyms or in preseason tournaments such as Beacon 158 or Northsport on Long Island, with Buck telling the kids that if they are going to play football, they are going to give it 100%.

"I just said if you are going to be doing this, go all in. Don't treat it like an intramural sport. Give it your all and do your best," Buck explained to them.

None may end up playing football after this season, but after a grueling stretch of basketball for each of them, with very little breaks away from the game at all, the chance for them to play football in Buck's eyes is a reminder that they are truly still just kids.

"They have played a lot of basketball, and this is a chance for them to get away for a little bit and enjoy something else. They are having a lot of fun, and I am very happy for them."