Long Island, New York, is home to some exciting basketball. When you think of New York, you think of the Mecca of Basketball. Basketball is engrained into the state’s fabric, and Long Island is a proud part of that.
New Hyde Park Memorial High School just finished a very successful season. They made history and won their Conference Champion. They finished with a record of 12-8 (9-3 in conference) and made the playoffs for the first time in twenty years. A key piece in New Hyde Park’s success was senior Isaiah Lariosa.
The point guard began his high school career on junior varsity before becoming a three-year varsity athlete, but his basketball journey began because of family.
“I started playing basketball because of my older sisters. I wanted to be just like them,” Lariosa said. His sisters, Imani and Nia, both played in high school and college. Isaiah began playing in seventh grade and immediately fell in love with the game.
His sisters were role models. Imani played at Division III SUNY Old Westbury, and Nia currently plays at Division II Nyack College. “I want to follow in their footsteps and play at a higher level,” he said.
The 6-foot-2 point guard likes to run in transition and get his teammates involved. He’s worked on his ability to drive past defenders and his shooting. Isaiah can play off the ball with his size, and while he is a pass-first point guard, he can shoot. He’s got a strong IQ for the game and great character. Isaiah is a leader on and off the court.
New Hyde Park’s players had to adjust at the start of the season with a new coach, but they quickly bought into his fast-paced style, which fits Lariosa’s game. Lariosa spoke about the teams’ defensive pressure (pressing and trapping), making things uncomfortable for their opponents. Their relentless defense and hard work helped them secure first place in Long Island’s Section 8 A-1. The team fell short in the playoffs, but it was a memorable run for Lariosa and his teammates. Lariosa was rewarded for his outstanding season and named Most Valuable Player.
While his high school career ended, his AAU team, HoopDreams, is set to begin in the upcoming weeks. The team will be traveling the Northeast, and Lariosa will have the opportunity to showcase his talents in front of college coaches. His coach is someone he’s trained with for most of his basketball career, so he knows what is expected from him this upcoming AAU season. The AAU season will run through the summer, so Isaiah will have plenty of opportunities to show he belongs.
Off the court, the point guard is dedicated to his studies. He is on track to graduate high school with about 30 college credits. Lariosa is part of the Future Business Leaders of America and was chosen to be part of the Academy of Finance at his school. He plans to study accounting next fall.
Lariosa has aspirations to play basketball at the next level. The Long Island native has sent his highlights to Nyack College, Adelphi University, and Molloy College.
While he is open-minded about where he will take his talents next, Lariosa is ready to prove he has what it takes to college coaches.
Join The Next Prospect
Want to stay up to date on the latest stories in basketball? Join our mailing list today to keep up with our new releases. Have an interesting story you would like to share? Contact our team today to get started.
