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02/14/2018 11:00 PMEddy Popolizio earned a starting spot when he made his debut as a varsity basketball player at East Haven High School last year. However, Eddy felt that he could play much better in his senior year, and so he worked hard throughout the offseason to help make that goal come to fruition. Now a senior, Eddy is having a big sendoff season as he’s averaging 22 points per game for the Yellowjackets.
Standing at 6-foot-3, Eddy plays center for East Haven and says that he does his best work on the offensive end when he’s given space in the post.
“We have a play—power—which means we clear the right side and give me the ball in the post,” says Eddy. “I can face up, spin, dribble, or cross. I can really create some movement for our team.”
Eddy also has the ability to play well on the perimeter, but no matter what part of the floor he’s shooting the ball from, Eddy has been lights out this season. He’s hit 57 percent of his field goals, including 60 percent from beyond the arc, to go with an 80-percent clip at the free-throw line.
Yellowjackets’ Head Coach Ricky Narracci says that Eddy just has an uncanny ability to score. He credits Eddy for making plenty of progress as a result of a ton of offseason effort.
“This spring, he worked out with a personal trainer not on basketball specific stuff, but worked on his lower body for quickness and speed. He’s just a completely different player from last year to this year. From all the years I’ve been coaching, this is the most proud I’ve been of someone from where they started to where they ended up,” says Narracci. “He really took a lot of the coaches in the league by surprise. I don’t think anybody knew his name last year, and they certainly know his name this year.”
As a result of improving his physical fitness by working with a trainer, Eddy additionally received a big boost of mental strength on the court. He believes this is why he’s performing so well for the Easties this season.
“I went three times per week and gained 25 pounds by the time the season started. I felt like I was in a whole new body. It was truly incredible,” says Eddy. “The difference was very sudden, and I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly. As a junior, I averaged 11 points and felt useless to my team. I felt I was letting my friends down. But this year, I have more confidence in myself and, when I have the ball, I know I’m going to score. That’s my mindset, and now I play a bigger role for my teammates.”
Eddy is also one of East Haven’s captains, and it’s a role that he truly enjoys. Eddy knew he was taking on a lot of responsibility as a leader for the Yellowjackets, but he welcomed it with open arms, and likes working alongside his fellow captain.
“It definitely meant a lot. Me and Ryan Spano are captains, and I think we work well together and make sure everyone else works together. I was happy, because I know how hard I worked for it,” says Eddy. “Being named captain means you have to show leadership, but also allow others to be leaders. You need to allow them to step up since they have to take control next season.”
Eddy says he’d like to play basketball at the next level if he gets the opportunity. Nothing is set in stone as of yet, but Eddy wants to continue riding the momentum that he’s generated throughout his great senior season at East Haven.
“I would like to play. I talked to Coach Narracci about it and we’re going to see where it takes me,” says Eddy. “I’ve heard from people that I can play. I have the potential, so after hearing that, I think I should pursue it.”