West Hempstead's rise continues

The magical rise of the West Hempstead boys’ basketball program under second-year head coach Eric Rubin continued last Friday with a crucial down-to-the-final minute victory over Locust Valley, 68-64.
Behind 27 points from Anthony Graffeo-Jackson, West Hempstead moved its record to 12-4 and could clinch its first conference crown in recent memory if the Rams beat Carle Place Thursday. 
That’s an extraordinary feat considering West Hempstead’s recent history. The prior three years before Rubin took over, West Hempstead had a combined record of 2-43. Last season, in Rubin’s rookie year at the helm, it went 8-12 and made the playoffs after taking over a 1-17 squad. 
This season is grander - armed with a 7-3 conference record and vying for the Conference ABC 8 crown. 
“The kids we brought back, I raised expectations for them,” Rubin said. “They have met those expectations. Prior, they didn’t expect to play well or win. Now we’re going to games thinking we can win rather than hoping not to lose as it was before.’’ 

Graffeo-Jackson, a senior, has seen the bad times and relishes the good times. 
“It’s something that hasn’t happened in a while in our history,’’ he said. “To make a mark for West Hempstead is a big thing, to win the conference championship.’’ 
Asked about Coach Rubin’s effect on winning, Graffeo-Jackson said, “He makes us more disciplined and to play more as a team. The couple of years before, we were struggling with that. And now he has the talent to deal with and he’s getting the best out of us.’’
The 6-foot-3 senior forward scored 14 points more than his averaging in the Locust Valley win, lighting up in the third quarter and picking up the slack when 6-4 standout Isaiah Brunt got in foul trouble. Jackson scored on the fastbreak as point guard Chris Young was finding him for baskets. 
Young is another keystone piece as chief playmaker. He’s averaging 7 assists per game – an extraordinary high number for high-school basketball.  
“The best passer I’ve ever coached in my 20-plus years,’’ said Rubin, who previously coached at MacArthur for 14 seasons. 
West Hempstead has a formidable backcourt with Young paired with Evan Wilson, a shooting guard who went 12 for 12 from the free-throw line in scoring 19 points vs. Locust Valley.
The biggest free throw, however, was hit by foul-plagued Brunt, who averages 16.9 points a game. It was a 2-point game with 30 seconds left when Brunt nailed the free-throws that gave West Hempstead an insurmountable 4-point lead. 
West Hempstead also returned to the lineup after a month’s absence Gavin Lee, an elite defender. “We’re a different defensive team when he’s on the floor,’’ Rubin said. 
The team will miss sophomore Jonathon Houston, out for the season with a broken hand. Whether the Rams win the conference or not, they will be either the 1 or 2 seed in the Class B playoffs.  
“Our athleticism is our big strength,’’ Rubin said. “When we struggle, we force shots. When we play together and unselfishly, we’re a tough team and should do well.’’