From Cricket to Hoops: Gill Helps Pirates Soar
By SEAN BRENNAN
Special to
BIGEAST.com
Romaro Gill and basketball did not cross paths until he was a senior in high school. It was then the 7-2, 255-pound Seton Hall center decided to give basketball a shot in his final year at St. Thomas Technical High School in Jamaica.
“I played cricket for four years in high school,” Gill said. “My high school didn‘t have basketball until my final year so cricket was my thing.”
The Pirates can be thankful that there is not a crying need for 7-2 cricket players these days. But there is for a 7-2 defensive menace and the Pirates are reaping the benefits of Gill’s play this season as he is a big part of the reason Seton Hall is ranked in the AP Top 10 for the first time in two decades.
And who would have thought all this was possible when The Hall lost junior Sandro Mamukelashvili, arguably the Pirates second-best player, to a fractured wrist back in December? Who was going to fill the void left by the 6-11, 240-pounder’s absence?
Romaro Gill, that’s who.
“Losing Sandro, that was a big part of our team because he was putting up a lot of numbers when he went out,” Gill said. “So not just me, but other players, too, had to step up to fill that gap and I feel like we all took that responsibility upon ourselves and we’ve been doing it since then.”
But perhaps no one more than Gill.
In six BIG EAST conference games this season, Gill has posted double figures in scoring five times, his last five outings, actually, has blocked 22 shots and is averaging 6.5 rebounds per contest. The rebounds and block totals should not surprise, but the scoring? Where did that come from after reaching double figures in just one of the season’s first 13 games?
“That’s something I do every day in practice,” Gill said. “And after that game against Georgetown (when Gill logged 17 points, eight rebounds and four blocks) I finally realized that I can really do it in games. I just tell myself, ‘This is what I need to be doing.’” And that’s what I’ve been doing every game since.”
His latest outing was one of his finest performances to date when he put on a show at Madison Square Garden, scoring 14 points while grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking six shots in the Pirates’ 82-79 win over St. John’s. Gill said he waited a year to have that performance.
“I kind of went into that St. John’s game with a chip on my shoulder because I remember last year when we went in there and got embarrassed,” Gill said of the Pirates’ 78-70 loss to the Johnnies last February. “So I went in there with a little fire in my belly. I wanted to do whatever it took to win the game.”
Gill said some of his breakout season can be attributed to daily words of encouragement that come from his roommate, one Myles Powell.
“We both always encourage each other and he’s a cool dude,” Gill said. “Everybody knows that. So the things he’d say would boost your spirits.”
But what kind of roommate is Powell? Does he leave plates in the sink? His socks all over the floor? Is he Oscar Madison to Gill’s Felix Unger?
“No, he’s a great roommate,’ Gill said with a laugh.
Gill has become for the Pirates’ defense what Powell’s has been for their offense. A menacing presence in the paint and on the boards, his play even led Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard to dub Gill “a game changer” after his 17-point, four-rebound, three-block effort in a road win at then-No. 5 Butler last week. But as much fun as his new-found offense has become, Gill said remains a defensive menace at heart.
“Scoring is fun but what I enjoy more is blocking shots,” said Gill, who has 56 blocks on the season and ranks sixth in the nation - and tops in the BIG EAST - in blocks per game with 3.1. “If I get a chance to score, I’ll score. But I feel like I have more fun blocking shots. That’s my specialty.”
With eight straight wins heading into Wednesday night’s home encounter with Providence, the first of three straight home games for the Pirates, Seton Hall is sitting pretty at No. 10 in the nation. It is the Pirates’ highest ranking since being tabbed No. 8 on Dec. 19, 2000. The Hall also remains the lone unbeaten team in the BIG EAST this season.
“I think it’s amazing but I feel like we’re still not where we want to be,” Gill said. “We still have to deliver on the court and hopefully we’ll get to where we really want to be. But it is amazing to be ranked 10th.”
Where Gill wants the Pirates to be is finishing as regular-season champs, hoisting the BIG EAST Tournament trophy on that Saturday night in March at Madison Square Garden and then making a deep, deep run at the Dance in what could become a very special season for the gang from South Orange. Dreams that can happen when the Pirates return to full strength with the eventual return of Mamukelashvili.
“I think we’re going to be a lot better when he comes back,” Gill said. “He was a big part of the team before he (got hurt). But with the way we’re all playing right now and then getting Sandro back, I think we’re going to be a lot better than we are right now.”
With all he has done this season, and with more to come, might we be looking at the BIG EAST’s Most Improved Player this year?
“I’m working on it,” Gill said. “Hopefully with what I’m doing I can get close to getting it.”
Oh, as for his cricket days? They seem to be a thing of the past for Gill.
“I haven’t even seen it for awhile,” Gill said. “I think the last time I saw it was when we were in the Bahamas (during the Battle 4 Atlantis in November).”
Now, it’s all hoops.