School: Senior at Albertus Magnus High School
Twice is nice. Pat McGuinness has been a major contributor to the Albertus Magnus High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team. For two years in a row the team has won the Section One Championship Tournament. They ended their season with a record of 20-3, only losing to Tappan Zee & Burke high schools, which both went on to compete in the State Championship playoffs this year.
"Pat McGuinness is every coaches delight. Pat has won back to back Section Championships but more important Pat is a champion. He has been a great role model for all the players in our program," said Head Coach Pat McFadden.
McGuinness' hard work, dedication and love of the game has earned him the following achievements and awards:
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- Section 1 Championship Tournament - All Tournament Team (2011, 2012)
- Albertus Magnus Team Co-MVP (2010, 2011, 2012)
- All Tournament Team Selection for: Pearl River Holiday Tournament (2011), AM Christmas Tournament - MVP (2011), AM McNichols MLK Tournament (2012)
- All League (2010, 2011, 2012)
- All Section (2011, 2012)
- All Conference (2011, 2012)
- 1st team All County* (2011)
- 2nd Team All State* (2011)
* 2012 All County and All State are yet to be announced
Combining such credentials with his discipline, passion and determination McGuinness will fulfill his dream of playing college ball. He signed in the fall to play basketball at LeMoyne College, a Northeast 10, Division II school, located in Syracuse, NY.
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McGuinness started playing basketball in the CYO program. He then went on to play on the AAU team and at Albertus Magnus. Now he has at least four more years of college hoops to look forward too.
It may come as a surprise to find out that McGuinness suffered from an injury in the beginning of the season. Despite a winning and successful year.
"My knees started bothering me in the fall but I thought they would get better with a little rest. I went to the doctor and was told that I had severe patella tendinitis. He said that I needed about six weeks of complete rest which I am on right now but wasn't able to get during the season. I went to physical therapy twice a week and iced of course after playing. I was able to play through the pain better as time went on in the season. I guess I just got used to it," said McGuinness.
Patella tendinitis mostly inflicts athletes who play sports that involve a lot of jumping such as basketball. It affects the tendon that connects the knee cap to the shin bone affecting the way your muscles extend your knee. Therapy and rest are the best way to alleviate the symptoms. Both of which are not easy to do during the season.
"He has a work ethic and dedication to the game that is second to none. He is the ultimate gym rat. Pat did whatever it took to stay on the floor, that included extra stretching, ice, treatments, therapy, etc.," said Coach McFadden.
He knew this was his final year playing at Albertus and didn't want to miss the last season so he dealt with the pain. A tribute to the dedication to the team and the sport.
"I am looking forward to being totally healed so I can start basketball workouts again without worrying about the knees. I'm not sure what I am going to major in yet. I will be starting early and taking a class in the summer and staying with some of the basketball team, working their summer camp and doing basketball workouts as well," said McGuinness.
Congratulations on an exemplary basketball career at Albertus Magnus! You gave your fans two tremendous years of great local basketball.
Best of luck at LeMoyne.
