'You've got to earn it': Defending league champs Northeastern reload with young talent

Nate Wilson doesn't like going under the radar. 

After all, Northeastern's 6-foot-4 junior got used to the hype and attention that surrounded the school's basketball team the last two seasons. The packed gyms, the crazy student-section chants, the bullseye constantly being on their backs ... 

He doesn't want it to go away. 

"I like being in the spotlight," he said after Northeastern's opening-night win over Columbia two weeks ago. "Nothing wrong with that." 

Northeastern is off to a solid start at 4-1 this season. Last week, the Bobcats dropped a 52-46 game to Dallastown but bounced back with a 52-50 win over always-competitive Central York. They topped South Western 71-29 this Tuesday. 

Still, staying in the spotlight isn't a guarantee for these Bobcats.

The two stars that gave them a talent advantage over every YAIAA team the last two seasons aren't there anymore. If Northeastern is going to win a third straight league title and make it back to the state playoffs, a cast of younger players will have to lead the way. 

And those young players have a lot to prove. 

"This team hasn't earned anything," head coach Jon Eyster said bluntly on opening night. "Even if there's attention on you, you've got to earn it." 

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Northeastern earned plenty of attention the last two seasons, going a combined 58-7 and winning the first two YAIAA titles in program history. The Bobcats won a District 3 Class 5A title two years ago and came one York High 3-pointer from making it back to the title game last season. They made it as far as the state semifinals in 2017. 

But the Bobcats graduated four seniors after last season, the two most notable being Fred Mulbah and Antonio Rizzuto. The two guards were GameTimePA YAIAA first-team all-stars each of the last two seasons, and Rizzuto was the league's player of the year in 2018. The duo provided 56 percent of Northeastern's scoring last season. 

Mulbah now plays at Division II Pittsburgh-Johnstown and has been a major contributor already, averaging 9.3 points, 4.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds in the team's first 10 games. Rizzuto missed the beginning of the season for Division I Albany after dealing with injuries in the offseason, but has averaged 9 points his first four games. 

So yeah, Northeastern has some voids to fill. And its players are well aware of that. 

"We would have games last year where they would score 80 percent of our points," Wilson said. "I've already heard from a ton of people that we're not going to be good anymore without Antonio or Fred. 

"It definitely gives us a lot of motivation."

While this Northeastern team is young, it still has plenty of talent. Wilson is a tremendous shooter with the size and length to be one of the best players in the league this season. Fellow junior Drew Brodbeck got varsity time last year and is also a dangerous shooter. And Fred Mulbah's younger brother, 6-foot-2 junior Quay, is a talented defender and playmaker who got reps in big games a year ago. 

The team's starting lineup is filled out by 6-foot-4 three-sport athlete Zech Sanderson and 6-foot guard Maurice Capo. The Bobcats also have a presence down low in 6-foot-7 senior Phoenix Gruver and a speedy guard off the bench in 5-foot-9 senior Devyn Baltimore, a transfer from Dallastown. 

"We know what we're going to get from a lot of guys and some guys are going to give us more as the season goes along," Eyster said. "They've just got to get some time." 

What the Bobcats lack in varsity experience, they make up for in chemistry. Their talented junior class has played together for years, and maintain close friendships off the court. Players like Wilson, Mulbah, Brodbeck and Capo have become vocal leaders, according to Eyster. 

Those juniors also have confidence in their abilities and chances to succeed this year. 

"I've been a good player, I just haven't had the opportunity because of Fred and Antonio," Brodbeck said. "I've gotten face-guarded a lot before, so I've just got to play my game." 

Both Wilson (17.5 ppg) and Brodbeck (12.5 ppg) said they worked over the offseason to expand their offensive repertoires after focusing on being shooters in the past. A starter the last two seasons, Wilson has embraced being the No. 1 option. 

The 6-foot-4 junior has also embraced the role of veteran leader, even sporting some new facial hair to start the season. 

"My parents tell me to shave it, but I don't listen," Wilson said with a laugh. 

The Bobcats have two more games before Christmas against Spring Grove and Gettysburg on Dec. 21 and 22, respectively. They don't get their first test against a dangerous York High squad until Jan. 4. 

The Bocbats are hoping their games remain must-see basketball like in years past. 

"It feels great to be back and doing what we love in front of the fans," Brodbeck said. "Just got to stay focused."