By Jeff Appelblatt
Colts Neck High School’s boys’ basketball season came to end after a loss in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV tournament.
With thoughts of the season behind him, Cougars coach Lou Piccola enjoyed thinking about the awards received by one of his former athletes, Brandon Federici.
Federici, a four-year varsity basketball player for Piccola while at Colts Neck, averaged 22 points while a senior during the 2013-14 season. In all that season, Federici set Colts Neck records with 78 3-pointers and 521 points.
For the past three years, Federici has continued to impress Piccola at Franklin & Marshall College.
“He’s an All-American,” Piccola said about the college junior.
To be precise, Federici, who averaged just under 20 points this year for the Diplomats, was named the All-Centennial Conference scholar-athlete of the year. He was also named to the Academic All-America team and has been awaiting a decision on the winner of the Jostens Trophy, which is an illustrious reward given to the top men’s and top women’s NCAA Division III basketball player for his and her work on the court, in the classroom and in the community.
Federici’s father, Bob Federici, admitted he doesn’t expect to see his son win the award — not this year at least — but he’s proud of everything his son has accomplished on and off the court.
“It’s the perfect mix,” the elder Federici said. “It’s what every parent hopes for. He’s at a great school, and he’s getting a great experience.”
Whether Federici wins the Jostens Trophy, he’s had so many college honors to brag about over the years. Last year, he was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Region first team, the All-Centennial Conference first team and the Academic All-Centennial team.
Even as a freshman in 2014-15, “he was rookie of the year,” his father remembered clearly. As a freshman, the younger Federici averaged more than 19 points and set the rookie record with 502 points. He was named to the All-Centennial Conference first team — a spot he’s become familiar with.
Bob Federici, who lives in Manalapan, tries to make the trip to see his son play as much as possible in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
“The school is under two hours away,” he said.
But he knows he has to hold back from making the trip sometimes. Another son, high school junior Mike Federici, is still at Colts Neck, where he’s still attempting to compare to his older brother and make a name for himself on the court.
Franklin and Marshall’s season came to an end when the Diplomats lost in the semifinals of the Centennial Conference Championship Feb. 24 vs. Dickinson College. That was three days before Colts Neck lost in the first round of the Central Jersey, Group IV playoffs to Middletown High School North.
Brandon Federici has one year left for basketball at Franklin and Marshall, and Mike Federici has one year left for basketball at Colts Neck. Bob Federici hopes to see as much basketball as possible from his sons for at least a few more years.