Another set of basketball accolades are rolling through the College of Staten Island today, as DIII News has awarded a pair of Dolphins selections to its All-American teams. Men’s Basketball freshman guard Frankie Schettino made the magazine’s All-Freshman Team for 2013-14, while senior from the women’s basketball side Melanie Johnson was listed as an honorable mention on her side of the ledger.
An eight-time CUNYAC Rookie of the Week selection and the conference’s Rookie of the Year honoree, Schettino was a sparkplug for the Dolphins the entire season, as CSI went a staggering 28-3 overall and took home an ECAC Metro NY/NJ title for the first time since 1986. Along the way, Schettino rewrote CSI history, dishing out 222 assists in his inaugural year, the most in school single-season history. Schettino added 9.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest in 2013-14, boasting a 38.1 three-point percentage and a 70.5% average from the charity stripe.
“Every freshman wants a chance to contribute,” said a surprised Schettino when he learned of the honor placed on him. “This was totally unexpected, but I am very proud that the DIII News noticed what we’ve done as a team and what I was able to do. I am very happy I was able to help the team this year.”
Schettino posted a pair of double-doubles this season in back-to-back games. He collected 10 assists and 13 points in a win over Montclair State University, and then poured in 23 points with 13 assists in CSI’s home opener against Ramapo College two days later.
“You never truly know what to expect going in to play at the college level,” said Schettino. “As the year went on and we started winning, we knew it could be a special season. Overall we had a great year and left it all out there on the court, so there are no regrets.”
Senior Melanie Johnson capped her abridged two-year career with the Dolphins this past season, joining the Dolphins as a junior transfer. Johnson boasted a team-best 16.6 scoring average, good for 464 total points, while adding 217 rebounds, good for 7.8 per game. Johnson was awarded CUNYAC Player of the Year honors for her efforts, as CSI scored a 21-8 overall record this season.
National Player of the Year honors were won by Amherst College’s Aaron Toomey and Thomas More College’s Sydney Moss. DIII News awards 25 All-American citations each year with another 10 players making the All-Freshman teams. DIII News and Women’s DIII News has been covering NCAA Division III men’s and women’s basketball for the past 23 years. Their selections are made based on conference nominations by their executive staff.
