Byline: Tom Leo Staff writer
Solvay High School's Dan Aiello averages 18 points and 10 rebounds a game, which are gaudy numbers for anybody at the scholastic level.
But what really sets Aiello apart is his passing ability, said Solvay coach Joe Barnello.
'He's the most unselfish player, I think, I've ever coached. He is just a great passer from the high post,' Barnello said. 'He has great vision, and that's something you don't teach. His passing is a beautiful thing to see.'
Aiello, a 6-foot-7 senior, scored 29 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in a recent upset of defending Class B state champion Westhill. In another recent game he had 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists against Bishop Grimes.
For his efforts, Aiello has been named The Post-Standard Honor Athlete of the Week.
'Those numbers just show you the complete player that he is,' Barnello said. 'Teams key on him. They double team him. He'll find the open guy.'
Aiello said growing up as a young player, he looked to pass first.
'I wasn't that big on scoring,' he said. 'I like to distribute the ball and get more people into the game.'
Aiello has been a varsity player since halfway through his freshman year.
'Just to see his growth and maturity as not only a player, but a person, has been special,' Barnello said. 'Dan came in as a typical junior high kid; they're all over the place, all loose ends. Through the years they start to connect the dots. Dan has connected the dots.'
The Bearcats have connected the dots, as well. They started the season with six consecutive losses, but going into Thursday's game against first-place Skaneateles in the Liberty Division they were 6-9. Solvay needs two more wins to qualify for sectionals.
'We didn't play as well as we should have been playing at the beginning of the year,' Aiello said. 'Coach had a talk with us. We started practicing a lot harder and taking everything a little more serious. We flipped it around, thank God.'
Aiello is being recruited by Division II Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia and several Division III schools.
'In about two years, after he gets into a college program and gets on their weight training program, Dan's going to be a really special player,' Barnello said. 'He's one of those kids who grew really fast and he's still growing into his body.'
Honorable mention
Nick Holzhauer, boys hockey, West Genesee: Holzhauer scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, and had three assists in a recent 6-5 win over Cicero North Syracuse that clinched the Wildcats' fourth consecutive Division 1-A championship. The 16-2-2 Wildcats (12-0-2 league) are third-ranked in the state.
Mike Palermo, boys basketball, Fayetteville-Manlius: Palermo tallied 27 points in a recent 59-55 upset of West Genesee.
Tom Leo can be reached at tleo@syracuse.com or 470-6013.
CAPTION(S):
PHOTO
Peter Chen/The Post-Standard
DAN AIELLO a senior on Solvay's basketball team, is this week's Post-Standard Honor Athlete of the Week. Holding the ball is Dan's teammate Nicholas Leonardo. See a video of Aiello at videos.syracuse.com/post-standard/.
