Powerful T-More rolls behind Aussie guard, big man Drummond

Montville - As soon as Jere Quinn saw that Friday's high school schedule was wiped out because of snow, a sly grin came over the St. Thomas More basketball coach's face.

"I knew we were the only show in town," he said.

With one of the most sought-after juniors in the country in Andre Drummond, as well as a number of other future Division I players, St. Thomas More has been putting on a show all season, improving to 15-2 following Friday's 73-64 win over Maine Central Institute in a matchup of two of New England's premier prep basketball programs in the annual Founder's Tournament.

The Chancellors will play Bridgton Academy of Maine, an 87-80 overtime winner over Phelps School of Pennsylvania, in today's final at 5 p.m.

Quinn's voice echoes off the walls of tiny Charles Hanrahan Gymnasium:

"How many times are we going to do that?"

"You have to be there."

"Box out."

But just as soon as Quinn, in his 33rd year at the school of just 165 boys, dispenses instructions or chews out one of his players from the sideline, he's got his arm around him or bumping a fist.

"One of the things I tell our kids is I'm probably as low-key a person as you're going to get ... until basketball," Quinn said. "I played that way and I coach that way. What I really love about being here is you coach these kids up as much as you can to maximize their potential so that they're going to be prepared whether it's Division I, II or III

"But the main thing is I see them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I see them in class with their shirts and ties on, in study hall. It's just such a different relationship."

Aside from Drummond, the Chancellors have Fairfield-bound Adam Jones, as well as leading scorer Damion Lee (who missed Friday's game to be with his family in Baltimore following his grandmother's death), and Australian southpaw point guard Indiana Faithfull, who had 18 points and six assists Friday night.

Well-versed in the recruiting process, Quinn said he doesn't worry about which schools are recruiting his players.

"All you need is one good school," he said. "We've always been fortunate to find it for our kids because we're always very honest about where our kids should go."

In all his years, Quinn has never had any player with the buzz surrounding Drummond, who is widely regarded as the No. 1 recruit in the country in his class.

Drummond, a 6-foot-10 inch, 260-pound Middletown native, played his freshman year at Hartford Capital before moving to the hills of Oakdale to help him better prepare for college.

Last year, he became the first sophomore in Quinn's tenure to play for the postgrad team.

"He's so talented, but he really is a wonderful kid," Quinn said of Drummond, who had 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

"He understands his talents. He understands he has to work. He understands he has to listen. He's been a tremendous addition to our community and our team."

The 17-year old Drummond, who says he has shut down recruiting lately, has taken to the prep school.

"Athletically, I got better playing with people older than me," said Drummond, who counts New London junior guard Kris Dunn as one of his best friends. "And academically, I've improved. Coach Quinn is the greatest guy in the world.

"It's just you and the trees and the lake up here. It's all about focus."

Quinn spent some time before and after the game talking to as many people as he could, enjoying a packed gym as the only show in town.

"The more and more the community gets involved, the more I enjoy it," he said. "We always play to win but it's not about winning. We play as hard as we can and after the game, I thank the refs, I thank the kids and I tell them that's all until tomorrow."