Basketball
Favorite athlete: Allen Iverson
Favorite team: Eagles
Favorite memory competing in sports: Hitting the game winner against Council Rock South
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: When I hit my first grand slam, I was expecting high fives from my teammates at home plate; instead, everyone gave me the “silent treatment” (everyone was quiet and acted like nothing happened). After a few minutes in the dugout, they all laughed and celebrated with me.
Music on playlist: Drake, J. Cole
Future plans: Play basketball in college and study finance
Word to live by: Philippians 4:13- “I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.”
One goal before turning 30: Travel all around the world and start a family
One thing people don’t know about me: I just recently became an uncle.
By Mary Jane Souder
It was the stuff dreams are made of.
With the final seconds ticking off the scoreboard clock and his Pennsbury basketball squad trailing by one, Mike Roccograndi had the ball in his hands under his team’s basket.
“I went to my spin move, I pump faked, and I went up with my left hand,” the Falcons’ senior guard said of a shot that fell through the hoop and gave his team a heart stopping 60-59 overtime win over Council Rock South. “I’ve been dreaming about doing that since I started playing.”
Interestingly, Roccograndi found himself in the exact same situation in the Falcons’ season opener against Central Bucks East.
“My shot got blocked,” he said. “I rushed myself into a finish. I went straight up and that’s why I got blocked. The second time I was a lot more patient, and it definitely worked out for me.”
It was not just happenstance that Roccograndi had a different result the second time around.
“One of the things we did – we’ve been hard in terms of self-scouting him, and he’s really taken to coaching, particularly with our assistant coaches, Jon Love and Tyler Sessa-Reeves,” Pennsbury coach Wes Emme said. “The move that he made to hit the shot to win it against Council Rock South is the result of his willingness to accept coaching – take coaching and responding. He made an incredibly difficult move, a tough shot.”
“Definitely, I’ve learned from my coaches,” Roccograndi said. “They’ve been preaching to me just to come off two feet, be patient.”
Roccograndi, who averages nearly 17 points a game, welcomes the challenge of having the ball in his hands with the game one the line.
“I love it,” he said. “That’s why I play. You want to have those moments that you can remember the rest of your life.”
“Really good players – you just want to give them an opportunity,” Emme said. “We did in both games, and he learned from his mistake and came back and clinched it for us in a big win.”
Roccograndi finds himself in a far different role than he did when Emme took over the program two years ago.
“As a freshman, coach (Bill) Coleman brought him up to the varsity in the district playoffs, so he got that experience, but his role has transcended over the course of his career,” the Falcons’ coach said. “As a sophomore, he was our defensive player of the year. As a senior, he’s the straw that stirs the drink.
“I can’t remember the last time I didn’t think, ‘Wow, he’s the best player on the floor.’”
Basketball wins out
The youngest of four brothers, Roccograndi got his first taste of basketball playing with his siblings and their friends, but it was the last sport he added to his repertoire, competing in soccer, baseball and wrestling before giving organized basketball a try in fourth grade.
“I definitely started late with basketball,” said Roccograndi, who began his journey in the Pennsbury Recreational Basketball League (PRBL).
It wasn’t long before he joined the Bensalem Chargers on the AAU circuit, eventually landing with Philadelphia Revolution.
“No one else really plays basketball in my family, not even my dad,” Roccograndi said.
Soccer was his brother Andrew’s sport of choice, Sam ran track and cross country for Pennsbury, and his brother Chris wrestled.
“I chose my own path,” Roccograndi said. “I just love the fast-paced game.
“I always watched basketball – I was always intrigued by it. Since playing with my brothers in the front yard, it just really captured my interest, and I’ve been super excited since the first time I played it. It kind of took over as my favorite sport ever since I was young.”
Although he chose his own path, he acknowledged the impact of his siblings.
“They’ve had a major influence on me ever since I was young,” Roccograndi said. “I’ve always looked up to them.
“I remember at a young age - me and Andrew being in the back yard, and he put me through workouts. We’d get up early. He always pushed me to be better.
“Especially now – all my brothers are encouraging. My brother Chris is coming to my games. Sam is off to college, but they always support me and always encourage me to give all I have because they had their time here. They know how fast it goes, so just put it all out there while you have this opportunity.”
A captain along with fellow senior Grayson Gozum, Roccograndi is a positive leader of a Falcon squad tied for the top spot in the SOL Patriot Division after one go-round.
“He’s just incredibly dedicated,” Emme said. “He’s not a vocal leader, he’s a leader by example.
“He’s going to play so hard and put himself on the line, so on every play, it lifts other people to play that hard. He’s a mild-mannered kid. He’s reserved, he’s respectful, and that’s a testament to his parents.
“Dad’s a hardworking dude that raised four boys. They’re Fairless Hill athletes, all in their own way. Dad was a great athlete himself, and mom is the president of our booster club. She’s the one that gives him his personality. He’s got that quiet, reserved nature, but he’s a big-time competitor.”
Roccograndi acknowledged that he’s not a rah-rah guy.
“My personality is definitely more quiet,” he said. “I lead by my example, my hard work. Especially in the weight room – I pushed myself this summer and leading up to this season to just be that role model to the younger kids especially.
“Even before tryouts, people kind of know their spots on the team. I never wanted to take it easy. I never wanted to be – ‘Oh, I have my spot on the team. I shouldn’t be working this hard.’ But I definitely take that leadership role and work as hard as I possibly can and show these kids that nothing is guaranteed. My spot could be taken at any point. I like to show them they can always work hard and know this is such a short period of your life and put it all out there.”
The next level
The idea of playing at the collegiate level entered the picture when he earned a spot in the starting varsity lineup as a sophomore.
“It’s been a goal of mine to play at the next level,” Roccograndi said. I wanted to see what I was capable of – if my talents could take me to that next goal. I’ve been working really hard towards it.”
Throw in the fact that Roccograndi – a member of the National Honor Society with a course load of honors classes – is an excellent student, and his coach believes he will be quite a find for some lucky college program.
“He’s going to get into just about every school that he applies to,” Emme said. “He’s had several schools that have been recruiting him so far. He’s definitely going to play college basketball.
“I think he’s been ridiculously under-recruited. He’s a smaller kid, but he’s strong, and he’s a really high level athlete that can play in that fast and chaotic game.”
Academics are a priority for Roccograndi, who plans to major in finance, and he is looking for the perfect combination of both athletics and academics.
“I want to play basketball – it’s going to be at the D3 level,” he said. “I definitely want to have a school that prioritizes academics over everything.”
The college decision will have to wait. For now, he is focused on his final high school season.
“I’m just trying to enjoy every moment I have out there because I grew up with a lot of the kids on the team,” Roccograndi said. “They’re my good friends, and it’s nice to have that moment with them to share all the great wins we’re having.
“I’m really trying to enjoy it because I know after the season I’ll miss it, so I’m trying to take it all in.”
It’s a safe bet he will be missed as well.
“You’re never worried about what you’re going to get from him because he’s going to be incredibly hardworking dedicated and committed, and he’s going to compete,” Emme said. He’s just a solid dude that shows up every day – that’s what everybody would say about him.”
