Basketball
Favorite athlete: Rajon Rondo
Favorite team: New York Giants
Favorite memory competing in sports: The CB East PatRIOT fan section storming the court at CB West after we won the game earlier this season.
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: I will never forget playing in a summer basketball league with friends. When one of my friends scored his first basket of the season, he took off his shirt and ran down the court waving it through the air. After that, he got ejected.
Music on iPod: Meek Mill, Big Sean, and Taylor Swift
Future plans: I will be attending college next fall to study business marketing and hope to find a job in sports marketing.
Words to live by: ‘Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.’
One goal before turning 30: Attend either the 2016 Olympics in Brazil or the 2020 Olympics
One thing people don’t know about me: Most people think I am left handed since I shoot lefty. However, I am naturally right handed and do everything with my right hand except shoot a basketball.
Senior basketball standout Danny Reilly has been involved with Coaches vs. Cancer at Central Bucks East since his dad and sister helped start the program five years ago. But it was what happened a year ago that made it all hit home.
“It especially got to me with Morgan Mysza,” he said. “Cancer took her life. That’s what made our event so prominent. It gave me and all the students a new passion.”
Morgan, who was in ninth grade and wanted to play varsity basketball, died of brain cancer last January. It had been her diagnosis in 2007 that inspired the creation of Coaches vs. Cancer at CB East.
“She was just a great person,” Reilly said. “Everybody loved her. She had a great spirit, and this event is a way for her spirit to live on.”
Reilly’s father, who coaches travel basketball with the CBAA, had been to a Coaches vs. Cancer event at Germantown Academy. In light of Morgan Mysza’s diagnosis, he thought it would be great to start the event at CB East. And his son has now taken the bull by the horns.
The event, which is in coordination with the Central Bucks Athletic Association and will be held this Feb. 9, features 3-on-3 games with elementary kids, a game between seniors and teachers, and guest speakers. Temple coach Fran Dunphy and St. Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli regularly appear. Drexel’s Bruiser Flint is planning to speak as well.
It will again surround the annual CB East vs. CB West rivalry basketball game. Last year, East students and cheerleaders wore white and pink “Team Morgan” T-shirts, while West fans wore black shirts that also read “Team Morgan.”
Reilly has been instrumental in generating donations, including donations from corporate sponsors. Johnson & Johnson gives $20,000 every year, and last year’s event raised $90,000 for the American Cancer Society and a “Team Morgan” scholarship fund. The program has raised more than $200,000 since its inception.
“Danny has a tremendous work ethic and his leadership skills are second to none,” said CB East coach Erik Henrysen. “He does an amazing job with Coaches vs. Cancer and really getting involved. And he’s a complete student-athlete.”
Reilly believes it’s important to help others.
“I really enjoy doing community service,” he said. “I think it’s a great way to give back. I think it speaks a lot to a person’s character. With Coaches vs. Cancer, I’m very passionate about it because everyone is affected by cancer.”
Reilly has character on the court, too.
He along with Matt Stauffer are vocal leaders. And Reilly fills whatever role the team needs.
“He’s been with the program for three years (there was no ninth-grade team), and it’s been neat to see him grow as a player,” Henrysen said. “He’s our captain. He rebounds and defends. He can play big or play small.
“He might score one night and might rebound another night, but he’s always going to give you things that don’t show up in the stat sheet, like taking a charge or chasing down a loose ball,” he said. “I don’t think you can beat the consistency that he brings. Whether it’s a summer workout or a day before a game, he always puts out 110 percent.”
Reilly, who right now is planning to attend Penn State, embraces his duties as captain.
“For me, it’s being the glue guy,” he said. “It’s about keeping things going on the court, making sure everyone stays upbeat, always giving it your best, setting the tempo.
“It’s been great being part of the program,” he said. “My teammates are great and all the guys get along. We haven’t been doing too much winning, but we’re hoping for a turnaround this year.”
The Patriots are 3-3 overall and will get into the bulk of their conference schedule after the holidays.
Next year, Reilly plans to major in business marketing in college and stay in some way affiliated with sports. Considering all the money and sponsorships he has helped raise for Coaches vs. Cancer, it seems that he already is well on his way to a successful career.
