Thursday, October 1, 2026
No one is panicking at North Shore despite a 1-4 start for its boys’ basketball team.
Health has been an issue for its intriguing backcourt of sophomore guards Del Neal and Marco Camps.
Head coach Ryan Berglin hasn’t had a full starting unit for any game yet but had everyone in place Dec. 17 and the Vikings beat Island Trees, 54-48.
“I’m not worried at all,’’ Berglin said. “It’s one of the hardest teams I’ve seen play in practice. It’s unreal the work ethic.’’
The 2024-25 Vikings weaved a 13-8 clip on the way to the Nassau Class A playoffs before losing to Seaford early. But this edition only has one returning starter – and he’s a sophomore in Neal.
Berglin said it’s the first time in his five seasons he hasn’t had a returning All-County player on the roster and has a whopping four sophomores in the rotation.
Neal. a slashing combo guard, is the premier sophomore but was returning from a double fracture in his ankle and missed the first two games. Neal has played the last three but on a minutes restriction. He seems to be breaking out, however, with an 18-point game against powerful Malverne Dec. 12.
“He’s starting to feel better and move better,’’ Berglin said.
Camps is a fellow sophomore and he had an injury that cost him two absences. In the three games he’s played, Camps has averaged 17.5 points. When healthy, the Neal-Camps backcourt figures to be dangerous.
With those two as primary scorers, senior 6-3 forward Grady Butler becomes a good fit. Averaging 7.5 points, Butler can play point guard or center. Last season, Butler was Sixth Man.
“He does everything for us,’’ Berglin said. “He’s the ultimate glue guy. He can put up six points and have a huge impact because he can guard anyone on the floor and play anywhere on offense.’’
Another senior who makes his starting debut is Finn Duffy, who was in the back of the rotation last season. He’s a 3-and-D specialist who desires to guard the best guy on the floor. He missed a game with the flu but poured in 17 against Island Trees.
Duffy was 3 for 5 from behind the arc against Malverne Dec. 12 and his ability to spread the floor is critical because Camps-Neal are penetrators.
Seniors Jackson Seneca and Matt Marinello, the Sixth Man, will also contribute. Marinello is a terrific offensive rebounder and energizer. “He plays like he’s 6-5 in a good way,’’ Berglin said.
North Shore (2-5 overall) has time to get back to good standing as The Maroon is 2-1 in Conference VII.
“Although we have a handful of seniors playing, we’re very inexperienced and very unhealthy,’’ Berglin said. “Now that we’re getting healthy, we’re playing better and more cohesive.’’
