JUST IN: Kyle Filipowski experienced a detour through the Bronx in his journey.
Kyle Filipowski’s path has led him to the NCAA Tournament, where Duke is set to compete against James Madison at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn this Sunday.
After the tournament, the 7-foot sophomore is anticipated to be selected as a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
Along the way, the Middletown native from Orange County, N.Y., approximately 70 miles northwest of Manhattan, made a stopover in The Bronx.
Filipowski and his twin brother, Matt, attended Fordham Prep during their second year of high school, following their initial enrollment at Minisink Valley High School. Filipowski detailed how the transition came about during an interview on Saturday.
“I wanted to expand my basketball opportunities beyond my local area,” Filipowski expressed. “So, I explored options for a private school through connections in AAU basketball, which led me to Fordham Prep.”
However, Filipowski noted that Fordham Prep wasn’t known for producing top-tier basketball players nationally, and the level of competition didn’t meet his expectations. “It didn’t meet my hopes, and I didn’t gain much from the experience,” he explained. “Being young, one can be easily influenced. Despite the setback, I made the decision to transfer to another school, and things worked out better from there.”
Although Fordham Prep made it to the CHSAA championship game during Filipowski’s single season there, he admitted that he didn’t experience much athletic growth.
“Definitely not,” Filipowski affirmed. Fordham Prep head coach Brian Downey remarked, “The moment they arrived, I knew I wouldn’t have them until they graduated. Perhaps I’d have them for two years, and then they would reclassify.”
Downey noted that at the time, Kyle was the shorter of the twins, yet he still stood around 6-6 and possessed skills typically associated with a guard position.
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