When New Hyde Park Memorial High School student Kristen Korzevinski starting playing basketball in third grade she didn’t really like it because she didn’t think she was that good.
Now in her senior year on the girls varsity basketball team for New Hyde Park Memorial she is averaging 30 points a game for the 3-4 Gladiators and scored a school record of 40 points against Great Neck North earlier in the month.
“At first I didn’t really like basketball,” Korzevinski said. “I guess it was because I wasn’t that good, but after I went to basketball camp, I started to love it.”
During her record scoring game against Great Neck North, Korzevinski said she was trying not be nervous, and had no idea she was doing so well.
“It was our first home game, and I got really nervous with all these people watching me,” Korzevinski said. “When the coach told me I had scored that many points I was taken aback and really just in shock. I didn’t think that it was possible I scored that many points. It was definitely a team effort and I couldn’t have done it without them. I am honored and feel really special to be the new record holder.”
Coach Hugh Flaherty said that Korzevinski has always performed well and been a team player.
“I knew she’s always been capable of it,” Flaherty said. “She is very generous with the ball, and cares about the kids on the team. We have a few freshmen and she looks after them and helps them mature a little bit.”
Flaherty said that Korzevinski may end up being named conference player of the year and is approaching a career total of 1,000 points.
“It’s a big deal if she reaches 1,000 points,” Flaherty said. “We try to give her some flowers at one the games, let her keep the game ball – things of that nature. She will also be added to the record books.”
Flaherty has been Korzevinski’s coach for years and had always been there for her, she said.
“I’ve known him since eighth grade and he’s always had my back. I love him to death and he always supports me. He is sort of an advisor and is definitely someone I look up to. He gives me a lot of confidence in everything I do,” Korzevinski said.
As one of three co-captains Korzevinski said players on the team depend on her a lot “to put the ball in the basket” and were really excited when they heard she broke the team record.
During the game, Korzevinski made 17 out of 22 shots, with 16 rebounds, 11 assists and three triple doubles. She has been playing on the varsity team since she was in eighth grade.
Korzevinski moved to New Hyde Park from East Rockaway in third grade with her parents and two siblings. Her parents are both registered nurses at New York Presbyterian Hospital in downtown Manhattan.
She has been playing on teams with the Catholic Youth Organization since she was about 9-years-old, and volunteers for the young girl’s basketball clinic for Notre Dame High School, helping girls including her sister develop basketball skills.
“I enjoy it a lot, and I like working with younger girls. “It reminds me of myself,” Korzevinski said.
Looking towards future games, Korzevinski said Garden City will be a challenge, but as long as the team keeps working hard and together they should make the playoffs.
She has a full basketball scholarship to Queens College where she plans to study early childhood education, focusing on special education. She said she wants to become an elementary school teacher.
As someone who “wasn’t that into it” when she first start playing, she said aspiring players just need to stick with it, work it and give it some time.
“You have to have passion and you have to want it,” Korzevinski said. “Anyone who thrives on competition can do this. My personal goal ever since I started playing was that I don’t just play for myself. I try to get everyone involved to touch the ball and make a basket. It gets me more excited when everyone else is involved and scoring.”
