At NYU, Stockmals take their best shot

The 6-foot-3 junior captain out of Watertown High School went off for a career-high 26 points in an 81-71 win at the University of Chicago on Jan. 20, connecting on 10 of his 12 shots, including a 7-of-8 barrage from outside the 3-point arc.

Two nights later, he buried seven of his eight attempts (4-for-4 on treys) on his way to a 24-point effort in an 89-75 win over host Washington University in St. Louis. He earned Player of the Week honors from the University Athletic Association and the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association.

His twin brother, Cory, then took over with the hot hand, going 3-for-3 in a 70-68 loss last Friday night to Carnegie Mellon before hitting both of his shots in an 89-80 win over Case Western Reserve on Sunday.

Nesci could not recall any of his players having a better weekend than Kyle.

“No, nothing like that, and I’ve had the pleasure of coaching some terrific young men,’’ said Nesci, whose team was 15-2 overall and 5-2 in the UAA (one game behind Washington U.) entering tomorrow’s game at Carnegie Mellon. “Both he and Cory play with intensity and commitment and they were well prepared by their high school coach, Steve Harrington.’’

Cory, who has battled back from an ankle injury and an inner ear infection this season, has provided NYU with a tremendous lift, according to Nesci, especially on defense, and is seeing more significant minutes.

The Stockmals were two-time captains at Watertown High, and played on the 2007 and 2009 Division 3 state championship teams. They credit Harrington and their father, Craig, the former head coach at Watertown High, for their inspiration and serving as mentors.

“My best moments were when my dad, brother, and I would shoot baskets in our driveway or at the local park so we knew what practice and hard work were at a young age,’’ said Kyle, whose team-first attitude was reflected by the fact he didn’t take a shot against the University of Chicago in the game’s final 15 minutes.

Named to the Globe’s Dream Team in high school, and the Raiders’ all-time leading scorer in boys’ basketball (1,687 points), Kyle leads NYU with 28 steals, is second with 69 assists, and third at 13.3 points per game while averaging a team-high 31.6 minutes per game. He is shooting 50 percent from the floor and 51 percent from beyond the arc

“Coach Harrington taught us toughness and how to win, and our dad has been there for us every step of the way, through good times and bad. I think he knows my game better than I do,’’ added Cory, who made a school record 190 steals in high school. He has made the most of his playing time this season, hitting 27 of 43 shots (63 percent), including 5 of 11 3-pointers.

Their dad, a Watertown High Hall of Famer, and Nesci have something in common: Craig Stockmal coached against Harrington when the latter played at Wakefield High, while Nesci did likewise when Harrington suited up for UAA foe Brandeis.

“I was coaching a home game against Reading on the night the boys were born,’’ recalled Stockmal, the Watertown team’s coach from 1985 to ’91, “and right after the game I got a police escort to the hospital.’’

Stockmal coached his sons at several levels until they were freshmen in high school. By arranging his work schedule, he hasn’t missed any of their college games, home or away.

“Their work ethic has been their strength,’’ he said, “and I’m proud of what they’ve done on the court and especially off the court, because they both carry two majors and a minor.’’

Kyle is majoring in finance and international business, with a minor in physics. Cory is majoring in finance and economics, with a minor in advanced mathematical methods.

Area foursome help power Clark squad

Clark University sophomore guard Emily Reilly of Marlborough, junior forward Kelsey Gledymin of Shrewsbury, freshman forward Victoria Russo of Arlington, and sophomore guard Annmarie Fransen of Belmont are playing key roles for the women’s basketball team.

Through 19 games, Reilly was averaging a team-high 13.3 points, plus 5 assists.

Gledymin was averaging 7.9 points and a team-best 5.4 rebounds, while Russo and Franzen had grabbed 11 and 7 steals, respectively.

“Emily is as competitive on both ends of the floor as any player we’ve ever had, and is a consistent scorer in transition,’’ said coach Pat Glispin, whose team had won three straight and was 13-6 overall (9-3 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference) before last night’s game against Mount Holyoke.

“Kelsey has always been a solid defender, but has improved in rebounding and scoring, and is having her best season.’’

Russo has provided a presence in the post, and Fransen, the first guard off the bench, has impressed with her spirit and will to win, Glispin said.

McCarthy named Ivy Player of Week

Sudbury resident s Andrew McCarthy has been a force in the paint for the men’s basketball team at Brown University.

The 6-foot-8 junior forward, who graduated from Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge, was named the Ivy League’s Player of the Week after leading the Bears to two wins in three games.

The burst included McCarthy scoring a game-high 19 points, pulling down 11 rebounds, and setting a school record with 7 blocked shots to rally the Bears past Dartmouth, 66-59, last Friday for their first Ivy League win of the season.

Through 21 games, McCarthy was averaging 10.8 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds for the Providence squad, which was 7-14 (1-3 Ivy) heading into tomorrow’s game with Princeton.

Marvin Pave can be reached at marvin.pave @rcn.com.