Scarpato is now center of attention

Perseverance has paid off for Rob Scarpato , who didn't make the varsity basketball team until his senior year at Hopkinton High, but is now in his third season as a starting center at Framingham State College.

"I was kind of off the map when it came to being recruited, but when I came to Framing ham State and was doing some 360 dunks in the gym, I was encouraged to come out for basketball," recalled the 6-foot-6-inch senior, who was averaging 10.1 points (shooting 58.4 percent) and 6.3 rebounds through the first 17 games of the season.

In Tuesday night's 83-55 triumph over Worcester State, he delivered 12 points (on 5 of 7 shooting) and 7 rebounds as the Rams, under the guidance of Don Spellman, improved to 7-9.

"I played some as a freshman, then got a chance to start my sophomore year when one of our big men went down with an injury, and by my junior year I started to get a real feel for the college game. Now, I just want to make it a good season for the team and for Coach Spellman, who has been great to me for four years."

Scarpato, who recently recorded a CD as the singer for a heavy-metal band, Lastrite, also went out for varsity football last fall. He made the team as a wide receiver although he never previously played the sport on an organized team.

He took a year off between high school and college, singing with a previous band and playing AAU basketball.

"Rob is a talented basketball player who has gone from a hard-working role player to a talented starter in two short years and he has gained a reputation as one of the league's best big men," said Spellman. "Self-motivation is what makes Rob such a great young man to coach and, combined with his work ethic, Rob has made himself one of the most dominant and athletic centers in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference."

Bobby Butler, who led University of New Hampshire freshmen hockey players in scoring last season with 9 goals and 3 assists in 38 games, has already surpassed his first-year totals. Through 20 games, the former Marlborough High star was tied for third in team scoring with 6 goals and 8 assists to help the Wildcats' crack the top 10 ranking in Division 1. His tallies included three power-play goals and the game-winner in a 2-0 Hockey East victory over Maine.

"Bobby is a tremendously skilled skater. He plays both sides of the ice extremely well, creates good opportunities for his teammates and capitalizes on his own scoring chances," said UNH head coach Dick Umile.

Babson College head men's basketball coach Stephen Brennan celebrated his 200th career victory this month when the Beavers defeated visiting MIT, 75-63, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference game. He ranks second behind Serge DeBari (224) on the program's all-time victory list.

Marvin Pave can be reached at 508-820-4223 or at marvin.pave@rcn.com.