Two days after the varsity roster was locked in, the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School boys’ basketball team met in the War Memorial Gym. It was media day, so the players posed, dribbled balls, and flashed smiles for the camera.
Teammates hung around, hyping each other up and offering tips on how to pose. The photos captured more than just their faces; they captured the start of a new season, the promise of fresh talent, and the foundation of what could become the program’s next great chapter.
“Once you put on this uniform, you become part of the legacy right away,” said head coach Geo Rodriguez, 42.
The CRLS boys’ team went 16-6 last season. This season, the team has eight seniors on the roster, and two of those players have been on varsity since their freshman year.
The program is built on the tradition and legacy of Cambridge basketball, emphasizing accountability, effort and pace on the court, Rodriguez said. Off the court, he said, the expectations are just as high, with the staff focused on developing players into responsible young men.
Looking ahead to the season poses an opportunity to reflect on the rich history of the basketball program. The boys’ team won back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017 and is seeking another title.
Hall of Fame precedent
CRLS has had many notable players, none more so than Basketball Hall of Fame member Patrick Ewing, whose teams won multiple state championships. He starred at Georgetown, became NBA rookie of the year in 1986 and the 10th player in NBA history to record 22,000 points and 10,000 rebounds. Ewing’s coach was Mike Jarvis, who played at the Rindge Technical School before the merger of Rindge and Latin, and had a long and successful collegiate coaching career.
Other talented alumni Rodriguez mentioned include Jeffery White Jr. (Class of ’24), a sophomore forward at Lasell University, and Paris Moses (Class of ‘25), who is attending Suffield Academy in Connecticut for a postgraduate year to play basketball.
The team has new faces this season, including on the coaching staff. Devon Velez, 34, said that he took the assistant coaching role to help his players grow and mature, something that he experienced during his own high school basketball career. “The most important thing is for them to be able to mature and go on to bigger and better things in life,” Velez said.
Sophomore Kabir Varanasi, an addition to the varsity roster, said he is nervous about playing in front of a larger crowd but has goals for stepping into his new role.
“I want to be the best that I can be out on the court,” Varanasi said.
Senior captain Imam Firmin, a varsity veteran, has used the nerves to lock into the game and play better.
“It’s always good to be nervous, because that means you’re ready,” Firmin said. “Personally, I like to use my nerves for my own benefit.”
Senior captain Morris Lichtenstein said tryouts helped players get conditioned and reconnect. The 2026 Prep Hoops – a network that provides exposure to high school athletes – listed Lichtenstein on its watch list of “players with major potential.”
“It’s a rich history program,” Rodriguez said. “We’re all grateful and proud to be part of it.”
The team kicks off its season with a home opener against rival Brockton on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.
This story is part of a partnership between Cambridge Day and the Boston University Department of Journalism.
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