St. Mary鈥檚 Massimo Moretti balancing life as a student-athlete with Buffalo move
LANCASTER, N.Y. (BVM) 鈥� They say when you move to Naples, Italy you cry twice. Once when you arrive and once when you leave. Whatever tears Massimo Moretti might have shed when he left his home in Naples he wiped away as soon as he got to Western New York.
鈥淲hatever I left in Italy I refound it here in Buffalo,鈥� Moretti said.
Moretti moved from Naples, Italy to Lancaster, New York鈥揳bout 10 miles outside of Buffalo鈥搕o play basketball at St. Mary鈥檚 High School. With the way he talks about his new life, it鈥檚 almost unclear if he moved across the world for basketball or for St. Mary鈥檚.听
鈥淓veryone here are friends,鈥� he said earnestly. 鈥淓veryone here embraced me since the first day. Everyone welcomed me from like the principal to all the students and it鈥檚 something that I think is missing in Italy鈥o that鈥檚 what I like about here. That we鈥檙e all friends and that it鈥檚 one big community.鈥�
If Moretti understands the value of family and the importance that a supportive environment can have in an athlete鈥檚 pursuit of excellence it鈥檚 likely because he was raised in one by his parents, Christiana and Walter. Both of whom made themselves available all the way from Naples and seemed archetypally proud parents.
Walter, a man whose hulking physique belied his emotional intelligence, gushed about his son.听
鈥淎s a father it seems obvious to me that I鈥檇 look after him,鈥� Walter proclaimed.
From the two years the Moretti鈥檚 spent living in New Zealand when Massimo was 10-years-old, to exactly how far he used to have to drive him to practice (30 miles), Walter made sure to share as much as possible about Massimo.听
While Christiana, in her red framed glasses and stylish floral scarf, let her son speak often and without interruption. The only time she cut in was when Massimo shared what he missed most about home鈥撯�渢he food and my family.鈥�
鈥淚n that order,鈥� Christiana interjected. 鈥淔irst the food, then the family!鈥�
The friendly banter and beaming parents make for an image of a family that remains connected despite the distance because they know it鈥檚 all in support of Massimo and his basketball dreams, which started in Naples at Vivi Basket Napoli. A youth team founded in 2005 with the purpose of developing local Neapolitan basketball talent.
At 6-foot-9 with a 44% three-point percentage this season it鈥檚 clear听what made Massimo one of the standout local talents both at Vivi Basket and in Naples. But he felt that he wasn鈥檛 able to adequately balance basketball with school. Which prompted the need to find a more structured environment that allowed him to focus equally on both.
鈥淸I moved here] to play and to study,鈥� Massimo said. 鈥淏ecause here, in the United States, you have the possibility to study and also play basketball at the same time and in one place. In Italy, it鈥檚 different because it鈥檚 separate. I have my school in the morning, it could be in one part of the city and then basketball in the afternoon, that is like far away from school.鈥�
On average, Massimo had to drive an hour each way to get from school to practice, forcing him to do his schoolwork in the car. Even though school in Italy lets out at around 1 p.m., it still meant that between practice and the commute he wouldn鈥檛 get home until late into the night. His commitment to academics appears genuine.It鈥檚 not often that star high school athletes mention schoolwork and grades unprompted.
Massimo began considering a move to the United States as far back as the summer of 2019, when he met Michael Esposito (Esposito is the most common last name in Naples), a basketball coach from Niagara Falls who helped jump-start the process for the Moretti鈥檚. Due to the pandemic, Massimo鈥檚 plans were delayed before he finally arrived at St. Mary鈥檚 on Sept. 1, 2021.
The transition on the court was as seamless as off the court. In part, because Massimo is one of the team鈥檚 top players. He leads the in minutes, points, rebounds, and blocks. Including averaging 26 points per game and 15 rebounds per game in St. Marys鈥� three playoff games in the Monsignor Martin Manhattan Cup. Massimo seemed to genuinely value the intangibles of basketball and team–building. His first concern when joining the team was gelling with his teammates.
鈥淏asketball is an easy game,鈥� Massimo mused. 鈥淪o, if you know the fundamentals you鈥檙e already there, you don鈥檛 need to do anything else. Instead [focus on] getting that chemistry and getting that intimacy with your teammates and with鈥he entire program.鈥�
With a star player who values teamwork, it鈥檚 easy to understand why the Lancers are happy to have Massimo on the team.
鈥淥ur philosophy here is just to bring in good families,鈥� St. Mary鈥檚 Athletic Director Zach Weiss said. 鈥淧eople that want to be a part of our community and our family here. Family is a word you鈥檙e going to hear a ton when you talk about St. Mary鈥檚. It鈥檚 one of those things that kind of gets lost in the cheesiness of what it is, but once you get here, you can feel it immediately. This is a place that has your back while you鈥檙e here鈥nd then beyond that.鈥�
It’s a community that manages to show up for Walter and Christiana, even though they鈥檙e in Naples, making sure they have access to live streams of as many of Massimo鈥檚 games as possible.
鈥淚 follow them all (Massimo鈥檚 games),鈥� Walter exclaimed. 鈥淓very other night I鈥檓 glued to the iPad if schools offer live streaming. St. Mary鈥檚 doesn鈥檛 do live streaming but I鈥檓 in touch with a parent that broadcasts live on Facebook, so I follow that.鈥�
For Massimo, that feeling of constant support, and even affection, was the biggest change from playing in Italy.
鈥淭he coach鈥檚 approach was different,鈥� Massimo explained. 鈥淔or example, in Italy, the coaches sometimes try to, maybe, drag you down to motivate you. Here instead, they motivate you by saying, 鈥楬ey, you are important for us, we need you, you鈥檙e an important piece.鈥� In a positive way. So, this is a huge difference that is helping me very much. Especially being away from my mom and dad having someone that is motivating you in a positive way.鈥�
It seems that all the support Massimo is receiving at St. Mary鈥檚 is paying off both personally and athletically.
鈥淥f course, I figured it was different to the Italian style, but I mean if I found struggles鈥攏o,鈥� Massimo said.
He may have been referring to basketball but judging by his experiences at St. Mary鈥檚, Massimo could have been talking about his life in general.
