Archbishop Mitty has a senior laden basketball team with guards Kyle Toth Colin Wan, and forward Brandon White. But junior forward Neil Vranicar is also a force on the hard court. At 6-foot-5 and 175 pounds, Vranicar has the size to be an interior presence to complement sophomore star forward Aaron Gordon while he also has the shooting touch to be a threat from the perimeter.
As a junior starter, Vranicar has averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game as the Monarchs have only lost two games and wrapped up the WCAL regular season title. He compares his game to Golden State Warrior Dorrell Wright because he is a good shooter with good height and reach.
Vranicar has been playing organized basketball for nine years as he considers his best move to be his step back jumper that creates space to allow him to have open perimeter looks. During the offseason, he works on shooting off of the dribble in transition as well as set shots as he wants to be an elite shooter that can stretch the defense.
Mitty Coach Tim Kennedy says, "Neil's best attribute is his work ethic. He has put in the time necessary over the summer to make himself the player he is now. He was constantly in the gym working on his shot and it has paid off by starting every game this season and shooting a high percentage. He is also an intelligent player. As a coach, I only have to tell him something one time and he goes out and does it. Neil is focused and driven on the court."
Army, UC Davis (Assistant Coach Brandon Laird), and San Diego are currently the colleges looking at Vranicar. He wants to play for a Princeton style offense and for a man to man defense. Vranicar has 4.23 weighted GPA and would like to major in business or marketing.
Coach Kennedy says, "Neil is focused and driven in the classroom but is also quick to crack a joke when you least expect it. Neil will definitely have a chance to play at the next level. His ability to shoot and his attention to detail has already caught the eye of many college recruiters. He will need to get stronger but he is dedicated to making himself a player so the sky is the limit for his improvement."
Vranicar broke his finger during last year's preseason that set him back. However, he dealt with it by shooting free throws every practice and running sprints while the team practiced normally. He missed part of that season, but the experienced helped him to persevere and to be mentally tough. In addition, he has seen his grandmother's health deteriorate due to a stroke, which also shaped him mentally.
Aside from playing basketball and baseball at Mitty, Vranicar also plays the piano and the saxophone. However, he expects to be playing basketball at the college level. Watch for Vranicar to be the next Monarch to ascend on the hard court in San Jose.
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