From a young age, many of Elijah Avery-Turner’s coaches knew he could become a very special player in the game of basketball. He has acted sharply upon his past coaches’ words of encouragement and is making a clear and present impact on the Hand boys’ basketball team.

The Tigers’ freshman guard started with the rock around the age of 5, playing up through the ranks–including at the East Haven Rec Center. He additionally played football until 7th grade before foregoing that to focus more on his court skills.

After earning a starting role in the Hand rotation this winter, Elijah has cemented himself as a rousing rookie sensation, maintaining averages of 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a team-tops 1.5 blocks per game in helping the defending Division III state champions get out to a 6-3 start.

“When I was young, I realized I was naturally gifted, and then many of my coaches said they saw I had potential, so I wanted to fulfill that,” says Elijah, who posted a double-double of 12 points and a dozen boards in a 68-52 triumph over East Haven on Jan. 10. “For me, it is about being a team guy. I want to play my role and allow myself to be the impact I can be with moving the ball around and hitting shots. My coaches and teammates have also had my back.”

Starting as a freshman for an SCC stalwart and defending state-title holder would create apprehension for anyone, much less having your first game against another league powerhouse. Yet Elijah gained confidence right from the opening tip, both physically and verbally.

“There were a few nerves, especially in our first game against Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University,” Elijah says. “It was a very cool experience to walk out of there with a win. After the first play of the game, [Head Coach Jim Economopoulos] just told me, ‘you got this,’ and then I just went from there.”

This year’s edition of the Tigers’ squad may be shorter on senior experience when compared to a year ago, though Elijah notes it is enjoyable to have a shared experience with others in regards to discovering their floor assignments while defending Hand’s throne.

“My confidence has really grown; the trust and team chemistry I feel we have with this team is great,” says Elijah, who put in a 20-point performance in an 87-62 win over St. Joseph on Dec. 28. “We do not have too many seniors, but it is very interesting to come into this, and we are all still figuring out our roles. I love the pressure of playing for a defending state champion. Coach always says no matter who we play, we always have that target on our backs, so we have to compete. The guys here are young and hungry.”

The 6-foot-3 guard shares the backcourt with sophomore mate Chase Geremia as the two platoon at the point. Elijah exclaims that being the focal piece of each play can be daunting but delightful simultaneously.

“Defensively, I am good with the size I am at; I can play down low and up top,” says Elijah. “I love guarding another team’s top player. Chase and I will sometimes switch between point and shooting guard. It allows me to get looks and teammates involved. Some of the tougher parts of guard for me are being expected to be the top communicator and leader, and so it is high energy all the time.”

Economopoulos praises Elijah for his deep skill set within the game, along with his intangibles out of it—making him a full-fledged force for the future.

“Elijah is a gifted athlete that loves the game of basketball. He brings energy and passion to our team every time he takes the floor. Despite only being a freshman with no varsity basketball experience, he has stepped into a starting role from day one,” says Economopoulos. “He is unselfish, a great teammate, willing to be coached hard, and is improving every single day. If he continues with the focus and hard work that he has displayed in his short time with our program, he has an extremely bright future not just in the game of basketball but in whatever he chooses to pursue in the future.”

The court cohesion stems from year-round interaction and in-game action for Elijah and the Tigers. He adds that victories on the floor are cultivated by close camaraderie through several team events away from it.

“The team has been jelling really well so far,” Elijah says. “We have played in fall and summer leagues, so there has been a lot of team bonding. We have been connecting more off the court with things like pasta parties. We are making sure to bond off the court so that we get used to how we each act and play on it.”

As he looks to hit his marks on the court and in the classroom, Elijah and the Tigers are also locked in on hitting their stride and rounding into midseason form to attempt another deep playoff push towards more championship hardware.

“Academically, I know how important grades are, so I am making sure to stay on top of every assignment,” says Elijah. “As a team, we talked about our goals after Christmas break. Coach also said he wants to add a division title banner. We are working to get back to that SCC and state-title form, and so we are just doing the best we can every day.”