Henry DiGiorgio working to avoid more state final heartbreak with Franklin boys basketball

FRANKLIN – The call came the weekend before tryouts a year ago.

Henry DiGiorgio told Franklin boys coach CJ Neely he wasn't playing basketball during his junior season. A lingering hip issue caused caution. He didn't want to jeopardize the spring baseball season after garnering some college attention during his sophomore season and the Panthers' run to the state final.

"Which really stunk not being able to be out there. I was really sad about it," DiGiorgio said. "It was a tough phone call."

Neely understood. In a perfect world he would have wanted more notice, but respected the decision. DiGiorgio was one of the team's leading scorers and rebounders as a sophomore on a team that reached the Sweet 16 in 2022.

"Regardless of whether he played or not, we're close," Neely said. "He's a great player, and he's a great kid. I like him just as much. He made a decision for him, and we were fine."

They made it just as far in the state tournament in 2023 with him getting healthy.

DiGiorgio starred on the diamond once again as a junior. Franklin played for another state championship, and he competed for the Nokona Chiefs club baseball team in the summer. Neely and DiGiorgio didn't even broach the topic of him returning to the hardwood until the fall. The Panthers played well in their summer league without him.

The missing piece

The senior entered the school year strong and healthy. He rejoined the basketball program and helped power Franklin to one of its strongest seasons in program history. The Panthers (24-1) are undefeated against in-state competition and have won 21 games in a row. They'll face undefeated reigning state champion Worcester North (23-0) at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell aiming for the program's first championship.

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"Hank is competitive. Any time you get a competitor on your team that wants to win as bad as he wants, anytime you can add that person, whether they've played in a big game or not, I think Hank's always been a guy that likes the big moment even before he was playing baseball state championships," Neely said. "His whole life, he has been that guy that wants to make a big shot or is ready to make a big play. The big moments don't seem to faze him very much. He doesn't really get nervous. He gets excited, which is awesome."

After shouldering a heavy scoring load earlier in his career, DiGiorgio embraced a less glamorous role as a senior. He rebounds well for his 6-foot, 185-pound frame. The guard often defends some of the opponents most challenging matchups.

DiGiorgio stood across from Catholic Memorial freshman sensation Josiah Adamson, a skilled 6-3 guard who created dangerous looks off the dribble, in the Final Four. He banged down low with BC High big man Dan Civello, listed at 6-9, in the quarterfinals.

"He brings a lot of intensity and grit," Franklin senior Sean O'Leary said. "He takes on anyone, and he's gonna give it his all."

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His offensive game didn't disappear, though. DiGiorgio is a knock-down 3-point shooter and can still erupt for more than 20 points or take over a game for stretches.

"He puts in the hard work. I watch him. I'm with him every day in the summer getting shots up, and I see him working out every single day," Franklin junior Caden Sullivan said. "Seeing the progress he's made since his freshman year has been incredible."

Perspective

At his core, DiGiorgio is a baseball player. He'll continue his career at Northeastern next season, joining former teammate Ryan Gerety. Though the sports differ wildly in their pace and mechanics, DiGiorgio still carries the same mentality and lessons from the diamond to the hardwood and back out again.

"The things you can control are how hard you work and your attitude, how you carry yourself," he said. "That's kind of what I take into both sports is, 'how do I want to be remembered? How does my persona want to be shown to the public?' That's a big thing for me."

He hasn't spoken to his teammates what about what playing in a state final feels like. Those words will probably come in the locker room just before.

"Not everything's going to go our way, but we've got to battle together and have each other's backs and see what we can do to win this thing," Digiorgio said.

He'll take in the whole stage and the crowd at the Tsongas Center once Franklin takes the floor to face the Polar Bears. Losing two baseball state finals allows him a perspective and appreciation of the rarity.

"Just don't let the moment get too big," DiGiorgio said.

It won't for him.

Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: D-I baseball commit Henry DiGiorgio crucial to Franklin's hoops run