NATE DISESSA
Lasell College’s Nate DiSessa, a former Westfield High player, takes a jump shot. (Photo courtesy of Lasell College Sports Information Department)
Great Bomber, great sportsman
DiSessa’s sportsmanship honored by GNAC
By PETER FRANCIS
Intern
NEWTON – It’s been a long road for Nate DiSessa, a former basketball star at Westfield high school, who has just finished up his senior season at Lasell College in Newton.
And last week, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) honored him with a spot on their postseason sportsmanship team, which featured a representative from each team in the conference.
The 5-foot, 9-inch spitfire of a point guard has lived the life of a basketball nomad since leaving the Whip City after graduating from WHS in 2007.
While running point for the Bombers, DiSessa was a two-time all-Western Mass selection and became the first player to play on four straight tournament teams at Westfield High, culminating with an appearance in the state semifinals as a senior. Another personal highlight of that magical senior year came against rival Longmeadow, when DiSessa exploded for 44 points in an overtime victory.
“Westfield High is an amazing program,” DiSessa said in a recent interview, “I wouldn’t be a college basketball player without Coach (Bill) Daley and my teammates. They made me a college point guard.”
Beginning his college hoop career at Elms College in Chicopee, where he was a spark plug for coach Ed Silva’s Blazers, appearing in 30 games and dishing out 42 assists against 27 turnovers.
Then in 2009, after three semesters at Elms, DiSessa was on the move, transferring north to Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire after the semester break. At both schools, Nate earned a reputation as a steady floor general whose ball handling and sparkling assist-to-turnover ratio could single-handedly win games.
After his sophomore season at Keene, Nate began the second leg of his basketball odyssey, ending up at Lasell College last spring.
DiSessa remained close to Coach Silva even after his transfer to KSC, and it was that connection that led him to Newton.
“(Ed) put me in contact with him when he started looking for another program after Keene,” Laser Coach Aaron Galletta said. “His experience was so vital to us this year, which is why he served as a captain for us this season. He’s a real heady player, he makes smart decisions with the ball. He’s proven to be the ideal college point guard.”
And while he was not an official member of the team when he arrived on Lasell’s campus last spring, DiSessa’s presence was felt by all involved with the Laser program.
“After a 6-19 season, we needed solid guard play,” added fellow senior captain Javon Williams, a forward from Mattapan, Boston, who was selected all-conference this season. “Nate is the best point guard I’ve ever played with. Despite it being his first year with the program, he displayed some great leadership for us at the one.”
The Lasers improved dramatically this season, thanks in large part to DiSessa’s veteran presence in the backcourt. After starting the season slow, Lasell turned it on to close the year out, with big conference wins against Emmanuel on senior day, and on the road at Norwich.
The Lasers then defeated the Saints of Emmanuel again in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament, thanks in large part to a particularly DiSess-ian performance from the Wizard of Westfield, in which he played 35 minutes, scored 11 points (9 of which came at the free throw line), and dished out 7 assists (to only 4 turnovers).
“I prayed to God we would end up getting him when he visited campus last year,” said Williams, who scored 25 points against the Saints in the first round. “When he came in, I knew we were getting a great player.”
DiSessa has enjoyed his short time at Lasell, considering his teammates and coaches the best part of his decision.
“I haven’t had the most conventional college career,” the senior said with a chuckle, “but these guys and Coach Galletta have really made it worthwhile. I’ve found a place that I fit in really well here.”
The senior is currently pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice, but says he hopes to continue being involved with hoops as a coach, looking to instill his on-court values in his future players, namely sportsmanship.
“That’s what it’s all about,” DiSessa said. “Sportsmanship is about representing your team, your school, your family. It’s about playing the game right.”
And now Lasell fans are coming to realize something Westfield fans have known for years: Nate DiSessa isn’t just a great basketball player, but a great sportsman as well.
Peter Francis can be reached at [email protected]
