Stockmal Twins Reflect on Watertown, Look Ahead Towards NYU

March 19, 2009 Tyler Simms

Just after committing to play at NYU next year, Watertown's Cory and Kyle Stockmal were kind enough to talk to New England Hoop News. The Stockmal's have picked up numerous accomplishments along their high school careers, as both amassed more than 1,000 points individually (including Kyle's school record) and team-goals as two state titles (once as sophomores and again this year as seniors). Both Cory and Kyle also were also selected to play in the New England All-Star Challenge this Sunday at Springfield College.

New England Hoop News: First, how good does it feel to go out with a state title as a senior?

Kyle Stockmal: It's awesome...just a great feeling. It's what we strive for every year to win the state title. That's the ultimate goal and it's the best feeling in the world when you're on top. We would have it any other way.

Cory agreed with his brother but also talked about the extra motivation they had after losing in the tournament to Scituate their junior year.

Cory Stockmal: Two years ago when we won it being the first team in Watertown to win the title was an amazing feeling...and we knew we wanted to win it again. Then last year [losing] made us want it even more. Our whole team, all our seniors have been dreaming about going out with a win. It's the biggest reward to go out with a state championship.

NEHN: Has it hit you yet that you won't be wearing the Watertown uniform anymore?

Cory: Not yet I don't think [laughs]...maybe not until I go till NYU then it might hit me.

Kyle disagreed but still mentioned there's still the excitement from the Championship and their recent commitment.

Kyle: Maybe a little bit but there's still a lot of excitement with us. With the season just ending then committing to college...maybe a little bit later when I get to relax and take a breath.

NEHN: After the win over Sabis in the championship game, Coach Harrington (Watertown's Head Coach) said that you guys were the winningest players in Watertown's history with 84 wins in four years. Did you guys know that and how special is it?

Kyle: Yeah, he told us after the game about that. You know, its just an honor to be able to play with so many good players over our four years. We definitely can't take all the credit...those guys contributed to it just as much as we did. It's just an honor to be a part of those teams.

Cory also credited those players who came through Watertown before they did.

Cory: I kind of suspected it since the last few years was the only time any Watertown team won more than 20 games three years in a row. But we were more focused on the state championships. There has been so many great teams through the years like the one that went 22-0 a few years ago...but knowing that we were part of the only 2 state titles is great.

NEHN: So now switching over to your decision to go to NYU...what was the deciding factor that made you end up choosing them?

Kyle: Well I think it was a couple of reasons. What was really big was getting into the Stern Business School there, which is one of the top business schools in the country. Plus they play in one of the best Division III conferences in the country [the UAA], which travels everywhere. So it's got that big program feel and they love basketball as much as I do. Also, I think we both had a great relationship with the coaches.

Cory agreed with almost everything that Kyle said but added that he liked the fact of being in New York City.

Cory: I really loved the city, so the location was perfect. But also the coaches were great all through the process. They were very nice and never gave up recruiting me throughout. They came up to a few of our games and kept talking with us all through the season and tournament. Plus getting into Stern was big, that was a deciding factor definitely.

NEHN: So were you guys willing to go somewhere away from each other or did it work out that you were getting recruited by the same schools?

Cory: I think that many of the same schools recruited both of us because we had similar profiles. But we also both kind of liked the same schools. At one point we both decided that we would just go to the best schools individually regardless. And it just kind of ended up that way I guess.

His brother also echoed these same words when talking about their decision.

Kyle: We got recruited by mostly the same schools but we didn't have a problem going separately. We made our decisions separately though. I first told him that I was going to go to NYU, and then later he came to me and said he was going to do the same. So then we thought we might as well call Coach [Nesci] (Head Coach at NYU) together.

NEHN: And lastly, you guys have received a lot of individual accolades, but what are you most proud about your brother's accomplishments or rewards?

Cory: I was really happy for him breaking the school's scoring record. But the best thing is how he just wants to win. We both hate to lose...he'll do whatever it takes to win. That's probably his best quality is he just doesn't back down.

Kyle went ahead and mentioned his brother's determination as well when Cory suffered an ankle sprain earlier in the season but was able to bounce back and help his team to the state title.

Kyle: The individual awards are good but we both know that winning is most important. But with Cory I'm probably most impressed with his getting hurt and then staying on the court and doing whatever it takes for us to win. I mean him coming back from injury, his offense suffered a little but he stepped up his defense and wouldn't let us lose.

It should be noted that throughout the interview both Cory and Kyle mentioned numerous times how important winning was to them. When asked about their goals for next year at NYU, both mentioned that they just want to come in and contribute anyway possible to help the Violets get back on top of the UAA. NYU has struggled the last couple years finishing below .500 in conference the last two seasons. With the Stockmal's in the backcourt for the next four years, NYU has a very good chance to get back to the top of the UAA.

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