Athlete of the Week

In 1988, Cornell won the Ivy League basketball title. Since then, no other team has managed to knock Princeton and Penn off their posts as perennial Ivy champions. This year's Bulldog squad has a legitimate chance, already having defeated five non-conference opponents, including an impressive victory over Penn State. Yale's team is young, and thus far, forward Paul Vitelli, MC '04, has been one of its most important keys to success.

Vitelli's game has been consistently solid from the start of the season. As the second-leading scorer on the team, averaging 13.2 points per game and shooting 47 percent from the field, Vitelli considers shooting the strongest aspect of his play. Apart from his offensive skills, Vitelli also leads the Elis with 8.2 rebounds per game and 10 blocks.

After a successful freshman year, during which he averaged nearly six points a game and once was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week, Vitelli was sidelined most of the summer after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Instead of working on his ball handling and low-post skills, Vitelli spent months healing torn cartilage in his knee. "Rehab on the knee was difficult, because I would rather have been playing," Vitelli said. "It still gets sore, but all that stuff paid off and it feels pretty good now overall."

COURTESY SPORTS PUBLICITY Paul Vitelli, MC '04 Men's basketball Hometown: Morristown, N.J. Major: Psychology Favorite class: Popularity, Friendship, and Peer Relations Favorite book: Catcher in the Rye Favorite movie: Braveheart Favorite food: Steak

Coach James Jones said he has seen marked improvement in Vitelli's play and attitude this year. "Last year, Paul was what we call a floater, a guy who would be great [in] some games and totally nonexistent in others. This year, he's been a presence in every game and on every possession."

With his knee surgery a success, Vitelli has performed with energy and enthusiasm in every game this season, even though his role has changed from freshman year. Yale's team is young and small, with two freshmen starters. The 6'7", 215-lb. Vitelli, as one of the team's biggest players, has been counted upon to fill the low-post position. Without any seniors on the team, Vitelli has evolved into a team leader. "I don't think I serve any specific role on the team," Vitelli said. "They count on me for rebounding, scoring, and defense, and I try to take a leading role on the court. The team chemistry started off slow, but we're getting accustomed to each other and I think we're all coming into our own."

A native of Morristown, N.J., Vitelli starred on the court his senior year at Delbarton High, leading his team with 18 points and 11 rebounds per game. He was named to both all-conference and all-county teams and shot an impressive 62 percent from the field. Though sidelined by injury this summer, Vitelli was selected to represent the United States at the World Maccabiah Games.

Jones sees Vitelli as a team leader, a positive presence on the court, and one of the main reasons why Yale is winning. "He's a great kid," Jones said. "He's been playing all year with a smile on his face, and that makes all the difference. He doesn't take things too seriously, and he's there for us playing hard. He's really been answering the bell for us this year."

—Jon Cohen

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