By Mike Hogan
Sports Editor
While this year’s St. Bonaventure University men’s basketball team has featured a number of new faces, including four freshmen and one eligible transfer, one unknown remains in sophomore transfer Bobby Planutis, who is required to sit out the entire 2018-19 season per NCAA transfer rules.
Although Planutis acknowledged that the coaching change at Mount St. Mary’s greatly influenced his decision to transfer, head coach Mark Schmidt’s recent run of three straight 20-win seasons and an NCAA tournament appearance here at St. Bonaventure played a big role as well.
“Our coach left a week after I got there,” said Planutis. “We all knew he was leaving. But we’re real good here. The NCAA tournament run helped draw me here.”
Planutis, a native of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, played high school basketball at Hazleton Area High School, where he averaged 20 points a game, and grew from 6’1 to 6’6 in less than three years. After graduating from Hazleton in 2016, Planutis played basketball at Bridgton Academy in Maine. Planutis hit 70 three-pointers in his one season at prep school and finished as the third-ranked prep player in the state of Maine.
Planutis, who started 25 of 32 games at Mount St. Mary’s a season ago, transferred to St. Bonaventure due to a coaching change. The sophomore averaged 5.6 points per game and earned a reputation as a three-point shooter, shooting 49 percent.
Planutis described this season as a chance to learn and grow as a player.
“I think this year has been a real good experience,” said the soft-spoken Planutis. “Just being a part of the team, getting the chance to practice everyday and working on my game individually. I’m a shooter, so my shot has improved even more, but strength wise I feel like I have gotten a lot stronger. I’d say that pretty much every facet of game has improved this year. I am still looking to get better at everything.”
Planutis admits that his basketball IQ has improved since transferring to St. Bonaventure, and he credits Coach Schmidt and his teammates for his improved understanding of the program.
“Coach Schmidt is a really good basketball mind,” said Planutis. “Learning the different x’s and o’s. What’s open, what’s not and what to look for out there on the court.”
In a season where Planutis is required to sit out for every game, he expressed that he treats practices the same way he would treat a game.
“I have to treat practices like a game,” said Planutis. “But during games, I bring the energy from the bench.”
Planutis will finish off the rest of this season continuing to better all facets of his game, but he will soon get his opportunity to step on to the court with his teammates on a gameday soon enough in November.
hoganm17@bonaventure.edu
