Russell Fenton is having the best season of his four-year career with the Foxes basketball team and has been especially effective on both offense and defense. In part, his success and effectiveness come from his composure and attention to detail, which also carry over to the classroom. Last semester, Russell carried a 4.7 quality point average and, when he was a junior, he earned a perfect score on his SATs.
It’s that same kind of desire to seek perfection that first drew Russell to start analyzing every boys basketball team in WPIAL Section 6A and 5A. The aspiring engineer devotes more time to viewing film than just about anyone else, has remarkable recall, and has become a valuable resource when it comes to scouting opponents.
“I’m very uncomfortable with the idea of being underprepared, so at the beginning of my freshman year, I committed myself to watch more film than anyone else on the team,” explains Russell, who credits preparedness as one of the team’s strengths. “That way, our coaches would be confident to play me in big games. Also, I am a huge fan of high school basketball, so watching other games is enjoyable for me. At this point, it’s become a habit, and I don’t see any reason to change now.”
Unassuming, Analytical Approach
Russell’s calmness on the court when facing adversity might go unnoticed at times because he doesn’t have a flashy style. He doesn’t care about being in the limelight; he just goes about his business and would rather have a team victory than rack up his own stats. However, it’s that kind of steady presence that has helped the Foxes earn a perfect section record, an overall tally of 21-1, and another shot at becoming WPIAL champions, something that only occurred once in school history in 1977.
“That’s always been my approach,” Russell says. “I’m generally a pretty reserved and stoic person, so that carries over onto the court. For me, remaining outwardly calm helps to quell any internal nervousness that I have during the game.”
He also exhibits a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and it’s not a coincidence.
“I believe that my biggest strength is my basketball IQ,” Russell says. “I’m not the tallest, most athletic, or most skilled player, but I think I am very strong in the mental aspect of the game. That’s a credit to all of the coaches and teammates who have helped me develop over the years.”
A student of the game who constantly pushes himself to play better, Russell spends a lot of time in the offseason fine-tuning his defensive skills, something he acknowledges has not always been his strength. He’s also put in many hours conditioning and getting quicker, and the results have clearly impressed his coaches.
His two-point field goal percentage so far this season is 63%, ahead of the team average by 7%. His free throw average is 67%, and Russell seems to make some of them at critical times in the game by forcing penalties. He also leads the team in offensive rebounding and has a knack for being able to convert those rebounds to points himself, or he finds his teammates for second chance opportunities.
“Russell has been extremely locked in all season in practice, watching film, and in our games,” says coach Zach Skrinjar. “Whether it’s guarding and shutting down a top scorer, or preventing a big play, his interior defense has been vital to our ability to shut down opponents. He does all of the little things needed to win and can be counted on during crucial situations. Overall, Russell has just done an excellent job on being focused on the task at hand and is the definition of an ultimate team player.”
“Coach Skrinjar has entrusted me with guarding some of our opponents’ best players, and I have held my own, so I am glad that the work I put in is paying dividends,” Russell says. It goes without saying that he practices his shot all year long and has a self-imposed goal when he practices alone in the gym. He doesn’t leave until he makes 10 consecutive free throws.
“I’ve found that repetition is the key to successful free-throw shooting, so that exercise has built confidence that has carried over into games,” he says
Positive Role Model
Before games, Russell can often be seen in the stands, alone, watching the girls’ games, but it’s not a pregame ritual to seek out some quiet reflection prior to his competition. His real reason for seeing the girls play is reflective of his character – his younger sister Brooke is a freshman point guard on the girls team, so he tries to catch as many of her games as possible. He says he doesn’t critique her playing, unless he’s asked to do so, but just wants to show his support.
“I make sure that I support Brooke because I know how much it meant to me when I was in her situation,” Russell says. “When Claire (his older sister) would stay after her game to watch mine, I really appreciated it, so I figured that I could pay it forward by doing the same for Brooke.”
There is also a fourth Fenton sibling who plays basketball, Grant, a seventh-grader, who will have a chance to play for the high school in the not-too-distant future. Like Russell, and Claire before him, Brooke is next in line to carry on a great family tradition.