Profile: Returns for sophomore season after a strong freshman campaign... Gio is very talented and possesses good athletic ability for this level... A very versatile player who can play on both the perimeter and in the post... He is also one of the best rebounders in the Northeast-10 Conference.
2006-07: Tied for second on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game and led the team with 6.5 rebounds per contest, ranking among the league leaders all season... Earned a spot on the Northeast-10 Conference All-Rookie Team, was a one-time conference Rookie of the Week on February 5th and was named to the league's Weekly Honor Roll six times... Third on the team with 18 blocks after appearing in all but one game, starting 23... Finished with nine double-doubles, including a career-best 28-point, 16-rebound effort vs. Saint Michael's on 1-13-07... Hit nine field goals in two games, including most recently vs. Pace on 2/3/07... Was perfect from the free throw line 11 times, including a perfect 8-for-8 vs. Saint Michael's on 1-13-07... First Hawk rookie since Matt Cahill and Darlington Okerulu to be named to the league's All-Rookie Team.
Previous: Carenza played at St. Anthony's of Jersey City, N.J., under legendary coach Bob Hurley. His team finished the season with a 27-4 record and was ranked fifth in the state of New Jersey. He averaged over 12 points and seven rebounds per game and was named as a First Team All-Hudson County selection.
Coach Dickson on Carenza: "Overall, Gio had an outstanding freshman year and hopefully can continue progressing into one of the top forwards in the NE-10. He was clearly our most productive forward last season and probably was asked to do too much, too soon. Gio is an extremely versatile offensive player, who can play both inside and outside. He has the potential to be a dominant rebounder at this level, but must become a much more consistent overall defender. When Gio really grows up, both physically and mentally, he has a chance to be one of the premier forwards in the league."
Personal: Son of
Mario and Vita... Raised in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and moved to the
United States in the summer of 2003... Undecided on his major.
