Tattoos, Love, and Basketball

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – To some, basketball is three words: shoot and score. For Danielle DiCintio, the sport has encompassed her life and has run through her veins from an early age.

Now a junior at Roberts Wesleyan College, DiCintio has made a name for herself on and off the court. The 20-year-old also holds her family close to her sleeve with three tattoos.

But DiCintio’s journey has been longer than others, as it did not begin in the United States.

A Different Starting Line

DiCintio’s journey to basketball stardom has an interesting beginning. She was born in Medellin, Colombia, 2,423 miles from where she now calls home in Somers, New York.

Two months later, DiCintio was put up for adoption. And that is when Chris and Suzanne DiCintio came along.

Through friends, the DiCintios talked with an attorney to help with their options with adoption.

“The attorney explained our different options, whether inside the United States or outside,” Chris DiCintio said. “And we felt Colombia was the best fit for what we were looking for.”

Danielle was not the first child adopted by the DiCintios, as Chris and Suzanne’s adopted their son, Chris Jr in 2000. Two years later, the DiCintios returned to Colombia to adopt Danielle, turning their family of three into four.

“We had such a good experience that when it was time that we felt we wanted to add to our family, there was not a second thought in our mind that we wanted to go back to Medellin,” Chris DiCintio said.

Danielle says she has no recollection of her time in Colombia. But she always gets a good laugh when people compare her to her adopted father.

“It’s funny, people are always like, you look so much like your dad, and I’m like, I am adopted,” DiCintio said. “But it’s interesting to tell people that I am from Colombia.”

Once coming to the United States, DiCintio grew up like any other American toddler. Chicken nuggets and Chef Boyardee were her meals of choice, and SpongeBob SquarePants was on the family television constantly.

But as she grew up, DiCintio’s curiosity for sports and competition developed too.

Love for Basketball Provides Father-Daughter Bonding

Growing up, the DiCintio household has always been a sports-loving family. Chris Sr has made a name for himself in the high school coaching ranks at Section I powerhouse Rye and now at Somers High School.

And Danielle’s brother became a standout basketball player at Somers High School before attending John Jay College, suiting for the Bloodhounds for three seasons.

For DiCintio, it was much of the same. As a toddler, her parents signed her up for organized sports in their local parks and recreation department. She played many sports, including baseball, lacrosse, soccer, and softball.

However, she says her love for basketball started after a third-grade recreation game.

“[My mom] called my dad because I was scoring and doing things a third-grader should not do,” Danielle said. “So my dad came over, and I guess he was impressed.”

Chris Sr remembers the phone call with his wife very well.

“[Suzanne] said you got to come and watch [Danielle] play, as she was the only one who could reach the basket and make shot after shot,” he said. “I got to the gym, and in the two to three minutes I was sitting down, I knew.”

The ironic part is Chris Sr never worked with his daughter on her basketball skills. Instead, he points to Danielle’s curiosity when he was teaching her brother the fundamentals.

“Dani would either want to come and watch or secretly watch from the window what I was teaching her brother,” he said. “And when we were outside, she would try to emulate what I was showing him by watching from a distance.”

As time went on, DiCintio continued to learn the game. And her father became more and more involved in her development, becoming her head coach at the East Coast Panthers, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball program he founded out of Westchester County.

During that time, the father-daughter bond grew as they traveled across the country playing basketball. The team achieved great success, including winning a national championship in Georgia.

Danielle remembers butting heads with her father on the court. But she says it was the memories that made it worthwhile.

“Sometimes we would fight on the court, and people would laugh at us,” DiCintio said. “But we had that love-hate relationship on the court, and it was awesome playing under my dad.”

But as time grew on, DiCintio’s love for basketball battled with her passion for another sport: soccer.

Her soccer coach then told her to choose between the grass and the hardwood. Although she says it was a tough choice, she chose basketball because of the time commitment.

“When I got into high school and saw college athletes playing, I realized I could not play more than one sport at a time because I could not put all my time into basketball with training, the tournaments, and the recruiting process,” she said. “It was a tough decision, but I am happy I picked basketball.”

With her focus on basketball, DiCintio continued to grow. But nothing would prepare her for a whirlwind freshman season.

A New Experience

Shifting to basketball full-time, DiCintio’s hard work paid off in middle school. She made the varsity team as an eighth grader but was only pulled up for sectionals due to district rules regarding eligibility.

Things changed once DiCintio became a freshman. There was a coaching change, as Marc Hattem was named head coach of the Tuskers. He knew the team he was inheriting had a chance to be great, as they were upset in the sectional quarterfinals a year earlier.

When Hattem got to Somers, he formed a relationship with Danielle’s father, the Tusker’s boys varsity basketball coach. And soon, Hattem saw Dani’s skills on display that summer.

“We had open gyms, and I knew right away that [Dani] was not only good enough to play on varsity as a freshman, but she would probably be our starting point guard,” Hattem said.

And sure enough, DiCintio was a starter that winter.

Being the starting point guard as a freshman may be overwhelming. For DiCintio, it was the complete opposite.

“I did not feel a lot of pressure, as it was all in the moment,” DiCintio said. “It was a trust thing, as I trusted [Coach Hattem], he trusted me, and my teammates trusted me as much as I trusted them.”

A Dream Freshman Season

DiCintio began to grow into her new role as her freshman season continued. But Hattem remembers more how Dani grew as a teammate.

“Her figuring out balancing how to best fit into the team was impressive because as the year went on, she put her scoring ability aside to blend in better with the team,” Hattem said. “And if that did not happen, we do not make that run.”

With DiCintio directing the Tuskers, Somers won their league championship and earned the two seed in Class A for sectionals. And in the blink of an eye, the Tuskers earned a trip to the Section One Class A final against Eastchester.

And thirty-two minutes later, the Tuskers captured their first gold ball in program history, holding off Eastchester, 49-48. And DiCintio made a considerable impact, hitting two three-pointers that gave Somers the momentum they needed to make history.

DiCintio still remembers raising the golden ball and celebrating with her teammates. But her favorite memory of that run was an emotional moment with the man who pushed her on the hardwood.

“I remember going straight to my dad after and crying in his arms because it was such a great feeling to make history,” DiCintio said.

After their sectional win, DiCintio and the Tuskers moved on to the state tournament. They made more history, reaching the Class A final four before losing to Pittsford Mendon.

DiCintio had found her role as point guard for Somers. And even with some turnover due to graduation, the team continued its playoff success, reaching the Class A semi-finals in 2018 and 2019.

But nothing could prepare DiCintio for a wild senior season.

Rollercoaster

Going into her senior year at Somers, the circumstances were a little different for DiCintio. Many of her teammates from that magical 2017 season were gone. And the pressure was on for her to lead the Tuskers back to the glory they tasted three years earlier.

It was not easy for DiCintio in that 2019-2020 season. Throughout the season, opposing coaches would throw double-teams and face guard her. It did not phase DiCintio, as she put her head down and went to work.

Eventually, she eclipsed 1000 career points in a 60-29 win over Lakeland on January 29. And after a 1-5 start, DiCintio helped the Tuskers win another league championship and crawl back into the playoff hunt.

When sectionals rolled around, it was unfamiliar territory for DiCintio and the Tuskers, as they were the No. 8 seed. However, DiCintio led Somers with 24 points in an opening-round win over Yonkers to reach the Class A quarterfinals.

Standing in her way of a fourth-straight Class A semifinal appearance was Rye, who broke the Tusker’s hearts two years earlier with a putback layup as time expired. That shot denied DiCintio and the Tuskers a chance to defend their sectional title.

The game was back and forth all night until the Tuskers held a five-point lead with less than a minute remaining. It looked like DiCintio’s high school career was not over, until Rye went on a 5-0 run to tie the game at 59 with 14.7 seconds left.

With the momentum gone, DiCintio tried to dribble past three defenders in the paint for a final shot attempt. But as she hit the foul line, the ball was stolen from her. And like two years earlier, Rye knocked DiCintio and the Tuskers out with a putback layup as time expired.

Emotions ran high for DiCintio in the visiting locker room. But there was an added piece of disappointment that only she had.

“My dad coached at Rye High School, and that was the gym I grew up in playing basketball,” DiCintio said. “Knowing I lost in the gym I started in was very upsetting.”

Despite the heartbreak, DiCintio put together an accolade-riddled career at Somers. She earned league player of the year her senior season and scored 1,166 career points.

DiCintio’s high school basketball career may have been over. But her collegiate career was just beginning, 356 miles away in Rochester, New York.

Redhawks Come Calling

In high school athletics, individual success early in your career often leads to early recruitment for athletes. For DiCintio, she was just another example.

After helping the Tuskers to their first sectional championship in program history, colleges began to notice. One of those was Roberts Wesleyan College and head coach Kevin Clifford.

Danielle remembers when Coach Clifford reached out after hearing about her from a coach at LeMoyne College.

“At the time, Coach Clifford was looking for a point guard, and my dad said, do not worry about her she is a sophomore,” DiCintio said. “But he wanted film on me, and we gave it to him.”

DiCintio eventually went up for a visit and worked out with the team. One of those players was former AAU teammate Samantha Volpe, who, with the help of Dani’s father, committed to Roberts a year earlier.

However, Roberts was not the only school that was interested. Lower-level Division I programs, such as American University and Bryant, were interested.

She even received interest from Division II Daemen College, one of the Redhawks’ biggest rivals.
But when DiCintio visited Roberts a second time, she knew that was where she wanted to be.

“I have a tough time learning in a big classroom, so I needed that small class, and Roberts provided that,” she said. “And just knowing that Coach Clifford and Coach Rosati had my back and that the team was cool from the start was important too.”

Going into her senior season at Somers, DiCintio put pen to paper and signed with the Redhawks. But like her first year at Somers, the excitement was only beginning.

A New Role

Going into her first year at Roberts Wesleyan, DiCintio was ready to hit the ground running. There was hope the 1000-point scorer and four-year starter at Somers would begin to work into the starting rotation.

But playing at any college level can bring a new perspective on how to play and scheme. For DiCintio, she was not the focal point like she was at Somers. But she was okay with that.

“When I played in high school, if we would be down, I would say to my friends that if you guys are not going to play, then I am going to go off,” she said. “But going into college, I already had those shooters, and I realized I loved being the passer.”

The Redhawks already had prolific shooters in Paige McCormick and Taryn Wilson and a starting point guard in Madison McCormick. So, DiCintio found a role coming off the bench for the Redhawks.

She made the most of her role, leading the team with 59 assists. Accustomed to her role-player mentality, DiCintio played a vital role late in the season.

But her shooting ability came into play in a matchup against Molloy, as her game-tying three-pointer sent the game into overtime. With the win, Roberts clinch a bye into the East Coast Conference Playoffs.

The Redhawks eventually won their first East Coast Conference Championship in program history in an upset over Molloy. But the Redhawks season was not done, as DiCintio’s shot spurred a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament. DiCintio would start four out of the five playoff games, including 46 minutes in a double overtime win over top seed Dominican College.

DiCintio’s first year at Roberts was similar to her first year at Somers. However, she says the second go-round was a new beginning.

“It compared in that we won everything and started going on winning streaks, but my mind said this is a new beginning for me,” DiCintio said.

DiCintio helped make history in her first season at Roberts Wesleyan. But her relationships off the court were becoming just as important.

A Budding Friendship

When Danielle DiCintio came to Roberts in September 2020, she was not the only future superstar in the recruiting class. Ithaca High School guard Georgia Haverlock also joined the Redhawks that fall.

Haverlock still remembers first meeting DiCintio before their championship run that winter.

“On the first day of school, we had orientation day and had the opportunity to meet everybody,” Haverlock said. We also lived in the same suite, so eventually, that was how I came to introduce myself.”

When their freshman seasons began, Haverlock and DiCintio became role players off the bench for the Redhawks. And DiCintio says that allowed them to get close.

“We got close off the court, even texting each other to see how we are doing,” DiCintio said. “And that is where it all started.”

But in their sophomore season, DiCintio and Haverlock were both inserted into the starting lineup. And that is when their friendship grew on the basketball court with trust.

“If they were pressing us full court, I would give her a nod to go deep and say I got you,” DiCintio said. “Others do not have that mindset of Georgia and me, as we can tell things through our mind.”

Although the Redhawks did not repeat as East Coast Conference champions, the Haverlock-DiCintio friendship paid dividends on the court. Haverlock shot up to second in team scoring while DiCintio notched 139 assists, good for 18th in the nation.

But basketball is not the only thing that has built the on and off-the-court friendship between DiCintio and Haverlock. Another piece is their faith.

Both players came to Roberts with some form of religious understanding. But Haverlock says walking alongside Dani in their spiritual journey in college helped their connection grow.

“Being able to see that alongside Dani is great because we are accountability partners for each other, and we can grow with each other and know we are not in it alone,” Haverlock said.

DiCintio echos a similar tone.

“[Our faith] has built us a relationship that keeps getting stronger on and off the court,” DiCintio said. “And Georgia truly helped me grow with god and has picked me up when I was down myself.”

Leader and Scorer?

Going into her junior year at Roberts Wesleyan, things look a little different for DiCintio and the Redhawks. The team lost two leaders to graduation in Taryn Wilson and Dimitra Gkizani, leaving some big shoes to fill on and off the court.

DiCintio says she is ready to step up and fill that role, thanks to what she learned from her former teammates.

“You have to have a relationship with your teammates off the court and not just individually, but as a team,” DiCintio said. “You need to let them know you are there for them and constantly checking in to see if they are okay.”

Coach Clifford believes DiCintio can become a leader for the Redhawks this season through competition and development.

“Dani has some characteristics, as she is competitive, has gotten better in the classroom, and knows a lot of the players returning and those coming in,” Clifford said. “It may take some time, but she is buying into the way we do things.”

Along with stepping into that leadership role, DiCintio also wants to become a captain this season.

However, DiCintio’s role on the court may also need to step up. Last season, Wilson and Gkizani combined for almost 37% of the team’s scoring, leaving a big hole to fill on the scoring sheet.

DiCintio did show what she is capable of in the last game of the season, hitting a career-high six three-pointers to help the Redhawks place third in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Tournament.

Georgia Haverlock says she has gotten on DiCintio for not taking enough shots and expects her to score more this season.

“She is very pass-first, and I have gotten on her in practice before to shoot the open shot,” Haverlock said. “But her ability to score is greater than people give her credit for, and she can show this year that she is not just a one-dimensional player.”

Despite the praise, DiCintio has been working off the court during summer break by working with a personal trainer five times a week and picking up boxing. She also has been working on her shot, following a shooting program Coach Clifford gave her before she left for semester break.

Come this fall, DiCintio will be back with her teammates in Rochester, gearing up for the 2022-2023 season. She will also continue her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in childhood education.

But basketball will never leave DiCintio once her playing career is over. She says she wants to get into coaching, something her father has allowed her to do for his AAU team in the summer.

Chris Sr knows his daughter would be a great coach at any level. And if his daughter were to call him and ask him to join her coaching staff, he would say yes in a heartbeat.

“I would consider it an honor, and it would be the greatest way I could end my career to be able to finish coaching on the sideline with Dani,” he said.

Danielle DiCintio has kept basketball near and dear to her heart. And with three years of eligibility remaining at the collegiate level, she may be just getting started.

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