One Grand Guard:WHS Player Devin Pulsifer Enters 1,000-Point Club

By Cary Shuman

Devin Pulsifer has earned the moniker that all basketball players seek: He is “a scorer.”

The 6-foot-2-inch Winthrop High School senior guard can simply put the ball in the basket at any time in any gym. He has excellent technique on his jump shot, can drive to the basket and finish, and knows how to elude a defender and get open for a pass.

So even as Pulsifer received the ultimate respect from the Danvers coach with box-and-one and triangle-and-two-defenses designed to challenge him and backcourt mate Tayjuan McKenzie , Winthrop fans knew it was only a matter of time before the talented 18-year-old hoopman would deliver the moment for which they had waited: the 1,000th-point of his WHS varsity career.

Pulisfer needed 10 points to reach the milestone, and he took care of it during an explosive second quarter. He hit two short-range shots, and sandwiched two free throws around a three-pointer. With 1:59 left in the half, Pulsifer grabbed his own rebound and swished a 10-foot floater in the lane to reach 1,000 points.

Pulisfer completed his memorable night with 17 points in a 73-56 victory over the Falcons.

“It was a good game, and I started off slowly in the first quarter, but I just kept playing the game with my teammates, and I knew it would happen as long as I played hard and played good defense,” said Pulsifer.

Pulsifer said his teammates stepped up in the first half and opened up the floor.

“David Diaz (16 points on terrific outside shooting), Alex Dernier (10 points), and Chrono Washington (14 points) stepped up and hit some shots and got Danvers out of their defense and when they started pressing, it opened lanes so I could get to the basket and hit some open shots,” said Pulsifer.

Senior guard Tayjuan McKenzie had seven points while the rapidly improving 6-foot-8-inch center Elliot Frank had eight points, seven rebounds, and five blocked shots.

Pulsifer described the milestone-reaching shot as “an offensive rebound, putback.”

“I never really imagined what type of shot it would be – I just knew if I played hard I would end up getting it [1,000th point],” he said.

Pulsifer thanked the fans for their support and the colorful signs in the student body section. “It showed a lot of school spirit and I liked it. It was a good crowd,” he said. “I want to give a shutout to my teammates and coaches. I couldn’t have done this without them.”

Winthrop High Athletic Director Matt Serino stopped the game for a special presentation to Pulsifer. Devin’s parents, Rick and Stephanie, joined him for the brief, on-court ceremony. His father was the Winthrop travel team basketball coach in grades five through eight.

“My father taught me the shooting techniques and how to play,” said Pulsifer.

WHS coach David Sacco, a 1,330-point man himself at Pope John XXIII High School in Everett, said it’s an impressive accomplishment for a high school player.

“It’s a great feeling any time you see a kid, especially one of your own that you coach, score a 1,000 points,” said Sacco. “It’s really an outstanding achievement for him. Devin’s really worked hard over the past few years, especially after I became coach in April. His game has really evolved. He’s known as a very good three-point shooter, but he’s able to put the ball to the floor and go by people. He uses his body well around the hoop, and he’s able to finish a lot. He’s become a dual threat where he can shoot the ball and also get to the basket and score.”

One of the fans in attendance was former Winthrop High and Suffolk basketball player Nick Tsiotos, brother of 1,000-point scorer and basketball legend Chris Tsiotos, for whom the Winthrop High court is named.

“Devin is just a great kid and an outstanding basketball player,” said Tsiotos. “He knows how to play the game, and it’s fun to watch him. This was an exciting night for the fans, the coaches, the players, and certainly a very proud one for Devin’s family.”

With the milestone in the record books, Pulsifer is setting his sights on some lofty team goals.

“The state title is the big goal,” said Pulsifer. “We want to make a better run in the playoffs than we did last year.”