THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022 Page 11 GBL NOTEBOOK: Former MHS star Isaiah Likely gets 2022 NFL Combine invite after standout Coastal Carolina career Rated a top tight end heading to 2022 NFL draft; played three seasons at MHS, one at EHS; RHS swimmers off to impressive 4-2 start By Justin McAllister M alden High School may soon be able to say it has produced another NFL player if all goes as planned for Coastal Carolina senior tight end Isaiah Likely. The speedy, 6-4, 225, pass-catching machine, a former longtime Malden resident, now of Cambridge, has had an illustrious college career for the Coastal Chanticleers and just this week received an invitation to participate in the National Football League Combine. This year’s combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. from March 1-7. Likely had another year of eligibility at Coastal Carolina, despite being a senior, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which threw a monkey wrench into most college football programs over these past two seasons. Likely announced on his Twitter page last week (@DaGorilla4) that he was forgoing his fi - nal year of college football eligibility and was declaring for the NFL 2022 draft. In a statement on Twitter, he thanked his family, teammates and fans for their support. “I am excited for the road ahead and the challenges of attaining my ultimate goals in professional football,” Likely wrote in part. “I can’t wait for you all to be there with me for the ride.” He is projected as high as the second round in this year’s NFL Draft and possibly a late fi rstround pick, anywhere from 2940, in many mock drafts. If Likely, as expected, is drafted by the NFL and makes a roster for the 2022 NFL campaign, he would become the third Malden High player to move on the NFL in the past 28 years, and the fi rst off ensive skill player. Dan Jones, a 1988 Malden High graduate who played for the University of Maine, played three seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, from 1993-1995. A 6-7, 298 offensive tackle, he appeared in 35 NFL games for Cincinnati, starting fi ve. Breno Giacomini, a 2005 Malden High School graduate, was drafted in the fi fth round of the 2008 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers. He went on to have the longest NFL career of any player in NFL history, playing two seasons with Green Bay (20082009), four with the Seattle Seahawks (2010-2013), including a 2014 Super Bowl win, three seasons with the New York Jets (2014-2016) and one year with the Houston Texans, in 2017, before retiring after a 10-year career. Likely is projecting to be the highest-drafted player in Malden High history, as well. The second-team All-American grew up in Malden and played eight seasons in Malden, five with Malden Pop Warner football from 2008-2013. Likely then played three seasons at Malden High School, from 20142016, catching over 900 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns for the Golden Tornados in 2016, earning Greater Boston League All-Star honors for the second straight year. In 2015, Likely played a key role in Malden’s 22-19 victory over Everett which gave Head Coach Joe Pappagallo’s Golden Tornadoes team its fi rst GBL Championship in 27 years. At Malden High, Coach Pappagallo – and for his fi nal season, Malden Head Coach Bill Manchester – and their staff s worked diligently to increase Likely’s exposure and help turn the college recruiting spotlight his way. Likely also played one season at Everett High School, for the 2017 season. At the 2022 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Likely and the other select invitees will get to showcase their skills in front of hundreds of coaches and scouts with hopes of making it to the league. Likely leaves Coastal Carolina ranked fi rst all-time among CCU tight ends in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. During his senior campaign, Likely had 59 receptions for 912 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns. a favorite veteran target of quarterback Grayson McCall and the fi fth Chanticleer to eclipse 2,000 career receiving yards. RHS swimmers are off to an impressive 4-2 start The Revere High swim team is off to an impressive 2022 start this season, splashing to a 4-2 record. The Patriots defeated Shawsheen Valley Tech in a non-league meet to start the season, 97-71, and have earned wins over Greater Boston League teams Lynn Classical (89-75), Somerville (87-73) and Lynn English (76-54). Revere’s two setbacks have both been to Malden, falling 93-75 in the fi rst meeting and 90-77 this week. The Patriots have had a lot of individual success stories, including senior captain Mohamed Benzerdjeb, who was first in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke against Classical, fi rst in the 200 IM against Shawsheen, and fi rst in the 100 butterfly against Malden. Senior and team captain Ashton Hoang had fi ve fi rst-place and five second-place finishes in his individual events. Sophomore Alem Cesic has won nine out of 10 races and has won all four of the 500 freestyle endurance races. Coach Porrazzo pointed to the contributions of senior captain Daniel Cardona, junior captain Luanna Carvalhais seniors Julian Goglia and Miguel Leonarte, juniors Gavin Rua and Kathy Trinh and freshman Jannet Sheli; also sophomores Matthew Shell, Harrison Rua, Vilson Lipa, Mo AlAzzawi and Nate Hill and junior Jennifer Rivera-Ayala. Patriots get past Chelsea in return to action By Greg Phipps L ast week’s Greater Boston League action was suspended due to the current COVID-19 spike statewide, but the Revere High School boys’ basketball team was able to get back on the court on Tuesday at Chelsea. The result was a positive one for the Patriots. Head Coach David Leary told the press prior to Tuesday’s contest that the team was looking forward to returning to action. Revere made the best of the opportunity by defeating Chelsea on the road by a 56-52 margin. The win brought the Patriots over the.500 mark at 3-2. James Clauto came close to a double-double by netting 15 points and pulling down eight rebounds. He added four assists to his performance. Also contributing off ensively to the victory were Domenic Boudreau with 10 points and Ramadan Barry with nine in a reserve role. The Patriots were scheduled to face Malden at home on Thursday (after press deadline). Then they are off until next Wednesday (Jan. 19) when they host Everett at 7 p.m. Revere gave the Crimson Tide a tough battle in the season opener at Everett back on Dec. 14. A late surge helped Everett break open that game and pull away to a 67-53 win. Since the season opener, the Patriots have won three of four contests – the only loss being a close 43-40 defeat to Peabody. Girls look to resume season against Malden After having their scheduled return to the court against Chelsea postponed on Tuesday, the Revere girls’ basketball team was hoping to resume action on Thursday at Malden (after press deadline). The girls still sat at 3-2 entering Thursday’s game. Because of all the recent postponements, Revere has a busy upcoming schedule: three games in four days. The Patriots play back-to-back games when they host Peabody in a Martin Luther King Day contest on Monday afternoon (1:30 p.m. tip) and travel to take on Everett on Tuesday night. 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