Semaj Bethea brings special skill set to St. Augustine squad
BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP – A week ago, Semaj Bethea was the total package.
“He's a great decision maker,” St. Augustine coach Paul Rodio said, of his sophomore point guard. “The decisions that he makes with the ball; he's as good as anybody I've ever coached, and I've coached some great point guards. He knows when to pass it and when to just go up and score. His use of both hands. If you had talked to me about seven days ago, I'd have said he was a good foul shooter, too, but right now I can't say that.”
Rodio did say Bethea was among the best point guards in South Jersey, though; that despite a 4-for-7 showing at the free-throw line on the way to a team-high 16 points in the Hermits' 73-36 shellacking of Cape-Atlantic League rival Wildwood Catholic Wednesday. He made just two of four when the Crusaders were called for two technical fouls late in the first half – but in his defense, he did convert a three-point play opportunity early in the second quarter. It came during the course of a 10-3 run that gave the Hermits a 12-point advantage.
It was never closer than an eight-point game after that.
Bethea said his father, Clem, encouraged him to play basketball and also taught him to play point guard.
“I really just listened to my dad since I was younger,” he said. “Follow in his steps and listen – let him guide me through everything.”
Basketball is just one skill he's picked up at home, though.
“I can cook,” Bethea said, smiling. “My aunt taught me to make shrimp alfredo. That's my favorite. My whole family can cook. I'm not a dessert guy – maybe a little bit – I can make banana pudding. But my mom makes great desserts.”
Bethea transferred to St. Augustine after spending his freshman year at Woodrow Wilson.
“This summer, for two or three months, I played with the team. Came out to the workouts. I felt like it was a good fit, so I made the move, and everything is great now,” Bethea said. “We jelled the first game. Considering that we didn't have any scrimmages and we were out for COVID, everything was kind of everywhere, but we came together as a team, and now I feel like we're good.”
There wasn't any doubt, in the Hermits' camp. They knew they had guys who could play, because they did it every day. From outside, though, you looked at the quality of the last graduating class, and you couldn't help but wonder what they'd come up with.
And when the first thing you notice about them is their sudden lack of size, you're bound to have doubts. Junior center Ife Okebiorun is 6-7. Sophomore forward Elijah Brown is 6-3. The Hermits don't have another starter that's 6-feet tall.
But if this is a work in progress, it's one that might end up in The Louvre.
“Last year we were big,” Rodio said. “This year, we're smaller and quick, and we're young. This kid (Bethea) is a sophomore. We're going to be very good in the future.”
Actually they're pretty good right now. Wednesday night's win raised their record to 11-0. They've won by double-digit margins in all but one of those contests.
Bethea's 16.1 points per game leads St. Augustine. He's also the Hermits' assist leader.
“I'm comfortable now,” he said. “I'm just trying to facilitate and score; get everybody in the team involved. Really, there hasn't been a change. At Wilson I was more of a scorer. Here I'm more of a point guard, but still score at will.
“I adapted naturally. I'm used to playing on big stages like this, and coming to this new team I just wanted to get a feel for everything; be a leader on the team and get the job done.”
John A. Lewis is a sports writer for the Burlington County Times, Courier Post and The Daily Journal. E-mail him at jlewis@thebct.com or follow on Twitter @JohnLewis19. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Vineland Daily Journal: Bethea brings elite skill to St. Augustine backcourt
