Middle Township senior Re'Ale Basquine scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Panthers' 64-56 win over Lenape in the Jimmy V Tournament at Cherokee High School in Marlton, New Jersey on Saturday, December 16, 2023. Kevin Emmons/South Jersey Sports Zone
MARLTON - Re'Ale Basquine felt like he was in a movie when he relocated to the United States.
The Middle Township High School senior grew up in London, England and his only perception of America derived from films and television shows. When he moved to Cape May County, the scenery and his experiences felt comparable to those movies and shows.
The 6-foot-6 wing forward put on his own show with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds in Middle Township's 64-56 triumph over Lenape in the Jimmy V Tournament at Cherokee High School on Saturday night.
Basquine averaged 10.2 points, a team-high 8.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game last season. He also recorded five double doubles. Basquine had to adjust to the faster pace of American basketball and become more instinctual.
On Saturday, Basquine showcased his extended range that he improved during the offseason and continued to be a force around the rim on both ends of the floor. With a full year of American basketball experience under his belt, Basquine feels more comfortable on the court.
"Last year it was kind of hard," Basquine said, "because European basketball and basketball here are two different things. I had to learn basically from the ground up. So last year was just a learning experience for me. This year, I'm just trying to show what I've been working on all summer."