By Michael Letendre

BRISTOL – There’s always a loud cheer from the crowd at the Thomas M. Monahan Gymnasium when Bristol Eastern super sophomore Zaveyn Tate is doing his thing, whether it’s snaring a tackle for loss in football or blocking an opponent’s shot in basketball.

The Tate’s are a basketball family and a number of athletes from that clan have suited up for the Lancers on the hardwood.

Darieyn was an athletic guard for the program in the mid-2000’s followed by the IQ of younger brother Camryn.

And now, after getting a little sampling of what Zaveyn could do on the court as a freshman last season, his role increased for his sophomore campaign.

He made his season debut last Thursday in the starting line-up, competing at the power forward/center position.

Against an overwhelmed Plainville squad, Tate was on the money over Eastern’s 54-24 blitzing of the Blue Devils.

Tate etched up seven points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field, nabbed three of his team-high 11 rebounds on the offensive glass, rejected three shots and had three steals.

Not all first varsity starts are supposed to go that way but Tate pushed all the right buttons over the thirty-point triumph.

“He’s ahead of his years,” said Eastern coach Bunty Ray of Tate. “I sometimes have to remember that he is a sophomore and that’s his first varsity experience kind of getting out there. But I don’t treat him that way and he doesn’t want to be treated that way. That’s the good thing about him.”

“He wants to be pushed and he wants to be the best he could be.”

Make no mistake about it, this guy is a varsity athlete, ready for the prime time.”

Every time Tate does something well on the court, a loud cheer erupts from the crowd as his family is into every loose ball he scoops up or shot he rejects.

Tate is strong and athletic and causes all sorts of mismatch problems on the court.

He’s show a willingness to bang with anyone inside while shooting a couple shots from deep.

His dribbling ability will help the Lancers get out of several possible jams this season.

“He’s a dual threat at that position,” said Ray. “He can put the ball on the floor. Sometimes he’s going a little fast but that’s just being youthful.”

Tate can also pass the ball with the best of them as his basketball IQ is backed up by his athleticism.

Expect Tate to lead the squad in rebounding and blocked shots.

Once his offensive game catches up to his defensive prowess, he will command attention from opponents as the season rolls along.

“He gives us some rebounding, he can pass,” said Ray. “He’s a problem out there for some teams.”

The scary thing is Tate could just be scratching the surface in terms of ability.

Bigger games are in store for the multi-talented sophomore and expect the cheers to grow louder as the season, and years, go on.

“The more we play to him and I’m trying to get him involved, the better we’re going to be,” said Ray.