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# Nashua South's Genao hoping to follow in footsteps of past basketball standouts
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/nashua-souths-genao-hoping-follow-footsteps-past-basketball-standouts/
- Published: 2017-01-06T15:30:39.000Z
- Updated: 2017-01-06T15:30:39.000Z
- Description: Nate Mazerolle broke protocol the day after the Nashua High School South boys basketball team lost to Manchester Memorial in the first round of the Division I playoffs. The longtime Panthers coach did something he rarely does so early in the offseason, but at the time, felt like it was an clear move
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, boys basketball, Nashua South, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

Nate Mazerolle broke protocol the day after the Nashua High School South boys basketball team lost to Manchester Memorial in the first round of the Division I playoffs.

The longtime Panthers coach did something he rarely does so early in the offseason, but at the time, felt like it was an clear move.

"The day after we lost last year, and I don't do this often, but I named Kevin (Genao) a captain," Mazerolle said. "He's everything you'd ask for. It was an obvious choice. He has always been the floor general. He's always been team first and what more could you ask for in your leader and point guard."

And when fellow senior-to-be DJ Frechette announced early last summer that he'd be leaving to attend Governors Academy, both coach and point guard knew there would be a lot hoisted on Genao's shoulders.

South, which is 1-1 in Division I going into Friday's game against Bedford, not only lost Frechette, but also had five players graduate from a team that was the eighth seed in the division a year ago.

"It's my year to do my thing and take care of my team," he said. "I took that as a role where I'd have to step up. It's been a challenge because we have a different roster.

"Going into the season, we all had to have the same focus and the same hunger just to be a team that's going to be able to fight any given night. Everyone has had to be on the same page and we've had to have a lot of cohesion."

While that cohesion has been a work in progress in some ways for the Panthers, stepping into the spot light while wearing a South uniform is something Genao has thought about for quite some time.

As a young player, Genao attended plenty of South basketball games and remembers what it was like watching those players, like Tim and Jack Preston, Yordy Tavarez and Anthony Muccioli, and seeing them have success.

"When I was in elementary and middle school, I looked that the high school kids and thought 'I want to be that kid,' " Genao said. "I want to be a kid that the city looks at and they're impressed. They were all great players. If I put the work in, I could be like them."

It didn't take long for Genao to get into that position. After seeing some varsity time as a freshman, he stepped into the starting lineup at point guard as a sophomore and helped the Panthers get the seventh seed in Division I.

"It's been his job ever since," Mazerolle said. "He's a coach on the floor. He knows everything we're doing. In recent history, he's been one of the most important players (in the program). He is top three in terms of leadership. That's the best compliment I could pay him and I could give you a million."

Genao, who has also been class president his junior and senior year, is hoping to continue playing basketball at some level next year. So far, he's left his options between a post-graduate year at a prep school or going to college right away open.

"It would mean the world to me to continue playing," he said. "That's what I intend to do."