Gene Guarilia developed his basketball skills to the point where he landed among the world’s best 100 players and fit in alongside some of the game’s all-time greats.

When he was done, Guarilia was comfortable right back where he grew up, coaching in his home school district just miles from the sign that made sure those passing through Duryea knew it was the home of the four-time NBA champion.

Guarilia, who died Nov. 20 at the age of 79, was a presence not just on the college and professional basketball courts, but also closer to home as an educator, coach and musical performer who never stopped giving back to the game or the kids who followed him into it.

At Pittston Area, where the Patriots play their home basketball games on the court that was dedicated in the former Boston Celtic’s name early in 2015, “Big Gene” was a positive influence over the coaching staff and a quiet supporter of the players up to the time he passed.

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“The fact is that he actually gave back to us this year,” said head coach Alan Kiesinger, a 1994 Pittston Area graduate and one of Guarilia’s physical education students at the school. “We did a fundraiser, trying to get a shooting machine, just a piece of equipment that was very expensive.

“Gene donated $200 toward the cause. He was still plugged in right up until essentially his death.”

The recent financial support was just one connection between Guarilia and the program where he coached the only District 2 championship team in 1978.

Jim Blaskiewicz, a current Patriots assistant coach, was on the state qualifying and district runner-up team two years earlier when Guarilia guided that senior class to a huge turnaround from being near the bottom of the standings as juniors to winning 20 games.

At the time, Blaskiewicz appreciated Guarilia’s abilities as a basketball coach and the time he put in with the team during the summer. The impression changed through the years.

“Gene was able to turn us around,” Blaskiewicz said. “We had a really good season. A lot of guys when you’re in the middle of it as a 16-, 17-year-old kid, you just think it’s all about basketball. For the really great coaches like Gene, Bob Barbieri, guys who were in our district at the time, it was always bigger than that.

“You never realize that until you’re out of school. It’s about commitment, dedication, being disciplined. It had nothing to do with the hoops, even though that was important. It was all stuff that could help you as you matured later on in life.

“That was the message he tried to get across to us.”

A 6-foot-5 forward, Guarilia grew up in Duryea and played at Holy Rosary High School. He went to junior college, then on to George Washington University where he ranked among the nation’s top college basketball rebounders during his three seasons.

The Celtics noticed.

In the early stages of the sport’s greatest dynasty, they drafted Guarilia 14th overall in 1959 and, although he also spent time on reserves during the days of the 10-man National Basketball Association rosters, they found a spot for him in each of the next four seasons.

Playing with Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, Bill Sharman, K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, John Havlicek, Tom “Satch” Sanders and Frank Ramsey meant that about two-thirds of Guarilia’s professional teammates wound up in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Guarilia was in elite company making it into the NBA. That was the message Kiesinger delivered to his players on the night of the dedication of the floor.

“Our guys look at the NBA and how it is today with 32 teams,” said Kiesinger, who received encouragement and advice from Guarilia after being hired for his current position. “Back then, it was eight. I explained to them, he was one of the (80) best players in the world at the time.

“Back then, they kept (10) guys on the roster. … To have a local guy be in the top 100 in the world – because at the time basketball was mainly played here. In his time, a guy from Duryea was one of the (80) to 100 best in the world.”

Guarilia played with the Celtics through four regular seasons and two playoff runs that followed. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.3 games in 129 career games.

More important than the statistics, Guarilia came through defensively in the clutch in the biggest moment of his career, shutting down another Hall of Famer, Elgin Baylor, in overtime after Heinsohn fouled out in Game 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals.

Guarilia’s career ended after the 1962-63 season and he returned home to coach at North East High School in Duryea, then at Pittston Area.

A physically tough rebounder and defender, Guarilia was adept at teaching big men how to play near the basket. Kiesinger later recalled his gym teacher hitting 3-point shots and Blaskiewicz remembered it was clear that his coach, a decade removed from his playing days, had the skills to play beyond the post as well.

“Every now and then, you would see it at practice or in a gym class, he’d be dunking or shooting a little bit,” Blaskiewicz said.

During that time, Guarilia also started a long run as a guitar player in cover bands, including The Cadillacs, performing at local clubs and restaurants. He retired from coaching in 1978 and teaching in 1993 but still had decades of music in him.

Former Boston Celtics player Gene Guarilia died Nov. 20

By Tom Robinson

For Sunday Dispatch

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