MHS hoop standout to compete for Div. 2 Hawks

Published June 5, 2020

SENIOR CAPTAIN Charlie Borstel has committed to play hoop at Div. 2 St. Anselm. (file photo)

MELROSE—Melrose High senior Charlie Borstel once killed it as a standout Red Raider hoop star. Now, he is taking his game to St. Anselm College. The senior captain has committed to play with the Div. 2 Hawks, it was recently announced.

The Hawk basketball organization welcomed Borstel on Twitter with the following announcement: “We’d like to congratulate Charlie Borstel on his commitment and welcome him into our men’s basketball family. Welcome to the Hilltop!”

Borstel, a 6’3 guard, was a standout starter for the Melrose Red Raiders in his senior year and helped lead Melrose to back-to-back playoff appearances. He led the team in three-pointers this season and was the second-highest scorer on the team.

His Melrose High varsity coach, Dan Burns, saluted his senior captain. “Charlie has natural athleticism and great size, so he drew a lot of eyes from local scouts. He’s worked incredibly hard to get where he is now. He had an exceptional senior year and made the most of his minutes.”

Borstel indicated that the offer came late in the game as he was narrowing down his search with other schools. “I got a text from St. A’s in May telling me they had a spot and wanted me for it. I sent them my transcript and application and was accepted in the next few days.”

There, he will compete for Coach Keith Dickson and Hawk basketball team, who went 21-8 in 2019.

It was a strange end of the year for every graduating senior and no doubt Borstel, son of Chuck and Angela of Melrose, will miss his time as a Red Raider. He and his twin sisters Courtney and Brooke will graduate in August with the rest of the MHS class. Among Borstel’s personal highlights are his Senior Night performance, in which he scored 24 points, and this year’s playoff game against Malden Catholic. “The atmosphere was crazy,” he says.

“I feel like Charlie is a great example to younger players,” says coach Burnes. “He’s a homegrown talent who stayed local and he’s proving you don’t have to go to a private school to continue your basketball career into college. It’s good for him, good for Melrose and good for the league.”

As the future business major prepares to embark on his new journey, Borstel is thankful to the many who got him there. “I want to thank all my coach, from my Dad to coach Byrne and Pappo in youth ball to coach Marino and Woods in AAU and coach Burns this year.”