Basketball started at a young age for junior forward Sam Iorio. It was not only taught to him once he was able to walk, the sport was also in his blood.

Iorio’s grandfather played hoops at Villanova University, and his father Mike was a college basketball player at Philadelphia University and went on to be the head coach of the Lehigh Carbon Community College men’s team.

“I grew up around the sport,” Sam Iorio said. “Basketball has been everything to me. My dad and my grandfather have always been there for me and taught me everything I know about the game. They’ve been good influences on me.”

Knowing the success that the two generations before him have had, gave the current Trojans basketball player some added motivation.

“I want to play well and I know they are always there for me and are always at my games,” said Iorio. “Whenever I need something they are there to help.”

Iorio has had great success of his own in only three years as a varsity player at Parkland.

He recorded one of the top milestones every high school basketball player sets for themselves to achieve. Iorio reached the 1,000-point mark of his career earlier last month against Central Catholic at Parkland High School, in front of family and friends.

“Doing it at home was awesome,” Iorio added. “Being in front of your friends and family is awesome. Everyone is a big supporter. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates though. We find each other and share the basketball. The support I got from my team was just awesome.”

As part of the Parkland boys basketball program, Iorio has been involved with three out of the four straight District 11 Class 4A titles, and two consecutive Eastern Pennsylvania Conference titles.

Iorio is the only member of Parkland’s starting lineup that is not a senior. Last year, with the same starting five, Iorio shared the court with four classmates as he did all year this year. But the five together have won a bunch of games, and gotten closer.

“We’re a tight-knit group, and we’re all really close,” said Iorio. “We play together and we share the ball. Anyone can step up and have a big night any given day. It’s been a great thing to be a part of.”

Iorio and the four senior starters Devante Cross, Jack Dreisbach, Kyle Stout, and Kenny Yeboah have been together on the same court for the last two years, and they have one more goal to accomplish as a team.

“We want to play well at states and go out on top,” Iorio said. “There’s five games left. We want to be playing and winning five games. That’s all we keep talking about [since the District final].”

Here’s to one last ride for the state’s third ranked team.