Juniors Frankie Pujols and Hamaad Jenkins are one of the more recognized back courts in the Lehigh Valley, and the duo has plenty of potential to raise the bar.

Longtime Catasauqua head coach Eric Snyder has watched the meteoric rise of his backcourt, and he is confident that can keep the team on the right track. Pujols has been the team’s leading scorer, and Jenkins also has been among the team’s leading scorers.

Snyder also has been impressed with fellow junior Reece Lopez, who is the other guard on the wing in the Rough Riders’ three-guard offense.”

“Frankie and Hamaad are two the most aggressive, quick physical players and guard combination in the league,” beamed Snyder. “They are one of the best guard combinations since I’ve been coaching.

“And again, you can throw Reece Lopez in there because we play with three guards. Reece is an excellent outside shooter and has improved his dribble penetration game as well as his defensive game.

“Hamaad and Frankie are great kids to coach they are at practice every day. They work extremely hard, and are the first two in every drill. And the best part is they are only juniors so we have them another year, including Reese Lopez, who also is a junior.”

Pujols’ and Jenkins’ success can be traced back to their time playing together during AAU basketball in seventh grade. Through the years, they have formed a bond of trust and respect between each other.

“Hamaad and I are like brothers,” boasted Pujols. “We have a connection that’s been the same since we were young. We’ve been playing AAU basketball with each other since seventh grade, and we know how each other play. If I’m having a bad game, he will be there to tell me to keep shooting and make me realize that everyone has bad games.”

Pujols always knows Jenkins is within reach physically and mentally on both ends of the court.

“On the defensive of the ball I feel like me and him could be the best duo in the Colonial League,” added Pujols. “The good part about that is we can change within who guards the best person on the other team and I love having him there for that. Having him on the court with me just makes everything easier and less complicated.

“Also running the fast break with him is something special because I also don’t think anyone in the league can keep up with me and him and that helps us get easy points throughout the games. Overall, having Hamaad with me is like having another me on the court with the same exact skill and the same urge to go out and win every game and that’s what I love about him.”

Jenkins shares similar sentiments toward his teammate. He also recognizes a strong bond between them.

“I feel very confident playing with Frankie,” quipped Jenkins. “He’s the leader of our team and always puts his teammates before him. We are the best backcourt in the league. I know if I’m playing my heart out each game, Frankie is too.

“I could miss 100 shots and he’d still tell me to keep shooting, I could be having the worst game of my life, and he’d still find a way to say the positive things I did. He’s a great teammate to play with and I’m glad to be on the same team as his. He’s also in the relay team for track, we play AAU basketball together, and we are on the same school basketball team, so our chemistry is through the roof.”

Snyder is well aware of his guards’ abilities that have his team in the district hunt. The Roughies began the week on the verge of a district berth with an overall 10-8 record with four games left to play. They also have a shot at the league playoffs.

“Frankie is our top scorer and knows how to score around the basket,” stressed Snyder. “Whether it’s a floater or him also being 5-9, he can score and weasel his way into and around and contort his body to make some unbelievable jump shots or little short floaters.

“Hamaad is extremely strong, very quick and an excellent rebounder for only being approximately 5-9 and is very physical. He’s a very good ballhandler and is an excellent penetrator and gets to the rim among the big men. He has improved his file shooting tremendously and even his jump shooting has improved.”

Pujols remains optimistic that his team’s season won’t be over anytime soon. The Roughies earlier had a seven-game winning streak after a slow start.

“I feel like us working harder at practice and realizing what is really at risk,” noted Pujols. “Losing a couple important games early on made us start picking it up. Having a better attitude to win and that’s what we started to do going on a seven-game winning streak in the start of 2025.

“Our team is very talented and our coaches believe in us, but we have to produce and do that consistently if we want to be a contending team in the Colonial League. We just have to lock in now and realize what the stakes are now.”