Feb. 6, 2026
By Alexandra Lourenço
Editor-in-Chief
As the clock wound down in the third quarter of the boys basketball game at home against Jersey City’s William L. Dickinson High School on Jan. 17, senior captain and point guard Johnny Chaname made a 3-point shot that solidified his spot in LHS history as the fourth male basketball player to hit 1,000 points.
Chaname’s achievement will be listed on the 1,000-point list banner located in the gym.
“It’s a very high accomplishment, so I’m very happy that my name will be up there forever,” Chaname said. “At first, I didn’t even realize I would be the fourth guy, so it was kind of shocking to me.”
With his peers and nearly 25 relatives cheering him on, Chaname said he was feeling the pressure.
“There were a lot of people, a lot of family members over there, so I was a little nervous,” Chaname said. “It was a very exciting moment for my family.… I’m very happy and blessed to have them.”
Chaname said that his family has been instrumental throughout his basketball career.
“[My mom is] my biggest cheerleader, and my dad’s my biggest fan,” Chaname said. “They help me on and off the court. Without them, I don’t know if I would be able to even score the 1,000 points.”
Head Coach Mosca, who has coached five 1,000-point scorers over the course of his career as a boys and girls basketball coach, said he is proud of Chaname for reaching this milestone.
“When he did it, I went out to the court, jumped on him and hugged him. It was a special moment,” Mosca said. “I’m so happy for him. He’s worked his butt off these last couple of years.”
“For him to get 1,000 points [while] barely getting any points sophomore year and being able to do it in two years [as a starter] is pretty special.”
Although Chaname scored only 140 points during his first year on varsity as a sophomore, he scored 571 points as a starting junior and 496 points so far this season as of Feb. 6.
“For him to get 1,000 points [while] barely getting any points sophomore year and being able to do it in two years [as a starter] is pretty special,” Mosca said.
Aside from being a talented shooter, Mosca said Chaname has been vital to the success of the team, which had a 14-8 record as of Feb. 6.
“He’s been the most consistent player we’ve had.… He’s basically been carrying us this entire season,” Mosca said.
Sophomore small forward Filoteo Mosca, who is in his second season on varsity, said Chaname’s accomplishment is a testament to his determination.
“[As a sophomore,] he was getting bench minutes, and he did [well], but then junior and senior year, he really took off as the main point guard… and played his heart out,” Filoteo Mosca said.
He said he attributes his progress, in part, to Chaname’s mentorship.
“He’s given me encouragement and confidence in playing our game, especially [with] defense,” Filoteo Mosca said. “All offseason we were playing one-on-ones, me, him and [sophomore] Avery [Cano], and playing defense, and that definitely helped me out.”
Overall, Filoteo Mosca said Chaname is a strong contributor to the team.
“He’s a good leader, a good role model for the younger kids on the team and, to me, he’s like an older brother,” said Filoteo Mosca.
