Cornerstone boys basketball: Quinn Kwasniak rounding out game entering senior season

Quinn Kwasniak drives against a Wheeling Central Catholic defender at Midwest Live (Ben Hercik – The News-Herald)

Busy doesn’t begin to describe the summer for Quinn Kwasniak.

The Cornerstone Christian senior, who set the Ohio record for 3-pointers made in a season last year with 155, has been a part of the summer AAU circuit with Indy Heat, participating in several marquee events. He’s also played with the Patriots during the Euclid Summer League and Midwest Live.

Kwasniak has been spending time this summer working on the other parts of his game.

“My speed, athleticism and just being a lot stronger have been the main focus,” Kwasniak said. “I think leadership is a really important thing too and just trying to be a leader and pick them up. It’s on me now to be that senior leader like we’ve had in the past. When someone makes a bad play or I make a bad play, it’s about me picking them up and saying we’re all good.”

He enters his senior season with 2,227 points in his high school career, 981 behind state record holder and new Ohio State coach Jon Diebler for the record in the state. Kwasniak is also 773 points away from 3,000, which would make him the third player in state history to reach the mark, joining Diebler and Zach Rasile.

Kwasniak is 96 3-pointers behind Rasile for the career total in made 3s, sitting at 389 to Rasile’s 485. He also became the all-time leading scorer for the Patriots, passing Mike Bothwell.

But just like a season ago, Kwasniak isn’t concerned with the record book, rather focusing on continuing to help Cornerstone to contend for wins and a fourth straight trip to a district final.

“I’m excited about it to be honest,” Kwasniak said. “Just to be doing it with the guys over here too, they’re my brothers and I love them so much. I’m going to go to war with them every day. I’m excited for that chance. It’s a testament to the work I’ve put in, knowing that I can play more freely than anyone else on the floor, that gives me all the confidence in the world.”

Kwasniak and the Patriots are in an interesting position with OHSAA expanding boys basketball divisions to seven. They are in the group for the first year of Division VII. In its district pool, Cornerstone is one of three teams in the division that made a district last season, with Warren JFK and Heartland Christian.

Cornerstone advanced to a regional semifinal in 2022-23, Kwasniak’s sophomore season, but fell to Richmond Heights. The Patriots’ last three seasons have all ended to the Spartans. This year, they are in different divisions, and Kwasniak is excited for the chance at another deep playoff run.

Cornerstone will be pursuing its first trip to state since 2018, when it lost to Marion Local, 52-51, in double overtime.

While Kwasniak is a senior leader, Cornerstone isn’t short on experience. Sophomore Hudson Funk saw extended playing time as last season went on. Carter Sims, Kolsen Keeper and Asaiah West also had significant roles.

Kwasniak said having that extra experience will help in close games, as the Patriots had against Meigs in their first game at Midwest Live.

“I think a big thing is we have to be able to finish games off,” Kwasniak said. “Especially here, we let Meigs come back a little bit, they’re a solid team, too. We have to be able to close it out when we’re leading like that. I think that will translate into the season pretty well, having that ability to play hard in these kinds of games.”