Berthiaume’s Strong Summer Leads to Big Decision

NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com | Monday, July 28th, 2008

Berthiaume’s Strong Summer Leads to Big Decision

It was only a few short months ago that Alex Berthiaume made the decision to attend prep school after his graduation from Cathedral High School in Springfield, Massachusetts.  At the time he thought that an extra year at MCI would help to provide him with more opportunities to earn a scholarship.  As it turned out, he only needed a couple of months to do that. 

After shining this month with the Rhode Island Hawks & Expressions AAU teams, Berthiaume has received scholarship offers from St. Michael’s, St. Rose, and NJIT, all three for this upcoming September. 

He also has a much larger list, highlight by schools like Vermont, American, and Stonehill, who are recruiting him for the fall of 2009, with the expectation that he will spend the upcoming season at MCI further developing his game. 

While he has been productive all summer (making the all-star team at Hoop Mountain Super Week II, and thriving on center court at the Reebok Summer Classic), the real turning point was two weeks ago at Quinnipiac University for the Super 16 Showcase.

It was there that Berthiaume helped to lead the Rhode Island Hawks to big wins over New York Elite and the New Jersey Cyclones.  St. Rose offered that night.  St. Michaels the following morning. 

Thus lies the major decision on the horizon, take the sure thing scholarship and begin his four years of college next month or head to prep school where there are no guarantees but the potential to attract even more suitors. 

“It’s going to be real tough to decide because it’s hard to turn down $200,000, but I definitely like the situation at MCI a lot,” Berthiaume told the New England Recruiting Report. 

While the decision is surely a tough one, this is a problem Berthiaume is happy to have.  When the month of July begins, there are literally thousands of players from around the country hoping to create a buzz for themselves with college coaches.  Berthiaume has done just that.  Now he must decide if he wants to try and further that buzz or if his goal has already been achieved.  Stay tuned for an answer that will come sooner rather than later…the final deposit at MCI is due on August 1st.