Brandeis Putting Together All-Star Recruiting Class

NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com | Monday, January 7th, 2008

The Brandeis basketball team is currently ranked #2 in the nation with wins over Tufts, Babson, and the defending national champions Amherst.  And just when it looked like things couldn’t get any better for the Judges they have recently landed four commitments that should keep them among the nation’s best for years to come. 

Vytas Kriskus is the gem of the class.  The Holderness forward spurned several division II offers and a good deal of division I interest in order to join the Brandeis program.  To say he should be able to make an immediate contribution at this level would be an understatement.  With his size, toughness, and potent shooting touch the sky is the limit for what he can achieve during his college career. 

Tilton two-guard Dave Aquilino is another New Hampshire native who will be headed to Waltham next year.  The long distance marksmen has had a terrific season thus fair during his post-graduate year at Tilton where he has had plenty of open looks playing alongside the likes of Alex Oriakhi, Jamal Coombs, and Jamal Turner. 

With two of the region’s best shooters in the mix, all this class needed was a point guard to get them the ball, and that is exactly what Lowell High School’s Jaime Shannon is expected to do.  Shannon was flying a little bit under the radar because he didn’t play AAU basketball, but he is lightning quick with the ball and the perfect compliment to Kriskus and Aquilino thanks to his ability to break down defenders off the dribble and kick out to shooters. 

Overall, this Brandeis class is extremely impressive for a number of reasons.  First and foremost, they have three players who were capable of succeeding at the scholarship level.  Second, they have a potential star in the making in Kriskus.  Third, they have excellent position balance with a combo forward, shooter, and a point guard all in the mix.  Finally, they have managed to get all of these commitments this early in the year, which is almost unheard of at the division III level.  When you put it all together you have a recipe for dominance as Brandeis appears poised to sit atop the division III rankings for a long time to come. 

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