Commitment Catch-Up

NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com | Saturday, May 16th, 2009

New Hampshire Star Earns Scholarship

Salem High School’s Josh Jones will stay in the Granite State and attend Franklin Pierce College, earning a partial scholarship from the division II school.  Jones recently completed a storied high school career as he led Salem to two different state titles, is the all-time leading scorer in school history, was a three-time Eagle Tribune All-Star, and was named New Hampshire’s Mr. Basketball in his senior year. 

The 6’3” sharp-shooter will join Nicco DeMasco in Franklin Pierce’s recruiting class for next year.  Jones and DeMasco are the only two seniors in the NHIAA to earn basketball scholarships for next season.   

Wheaton Completes Class

We had already told you that Brimmer & May’s Brian Johnson and Wilbraham & Monson’s Tyler Price were headed to Wheaton next year.  But that’s just the beginning of what has turned out to be a tremendous recruiting class for the Lyons and head coach Brian Walmsley. 

Cliff Desravines, who recently completed a post-graduate season at the Taft School in Connecticut, is also set to attend Wheaton next year.  Desravines, who graduated from Malden Catholic High School a year ago, showed himself to be a legitimate scholarship candidate during his post-graduate year and even turned down at least one full scholarship offer at the division II level.  He is an incredibly athletic player who can score on the block with a nice jump hook or step out to 15 feet and knock down shots.  He has the talent to make a quick impact in the NEWMAC next year. 

Also in the mix for next year is 6’11” center Michael Hall from St. John’s Prep.  There simply aren’t many players at the division III level who can offer Hall’s size and so his presence alone will immediately change games next year.   

The final addition is Scott Faucher from Kimball Union Academy.  Faucher played for his father and former Dartmouth head coach Dave Faucher at KUA and owns the good feel for the game and high basketball I.Q. that you would expect from a coach’s son. 

When you put it all together this class has a little bit of everything for the Lyons.  A lockdown defender in Johnson, a three-point specialist in Price, an athletic low-post scorer in Desravines, a shot-blocking presence in Hall, and a heady floor general type of presence in Faucher. 

Lyman Hall Trio Makes Decision

Jefferson Lora isn’t the only member of Lyman Hall’s team planning to make the trip cross town to Albertus Magnus as 5’10” guard Jim Economopoulos will also make the move.  Economopoulos is a steady presence in the backcourt with a high basketball I.Q. and a good perimeter stroke. 

Another Trojan, David Dempsey, is headed to Gordon College next year.  This is a good get for Gordon as Dempsey is a skilled 6’5” swingman who shoots the ball well from the perimeter and should be able to make an immediate offensive contribution next year. 

Finally, 6’1” guard Matt Landry will head to Springfield College where he will join two other guards from the Nutmeg state in SC’s incoming freshmen class in Sheehan’s Matt Pascuzzo and Suffield Academy’s Kyle Vigneault. 

Economopoulos, Dempsey, and Landry were all part of last year’s very successful Connecticut Hoopstars AAU program. 

Albertus Isn’t Finished

Foran’s Mike Sweeney is also headed to Albertus Magnus.  The 6’5” senior was getting some interest from division II level schools last summer before an ACL injury took him out of action.  He could end up being a major addition for head coach Mitch Oliver. 

Keene Takes Another from State of Vermont

Colchester High School’s Adam Gamelin has become the third senior from Vermont to commit to Keene State joining Vermont Academy’s 6’5” swingman D.J. Campbell and Burlington High School’s 5’10” point guard Shane Norris.  Gamelin first came onto the scene last summer at Hoop Mountain’s Super Week II Camp and has had a steady dose of division III interest since then. 

Robinson to Rivier

Proctor High School’s Curtis Robinson is headed to Rivier College next year.  The 6’3” forward was a 1000 point scorer for Proctor and helped them to be one of the top teams in division IV of Vermont High School basketball this year. 

Anna Maria Picks Up Local Product

Putnam Science Academy’s Alvin Durrett has announced he will attend Anna Maria in Paxton, Massachusetts next year.  Durett averaged nearly 18 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds per game this year for PSA and helped lead the school to the Coastal Prep League Championship.  Durrett was also named to the Coastal Prep League’s First Team after scoring 27 points and handing out 7 assists in the finals.  Prior to arriving at PSA, Durrett shined at nearby Windham High School where he earned class M all-state recognition. 

Checovich a Preferred Walk-On in Atlantic-10

New Hampton post-graduate Nick Checovich will attend Fordham University next year as a preferred walk-on.  Checovich is a big time shooter with good size for the perimeter and a strong feel for the game.  He came to New Hampton from St. John’s Prep and had a tremendously successful post-graduate season as he was given an opportunity to show coaches all that he could do. 

Anderson Heading to Junior College

Vic Anderson is heading to Essex County College in New Jersey next year.  Anderson is a talented and athletic swingman who bounced around between Portland High School and Wethersfield High School during the course of his career.  If he can continue to develop his game and take care of his business in the classroom, Anderson has all the talent to be a division I player following his graduation in two years. 

Ives Changes Mind; Staying Close to Home

Avon High School’s Joe Ives has had a change of heart.  Because of the recent coaching change at Castleton State, Ives has decided that he will no longer join the Spartan program next year.  Instead, he’ll stay in his home state and attend Eastern Connecticut State University to play for head coach Bill Geitner. 

Lee Swingman Going NAIA in Kentucky

Lee Academy’s William Barber has recently signed to play with Berea College in Kentucky.  Berea is an NIAA school and so they are permitted to award athletic scholarships.  Barber is a physical and athletic swingman who is at his best going to the rim offensively and capable of being a lock down defender as well.  He was an important part of this year’s rotation for Lee and a talented enough player that he should see immediate action upon reaching Berea. 

Westfield State Gets Big Man

Sean Sullivan, a 6’8” center from Nashoba Valley Technical High School, has committed to Westfield State for next season.  Sullivan is a big man who was flying a little bit under the radar until his senior season, but he offers not just a big body but also a player who can change the game defensively and also has some developing offensive skills.  Sullivan is the latest in a growing line of Bay State Magic big men to make their college decision.   

Nicasio to R.I.T.

Vermont Academy post-graduate Gabe Nicasio will play for Rochester Institute of Technology next year.  Nicasio is a point guard who put up big numbers for Vermont Academy this year and helped them to advance to their first NEPSAC Class B Tournament in recent memory.  Prior to arriving at prep school, Nicasio starred at Essex Junction High School where he had a tremendous high school career. 

Chadwick Heading Back West

Colin Chadwick, who spent this past season as a post-graduate at Brewster Academy, is heading back to his home state of California where he will be a recruited walk-on at UC-Riverside.  Chadwick is a valuable addition for Riverside as players with his size, talent, and athleticism are hard to come by in walk-on spots.  The 6’8” big man saw a good amount of recruitment from the division II and division III levels this year and turned down division II scholarship offers earlier in the year.