Commitment Catch-Up

New England Recruiting Report | Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

WPI Building Tremendous Class

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is following up on their latest tremendous season with another loaded recruiting class.  Jake Nelson, David White, and Ryan Kolb have all committed to WPI for next season and are all capable of developing into major contributors at the division III level.   

Nelson is a tough, skilled, and scrappy guard who many say was the best player in the NHIAA this past year.  The Nashua South guard was widely recruited by numerous division III programs and should provide WPI with an immediate boost. Look for Nelson to earn playing time at both guard positions next year and make himself an integral part of WPI’s line-up early in his freshman season. 

Nelson’s running mate in the backcourt for the next four years will be David White, a powerful point guard from St. John’s High School.  White is a player who knows how to run a team but can also put the ball in the basket in multiple ways.  More than anything else, White just knows how to win games as his St. John’s team captured the MIAA division I championship in his junior year and advanced to this year’s final before falling to Central Catholic 56-55. 

Kolb had an equally impressive high school season for Holy Cross of Waterbury, Connecticut, averaging 20 points and 8 rebounds per game while earning all-state honors in Class LL.  An athletic six-foot-five forward with good skills and a super high motor, Kolb has all the tools to blossom into a big time player for WPI. 

Beyond the obvious talent that these three players will be bringing to Worcester, all three players are hard-nosed and tough players who are exactly the type of guys needed to continue to winning pedigree that WPI head coach Chris Bartley has established in recent years. 

Big Man to UMass Dartmouth

UMass Dartmouth landed a very important commitment earlier this month when Boston Trinity’s six-foot-eight center Kadeem Wint committed to the Corsairs. 

Wint has a college ready body with great size and strength and figures to make his quickest contributions on the defensive end where he will provide an immediate physical presence inside the paint and valuable shot blocking threat. 

Wint earned tournament MVP honors this season as he led Boston Trinity to their first ever NEPSAC title, defeating St. Luke’s 78-73 in the Class D1 championship game. 

Clark Nabs Local Duo

Clark head coach Paul Phillips recently added two local products to his 2010 recruiting class as Jake Gubitose and Adam Boyle committed to the Cougars. 

Gubitose is a scoring lead guard who has had a storied career playing for Tantasqua High School in Massachusetts.  He averaged just over 20 points per game this year while leading his team to an overall record of 13-5.  He is tremendously skilled with the basketball, allowing him to make plays off the dribble as well as connect from the three-point line for over two makes a game. 

Boyle is a versatile forward who has starred for Brattleboro High School in Vermont.  Standing six-foot-four-inches tall with a strong body and good ability to put the ball on the floor from the perimeter, Clark projects as someone who should be able to contribute minutes at both forward spots next year. 

Worcester State Keeps Local Product Home

Putnam Science Academy post-grad Michael Gittens will be staying close to home next year to play at Worcester State.  Gittens, a six-foot-five forward, previously starred at nearby Montville High School in Connecticut where he earned all-state honors last year as a senior. 

This year at PSA the forward averaged over 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots per game.  At Worcester State, Gittens will look to contribute in similar ways along the frontline as he adds some indisputable depth and someone capable of competing for minutes right away. 

Vermont Star Staying Home

Billy Boyd, a six-foot-five forward from Hazen High School in Vermont, will also be staying close to home next year as he will remain in the Green Mountain State to play at Johnson State College.

Boyd is a sturdy post player with a nice arsenal of low post moves.  He has had a tremendous career as a high school player that has included numerous post-season awards and accolades and a division III state championship in his junior season. 

Boyd is a rugged interior player who will bang and rebound and both ends of the floor and also knows how to score over bigger bodies in the post. 

Babson Adds Local Players

Babson College has added Massachusetts native Matt Palazini and Connecticut native Connecticut native Connor Boyen to their incoming 2010 class. 

Palazini is a six-foot-three swingman who is coming from a successful high school program at Franklin.  An extremely tough physical presence on the wing, Palazini is capable of playing bigger than he is around the basket but also still a good shooter from the perimeter. 

Boyen is an extremely skilled guard who put up huge numbers for Nonnewaug as well as on the AAU circuit with the Western Connecticut Warriors.  He averaged over 25 points per game as a senior with his perimeter jumper being the basis of his offensive attack. 

WestConn Keeps Two at Home

Western Connecticut State University is keeping at least two players from the Nutmeg State in their home state as part of this year’s recruiting class.

Taeshawn Jackson, an explosively quick and athletic guard from Middletown High School will be heading to Danbury next year as will Joe Setaro, a six-foot-five swingman from North Haven.

Jackson should be able to put points on the board right away for Colonials while also providing a valuable defensive contributor while Setaro may have the tools and long term potential to eventually blossom into a very important addition for WestConn.