Commitment Catch-Up

New England Recruiting Report | Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

Trinity College may be located in Hartford, Connecticut, but first year head coach James Cosgrove is making New Hampshire his new home away from home. 

Just a couple of weeks after receiving a commitment from one of the top seniors in the state in Pelham’s Steve Spirou, Cosgrove landed another of the NHIAA’s best when Milford’s Mike OLoughlin made a similar pledge. 

But it didn’t end there as Trinity has also picked up a commitment from Carter Trent, a post-graduate point guard from the New Hampton School. 

The trio will join current Trinity freshman Eric Dean, who teamed with Trent at New Hampton as well as Spirou and O’Loughlin on the AAU circuit with the Granite State Jayhawks. 

All three of the incoming freshmen are expected to make immediate contributions. 

O’Loughlin was one of New England’s breakout prospects this summer after a series of clutch performances for his Jayhawks team as they captured championships at the Boston Shootout and Hall of Fame National Invitational, scored an upset over the New York Panthers at the Super 16 Shootout, and then made a run to the finals of the Iron bracket at the AAU Super Showcase in Orlando. 

His high school career has been no less decorated having already scored over 1000 career points, earned all state recognition as a junior, and led Milford to a state championship. 

As for Trent, he is now in his second year at New Hampton and so will arrive at Trinity with a long resume of competing at the highest levels of competition.  Prior to arriving in New England he was a two time all-state selection in Arkansas. 

A gritty player with an endless motor, Trent projects as the ideal fit in Cosgrove’s defense first system.  Offensively, he’ll make an equally quick impact as he shoots over 40% from the three-point line and is a very accomplished creator off the dribble. 

Put it all together and you have a Trinity program that is clearly on the rise after landing some of the best prospects the state of New Hampshire has to offer. 

Bentivegna to Union

Fairfield Ludlowe’s Kevin Bentivegna recently made a commitment to Union College.  Bentivegna is a skilled shot maker who gained exposure at both the New England Skills Academy run by Joe DeSantis as well as this summer’s Academic All-American Camp. 

Bentivegna has put up big numbers to start his senior season and has been the catalyst behind one of the most improved teams in the CIAC as Ludlow has already matched their win total from a year ago. 

Kershaw Lands at UMass Dartmouth

Alex Kershaw, who previously starred for both Tilton and Taft in the class of 2010, has surfaced at UMass Dartmouth.  Kershaw is enrolled in classes for the second semester and has reportedly officially joined the team. 

Kershaw began his high school career at Oliver Ames High School in Massachusetts before moving on to Tilton where he helped the Rams earn the 2009 National Prep Championship.  The six-foot-three southpaw is a tremendous athlete capable of putting points on the board, locking up on the defensive end, and providing toughness. 

M.I.T. Lands Third Pledge

M.I.T. head coach Larry Anderson has received his third commitment in the class of 2011 from Andrew Acker, a six-foot-eight two-hundred-and-thirty pound forward from the Haverford School in Pennsylvania. 

Acker is the senior capatain and a three year starter at Haverford.  Last year as a junior he was named second team All Inter-Academic League as well as second team all area by Main Line Media News.  Away from his high school team, Acker ran with the Renegades on the AAU circuit and also starred for the Philadelphia Maccabi team. 

Acker joins six-foot-seven forward Reiner Strobos from Texas and six-foot-four shooting guard Nick Prus from Illinois in M.I.T.’s recruiting class.