Daniels Makes Surprise Signature
Putnam Science Academy kicked off their 2013-2014 season on Thursday night with Mustang Madness, an event which included a pep rally, dunk contest, and a surprise signature from post-graduate big man Chaise Daniels.
PSA head coach Tom Espinosa announced earlier in the day that Daniels would be both announcing his decision and signing at Mustang Madness, and when the time came, the six-foot-eight big man opted to stay close to home and play for Quinnipiac.
A graduate of Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Daniels is a classic late bloomer who saw his recruitment explode last spring while staring with Connecticut Select. It was a game vs. D.C. Assault that coaches from UMass and VCU among others were immediately captivated by Daniels’ talent and shot-blocking ability.
His recruitment only grew from there with other Atlantic 10 caliber schools getting involved. With a steady dose of college coaches following him throughout the July evaluation period, Quinnipiac distinguished themselves by being there virtually every time he took the court, often times with head coach Tom Moore himself.
Now their hard-work has paid off as Daniels joins Samuel Dingba and Dimitri Floras to give the Bobcats a talent three man class from local New England roots.
“I’m finally apart of the QU family,” Daniels tweeted late Thursday night.
“I wanna say thank you for everyone and there support and just know I'm gonna put on for my me, my family , my friends, and my state. #QU” he later tweeted.
Daniels and Dingba will team up to form an extremely intimidating interior unit, and likely as good of a freshmen shot-blocking tandem as there will be in mid-major basketball next year.
Chaise Daniels
Samuel Dingba
Dimitri Floras