Gittens Stays in Connecticut
Just recently, Winchendon School and The House We Built postgraduate guard Da'mnic Gittens announced his commitment to Sacred Heart.
Gittens spent his high school career at Cheney Tech, where he stood out as a talented but often under-the-radar player. In his senior season, he led Cheney Tech to a state championship game, narrowly missing the title. This marked Cheney Tech’s second consecutive championship appearance with Gittens at the helm.
Reflecting on his journey, Da’mnic expressed gratitude for those who helped him along the way: “I would like to thank my mom, my family, my older brothers, and all the coaches who coached me and helped me with my craft. Coach June, Coach Jose, Coach Rose, Coach Kev, and most importantly Coach Izzy. He saw something in me that no one else did, believed in me from day one, and took care of me for four years.”
As the youngest of three brothers, all of whom played high-level basketball, Gittens comes from a family steeped in the game. His oldest brother, Donte, played at Franklin Pierce and now serves as an assistant at Sacred Heart, while his other brother, Dashon, is at Florida International University, where he enters his junior season after averaging 9.4 points last year.
Reflecting on the impact of his brothers, Da’mnic shared, “Growing up with two older brothers was both physical and challenging, but it was also fun grinding it out together. They taught me to work hard for everything and gave me role models who’d already been through the recruiting process.”
Sacred Heart is gaining a tenacious guard in Gittens. Known for his aggressive drives to the basket, athletic finishes, and creative shot-making skills, he’s especially dangerous with pull-up jumpers. His rebounding ability also stands out, as he consistently finds his way to the ball. He’s made significant strides as a playmaker, too.
On choosing Sacred Heart, Da’mnic explained, “A big factor was definitely the coaching staff, especially Coach Latina, who made me feel wanted throughout the process.” He added, “I liked that it’s close to home, so my friends and family can watch me play without traveling too far. The campus is great, and having my family nearby for home games was important to me.”
He concluded, “Ultimately, I felt like I was a good fit with the team and could fit well within their system.”
With his size, skill, and upside, Gittens has a promising future with Sacred Heart in the MAAC.