GW Scores with Watanabe

New England Recruiting Report | Tuesday, February 4th, 2014

George Washington picked up a critical 2014 commitment on Tuesday afternoon from St. Thomas More forward Yuta Watanabe.  

Watanabe had trimmed his list to just GW and Fordham and was set to make a decision earlier this weekend before ultimately delaying the announcement until Tuesday morning.

The six-foot-seven forward is in just his first season stateside since arriving from his home country of Japan, and has already made rapid strides while adjusting to the speed and physicality of the American game far quicker than most international prospects.  

He’ll provide GW with just the frontcourt weapon they were looking for after coming out of November’s early signing period with Letters of Intent from a trio of perimeter players in six-foot-three point guard Paul Jorgensen, six-foot-five swingman Anthony Swan, and six-foot-three swingman Darian Bryant.

Watanabe is very long and deceptively athletic with the skill set to shoot it well from behind the three-point line, put the ball on the floor, score over top of smaller defenders in the mid-range area, and even make some tough finishes around the rim.  

While Watanabe is expected to make an immediate contribution, GW head coach Mike Lonergan might not be done yet as the Colonials have also pursued Worcester Academy big man Matt Cimino with what is expected to be their final scholarship of the 2014 class.  

Despite a potential five man incoming class, George Washington should be primed to remain a contender in the Atlantic 10 as they are expected to return four starters from a team that is currently 17-4 overall including 5-2 in conference.  

Watanabe becomes the 9th player from this year's St. Thomas More team to accept a full scholarship joining Mike Wells (Albanay), Cane Broome (Sacred Heart), Josh Williams (Rider), Francis Kiapway (Ball State), Calvin Crawford (Manhattan), Eric Paschall (Fordham), Travis Tomer (Indiana Pennsylvania), and Scott Toresco (Southern New Hampshire).