Hicks, Sells, & Kingsley headline latest Commitment Catch-Up

Saturday, April 28th, 2018

While players in the classes of 2019, 2020, and even 2021 are spread out throughout the country trying to capture the attention of college coaches this weekend, unsigned seniors are coming off the board at an increasingly rapid rate as we get deeper into the spring. Here's a look at some of the most recent commitments:

St. Lawrence University, a division III school in New York, scored an absolute steal this week in Cushing Academy's Luke Hicks. The post-graduate guard started every game for a Cushing squad that won 20 games and finished third in Class AA's regular season. His commitment brings him back closer to home and to a level where he'll undoubtedly have an immediate impact. Hicks, who got looks as high as the CAA this year, is a big guard and good shooter with a very high basketball I.Q. St. Lawrence also landed a commitment from Loomis Chaffee's Adeleke Kamara, a 6-foot-10 big man with a world of upside as he fills out his long frame. 

The University of Chicago, one of the most prestigious academic schools in the world, came to New England to score a major steal in Vermont Academy and Boston Warriors guard Sebastijan Skoko. The playmaking guard earned a pair of division I offers within the last year but nonetheless chose to pursue a worldclass education. Skoko has also made great strides on the court within the last year, both building up his body and becoming a much more consistent shooting threat from the perimeter, to add to an already potent attack. 

Springfield Commonwealth post-graduate Sekou Fofana announced that he too would be headed back closer to home with a commitment to Bloomsburg University on Thursday. Bloomsburg is a division II school located in Pennsylvania. Fofana graduated from West Catholic High School in Philadelphia. A combo-forward with the wide frame and skill set to be a major mismatch problem, Fofana made great strides with his game and conditioning to play his way on to the D2 level this year.

Also from Springfield Commonwealth, Connecticut native Cam Sells will play for Jim Calhoun at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford next year. Sells, who played for PTT on the AAU circuit, has improved dramatically over the course of the last two years and should be able to make an immediate and significant contribution at the division III level. He's a tough and hard-nosed player who attacks the basket and has become a much more reliable shooter.

Woodstock Academy announced their most recent commitments this week with news that post-graduate Paul Kingsley is headed to Wisconsin-Whitewater and Ryan Omslaer to Connecticut College. Both are absolute steals at the division III level. A skilled wing with good size at 6-foot-4, Kingsley earned consistent scholarship level looks this season while starring for Woodstock's Blue team. The Chicago native is a particularly dangerous catch-and-shoot player with the ability to run off screens. Omslaer is a near seven-footer from New Jersey who carved out an important role for himself on Woodstock's Gold team this year. A true center who understands how to play with his back to the basket, he'll be an immediate threat for the Camels. 

Avon Old Farms post-graduate Brian Amabilino Perez is headed to the University of Rochester next year. Amabilino-Perez was a member of England u18 national team prior to his arrival in New England. He averaged almost 15 points and over 6 rebounds per game this season for AOF while also distinguishing himself academically. He's a skilled forward, capable of playing multiple positions, and equally effective finishing short shots around the rim as he is knocking down open threes.

St. Paul's Catholic High School guard Mike Palmieri announced a commitment to Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Palmieri is a skilled and hard-nosed guard who has had a decorated high school career. He's a 1,000 point career scorer who has been named both all-conference and all-state in the CIAC in each of the last three seasons. He was widely recruited at the D3 levels and decided on Salve after taking several visits in recent weeks.

Western New England College landed an immediate impact talent last week when Vermont Academy's Jon Lyons committed to head coach Colin Tabb. Lyons is a tough shot-maker and volume scorer who has built-up his body during his time in the prep ranks. He split time between the Boston Warriors and Mass Elite on last year's grassroots circuit but has proven his ability to put the ball in the basket at all stops.

Burlington High School and Evo Elite guard Mariano Rodriguez is headed to Keene State to play his college basketball. The Little East Conference school has a strong basketball tradition and in Rodriguez the Owls have added a playmaking southpaw guard. Rodriguez is very talented with the ball in his hands. He's shifty with a tight handle, can zip passes in off the dribble, and shoot the ball with range.

The New Hampton School has a pair of post-graduates heading to the division I level as recruited walk-ons next season as Roy Grigsby will head to Northern Colorado and Matt Glassman to Manhattan. Grigsby is a skilled big man who might be able to earn playing time down the road as his body catches up with his naturally soft touch. Glassman, a Lawrence Academy alum, is a physically strong and competitive guard with all the intangibles.