Long Time Coming
Nolan Long had long been told that he had to choose between the two sports he loved most, baseball and basketball, but following Thursday’s commitment to Wagner, the six-foot-nine big man is set to pursue both of his passions for the next four years.
Long graduated from Waterford High School in Connecticut, where he led his squad to a 2012 CIAC Class M state championship as a senior, and initially committed to the University of Rhode Island where he planned to play baseball before being selected in last year’s MLB draft by the San Francisco Giants.
Despite those tremendous opportunities on the baseball diamond, Long opted to do a post-graduate year at the South Kent School in hopes of finding a situation that allowed him to play both baseball as well as basketball.
"I know it's going to be difficult to play both sports at the Division I level, but it was the reason I went to prep school," he told the Norwich Bulletin. "I wanted to be ready to play both. I know what it takes."
Long, who had landed other division I offers in the NEC and CAA, committed to Wagner less than 48 hours after returning from his official visit.
He’ll provide the team with a big body in the middle of the lane, a valuable interior defender, and skilled offensive threat who is capable of stretching opposing defenses away from the basket with his shooting range.
He’ll team with another local prep product, Marianapolis’ power forward Greg Senat, to give Wagner an All-NEPSAC incoming frontline next season.
Greg Senat
Nolan Long