Open Gym Season Begins with Recruiting Period

Monday, September 10th, 2018

Sunday marked the beginning of the NCAA recruiting period, meaning college coaches from all levels are permitted to watch perspective student-athletes compete but only in their own high school gym and with/against players from that school. 

In other words, college coaches are allowed to visit schools to watch pick-up or open gym. 

And so Sunday marked the beginning of the annual wave of college coaches arriving in the region to watch various programs compete. 

Vermont Academy got things going at 8am with Butler head coach LaVall Jordan and two assistants in to see 2020 guard Symir Torrence and head coachees from Brown, Columbia, and Holy Cross on hand to see Tommy ONeil. Assistant coaches from Marquette, Bryant, Amherst, Middlebury, and Conn College were also in attendance. 

Redemption Christian Academy and Worcester Academy both held workouts at 10am with Hartford and Albany bringing their full staffs to watch Mitch Doherty. Lee Academy also worked out with the head coach from Maine in attendance. 

Northfield Mount Hermon was up at noon and unsigned senior Chris Ledlum and others drew head coaches from Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Yale, and Columbia. Assistants from Iowa State, Marquette, Davidson, UMass, Brown, and Holy Cross were also in attendance. 

MacDuffie had a big crowd including the full UConn staff for James Bouknight and Richard Springs along with Rutgers three deep for Ismael Massoud. Kent State's head coach was in the building as well along with assistants from Quinnipiac, Rider, Niagara, and Stony Brook among others. 

Springfield Commonwealth, St. Andrew's, Cushing, New Hampton, Brooks, and Woodstock Academy all held late afternoon or evening workouts. Woodstock reportedly drew 40 coachese with the groups from UConn and Rutgers making their way south along with others from Old Dominion, Bryant, UMass, Siena, DePaul, FGCU, Iowa State, Fairfield, and Wagner among others on hand for Tre Mitchell, Noah Fernandes, Preston Santos, Darion Jordan-Thomas and over 25 other players. 

Sunday was really just the tip of the iceberg though with several more schools set to welcome college coaches for the first time on Monday.