Papale Makes Decision
First year head-coach Joe Joes and Boston University scored a huge pledge on Wednesday night when six-foot-three guard John Papale (Wallingford, CT/Choate) ended his recruitment with a verbal commitment to the Terriers. Having held 23 Division I scholarship offers, including six in the Atlantic 10, Papale represents a major steal for the Terriers and ultimately chose Boston due to its elite blend of academics, athletics, and location.
“First and foremost, BU is an excellent school and the opportunity to receive a world-class education in a great city like Boston is a situation I feel great about,” Papale said. “From a basketball standpoint, I feel really comfortable with Coach Jones and the entire staff and feel confident that I can come in and make a significant impact right away towards helping the program succeed.”
One of the most heavily-recruited guards in the northeast known for his ability to stretch the floor with a lethal stroke from three, Papale earned first-team All-New England honors in his junior season and was named MVP of the Class A Championship Game while leading Choate to its first NEPSAC title in school history.
He followed up his standout prep campaign with a tremendous summer running with the New England Playaz on the grassroots circuit, earning national recognition on several occasions for putting up big numbers against elite competition at events like the Providence Jam Fest, The Real Deal at the Rock, Adidas Invitational, Adidas Super 64, and The Best of Summer in Los Angeles.
“The entire recruiting process was a great experience for me and my family,” Papale said. “Having the opportunity to get to know a lot of great coaches and become familiar with a variety of terrific programs was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I feel very fortunate to have been able to go through. I can honestly say that every coach and every program I dealt with from start to finish was nothing short of outstanding.”
Having evolved into much more than just a catch-and-shoot weapon from behind the arc, Papale has continued to expand his game to be able to score the ball consistently in the mid-range area and find open teammates for clean looks off the bounce. While his reputation as one of the premiere deep threats in his national class is well-documented, Papale said that Coach Jones is equally excited about the impressive set of intangibles and competitive nature he brings to the table.
“Obviously, my ability to make shots and excel in Coach Jones’ offensive system is something him and I talked about a lot,” Papale said. “But things like my basketball I.Q., toughness, and ability to make my teammates better by sharing the ball are things he feels can benefit the program in a major way as well.”
Papale’s commitment marks the first for Jones in 2012 and provides a major foundation on which to build as he and the Terriers look to defend the 2011 America East Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance achieved under the leadership of now-Penn State head coach Pat Chambers. For Papale, the opportunity to play for Jones and continue the winning tradition of the Terrier program is one that he’s extremely excited to have.
“Overall, I’m just very happy and feel fortunate to have been able to make a decision that I’m 100 percent comfortable with prior to the start of my senior season,” Papale said. “My family, coaches, and friends couldn’t have been more supportive throughout the entire process and now I’m just focused on the upcoming season, continuing to work hard and improve as a player, and trying to defend our NEPSAC title.”
John Papale