Rhode Island Native Makes Decision
Mike Accaoui will attend Stonehill College next year and play his college basketball under head coach Dave McLaughlin pending his acceptance to the school.
Accaoui is best known for his ability to shoot the basketball but is also a tough player with a good understanding of the game. He’s had the benefit of playing for two of the region’s top coaches over the course of his career, starring for St. Andrew’s and head coach Mike Hart during his high school years and currently playing for head coach Mike Byrnes during a post-graduate season at the Winchendon School.
“I’m very happy and excited for Michael,” said Hart. “He’s extremely hard working on the court and in the classroom and I’m sure he’ll have a great career.”
“He and his family are excited, and talking to the Stonehill staff they seem excited too,” Byrnes said. “With the way he can shoot the basketball and his work ethic I do believe somewhere down the line he will find a way to get minutes there.”
While Stonehill first expressed interest in Accoui earlier this summer, Coach McLaughlin and his staff were no strangers to the Accoui family after recruiting Mike’s older brother Joe before he eventually opted to go to Vermont.
“I have known them for a long time because they were recruiting Joe real hard. They’re great guys, very sincere,” Accaoui said. “Coach Byrnes spoke very highly of them and my brother really pushed me to do it because they’re great people and have one of the best division II programs in the country.”
While the prospects of joining a winning program certainly appealed to Accaoui, so did the opportunity to earn meaningful minutes.
“They said I would be a good fit in their system because I can play the 1 and the 2, they liked my basketball I.Q., and the way I could score the ball with my shooting,” he said. “They also said I showed the toughness on the court that they look for in all the players they recruit.”
Accaoui becomes the second local product to commit to Stonehill this year, joining Wilbraham and Monson post-graduate Mitch Amelio.
Mitch Amelio
Mike Accaoui