Stony Brook Gets a Good One in Preboye
Stony Brook head coach Steve Piekell received a verbal commitment from Springfield, Massachusetts native and Winchendon post-graduate Preye Preboye on Tuesday. He is expected to sign his National Letter of Intent on Sunday.
The 6’5” forward sent his recruiting stock consistently upwards this year as he thrived during his post-graduate season at the Winchendon School, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Prior to arriving Winchendon, Preboye began his high school career at Amherst High School and then transferred to Springfield Central for his final two years. He and his family are originally from Nigeria.
“My mom is moving back to Nigeria so I was really just looking for a place where I could feel at home,” Preboye told the New England Recruiting Report. “When I went to campus, I felt like that was the place…I like the diversity there, they had good academics, and the coaching staff really stood out to me because they’re young and really energetic.”
Another factor that worked in Stony Brook’s favor is that they were one of the first schools to recruit the athletic forward.
“They believed in me. They’ve been calling me all year.”
The Seawolves are clearly a program on the rise in the America East as Piekell took a young team that started three freshmen to the conference semi-finals this year and finished with an overall record of 16-14.
“They started three freshmen. They’re up and coming,” Preboye said. “I wanted to go someplace where I could make my own trail, not someplace where the trail had already been made by other people.”
And Preboye will certainly have an opportunity to be a big part of the future of the Stony Brook program as he is just the type of player who can make an immediate impact in the America East Conference.
Players with his athleticism, versatility, and high motors have a tendency to thrive in that league, and that’s just what we expect the Springfield native to do over the next four years.
It will be hard to keep him off the court because he can impact the game in so many different ways. Because of his physical tools and the fact that he competes with tremendous passion, he plays much bigger than his 6’5” frame suggests around the rim, finishing plays and rebounding on both ends of the court.
And while he may do his best work inside of 12 feet, his perimeter skill set is consistently emerging.
“With Coach Byrnes I became a more complete player…shooting and handling the ball,” said Preboye, who has always been a very good passer for a frontcourt player.
But ultimately, Preboye is a player who doesn’t need a whole lot of plays called for him in order to be effective. He’ll get his points by running the court and crashing the offensive glass. He’s also a tremendous defender who can guard multiple positions.
“Defense is my thing. I guarded the best player every night at Winchendon,” he said. “I just want to get it done on the court next year. Whatever I need to do to help my team win, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Preye Preboye