Top Headlines of 2013

New England Recruiting Report | Tuesday, December 31st, 2013

The new year is here and that means it’s time to take one last glance back at 2013, and so with that in mind, we’ll count down the top ten stories of the year that was in New England basketball:

10. 2015 Starts to Take Center Stage

It’s a trend that has gradually been gaining momentum since this fall but with the vast majority of the 2014 class already off the board, the attention of college coaches and media outlets alike is starting to turn to the 2015 class where Terance Mann, Jalen Adams, Josh Sharma, Donovan Mitchell, and Aaron Falzon have all made recent headlines.  

9. Chukwu Emerges and Gives Providence a Steal

In the three months between the high school season and the summer, Paschal Chukwu made huge strides, both getting physically stronger and more assertive around the rim, making it more and more evident that he was one of the best big men in the country.  His commitment to Providence was consequently a huge one for Ed Cooley and the Friars.  

8. Colson among Spring's Biggest Stock Risers

There might not have been another player in the country who helped themselves more during the April evaluation period than Bonzie Colson.  He went from having one high major scholarship offer (from Seton Hall) to having his choice of them by the time his EYBL season had come to an end.  Ultimately, of course, Colson ended up with Notre Dame.  

7. Goodluck Shocks on TV

Goodluck Okonoboh went on national T.V. to announce his college decision and while he had been widely presumed to be favoring either Indiana or Ohio State in the weeks leading up to his announcement, an 11th hour push from UNLV scored the Runnin Rebels a surprise pledge, aired live on ESPNU.  

6. Joseph Realizes his Dream

Kaleb Joseph had a breakout junior year, both in the prep school and grassroots ranks, and would up as a top 50 national prospect as a result.  The exciting conclusion of that process was a scholarship offer and subsequent commitment from the school he grew up cheering for, Syracuse University, as the Orange landed Joseph over a slew of other high-majors.   

5. Package Deal to Presser for Abu & Terrell

Rumors of a potential package deal for Abdul-Malik Abu and Jared Terrell had already been circulating for more than a year and only intensified this spring and summer, especially when there was an overlap of six of their final top ten schools.  That ultimately led up to a joint press conference where Abu flipped an N.C. State hat and Terrell turned over for Oklahoma State.  

4. Adams' Buzzer Beater Claims AA for Cushing

The most dramatic of the 2013 post-season games was certainly the epic AA final between Cushing Academy and St. Andrew’s.  The game came down to the very last second with Jalen Adams knocking down a 35 foot buzzer beater to deliver the championship and give Andrew Chrabascz a well deserved final chapter to his high school career.  

3. Brewster & NMH Flip the Scripts

One year after Brewster Academy took the National Prep Championship and Northfield Mount Hermon took their first ever NEPSAC championship in 2012, the two programs did an about face in 2013 with NMH claiming their first national title and Brewster taking their second AAA crown in the last four years.  Ron Patterson, Elijah Macon, Kyle Washington, Martez Harrison, Chris McCullough, and Jared Terrell formed Brewster’s core while NMH was led by Anthony Dallier, Pete Miller, Skyler White, Zena Edosomwan, and Sam Donahue.  

2. New England Style NBA Draft

The 2012 NBA Draft was one of the most memorable in recent memory, at least for New England fans.  Nerlens Noel might not have gone first overall like many anticipated, but when he was ultimately reunited in Philadelphia with his former AAU teammate Michael Carter-Williams, it all seemed fitting.  Former Notre Dame Prep big man Steven Adams was also taken in the lottery while Ricky Ledo, Erik Murphy, and Alex Oriakhi would all follow in the second round.  

1. From Declassified to McDonald’s All-Americans

New England’s 2013 class will likely be remembered more for its top two players than anything else, and ironically both Noah Vonleh and Wayne Selden were previously listed in 2014 before “declassifying” and returning to their original graduating class.  The decisions proved to be beneficial as they both wound up committing to two of the nation’s most prestigious college basketball programs, in Indiana and Kansas respectively, and were then selected for high school basketball’s highest honor as McDonald’s All-Americans.