UNH Lands Two Massachusetts Natives

NewEnglandBasketballServices.com | Tuesday, April 10th, 2007

New Hampshire added two more local players to their recruiting class in 6’1 combo guard Alvin Abreu who is currently doing a post-graduate year at Boys to Men Academy in Chicago, and 6’8 power forward Dane DiLegro who is doing the same at Worcester Academy. 

For Abreu, his commitment to UNH marks the conclusion of a very long journey to reach the division I level.  The Massachusetts native started at Lynn Classical High School where he had an impressive career playing in front of his hometown crowds.  His first post-graduate season came at the Gunnery School in CT where he easily dominated but didn’t get the exposure or competition necessary to obtain his goal.  After an impressive AAU season last year with the Connecticut Basketball Club, Abreu brieftly committed to the University of Massachusetts at Lowell before ultimately deciding to do a second post-graduate year at Boys to Men in hopes of achieving his dream of playing division I basketball. 

When Abreu returned to New England with his Boyz to Men team in February to play in the National Prep School Invitational, it was obvious his hard work and dedication had paid off as his performance was enough to attract the attention of quite a few of the on- looking college coaches.  He showed the versatility to play either guard position, consistent shooting range from behind the three-point line, and excellent court coverage in full court defense situations. 

Thanks to his two post-graduate years Abreu is more mature then most incoming college freshmen, both mentally and physically, and should consequently be ready to make an immediate contribution upon arriving on campus.  He was also being pursued by Maine, Canisius, and Niagara. 

Abreu wasn’t the only player to turn heads with his play at the National Prep School Invitational.  As it turns out his future teammate did the same thing.  DiLegro was impressive that weekend scoring around the basket, throwing his strong body around to grab rebounds, and showing the speed and athleticism to beat opposing big men up and down the floor. 

The similarities don’t stop there as DiLegro also starred in the MIAA before attending prep school where he was a standout player for both Lexington High School and the Bay State Magic AAU program.   

With Abreu and DiLegro joining two other local products (Sal Abdo from St. Mark’s and Tyrone Conley from Burlington High School) in the UNH recruiting class, Head Coach Bill Herrion and his staff deserve credit for keeping some of New England’s best players at home.  Not only is this strategy likely to pay off on the court but it is also bound to increase UNH’s fan base and ticket sales now that fans from surrounding states will have an opportunity to keep up with and route for their local players.

---