W&M Post-Grad Earns Scholarship

New England Recruiting Report | Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

It was a little over two months ago when Mitch Amelio made the long trip from San Diego, California to Wilbraham, Massachusetts for his post-graduate year.  Since arriving the six-foot-four swingman has been turning heads with a series of strong performances during his team’s fall workouts as well as at events like the BasketBull Fall Showcase and New England High School Invitational. 

With his incredibly high understanding of the game and sweet shooting touch from the perimeter, Amelio was just starting to generate some buzz among Division I coaches.  But that buzz came to a quick end on Wednesday as Stonehill College landed a commitment that we believe will prove to be very significant. 

Despite the likelihood of landing division I offers later in the year, Amelio opted to accept the full four year athletic scholarship offer on the table and commit to Skyhawks head coach Dave McLaughlin. 

“I am very excited for Mitch.  He’s a hard worker and I feel he can make an immediate impact for Stonehill,” said Wilbraham and Monson head coach Chris Sparks.

Beyond his deep shooting range, Amelio also moves tremendously well without the ball, is an excellent passer, and has the decision making ability and feel for the game that can’t be taught.  Those attributes make him a tremendous fit in Stonehill’s motion offense. 

And while he has already proven himself to be a very good player, the California native’s best basketball is definitely still in front of him as he spends the rest of his post-graduate year filling out his frame and getting stronger. 

Amelio is the second member of this year’s Wilbraham and Monson team to make his college commitment joining Naofall Folahan and Coach Sparks’ third scholarship player since taking over his alma mater’s program last season. 

Stonehill College is a member of the Northeast 10 Conference, arguably the most competitive division II conference in the country.  In the six full seasons that McLaughlin has been at the helm of the program the Skyhawks have won 107 games while making multiple trips to the NCAA tournament, including a birth in the Final Four in 2006.