Yanulis and Applegate Complete Trinity’s Monster Class

NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com | Friday, May 9th, 2008

Anytime a division III school can convince a player to turn down a scholarship, they are getting a steal.  Typically, the programs that attempt to compete at the national level attempt to land one player like this a year.  To land two in the same year gives them a terrific recruiting class.

Well this year Trinity College has received commitments from not one, not two, but four players who had opportunities to play at the scholarship level.  With Jon Pike, Andrew Yanulis, and Chris Applegate having committed recently, and Sal Abdo set to transfer from New Hampshire, the Bantams have put together a phenomenal recruiting class. 

Abdo graduated from St. Mark’s (Southborough, MA) last year before heading to New Hampshire on a scholarship.  He had other scholarship offers from American, Binghamton, Quinnipiac, and Robert Morris with schools including St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic 10 also showing interest.  He will arrive at Trinity next year with a full four years of eligibility. 

Pike is about to conclude his post-graduate year at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.  He opted to stay home for an extra year after graduating from Exeter High School a year ago.  He had several scholarship opportunities at schools in the Northeast 10 Conference. 

His teammate at Phillips Exeter, Chris Applegate, has also made a commitment to the Bantams.  Applegate turned down a division I scholarship offer from High Point University in order to attend Trinity.  He is a rugged and hard-working big man who finds ways to score around the basket and is a terrific rebounder at both ends of the floor. 

The latest to pledge his services is Andrew Yanulis, who spent the season as Northfield Mount Hermon’s starting center.  Prior to arriving at NMH, Yanulis was a major contributor to Boston College High School’s first MIAA state championship in 80 years.  He is a very polished low post scorer who has a terrific arsenal of moves with his back to the basket as well as the ability to face the basket and make shots from 15 feet and in. 

The foursome joins the Bantams at the perfect time as they lose three starters from this year’s NEPSAC Tournament Championship team.  All four of the incoming players have the potential to not only contend for those starting spots but to also be among the best freshmen in the conference. 

Longtime Trinity College Assistant Coach Sean Tabb deserves the credit for putting together this class.  Not only has Tabb been the program’s lead recruiter for many years, but he was directly responsible for landing all four of these uniquely talented players. 

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