After deliberating the decision for more than seven months, St. Peter’s Prep standout defensive back/running back Sheldon Royster finally made his decision about his future.
“I’m going to South Carolina,” Royster said in a phone interview. “I just felt like I wanted to go away. I’ve been in New Jersey my whole life. It’s time for a change. The academics at the school are good and I liked the campus when I visited there. I can definitely see myself playing there.”
The speedy Royster is one of three major college prospects at Grand and Warren. Offensive lineman Keith Lumpkin had previously declared his intentions to attend Rutgers in the fall. All-State running back Savon Huggins, the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year, has yet to decide on his choice.
There had been some talk of all three going to the same school, so when Lumpkin made his commitment to Rutgers, there was some thought that Royster and Huggins would follow suit.
“We did talk about that a lot,” Royster said. “I think that’s how we all felt in the beginning. For me, it came down to South Carolina and Rutgers and I just thought South Carolina was a better fit.”
Royster said that he was very impressed with the opportunity to play for legendary coach Steve Spurrier.
“I felt he wanted me and when I called him to tell him my decision, he was very excited about adding me to the team,” Royster said. “He talked about me as a player for them and it made me very comfortable there.”
Royster is being recruited by South Carolina as a defensive back.
“I just feel it’s a big relief to get the decision over with,” Royster said. “I know I’ve made the right decision.”
Royster, who is the son of former Lincoln High School All-County running back Shelly Archie, said that he never dreamed of playing big-time college football as a youngster.
“When I first started playing, it was for fun,” Royster said. “But when I got really serious in high school, that’s when I knew it could be my future. I’m really excited about it and I think I’ll be ready to play in the best conference in the country.”
South Carolina plays in the Southeast Conference (SEC), which recently crowned its seventh different national champion when Auburn won the BCS Championship game earlier this month.
Royster will sign his national letter of intent to South Carolina on Feb. 2, along with teammates Huggins and Lumpkin…
Another former Prep standout has decided to turn pro. Former Marauder great Will Hill has announced he will forego his final year of college at the University of Florida and has declared himself eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft….
The hottest boys’ basketball team in Hudson County these days, other than, of course, St. Anthony, would have to be the Tigers of Memorial, who have rattled off eight straight wins to improve to 9-2. Not a bad run for a team that won eight games all of last season.
It’s always been said that the sign of a good team is their ability to win close games. Well, the Tigers are doing exactly that, winning six of their eight straight by five points or less. They knocked off Dickinson twice during the run, winning once by a point and another time by two. The Tigers made a statement last Friday by defeating Bayonne, also by a single point, stopping the Bees’ six-game win streak in the process.
While most outsiders might look at the Tigers’ streak as being somewhat surprising, veteran head coach Ryan Raparelli is not shocked one bit.
“Actually, I expected this,” Raparelli said. “We have a veteran team, a senior-dominated team that comes to play every night and has stepped up the way I thought they would.”
Leading the way is senior guard David Almonte, who is averaging close to 22 points per game thus far.
“He’s a three-year starter,” Raparelli said of the 6-1 senior Almonte. “He has the most experience on the team and he’s emerged as a great leader for us. He brings tremendous energy day in and day out.”
Almonte is clearly playing like someone who is of All-Area caliber.
Another key performer is 6-2 senior center Alex Carpio, who is averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds per contest.
“We basically play four guards and Alex,” Raparelli said. “That’s how important he is to us. He works his tail off under the basket.”
Junior Luis Perez is a 6-1 guard who also plays with a lot of high energy.
“Luis has the ability to knock down open shots as well,” Raparelli said.
Senior Derek Sierra is the team’s point guard. The 6-0 Sierra played last year at High Tech and has remained as a student at that school, but has fit in well with the Tigers.
“He’s been a nice addition,” Raparelli said. “He’s a good ball handler who sets up our offense.”
Senior Kermy Amparo is the other Tiger starter. The 5-10 Amparo is “the most athletic kid we have,” Raparelli said. “He’s also our best on-the-ball defender.”
Amparo was the one who calmly knocked down two free throws with five seconds left to defeat Bayonne, 56-55, last week.
Raparelli likes the way his team is winning the close games.
“I think it’s a sign of our maturity,” Raparelli said. “Last year, we would have lost those games, because we didn’t know who wanted the ball or who would get the ball in key situations. Now, they’re all coming through and you see the results. The kids have worked hard and dedicated themselves to getting better. It’s paying off so far.”
Others seeing quality time include seniors Rafael Reynoso and Jose Toribio (the baseball standout), as well as juniors Jordan Capellan and Andres Duran, a transfer from St. Anthony.
The Tigers will receive solid tests upcoming with games against Hudson Catholic and St. Peter’s Prep.
“Those will be good challenges,” Raparelli said. “But we just want to let things keep rolling. I’m happy with their focus. It’s all coming together.”…
Hudson Reporter Boys’ H.S. Basketball Top Five: 1. St. Anthony (9-0). 2. Hudson Catholic (9-3). 3. St. Peter’s Prep (8-2). 4.Memorial (9-2). 5. Marist (8-2).
Hudson Reporter Girls’ H.S. Basketball Top Five: 1. Bayonne (10-1). 2. North Bergen (10-2). 3. Lincoln (6-4). 4. Secaucus (8-2). 5. Holy Family Academy (7-2)….
The seventh annual Dan Finn Classic was another smashing success at the Jersey City Armory last Saturday. The only downside was the local participants, namely Hudson Catholic and Dickinson, both lost.
But the tourney, which is held to remember the former St. Peter’s Prep soccer and basketball standout who was tragically killed in 2004 when he was struck by a car in Myrtle Beach, chose to honor some alums of both schools, as Jim Spanarkel and Mike O’Koren of Hudson Catholic and Ben Allen of Dickinson were inducted into the Finn Classic Hall of Fame.
The final games of the Finn Classic will be held Feb. 21 at New Jersey City University, when Bayonne’s girls will face Pascack Valley, followed by the showdown between the Friars of St. Anthony and the Marauders of St. Peter’s Prep. Last year’s game was the best local hoop game in decades…
Congrats to the McNair Academic tandem of Georgia Hilmer and Amira Dardir, for winning the NJSIAA Group I Relay title in the high jump.
Hilmer and Dardir jumped an even 10-feet to earn the gold medal. The pair finished second last year, while Hilmer won the Group I relay title three years ago as a freshman…–Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.