When it comes time for local athletes to make their way to college via the scholarship route, you don’t have to look much further than the array of basketball student/athletes who make their way to the next level via a free ride from St. Anthony.
Last week, five current members of the Friar Class of 2016 signed their national letters of intent to attend a host of fine institutions. They signed their letters together at an assembly in the school’s auditorium, much like other graduating seniors have done several times over the years.
Jagan Mosely, the brilliant shooting guard, finally put his signature to a scholarship letter to Georgetown. The 6-foot-4 Mosely gave the school a verbal commitment over the summer, so the letter signing was nothing more than a formality for Mosely, who averaged 13 points per game last season, earning All-Hudson Reporter First Team honors.
“It’s a big accomplishment for me and my family,” said Mosely, whose older brother, Cheddi, plays at Boston University. “I was really looking forward to this day and now I can enjoy my life as a high school senior and concentrate on our team, which should be very special this year.”
Georgetown entered the recruiting picture for Mosely late, offering in late July, but it didn’t take long for Mosely to accept the offer.
“I’m glad I can share a day like this with my brothers and these guys are my brothers,” Mosely said. “Georgetown was at the top of my wish list. It just shows the kind of depth we have on this team to have so many signing college scholarship letters.”
Kaleb Bishop, the 6-foot-9 power forward who spent his first two years at St. Peter’s Prep, signed a letter from Fairleigh Dickinson University, which is coached by North Bergen native and former Prep player Greg Herenda.
Bishop transferred from Prep to St. Anthony last year. He had offers from Robert Morris, Fordham, Central Connecticut and Vermont, but chose to remain close to home to attend FDU. He said that the closeness he felt with the coaching staff, which includes former Friar player Dwayne Lee, helped him make his decision.
“I really believe in Coach Herenda and what he’s trying to do at FDU,” Bishop said. “We had a connection right away. Coach Lee is a great guy. I think this is a great day. It’s a special day for all of us. We’re always going to have this close relationship after high school and college. It’s crazy how this all worked out.”
Shyquan Gibbs, the son of Snyder head coach Shelton Gibbs, the former St. Peter’s University standout, also decided to stay close to home. Gibbs signed a letter to attend the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
NJIT, which already has former Friars Tim Coleman and Mohammed Bendary on its roster, enjoyed a major breakthrough season last year when the Highlanders won 21 games and reached the semifinals of the College Insider Tournament. NJIT also made news in the offseason by joining the Atlantic Sun Conference and for announcing plans for a brand new athletic arena, so it’s a program on the rise.
“It’s a great feeling to be part of it all at NJIT,” said Gibbs, who also had offers from Central Connecticut, Dartmouth, Holy Cross and the father’s alma mater of St. Peter’s to consider. “One of my goals was to be able to go to college for free. NJIT is a great school who has turned things around. I’m going where some of the guys I played with before are already. I didn’t want to have this day by myself, so I’m glad I can share it with my brothers.”
Gibbs and Mosely are two excellent students and are both battling to be the school’s valedictorian come June. They are currently the top two students in the school.
Asante Gist, who just transferred to St. Anthony from Marist, signed his letter of intent to go to Eastern Kentucky. Gist chose Eastern Kentucky over Bowling Green and Central Florida.
“It’s very special for me to come here and be part of this,” Gist said. “Eastern Kentucky has been recruiting me since sixth grade.”
Sixth grade? Wow, the process starts earlier and earlier.
Jaleel Lord signed with NCAA Division II Merrimack College. Ironically, that’s the school where Herenda played and got his coaching start. Herenda assisted in Lord securing the scholarship to his alma mater.
“I went for a visit there and it felt like family, much like St. Anthony feels like family,” Lord said. “It means a lot for me to share this day with my brothers. We all grew together as brothers.”
Lord also plays on the St. Anthony fledgling volleyball program.
Legendary Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley was overjoyed to be able to see more than $1 million in scholarship money get doled out to his players.
“It’s really gratifying to be able to give these kids a chance to play college basketball,” said Hurley, who has sent more than 175 of his players over the years to play college basketball on scholarship. “It also means something to have these kids academically qualified to play. The kid gets to sign his letter in front of the whole class and their families. It’s a big day. Now, we can go about the business of being the best team we can be.”
The Friars began practice for the upcoming season on Monday.
Also this week, Union City High School girls’ basketball player Nellasia Cedeno (Union City High School) signed a letter of intent with NCAA Division II Georgian Court in Lakewood down the Jersey shore.
Cedeno is a brilliant guard for the Soaring Eagles and getting a scholarship is a major accomplishment for her.
So it wasn’t just St. Anthony players who get the chance to have scholarship signings in the area. It’s a great accomplishment for all of the local athletes who get the chance to go to the next level on a free ride.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
You can also read Jim’s blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com.
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