Although it was first reported here months ago, then refuted by the source himself, Mike Rosario is apparently set to leave the Rutgers University basketball program.
The Jersey City native and former St. Anthony All-American reportedly asked for his release from his scholarship last week in order to organize a transfer to another school.
A few months ago, we learned that Rosario was thinking about joining friend and former Friar teammate Jio Fontan at the University of Southern California, after Fontan bolted from Fordham to USC at the beginning of the spring semester.
But when Rosario was approached at the St. Anthony-Paterson Catholic game at Rutgers last month, Rosario assured this reporter that he wasn’t going anywhere, that he was determined to stay at Rutgers to be close to his family in Jersey City.
Now, that scenario has changed and Rosario is reportedly looking elsewhere, with USC on the list of schools he may transfer to, along with Florida and North Carolina.
It’s also being reported that Rutgers coach Fred Hill may be fired for comments he made to the University of Pittsburgh baseball coach recently. If Hill is dismissed and a new coach is brought in, maybe Rosario might reconsider his recent stance and stay in Piscataway. In any case, it’s a giant mess right now and the local kid is right stuck in the middle of it all…
While we’re happy that Danny Hurley is going on to the collegiate ranks and bringing his brother Bobby along to Wagner on Staten Island, the hiring came at the expense of another local product.
Darren Savino, who was Bobby’s teammate on that 1989 magical St. Anthony basketball team, was the other finalist for the head coaching position at Wagner. It was a shame that it came down to two long-time friends for the same job. Savino is currently an assistant at Rutgers with Hill, so his status remains in question as does Hill.
Sometimes, college basketball coaching can be a cruel profession….
Speaking of local college coaches, rumor has it that North Bergen native Greg Herenda is in the running at Holy Cross, where he once served as an assistant coach to Jersey City native George Blaney.
Herenda has done a great job for the last two seasons at UMass-Lowell, leading the River Hawks to the NCAA Division II tourney both years. Since he’s familiar with the ongoing in Worcester, Herenda would be a fine choice at Holy Cross…
On the college basketball front, congratulations to Union City native and Kean University senior Melissa Beyruti, who became the all-time leader in three-point field goals made in the history of women’s college basketball on any level.
Beyruti, who was a standout at Union Hill in her high school days, made more than 400 shots from beyond the arc, breaking the former mark of 396 held by Laurie Koehn of Kansas State from 2000-04.
Beyruti is now hopeful to get a chance to crack a roster in the WNBA…
On the local baseball front, High Tech’s Eric Mozeika made an impact when he struck out 13 batters in a recent 3-2 win over Marist, improving the Lasers’ record to 3-0 in the early going. Young Derek Strandberg had already thrown a no-hitter for the Lasers, who may be ready to make some big-time noise for coach Jim Comprelli, who was the 2009 Hudson Reporter Coach of the Year…
In softball, returning All-Area players Ashley Barron and pitcher Yaritza Santiago have Hoboken out to a 4-0 start after defeating Holy Family on Tuesday…
Hudson Reporter H.S. Baseball Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (3-2). 2. Memorial (2-0). 3. St. Mary’s (3-1). 4. North Bergen (2-1). 5. County Prep (3-1).
Hudson Reporter H.S. Softball Top Five: 1. High Tech (3-0). 2. North Bergen (0-0). 3. Hoboken (4-0). 4. Memorial (3-0). 5. McNair Academic (5-0)…. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.