When Brandon Napoleon was growing up, he always heard stories of his father’s football playing days at the University of West Virginia.
Eugene Napoleon went from the now-defunct St. Joseph of the Palisades in West New York to West Virginia and had a fine career there, setting school records for kickoff returns in the process, playing for the Mountaineers from 1987 through 1989. The elder Napoleon was a big part of the last undefeated West Virginia team, going 11-0 in 1988.
So it was natural that young Brandon would become an avid follower of Mountaineer football, emulating the play of former Mountaineer stars like Major Harris and Pat White.
Now, Napoleon will get his chance to follow in his father’s footsteps.
The St. Peter’s Prep quarterback gave a verbal commitment recently to attend West Virginia and play football there in the fall of 2012.
It’s not immediately known what position the younger Napoleon will play at West Virginia. He’s been the standout quarterback at Grand and Warren and has also seen some playing time at defensive back.
More than likely, Napoleon will play both positions this season for the Marauders, who stand to be once again the premier team in Hudson County.
Napoleon’s early commitment to West Virginia eliminates all recruiting talk for the upcoming season, so now Napoleon can concentrate on calling the shots for the Marauders on the gridiron…
Speaking of St. Peter’s Prep, Napoleon’s teammate, Najee Glass, is currently in France competing in the World Junior Olympics in track and field. Last year, it was Singapore and this year, it’s France. The two-time overall state champion in the 400-meter dash is certainly a world traveler…
Former St. Anthony basketball standout Rodrick Rhodes, who went from Jersey City to the University of Kentucky and eventually the NBA, has been named the head basketball coach at Cordia High School in Knott County, Kentucky.
Rhodes, who played four years in the NBA, then went overseas, has spent the last six years coaching in college basketball, including one year at Seton Hall. He was last at the University of Texas-Pan American, where he spent the last two years. Now, Rhodes is on his way back to the Bluegrass State, where his college basketball career began….
Speaking of St. Anthony, All-America guard/forward Kyle Anderson has narrowed down his possible college choices to Seton Hall, UCLA, St. John’s, Georgetown and Florida. The 2011 Hudson Reporter Player of the Year has eliminated Villanova from contention and that was a bit of a shocker, considering that Villanova and head coach Jay Wright were among the very first to contact Anderson when he was still in grade school.
There was also some talk that North Carolina was still in the mix, but the latest reports have Anderson considering the five aforementioned schools. Things can always change…
July 16 will be a special night in Paterson, because three Peruvian natives who all now call North Bergen home will climb into the ring at Paterson Kennedy High School and participate in a great card promoted by the legendary Don Elbaum.
Jonathan Maicelo, who owns a 15-0 professional boxing record, will highlight the card, fighting for the IBF Latino Lightweight championship in a 12-round main event against Antonio Cervantes.
Carlos Zambrano will fight in a 10-round featherweight bout against Roberto Carlos Leyva. Zambrano has a 13-0 pro mark. And Juan Zegarra, a light welterweight, will fight Lenwood Dozier in an eight-round bout. Zegarra has a 7-0 record.
Maicelo, who is a hero in his native Peru, Zambrano and Zegarra live in the same North Bergen apartment with former IBF world flyweight champion Carlos Tamara. They are all trained by Hoboken native Butch Sanchez.
If anyone wants tickets to the card in Paterson, please contact Sanchez at (201) 320-6479. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.