Sports

Manhattan Center’s Diaz, Fulcher head to Hyde School with academics in mind

DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. – A smile comes to Janicha (Chacha) Diaz’s face when she thinks about attending the Hyde School in the fall.

“I feel like I am going to start anew,” the 5-foot-10 wing said. “I get another chance to get my stuff together and go somewhere.”

Diaz considered enrolling at the Connecticut prep school last year, but opted to stay at Manhattan Center, preferring to remain with her friends and teammates, feeling they needed her. Diaz, who will reclassify to the class of 2014, made the decision for her future, not that of others.

“I wasn’t thinking for myself,” said Diaz, who plays her travel ball with New Heights. “I was thinking for my team and everything else, so I stayed.”

Diaz is making the move for her future, to get away from a difficult living situation at home in her Harlem neighborhood. She will be joined at the Hyde School by Lady Rams rising junior point guard Cashmir Fulcher, who missed most of last season for personal reasons. She averaged 8.2 points over nine PSAL league games as a freshman.

“Janicha is working hard at Manhattan Center, but it’s not where it needs to be,” Rams coach Jaywana Bradley said. “It’s going to be a good move for them.”

Diaz’s basketball talent has never been in question. Long and athletic with a nose for finding the bottom of the net, she averaged 12.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during the PSAL regular season last year. She emerged when senior guard Yen Pham went down with a torn ACL.

“It’s not about basketball at all,” New Heights coach Rock Rosa said. “It’s simply about the support she needs when it comes to the social thing. She’s been surrounded by a tough situation. She needs to get away from that and focus on what she really needs to do. “

When Diaz visited the prep school, she immediately felt comfortable and saw the opportunity it offered her. It will provide her and Fulcher, who is already there taking summer classes, the structure they need to succeed, such as mandatory tutoring, Rosa said. Diaz missed nearly all of the live recruiting period last season with New Heights because she was in summer school.

The ultimate goal at the Hyde School for her and Fulcher is not basketball, Rosa said, but graduating and eventually gaining a college education.

jstaszewski@nypost.com