Eric Paschall is a walking example that’s it’s not where you play, but how you play.
The gifted 6-foot-6 senior wing attends tiny Dobbs Ferry High School in Westchester County and plays for nondescript AAU program The City, yet he is considered one of the areas top prospects, with scholarship offers from VCU, Providence, West Virginia, Fordham, George Mason, Manhattan and Iona, among others.
“I’m kind of surprised,” said Eric Paschall, who attended Iona’s 90-86 victory over Loyola Friday night. “It’s a blessing to have all these schools looking at me.”
His father, Juan Paschall, said he considered moving his son to a bigger program each year since the eighth grade, but Eric was raised in the community and felt it was better for him to stay there. He has done wonders for the program, and has Dobbs Ferry within a victory of the Section 1 Class B crown.
“I’m trying to build a well-rounded kid, not just a basketball player,” Juan Paschall said. “Obviously it hasn’t hurt his recruitment being loyal. He’s a big fish in a small pond, but you know what? He’s eating.”
Added Eric Paschall: “It lets people know you don’t have to play for a big school to get exposure.”
His recruitment began to skyrocket after he was named MVP of the Metro Classic, an annual all-star game featuring the top players from the city and the suburbs. A decision isn’t looming, Eric Paschall said, as he is keeping his options open. An up-tempo attack is appealing and he has developed a bond with Fordham head coach Tom Pecora and Iona assistant Zak Boisvert.
“A lot of things are happening really fast,” Juan Paschall said. “It’s a humbling experience, people falling over themselves for your son.”
One local coach familiar with Paschall said his skill is at a high major level and he “has a ton of potential. He’s a taller Durand Scott,” the coach said, referring to the former Rice star and Miami senior guard.
* New York State’s Mr. Basketball, the award given to the top senior, is down to uncommitted shooting guard Jon Severe of Christ the King and a pair of Connecticut commits — South Shore point guard Terrence Samuel and Long Island Lutheran forward Kentan Facey.
* Andrew Wiggins, the consensus top player in the country who attends West Huntington Prep (W. Va.) and is originally from Canada, took an official visit to Kentucky this week. North Carolina and Florida State are the other front-runners for the 6-7 wing.
* Lincoln’s Trevonn Morton and Cardinal Hayes duo Shavar Newkirk and Mustafa Jones visited Columbia.
* Despite a published report in which Seton Hall commit Aquille Carr said he would consider playing professionally overseas next year rather than attend college, a source told The Post, “if he qualifies, he will be a Pirate.” The highly ranked and diminutive 5-foot-6 scoring machine attends Princeton Day Academy (N.J.), his fourth school in three years.
* Pecora came to see Archbishop Molloy junior point guard C.J. Davis on Wednesday. The Rams are one of many programs actively recruiting Davis.
* Auburn offered point guard Bryce Aiken, a freshman who attends Pope John XXIII (N.J.) and plays locally with AAU powerhouse Team Scan.
Football
Erasmus Hall running back Curtis Samuel picked up an offer from Ohio State this week, to go along with existing ones from Boston College, Maryland, Nebraska, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia and Connecticut. The 6-foot, 185-pound playmaker plans to visit Notre Dame soon.
The offers keep pouring in for Lincoln defensive tackle Thomas Holley. Maryland, Ole Miss and Baylor extended scholarships offers this week, Notre Dame offered on Thursday and Alabama and Clemson extended offers on Friday.
Holy Cross defensive tackle Demeji Bamishile signed with Southern Connecticut State on Thursday.