Omar Calhoun was disappointed like everyone else to hear Connecticut wouldn’t be eligible for postseason play next March because of low academic grades by former and current players. He’s always wanted to play in the NCAA Tournament and he still might – just not his freshman year.
The Christ the King star has opted to remain committed to coach Jim Calhoun and his staff.
“I’m sticking with UConn – there’s not gonna be any change,” he said after competing in the Wheelchair Charities HS Basketball Classic at York College in Queens. “I have a great relationship with the coaching staff. Not being in the tournament, that’s something small. We built a strong relationship and I’m loyal.”
Calhoun said the coaching has told him the postseason ban will last just one year and they expect him to make an immediate contribution as a freshman.
Queens tops Manhattan: Our Savior New American’s LeBrent Walker poured in 26 points, Calhoun had 25 and his Christ the King teammate Jordan Fuchs added 20 as Queens knocked off Manhattan, 114-108, to reach the championship game against Brooklyn on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. Terry Tarpey, the Fairfield Prep (Conn.) star headed to William & Mary, had a game-high 29 points for Manhattan.
Tarpey, whose father Terry Tarpey Sr. starred at Holy Cross in Queens and is NYU’s all-time leading scorer, enjoyed the opportunity to go up against the city’s top players from Queens.
“I was looking for some great competition,” he said. “I came to New York City and heard about the Wheelchair games through the AAU circuit. … I was just playing to win the game, get some easy baskets.”
Boys High’s Andrews opens it up: Boys & Girls standout Rashad Andrews has opened up his recruitment, he said, though the Adelphi decommit could still end up at Division II Adelphi.
“I like Adelphi a lot, but I feel like I’m a Division I player,” he said. “I’m open in my recruitment and I want to see who will give me a shot.”
Thus far, Andrews said Siena and South Carolina have reached out to his AAU coach, Brian Coleman.
Notes: Cardinal Hayes forward Jalen Jenkins confirmed he is going to prep school despite a handful of mid-major Division I offers. The 6-foot-7 forward, who will play this spring and summer with New Heights, is in the process of filling out applications for potential destinations. He said he would like to attend Blair Academy in New Jersey, but is also considering Brewster Academy in Maine, The Peddie School in New Jersey and South Kent in Connecticut. “On the college level, I’m going to need to be bigger and stronger,” he said. …Lincoln forward Travis Charles has yet to decide what he will do in the fall. He may head to prep school or he could be at a college. The 6-foot-6 big man said he has interest from Hofstra, Marist, Dayton, UNC-Greensboro and FDU and will spend the spring AAU season with the New York Panthers to “see what options I have,” he said. … Brooklyn Collegiate forward Ervin Mitchell is likely to end up at prep school Central Jersey Each One Teach One, BC coach Jake Edwards said.