Manhattan’s present is full of March dreams, and its future seems just as bright. Steve Masiello’s Jaspers, the preseason favorite in the MAAC, already have a highly regarded 2014 recruiting class, and this week they began to work on 2015.
Manhattan landed a verbal commitment from electric 6-foot guard Rickey McGill Jr. of Spring Valley (N.Y.) High School on Monday night, a potential impact player who also considered Iona and LaSalle. The Jaspers got it done in the same manner in which Masiello has built up his program from a MAAC also-ran to a favorite: with hard work, honesty, forward thinking and dedication.
“The things I found to be true throughout a kid’s recruitment: Once they find that spot you feel comfortable with and they’re offering everything you want, you pull the trigger,” said Andy Borman, McGill’s AAU coach with House of Sports. “That’s what I told his dad and that’s what I told Rickey.”
“They were there before he quote-unquote blew up. They were there when he did, and they were there afterwards. They were real consistent.”
The family didn’t need any convincing.
McGill’s father, Rickey McGill, said whereas other programs would call more after his son had a good game, the Jaspers’ interest level never waned. McGill is particularly fond of Masiello’s lead recruiter, Rasheen Davis, who was integral in landing Manhattan’s three-man 2014 class.
“He treated me like I was his own son, like I was part of his family,” McGill said of Davis. “He was breaking stuff down for me, how I would fit right in and all the other stuff.”
McGill was coming off a huge summer playing up a year on the AAU circuit, when Division I coaches were blown away by the diminutive guard’s blend of scoring ability, high basketball IQ and athleticism. He had two breakout games, matching Syracuse-bound star Caleb Joseph and outplaying Manhattan native Paul Jorgensen, a George Washington commit.
“He made a name for himself,” Borman said. “He had a lot of buzz about him. … If he let his junior year play out, he would’ve been the kid sitting on 25-to-30 offers.”
McGill, who led Spring Valley to a 17-3 record last winter and the top seed in the Section 1 Class AA tournament, didn’t need to wait for any other schools to come calling. He felt comfortable with the Manhattan coaching staff, the direction of the program, its up-tempo style of play, and its close proximity to his Spring Valley home. He didn’t need “love,” as Borman called it, college coaches lighting up his phone.
Manhattan is favored to reach its first NCAA Tournament in nine years this winter, bolstered by the addition of Maryland transfer Ashton Pankey and the return from injury of last year’s MAAC Preseason Player of the Year George Beamon — in addition to last year’s runner-up core all coming back. The program seems to be picking up steam, as Masiello’s 2014 class includes impressive Brooklyn forward duo Samson Akilo and Samson Usilo of Nazareth High, and now has a point guard to go with them a year later.
“I’m not being cocky, [but] when I get there we’re going to have a big year,” McGill said.
***
The future of Wagner College’s backcourt seems set. The Staten Island school added guard Corey Henson of Maryland powerhouse DeMatha Catholic on Thursday, to go along with Wilmington, Del., point guard Joe Cooper.
“Wagner loves me,” Henson said. “The staff and players make me feel like family and I think coach [Bashir Mason] will help me to achieve all the goals I have set for myself.”
***
Cardinal Hayes senior forward Mustafa Jones pledged a commitment to Central Connecticut State on Wednesday, choosing the NEC program over Fordham, Duquesne, Iona, East Carolina and Buffalo.
***
Rutgers head coach Eddie Jordan landed the first member of his 2015 recruiting class, 6-foot-6 forward Austin Burnette of Broughton High School in Raleigh, N.C., on Wednesday night.
***
St. John’s is now recruiting forward Max Hoetzel, a perimeter threat who attends Massachusetts prep school Wilbraham and Monson. San Diego, Pacific and Loyola Marymount all have offered the California product.
***
Duke assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski visited Iona Prep on Thursday to see sharpshooting junior Matt Ryan, who will visit Boston College this weekend.
***
Sophomore forward Amarveer Singh of St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City has recently picked up scholarship offers from Rutgers, Seton Hall, Villanova, Manhattan and Virginia, his AAU coach with the New York Lightning, Dana Dingle, said.