Central Connecticut St. Getting Job Done
Under the guidance of Howie Dickenman (right), the Central Connecticut State basketball program has established itself as a perennial power in the Northeast Conference.
With the three man recruiting class that the Blue Devils have assembled this fall, it looks like they will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the NEC.
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CCSU has picked up oral commitments from 6-3, 190 pound forward Obie Nwadike out of St. Anthony's H.S. in Jersey City, N.J., 6-2, 185 pound shooting/combo guard DeMario Anderson of Oxon Hill H.S. in Oxon Hill, Md., and 6-7, 220 pound combo forward Jean-Philippe Morin of Montmorency Prep in Laval, Quebec, Canada.
Nwadike is a hard working forward who played on back to back state champions at St. Anthony's as a sophomore and junior. He's very effective on the offensive glass and just has a nose for the ball at all times.
He took fall visits to St. Francis (PA), Quinnipiac and Central Connecticut before casting his lot with the Blue Devils.
"I like the system that Central runs and I think that I will fit in well there," Nwadike said.
Nwadike said he plans on moving out to the wing on the college level. He played primarily inside the past few years at St. Anthony's and for the Tim Thomas Playaz traveling team
Anderson had a terrific summer, but because he didn't play on the travel team circuit, he flew under the radar screen a bit.
DeMario made the top 20 all-star games at both the first and third sessions of the Eastern Invitational Basketball Clinic in Trenton, N.J., and was also selected to play in the Orange and White Classic at the third session of the Five-Star Basketball Camp in Coraopolis, Penn.
He took official trips to both Central Connecticut and Hampton before opting for the Blue Devils.
"The academic support was a big reason for me picking Central, and I also felt comfortable with the coaching staff," Anderson said.
Anderson didn't start the entire season as a junior at Oxon Hill, but he managed to average 12 points a game on a team that featured a few other Division I level prospects.
He ratcheted up his game a notch this summer, and if can make slight improvements to his core GPA and SAT score, he should be eligible to play next winter in the Northeast Conference.
Anderson said his shooting skills and athleticism and the two things that stand out most about his game.
Probably the least known of the three signees is Morin, but that probably has more to do with geography than anything else.
Rivalshoops.com caught up with Montmorency Head Coach Guy Pariseau, and he gave us the skinny on Morin.
"I think Central Connecticut is looking to play him at the four, but he can go both outside and inside," Pariseau said. "He's played in the post most of his career, so he has some great post moves."
"He's not a power player, he's more of a finesse player who uses fakes very well," Pariseau continued. "He's improved his game a lot since the summer, especially his shooting and putting the ball on the floor and going to the basket."
In one recent game, Morin racked up 30 points, nine rebounds and 12 steals. Last season, he averaged 20 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest.
Paiseau said that Brown, Yale and American University were also involved with Morin this fall. He took an unofficial visit to Central Connecticut State earlier this fall with his parents and committed shortly thereafter.
Montmorency is playing a challenging schedule this winter, which will include pit stops at the Sun Youth Tournament in Toronto and the St. Thomas More Pride's Corner Invitational in Oakdale, Conn.
Rivalshoops.com plans on seeing all three Blue Devil signees in action this winter, and we will keep you posted on their progress during the 2002-2003 hoop campaign, so stay tuned.
Photo: Central Connecticut State University Sports Information Department