Unsigned Stone still shining

Saiquon Stone, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound shooting guard from Xaverian High School in New York, has been all over the country this season. So has his recruitment. The lock down defender has been focused on his last go round at the high school level and putting his college plans on a bit of a hold until after the season. Now in the last hour of his career, he's starting to pick up where he left off.

Stone, a three-star prospect, has played from coast to coast in this his final year of high school hoops. Xaverian traveled to Hawaii in December and ironically met up with Rice High School, also out of the Big Apple, in the championship game. Xaverian lost by 20 for the championship and did it without Stone's services. He was out with a rib injury.

Even with an injury, Stone, a native NYC guy, enjoyed Hawaii and it's island flavors.

"They made me wear the skirt and the head band thing. My teammates all took pictures of me dancing with the hula girls. They all thought it was pretty funny," Stone said. "We had a good time but I'm not really a beach guy. I don't even know if I'm a pool guy."

He's a basketball guy, though. Believe that. His 19 points led Xaverian in a defeat to Westchester High School in a battle of L.A. and New York. Stone is the team's most effective big man even as a guard. He's had to play the post all season long. Nevertheless, he's shined on both ends of the floor. Still with injured ribs, he's also one of the premiere defenders in the land.

Stone officially visited Fairfield in the fall, saying "it was a nice trip. I stayed with some guys that I know from home. They treated me well." But, he said he's still looking. And waiting.

Marist and Fairfield are his lone offers to date but Providence, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and St. John's are also in the picture. Stone just wants a chance to play.

"I don't have to start, I just want to play," Stone said. "That's why I wanted to be recruited by guys in the Big East. I'm not demanding starting minutes. I'm not demanding anything. That's not my style. I just hope (coaches) see me as a guy that will play hard. I don't want to go somewhere and sit on a bench when I know I can play and help a team."

And he wants to play in the Big East, too.

"I want to play in the Garden for the Big East tournament," Stone said. "That would really mean a lot."