With October comes the official start of the college basketball season as teams begin practices. Follow along as Pickin’ Splinters highlights the incoming classes of the A-10 that are “signed, sealed and delivered.”
Next up are the Fordham Rams.
Tom Pecora and his staff will be looking to improve on a 7-21 mark from last year. Fordham welcomes seven freshmen to Rose Hill: Ryan Canty, Jared Fay, DC Gaitley, Devon McMillan, Jeffrey Short, Bryan Smith and Luka Zivkovic.
Ryan Canty 6’9″ 230lbs. C Brimmer and May – Danvers, Mass.
Rated as one of the ten most exciting players to watch in New England by highschoolhoops.com, checking in at number six for his dunking and rebounding ability…Also ranked 16th in New England by the New England Recruiting Report…Prior to Brimmer and May, attended Tilton Prep in 2009-10….Helped lead the Rams to their third straight New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) Class B title in March of 2009 and an appearance in the National Prep Championship Tournament…Named Third Team All-NEPSAC Class B East…Started his high school career at St. John’s Prep High School in Danvers, Mass. Played for the Mass Rivals AAU team. Named to the Young Theodore Ryken Scholars of America.
What they’re saying about Canty – Steve Keller/ The National Recruiting Report: :”He’s a pretty good recruit. He has size and potential. He is capable in a year down the road of being a factor in the A-10.”
Jared Fay 6’3″ 170lbs. G Brimmer and May – Lynn, Mass.
A two-year starter at Brimmer and May. Served as team captain senior year.Led team in three-pointers made and three-point shooting percentage…Second leading scorer at 14.0 ppg.Played for the Bay State Magic AAU club…Member of the National Honor Society and recipient of the National Latin Society award…Attended Lynn Classical High School where he played for three years prior to matriculating at Brimmer and May.
DC Gaitley 6’2″ 190lbs. G Episcopal Academy – Haverford, Pa.
Made the team as a walk-on. He lettered for three years at Episcopal. Served as a team captain during junior and senior years. Named team MVP and Honorable mention All-City selection.
Devon McMillan 5’10” 165lbs. G Newburgh Free – Brooklyn, N.Y.
Led the Goldbacks to the Section 9 Class AA title before falling in the Class AA state championship semifinals…Starred for Uniondale High School in Uniondale, N.Y. in 2008-09, averaging 13 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals per game… Helped Knights advanced to the New York State Class AA semifinals…Hit a buzzer-beating shot that helped Uniondale defeat Baldwin, 53-52, in the Nassau County Class AA championship game…A Brooklyn native, he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Lincoln High School, where he was a member of the 2007 and 2008 city championship teams…Played with the New Heights AAU team.
What they’re saying about McMillan – Tom Sampogna/ Team Frenji Grassroots Basketball: “He’s super-quick point guard from New York City with an up and down style of play. He can score in transition.”
Jeffrey Short 6’4″ 180lbs. G Kennedy – Bronx, N.Y.
Named the 2009-10 Bronx Player of the Year and First Team All-City by the New York Post as well as being named First Team Class AA All-State by the New York State Sportswriters Association. Averaged 28.7 points, 14.0 rebounds and more than five assists a game as a senior, hitting 51 three-pointers in league play. His scoring average ranked second best in the PSAL in 2009-10. Named team MVP and served as a team captain. As a junior, helped lead Kennedy to the Class AA City Championship game at Madison Square Garden…Was ranked as the fourth best recruit in New York City by GothamHoops.com and was a New York McDonald’s All-America nominee (one of 31 nominees which included current Rams Branden Frazier and Fatty McMillan)…Also appeared with the New York City team in the 2010 Jordan Classic Regional Game at Madison Square Garden…Played with the New York Panthers AAU team, being named Second Team All-Tournament at the 2010 iS8/Nike Tip-Off Fall Classic.
What they’re saying about Short – Steve Keller/ The National Recruiting Report: “This kid is a phenomenal shooter. Possibly an outstanding get. He reminds me of Dwight Hardy. He can knock down two, three, four in a row off the dribble from 20-25 feet. He can shoot with the best in the country. But he can also shoot you out of a game. He has to refine his game.”
Tom Sampogna/ Team Frenji Grassroots Basketball: “He has the potential to be freshman of the year. He is a dynamic scorer. He can slash. He can catch and shoot. He can put the ball to the floor and create his own shot.”
Bryan Smith 6’2″ 195lbs. G Midwood – Brooklyn, N.Y.
Led Midwood to its first city title since 1968…Averaged 28 ppg, nine rpg and seven assists/game as a senior in 2010-11…Set the school’s scoring record with a 68-point outburst in Midwood’s league-opening win over James Madison…Netted 38 points in the first half and shot 9-for-11 from behind the arc in that game while also grabbing ten rebounds and dishing out eight assists…Led Midwood to a 23-3 record and the Brooklyn A South crown in 2010-11…A 2011 New York State First Team All-Class A selection…Named First Team All-City by the NY Daily News…Named Honorable Mention All-City by the New York Post…Named team MVP…Began his Midwood career averaging 15 points/game as a sophomore and then netted 23 points/game as a junior for the Hornets in 2009-10.
What they’re saying about Smith – Steve Keller/The National Recruiting Report: “He’s got the chance to be okay at that level. He is going to need time and the right situation.”
Luka Zivkovic 6’8″ 215lbs. F Traders Point Christian Academy – Belgrade, Serbia
Zivkovic was coached at Traders Point Christian by former NBA player, Dave Jamerson…First student-athlete from the school to sign with an NCAA Division I program…Helped Traders Point Christian Academy to the 2011 Indiana Christian Schools State Championships in the program’s third year of existence…Scored 14 points and added ten rebounds in the championship game…Served as a team captain…Noted for his ability to hit shots from behind the arc as well as his high basketball IQ…Was rated three-and-a-half stars by Scoutingindiana.com…Prior to playing at Traders Point Christian Academy he played for ten years in his native country of Serbia.
Biographical material and photos courtesy of Fordham athletics.
Just a shout out to Section V … Ryan Hage (Brockport) walked on the Fordham basketball team for the 2008-2009 season .. he is a kid who has truely maximized (if not over performed) his potential with hard work … big props to Fordham to taking on a hard working walk on, and giving him the chance to live a dream
Kyle – Great Call! Ryan was recently given a scholarship and named one of the team’s tri-captains. His picture is on the front of the Fordham website: https://www.fordhamsports.com/
Rey and Smitty – you will remember Ryan’s dad, Charlie, the longtime head coach at Brockport.
I had a chance to see Ryan play a little last year. It was a great representation of his work ethic. Bona was rocking Fordham, and Hage did not get in until very late in the game. He bounced off the bench, entered the game and went 110%. No sulking. No woe is me. A kid taking advantage of what he is given.