October ushers in the official start of college basketball as teams begin practices. Follow along as Pickin’ Splinters highlights the incoming classes of the MAAC that are “signed, sealed and delivered.”
The Rider Broncs step into the spotlight.
The Broncs 2010-11 season ended with a loss to Northern Iowa in the first round of the CIT. Patrick Mansell, Mike Ringold and Justin Robinson graduated. Tommy Dempsey and his staff welcomed five freshmen to campus: Emerson Bursis, Junior Fortunat, Mark Medley, Eddie Mitchell and Charles Oliver.
Emerson Bursis 6’5″ 195lbs. F Scotrun Pa. – Pocono 
Mountain East
A County All-Star in basketball as a senior at Pocono Mountain East…helped his team win the Conference Championship as a junior…helped his squad advance to the District XI Title Game and to a State Playoff Berth as a sophomore…was a District and Conference qualifier in track & field in the 400 meter dash…earned Academic All-State honors on the football team…member of the National Honor Society. Made the varsity squad this year as a walk-on…Economics and Finance double major…goal to attend law school.
Junior Fortunat 6’9″ 220 lbs. F/C Quebec, Canada – Roman Catholic
First Team All-Philadelphia Catholic League and Honorable Mention All-Philadelphia honors.
What they’re saying about Fortunat – Steve Keller/The National Recruiting Report: “He is the most athletic kid coming into the league. He’s a big-time rebounder and shot blocker. Nobody will compare to him as rebounder. He’s going to have to be coached to score. He’s built and aggressive and can jump.”
Mark Medley 6’3″ 175lbs. G Wilmington, Delaware – Tatnall
Earned Second Team All-State honors as a junior and a senior…graduated with 1,410 career points… averaged 20.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a senior.
What they’re saying about Medley – Steve Keller/The National Recruiting Report: “He’s wiry – a little under-sized. He can handle on the wing. His offense is within 15 feet.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s a proto-type two-guard. He’s a very good 3-pt. shooter. He’s from a well-coached program.”
Eddie Mitchell 6′ 175lbs. G Philadelphia, Pa. – La Salle HS
Averaged 16.2 points per game as a high school senior…earned First Team All-Catholic League and First Team All-City honors.
What they’re saying about Mitchell – Steve Keller/The National Recruiting Report: “He has good speed and can get to the basket. He is the kind of point guard that Rider gets. They get point guards that look fair when recruited and by their junior they are really good. Rider develops point guards. He will have to work on his jump shot.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s an athletic combo-guard. His strength is that he can really get to the basket. He’s developing into a good point guard. He is a fair to good mid-range shooter.”
Charles Oliver 6’3″ 190lbs. G Scotch Plains, N.J. – Scotch Plains
Earned First Team All-Union County honors as a senior…was just the fifth player at his high school to compile 1,000 career points (1,150)…averaged 21.8 points as a senior along with 5.3 rebounds.
What they’re saying about Oliver – Steve Keller/The National Recruiting Report: “He can flat out shoot. He has decent size and body weight. He will muscle people and get his shot. He could be as good as any shooter in the league. He got better as the year went on. He can make his shot at critical times. He had big games at the right time.”
Photos and biographical material courtesy of Rider athletics.
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