Counting down the days to tipoff previewing the incoming freshmen of the Atlantic 10. Next up is the UMass Minutemen.
The Minutemen thrilled with a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the NIT quarter-finals over Drexel before eventually falling to Stanford in the semi-finals. The future looks bright at the Mullins Center. Derek Kellogg and his staff welcome three freshmen to campus: Tyler Bergantino, Trey Davis and Izzy Freeman.
Tyler Bergantino 6’9” 215lbs. F/C Springhill, Fla./Nature Coast Technical
Bergantino was a four-year letterwinner at Nature Coast Technical High School in Brooksville, Fla. … He averaged 17.2 points, 13.5 rebounds and 5.7 blocks per contest for Sharks, while leading the team to a 29-2 record and the Class 5A State Semifinals as a senior in 2011-12 … Finished his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer (1,150 entering senior year) … Led Hernando County with 17.9 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game as a junior … That followed up a sophomore season in 2009-10 in which he averaged 14.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 5.2 blocks … Bergantino was an FACA All-State selection, repeated as the unanimous Hernando County Player of the Year and North Suncoast Player of the Year, as well as appeared on the Mr. Basketball ballot for Florida Class 4A … He led Nature Coast to back-to-back Florida Elite Eight appearances … Played AAU ball for the widely-respected Florida Elite.
What they’re saying about Tyler Bergantino – Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He knows how to play. He’s a good low post player. He’s not athletic, doesn’t have much lift, but he knows how to use his body. He can pass out of the post. When he gets doubled out, he can kick it out to the open man. He’s a good A10 center.”
Trey Davis 6’ 180lbs. G Desoto, Tex./ Woodrow Wilson High School
Three-year letterwinner at Woodrow Wilson HS in Dallas, Texas for coach Patrick Washington … Career averages include 21 points per game, 6 assists per game, 3.5 rebounds per game and 3 steals per game … Averaged 25.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals while helping lead Woodrow to the 4A regional quarterfinals as a senior in 2010-11 … Led the Wildcats to a 77-25 record in three seasons … Earned All-State honors as a senior, all-district as a junior and district Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore … Originally signed with George Washington but was granted his release after a coaching change.
Izzy Freeman 7’ 200lbs. C Manassas, Va./Osbourn High School
Averaged 14.9 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.0 blocks per game in one season at South Kent Prep for coach Kelvin Jefferson … Helped the Eagles to a 18-11 record in 2011-12 while playing with three other Division I signees (Ricky Ledo, Providence; Christopher Ortiz, Kent State; and Laimonas Chatkevicius, Kansas State) … Chose UMass over Drexel, Missouri and DePaul. Two-year letterwinner at Osbourn HS in Manassas, Va. for coach Mike Dufrene … Virginia AAA Cedar Run District Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 14.7 points, 14.5 rebounds and 7.5 blocks per game … Collected eight triple doubles in 2010-11 while leading the Eagles to their first state tournament berth in school history.
What they’re saying about Izzy Freeman – Steve Keller/The National Recruiting Report: “He’s thin. He’s long, and he’s pretty mobile. He has the upside to become a defensive threat and a shot blocker. He can play a role . He’ll have the ability to let people go out and defend. If they get around the guard defending 20-30 feet from the basket, and this kid learns just to not foul and stay away from people and go up and block the shot.”
James Lee/Mid-Atlantic Select: “He’s a long, athletic big man who can run the court pretty well. His skill set is still developing. He should be a solid four-year player.”
Biographical information courtesy of Massachusetts athletics.
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