Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming freshmen of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a look at the Niagara Purple Eagles.
Niagara finished 2012-13 with a record of 19-14 (13 MAAC wins). Chris Casey has taken the helm at Monteagle Ridge. The first-year coach welcomes eight freshmen: Aaron Bodie , Karonn Davis, Cameron Fowler, Wesley Myers, Dominique Reid, Ramone Snowden and Alex Dubovitskiy.
Aaron Bodie F 6-7, 195 Newark, NJ/ Eastside High
Bodie was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at Newark Eastside High School, a powerhouse program in Essex County in Northern New Jersey. The 6-foot-7 forward used his athletic build to averaged 12 points per game as a junior and senior. Bodie helped lead the Red Raiders to a 19-6 record and a semifinal appearance in the NJSIAA North 2 Group 3 playoffs as a senior in 2012 en route to earning second team All-Group 3 and second team All-Super Essex Conference. Bodie spent the 2012-13 season playing basketball at the Central Jersey Each One Teach One Academy (CJEOTO).
What they’re saying about Aaron Bodie – Jay Gomes/NJHoops.com: “He’s an excellent leaper. He gets to the rim. He likes to get the ball on the baseline where he’s effective with a quick first step. He rebounds very well and can defend numerous positions with his athletic ability. He’s not a big scorer, but his shot is coming on a little bit. He had a prep school year which helped him out. He has the athletic ability to compete right away at Niagara for playing time.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s a mobile four-man. He puts it on the floor decently. He can shoot from mid-range and is a good rebounder.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s athletic and can get up and down the floor.”
Karonn Davis G 6-2, 185 Philadelphia, PA/ Friend’s Central High School
Davis comes to Niagara after playing at a winning program at Friend’s Central High School in Philadelphia. Davis, who transferred from Monsignor Bonner after two years, won a pair of Pennsylvania Independent Schools state titles and advanced to three straight Friends Schools League title including winning it in 2011. The 2011 team finished with a 22-4 record and was ranked as high as 21st in the nation. Davis led the 2012-13 team to a 20-8 record, including a 7-0 record in regular season league play. He averaged 19.2 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game. He selected Niagara over Albany, LIU Brooklyn, Nevada, NJIT, Rider and Quinnipiac.
What they’re saying about Karonn Davis – Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s a combo-guard, more of a scoring point guard. He really competes, a good outside shooter. He’ll get to the rim and plays tough defense.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s kind of a combo two-guard. Most of his stuff is to the basket.”
Alex Dubovitskiy G/F 6-5, 195 Moscow, Russia/ Marianapolis Preparatory School
Cameron Fowler (redshirt) G, 6-0 Detroit, MI/ Iowa State
Fowler redshirted last season at Iowa State and will be eligible to play this season. Fowler was a standout guard at U-D Jesuit in Detroit where he was a four-year starter and a three-time All-Catholic League selection. He averaged 17.1 points and 4.2 assists as a sophomore to help his team win the Catholic Division Championship and was named MVP of the team. As a junior, he averaged 18.2 points and 6.1 assists and was named the team’s top defensive player. He averaged 17.2 points and 8.0 assists as a senior and was named Detroit News’ Third-Team All-PSL Metro team in 2012.
What they’re saying about Cameron Fowler – Steve Schwanda/All Eyes on Hoops: “Quick Guard, with good handles, and quick first step. Finishes well at the basket, and has no trouble getting there. Very good scorer in the mid-range area, and can knock down 3s as well. Has a good build for a college guard.”
Wesley Myers G 6-1, 180 Brooklyn. NY/ Boys and Girls High School
Myers was a pivotal member of the Boys & Girls High School team that won three straight PSAL Class AA titles, including the school’s first-ever state title as a junior in 2012. Myers concluded his career by averaging 15.9 points per game and being named to the New York State Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA) Team Class AA Team, All-USA New York Honorable Mention and All-Brooklyn Honorable Mention. Myers received offers from Rider, South Carolina and Stony Brook.
What they’re saying about Wesley Myers – Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He has a chance to be good. He’s a run up and down, New York City kid.”
Dominique Reid F 6-8, 200 Erial, NJ/ Timber Creek High School
Reid, who is a frontcourt player, has been praised for his ballhandling ability and shooting touch of a guard. Reid played two seasons at Timber Creek High School in Erial, N.J. Reid sat out the early portion of his junior season after transferring from Trenton Catholic. He made an immediate impact once eligible, including a four-game span of averaging 22 points and 15 rebounds per game. He finished the season averaging 20.1 points per game. As a senior, Reid helped the Chargers advanced to the 2013 NJSIAA Tournament South Jersey Group 3 Final. Reid was named to the Third Team All-Courier-Post and First Team All-Group III. Reid had offers from St. Joseph’s, Robert Morris, Delaware, Florida Atlantic and Providence as early as his junior season.
What they’re saying about Dominique Reid – Jay Gomes/NJHoops.com: “He missed virtually his entire senior year with an injury. Niagara took a little bit of a flier on him because they believe and many others believe that if he wasn’t hurt, he would have been at a higher level. They took a calculated gamble that he will be the player he used to be. He’s an athletic forward. He can play at the three or the four. He’s a good athlete with a good stroke. He handles the ball pretty well for a big man.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He was hurt his junior and senior year in high school. We all thought he was going prep. He didn’t and Niagara picked him up. If he can get back to what he was as a freshman, he could be clearly one of the better kids in the league.”
Ramone Snowden F 6-5, 210 Virginia Beach, VA/ Kellam High School
Snowden was an instrumental piece for the Kellam Knights in Virginia Beach, Va. where he helped the Knights to 76 wins, two district regular season titles and two district tournament championships. Snowden averaged 17 points per game and eight boards per game as junior before having a breakout senior season. Snowden was named second team all-state and the Beach District Player of the Year after posting 22 points per game, 15 rebounds per game and three assists per game. Snowden, who had 22 double-doubles as a senior, had a double-double (14 points and 12 rebounds) in the VHSCA All-Star game in July. Snowden was once ranked the 18th best prospect in Virginia of the class of 2013.
David Varoli G 6-0, 175 Katonah, N.Y./ Salisbury High School
Varoli won a New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) championship at Salisbury High School in Salisbury, Conn. as a role player during his junior season…Varoli played in a 25 games, averaging 8.5 points per game and 4.5 assists per game as a senior as the Crimson Knights advanced to the quarterfinals…Varoli won the Salisbury School Basketball Award, given to the most outstanding contributor to the program.
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