Compiled by PAUL GOTHAM
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming players of the Atlantic 10 with a look at the first-year players of the George Washington Colonials.
George Washington finished 28-10 (11-7 in A-10 play) last season and won the NIT championship.
Interim head coach Maurice Joseph and his staff welcome seven players to campus this fall: Jair Bolden, Kevin Marfo, Adam Mitola, Collin Smith, Patrick Steeves, Arnaldo Toro and Justin Williams. In addition, transfer Jaren Sina will step into the lineup.
Jair Bolden G 6-4, 200 Brooklyn, N.Y./Westtown School-PA
Led Westtown to its first state championship in any sport as a senior when it won the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletics Association boys’ basketball championship … earned third team all-state honors as a senior despite playing through a shoulder injury all season … a first team all-state selection as a junior… first team all-league in each of his three years at Westtown, while also leading the school to three league championships and three state championship game appearances … named Athlete of the Year at Westtown as a junior and senior … a 1,000-point scorer at Westtown … spent his first year of high school at St. Anthony’s in New Jersey before transferring to Westtown before his sophomore season.
What they’re saying about Jair Bolden – Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: “Bolden is a strong, sturdy guard who is smooth and plays a solid game. Carries attributes at both guard spots. Should find his way onto the court earlier in his career.”
Jay Gomes/NJHoops.com: “He’s a strong, athletic combo-guard, has stepped up his game in the last year. Makes an impact on the game with his strength and athleticism. Shot is much improved over the last year.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s a very good basketball player. Probably recruited as a two guard, but he can also in a pinch play the point. He’s a fair to good outside shooter. He’s very good at getting to the rim, a good slasher, a good defender.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He can play on the ball, off the ball. He’s athletic and got good size.”
Kevin Marfo F 6-9, 240 Bergenfield, N.J./Worcester Academy- MA
Spent his last two seasons at Worcester Academy after beginning his high school career at Bergen Catholic … a team captain as a senior when he averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds … averaged 9.1 points and 8.5 rebounds as a junior … the No. 3 ranked player in Massachusetts coming out of high school … before his senior season, had a successful summer playing AAU for the Boston Amateur Basketball Club, averaging 11.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game which ranked fifth in the NIKE EYBL … in four games of the Nike Peach Jam playing against some of the nation’s top prep players, he had averages of 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds.
What they’re saying about Kevin Marfo – Jay Gomes/NJHoops.com: “He’s an old-school post player, very effective with his back to the basket, good footwork. He has a good head fake. He’s going to be a scorer and rebounder at GW right away. He kind of reminds me of Jameel Warney who had a real good career at Stony Brook. He knows what he is. Most big guys now want to go out and shoot three pointers and prove that they’re wings. Marfo is one of those who wants to take you in the post and beat you inside.”
Adam Finkelstein/ESPN: “He’s an elite rebounder, a high-volume rebounder. I think he was already starting for GW on their foreign tour this summer and I would expect that to continue. That’s what he does best. He rebounds the ball. He’s got a college-ready body. His offense improved quite a bit last year. He’s a guy who will do his best work around the basket kind of a rugged, interior guy. He’s a guy who can clean the glass on both ends.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s a big, strong kid who really came on late. As a senior he didn’t play much at Bergen Catholic. Then he went to prep school and did well.”
Adam Mitola G 6-3, 210 Florham Park, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s
A team captain as a senior, when he averaged 13 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game to help lead Gill St. Bernard’s to the county championships … named first team all-county, first team all-area, first team all-conference and fifth team all-state by NJ.com … earned second team all-country and all-area, along with first team all-conference honors as a junior when he averaged 9 ppg, 4 rpb and 2.5 apg … played AAU for Hoop Heaven Elite (2011-14) and New Jersey Shoreshots (2014-15).Jaren Sina G 6-2, 193 Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s (Seton Hall)
What they’re saying about Adam Mitola – Jay Gomes/NJHooops.com: “He’s a very good shooter, very good passer, knows how to play. May find some minutes in his career as a shooter when they need an outside threat.”
Jaren Sina G 6-2, 193 Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s (Seton Hall)
Sat out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have two years of eligibility remaining starting in 2016-17. In 58 career games at Seton Hall, Sina made 42 starts, averaged 6.4 points and 2.3 assists, and shot 35 percent behind the arc (79-227) and 78 percent at the foul line (77-99). He earned Big East All-Rookie Team and Academic All-Star honors in 2013-14 when he averaged 6.0 points and 2.4 assists and shot 38 percent from three-point range (39-102) in 34 games played.
AS A SOPHOMORE AT SETON HALL (2014-15): Played in 24 games with 23 starts, ranking second on the team with 32.2 minutes per game … averaged 7.0 points per game while tallying 2.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds and connecting on 40 3-pointers … shot 79.4 percent from the free throw line.
AS A FRESHMAN AT SETON HALL (2013-2014): BIG EAST All-Rookie Team selection… Earned BIG EAST Academic All-Star recognition… One of two players to appear in all 34 games, earning 19 starts… Started eight of the final nine games, including all three BIG EAST Tournament contests… Averaged 6.0 points, 2.4 assists and 1.4 rebounds… Led the team in assists seven times and had three 5+ assist games… Ranked 10th in the conference shooting 38.2% (39-102) from three-point range in BIG EAST games.
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time All-State guard who scored 2,146 points and handed out 861 assists at Gill St. Bernard’s … Four-star recruit who ranked in the top-100 nationally in the 2013 class by ESPN.com … Three-time Somerset County Player of the Year who helped transform Gill St. Bernard’s into a national power. The Knights broke into the USA Today High School top-25, rising as high as No. 15 in 2012 … Played for his father, Mergin Sina, who was a two-year letterwinner at Seton Hall (1984-86) … Finished as the all-time leading scorer and assist leader in Somerset County history, and was second in three-pointers … Helped guide the Knights to consecutive Somerset County titles (2011 & 2012) and 2012 sectional championship … As a senior, led Gill St. Bernard’s averaging 21.3 points, 9.1 assists and buried 117 threes … The Knights advanced to the NJSIAA Tournament semifinals and finished with a 19-8 overall record playing a national schedule … Averaged 20.1 points as a junior and handed out 8.4 assists per game to lead Gill St. Bernard’s to a state runner-up finish and a 28-4 record … Finalist for the Gatorade State Player of the Year.
What they’re saying about Jaren Sina – Jay Gomes/NJHoops.com: “He’s a very good shooter. He can really stick it from outside.. Heady player. He’s going to play a lot of key minutes for GW. He’s going to finish his career there pretty well.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s your typical combo-guard. His biggest asset is he’s a very good outside shooter. He’s not really creative at the point, but he does play smart and protects the ball. Has a good mid-range game. He played at a high level both in AAU and high school. If he can translate that to GW, they got a really good asset.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s a competitor. He’s skilled. They didn’t want him to leave Seton Hall.”
Collin Smith C 6-10, 225 Jacksonville, FL/The Bolles School
Helped lead Bolles to a 32-3 record and the Florida Class 4A state championship, scoring 10 points in a 46-39 victory over Melbourne Holy Trinity Episcopal in the championship game … the title was the first for Bolles since 1989 … averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks to earn first team all-state and 4A Player of the Year honors … helped Bolles to district championships as a sophomore and junior … averaged 15.7 points, 10 rebounds and four assists as a junior, and 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and three assists as a sophomore … a 1,000-point scorer in his three seasons at Bolles.
What they’re saying about Collin Smith – Rick Staudt/SourceHoops.com: “He’s a solid center with good back-to-the basket moves and a soft scoring touch. He’s not a great shot blocker or run-and-jump athlete at this point, but that will improve with time.”
Patrick Steeves G/F 6-7, 220 Montreal, Quebec/ The Hotchkiss School (Harvard)
A graduate of Harvard with a degree in applied mathematics, Steeves is currently pursuing a masters of science in business analytics and has two years of eligibility at GW.
AT HARVARD (2012-16): Played in 26 games for the Crimson as a senior, averaging 9.1 points on .449 shooting, including .458 from three-point range, in 22.7 minutes per game … had his best game in a Harvard uniform against Princeton on March 4, when he scored 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting to lead the Crimson to a 73-71 victory … scored in double figures 10 times during the season … the applied mathematics major was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District I first team after boasting a 3.68 cumulative GPA, becoming the first Harvard men’s basketball student-athlete to earn the distinction since 2006 … in addition to earning CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in 2015-16, he was named to the NABC Honor Roll in 2014-15 … prior to the 2015-16 season, Steeves did not see action due to injury.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played one year of varsity basketball at Hotchkiss School in 2011-12 … selected to the Canadian Cadet Men’s National Team in 2012 … finished fifth at the FIBA U17 World Championships in Lithuania in 2012 … top 3-pointshooter at the FIBA U17 World Championships in 2012 … also played three years (2009-11) of varsity basketball at College Jean-de-Brebeuf … led Jean-de-Brebeuf to a provincial championship in 2011 … named Quebec Provincial AAA League MVP in 2011 … selected to the Canadian Cadet Men’s National Team in 2011 … won a bronze medal at the FIBA U16Americas championship in 2011 … athlete of the Year at Jean-de-Brebeuf in 2011 … selected as a Montreal Basketball League All-Star in 2010 … first Honor Roll student in 2012.
Arnaldo Toro F 6-9, 240 Hormigueros, Puerto Rico/St. Benedict’s Prep N.J.
As a senior helped lead St. Benedict’s to the State Prep A championship, a 35-2 record, an appearance in the Dick’s High School Nationals quarterfinals and a No. 12 final ranking in the USA Today Sports Super 25 … averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds as a junior and eight points and nine rebounds as a sophomore … a member of the Puerto Rico Youth National Team since he was 15 … finished fifth at the 17U World Cup in 2014, when he averaged 16 points and 13.6 rebounds.
What they’re saying about Arnaldo Toro – Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: “Started high school in Clover, South Carolina. Toro is a high motor post player. Goes about his business and plays within himself. He is a good athlete, and very good rebounder. Played in a lot of big games in HS. Is battle-tested.”
Jay Gomes/NJHoops.com: “He really came on last season. Rebounds very well. Can score in the post with his back to the basket. He got to the point where he could catch the ball at the foul line and get by guys with a good, quick first step.”
Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s strong around the basket, a good rebounder. He can step out to mid-range. He plays hard.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s a big, strong kid with surprising skills. He can be one of the better big men in the league.”
Justin Williams G 6-3, 225 Severn, MD/Annapolis Area Christian School
Williams spent his last two prep seasons at AACS, transferring from Mount St. Joseph’s for his junior year … scored over 1,100 points in his two years at AACS, leading the team in scoring both seasons with 18 points per game as a junior and 24 as a senior … led AACS to two regular-season league titles and won Most Outstanding Player of the Independent School Tournament as a senior, scoring 41 points to lead AACS to victory in the championship game … a team captain as a senior, Williams also collected All-Conference, All-Anne Arundel County and All-Baltimore County honors during his prep career.
What they’re saying about Justin Williams – Marcus Helton/DMV Elite: “He’s a really athletic kid who can become a big contributor.”
Biographical information courtesy of George Washington Athletics.
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