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Julian Dozier Jr. says that he is big on feelings.
And when the Putnam Science Academy prep team guard took an official visit to Fordham University a few days before Thanksgiving, it felt like home.
“The (Fordham) campus itself is calm, you wouldn’t know that you’re in the middle of the Bronx,” he said. “But as soon as you step outside it, you’re right back in the middle of everything.
“That’s exactly how my school (University of Detroit Jesuit High School) was back home. The campus was calm, it’s like its own neighborhood. And then you step off campus and you’re pretty much in the city.”
That feeling, added to the mutual interest the school and player had in each other from early on, led Dozier to announce last week his commitment to play basketball there next year.
“Fordham really showed me love to begin with and took a chance on me,” he said. “The coaching staff welcomed me with open arms, the players did. I hung out with a lot of the guys and I could really see myself fitting in there perfectly.”
Dozier, a 5-foot, 10-inch guard, is adept at breaking down defenders and getting into the paint. There he has great feel to dump the ball off to a teammate or, despite his size, finishing the play himself against opposing bigs. He is also a capable 3-point shooter should the defender sag off in hopes of better keeping him in front.
His size has given him a chip on his shoulder on the court.
“Being small, I had to fight and outplay to prove myself every day,” he said. “Even if I’m better than some kids who are bigger, I had to go prove it because of my size.”
He is also a menace on defense. He had had a steal in all but two of the Mustangs’ first 10 games, including two or more seven times.
“He just does an unbelievable job creating and getting his teammates involved offensively,” PSA coach Tom Espinosa said. “And he creates so much havoc defensively with his tremendous quickness.”
Dozier averages right around seven points, three assists, and two steals through 10 games off the bench for the Mustangs.
On his visit, Dozier said he had a little film session with the coaches showing clips of his playing style and theirs.
“It fit perfectly in terms of playing hard on defense, using ball screens, stuff like that,” he said. “I feel like with their playing style, I can really flourish.”
Dozier had previously given a verbal commitment to Cleveland State, which was coached by Dennis Felton. But when Felton was fired at the end of last season, Dozier kept his recruitment open. And when Felton landed on the coaching staff at Fordham, it was only natural to consider the Rams.
“I think I’ve fought through a lot of adversity,” he said. “Coming from Detroit, it can be a bad situation. Bad people, bad decisions everywhere. I had to just fight through that.
“There’s that, plus just to persevere through all that type of stuff that happened at Cleveland State, I’m proud of myself. I’m really happy. Not too many kids get to play on a high level like I’m going to get to do.”
Dozier is the third PSA player to commit to a Div. I basketball program, joining Hassan Diarra (Texas A&M) and Mekhi Gray (New Jersey Institute of Technology).
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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