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- Category: Current Issue
PSA names
Hall of Fame
Class of '21
Putnam Science Academy announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2021, led by current Detroit Pistons shooting guard Hamidou Diallo. Diallo is one of eight members of the incoming class, which also features former players Jaheam Cornwall and Mamadou Diarra, coaches Josh Scraba and Ken Chauvin, contributors Aaron Robinson and Andrew Robinson, and the 2015-16 team that went to the National Prep Championship Final Four.
“This is an exciting event for us,” said PSA Dean of Athletics Tom Espinosa. “When I called the guys – Hami, Jaheam, the Robinsons, Mamadou – all of them were saying ‘That’s so cool, what an honor.’ Those were fun calls to make.
“When you think about it, how many Halls of Fame can you really make? Being selected is a real honor. We’re proud of these guys and what they’ve meant to our school over the years.”
Said Aaron Robinson: “I am extremely blessed and humbled to a part of this Hall of Fame class. Putnam was truly one of the most magical experiences of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Added Andrew Robinson: “I’m honored to be going in with my brothers who I shared the floor with (Diallo, Diarra, and his brother). PSA will always be my family and now we share something that can never be taken away.”
Diallo played two-and-a-half seasons at PSA, leaving for the University of Kentucky after the first half of the 2016-17 season with his name all over the school’s record books. In addition to appearing in both the Elite 8 and Final Four and posting a 77-15 record, Diallo is second all-time in points scored with 1,415 (he was in first place when he left) and games played (91), fourth in rebounds (456) and steals (122), sixth in made 3-pointers (95), and ninth in scoring average (16.3). He also made a school-record 17 free throws in one game, and is tops in single-season scoring with 651 points.
Cornwall played the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons at PSA before heading to Gardner-Webb University. One of coach Espinosa’s top leaders and winners, Cornwall was the point guard on back-to-back Final Four teams and went 71-11. He is second all-time in assists (381) and 3-pointers made (139), and sixth all-time in scoring (783), steals (89), and games played (82). He also holds the school’s single-game record with nine 3-pointers.
Diarra played two-and-a-half seasons (half of 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16) before moving on to UConn. While at PSA, he was part of three teams that finished eighth, fifth, and fourth in the national rankings while playing in three National Tournaments (with one Final Four and one Elite 8 appearance). Part of three league championship teams, Diarra is PSA’s all-time leading rebounder (647), and is second in career blocks (162) and games played (99), and fifth in career points (953).
All three played key roles on the 2015-16 team that went 37-4 and finished ranked No. 4 in the country on its way to a Northeast Prep title and appearance in the National Prep Championship Final Four. Nine of the 17 members of that team went on to play Division I basketball, while two more played D-II, four played D-III, and two played at the Junior College level. Three members are currently playing professionally.
Scraba has been an integral part of PSA’s rise to national power. Currently in his 12th season as the associate head coach of the Prep Team and Espinosa’s right-hand man, he has been part of 350 wins and two national championship teams. The team’s lead recruiter, he has landed more than 50 future Division I players at PSA.
Chauvin has been with Putnam Science Academy for seven years as its sports psychologist. He works closely with each team and individual student-athlete. In addition to working with them to advance a proper mindset, Chauvin is also the school’s nutritionist and sleep coach, and as such helps student-athletes develop proper lifelong eating and sleeping habits.
The Robinson twins, Aaron and Andrew, were selected as contributors for the ongoing role they play in expanding the PSA brand. They played at the school in 2014-15 and have maintained ties ever since. The two use their platforms as professional players and on social media to promote PSA. The creators and founders of All Facts Media, they also help Espinosa and Scraba with leads for possible recruits and also by calling recruits to answer their questions from a player’s perspective.
Former players must be at least three years removed from PSA to be eligible as a nominee. The school’s Hall of Fame committee is responsible for voting. This is PSA’s second Hall of Fame class, with induction ceremonies scheduled for Spring 2022. The first class, inducted in 2018, featured players Rundell Mauge, Dayshon “Scoochie” Smith, Enes Ulukaya, and Ta’Quan Zimmerman; the 2013-14 team; contributor Ronald Coderre; super fan Bryan Sailor; and Espinosa.
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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