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Piling up
the offers
PUTNAM — The busy off-season continues for Putnam Science Academy basketball with three different students piling up basketball scholarship offers while playing in the AAU Circuit.
The Lady Mustangs saw several seniors and post-grads receive offers and announce their signings during the school-year, but a few late-bloomers have caught college teams’ eyes. Mass Elite’s U16/17 team, an AAU team head coached by Putnam High School graduate Dan Porcic, has seen two of its own create buzz early in the summer. PSA’s Nasserine Williams and Lucie Castagne have had dominant weekends on the circuit with Williams piling up three offers: Fairfield University, Rider University and St. Bonaventure. Castagne earned herself a Bryant scholarship, who along with St. Bonaventure have found plenty of talent at Putnam Science in the last few months.
Porcic said, “(Castagne) Lucie is the hardest worker I’ve coached ever, no question.” He added: “Lucie has led by example especially on the defensive end, our team is now very defensive minded and it has a lot to do with her impact on the floor.” Lucie as a class of 2020 guard played on the prep girls’ basketball team in her first year. Head Coach Derek Marchione said: “She’s tough and gritty; her offensive game has really come along well, making plays for herself and her teammates.” Lucie will continue her busy summer for the next couple of months after recently graduation from PSA.
Fellow Lady Mustang Williams burst onto the girls’ varsity scene late in the year after multiple double-digit efforts for a young team looking to find their stride. Nasserine, at 6-feet, 2-inches, stretched the floor and showed no hesitation to take the three, while also bullying her way to the hoop for lay-ups. Nasserine saw the biggest break-out of the weekend adding three offers to her resume. “Ness is one of the most gifted players I’ve coached, at 6-2 that has a guard skill set, she is a force in transition,” said Porcic. “She has an unreal skill set at that size and competes hard on both ends.”
Williams showed flashes of her skill at the beginning of the year for the varsity girls but seemed unable to maintain the level of play. After winter break, a new Williams took the floor; seeming rejuvenated from the break and immediately helped the varsity team who struggled to find a consistent scoring threat during the season. Nasserine has four offers with a long summer ahead, a summer that’s expected to remain busy for the Prep Mustangs.
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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