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By Ron P. Coderre
The basketball recruiting season is heating up as the summer approaches. With high school graduations taking place many young aspiring hoopsters are looking for schools where they can hone their athletic as well as their academic skills as they search for opportunities to move on to college.
Putnam Science Academy Director of Athletics and basketball coach Tom Espinosa, who last week announced the signing of Kyle Menard of Paramus, N.J., has added two more studs to his stable of Mustangs for the 2013-2014-season. This week the Scientists added Dalique Mingo from Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y., and Jalen Terry from Anchorage, Alaska. Combined, the pair has scored more than 3,300 points during their high school careers.
Mingo’s list of credentials are very impressive, In addition to scoring more than 1300 career points, the 6-foot, 2-inch point guard was a 2013 All-New York State player. He led Farmingdale High School to a 15-4 record, where he played for coach Jim Pastier. Along with his All-NY selection Mingo was the Nassau County, Verizon Fios and conference Player-of-the-Year. He’s a four-time All-County selection and a member of the 2013 All-Long Island team.
“It’s an understatement but Dalique had a great high school career. He’s a combination guard who can shoot as well as handle the ball. From what we’ve seen and heard of him, he’s a very hard worker. He’s a tough and talented competitor, who is being looked at by Division I and II schools,” said Espinosa.
Last season Mingo averaged 23 points per game to go along with five assists, seven rebounds and five steals per contest.
Last season, Anchorage Christian School was 27-7 behind the play of Terry, who averaged 14 points per game, while corralling six rebounds and dishing out two assists per contest. Terry garnered numerous awards as a senior including Regional and Regional Tournament first team honors as well as being named first team All-Alaska and All-Alaska State Tournament. The talented Terry was also the Regional triple jump champion in track.
“We’re very pleased to welcome Jalen to Putnam. He’s a great kid who brings along a wealth of basketball talent but we’re equally as proud of his record in the classroom. We look forward to his rebounding and inside play to solidify front court,” said Espinosa of his newest Mustang.
Last season, Anchorage Christian School was 27-7 behind the play of Terry, who averaged 14 points per game, while corralling six rebounds and dishing out two assists per contest. Terry garnered numerous awards as a senior including Regional and Regional Tournament first team honors as well as being named first team All-Alaska and All-Alaska State Tournament. The talented Terry was also the Regional triple jump champion in track.
“The addition of Mingo and Terry brings our current recruiting class to three. We’re looking to bring in three, possibly four more players in the next few weeks. The trio we currently have are all players who understand the game and are solid young men, the type our international school looks for,” said Espinosa.
In addition to the trio of Mingo, Terry and Menard, the Mustangs return two juniors Emirhan Ozturk and Burak Eraslan and a pair of seniors, Sergen Kumas and Berkan Tuylu.