By Ron P. Coderre

Attending a prep school as a post graduate student can often leave an athlete with some unanswered questions.  

Should I have taken an offer to college immediately after high school?  Is a year of prep school really going to make a difference in what college I attend?  Am I wasting a year of my life, when I should have moved on immediately after high school?

These and other questions are what a student/athlete and their family ponder as they go through the process of making the decision that may eventually affect them for their lifetime.  In the case of three area student/athletes it appears that taking on the extra year of studies as a postgraduate and the grind of practice and games has turned out favorably.

Recently Putnam Science Academy’s Anthony “Bull” Durham and Hyde-Woodstock’s Kenny Grant and Kyle Jordan made public their decisions on where their academic and athletic lives will take them next year.

Durham Headed to Rider University

Anthony Durham, a native of Arlington, Penn., had hoped to hook on with a Division I program last year after his senior year when he led the Galloping Ghosts to the District I semifinals in the PIAA Class AAAA state tournament.  Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the college offers didn’t materialize, leading the 6-foot, 3-inch combo guard to make a tough decision and come to Putnam Science Academy five hours from his Pennsylvania home.

“To get another shot at getting a Division I scholarship, now I feel like I accomplished that goal.  I’ve been working real hard up there (at PSA), it’s taught me a lot about being humble and being hungry,” Durham told City of Basketball Love (CoBL).

This season Durham has been part of one of the best, if not the best team to ever take to the hardwood on the Maple St. Campus.  The Mustangs are 20-2 and currently ranked #2 in the country in the prep standings.  Durham is leading the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game, is first on the team in steals and second in rebounding and assists.  He’s been coveted by a number of Division I programs recently before settling on Rider University.

PSA coach Tom  Espinosa said  Rider, under second-year head coach Kevin Baggett, plays the style of game that is suited to Durham.  The Broncs like to run the ball and allow their guards to freelance.  On defense they stress man-to-man.  Rider is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and are currently 12-9 overall as Baggett appears to have the program headed in the right direction.

Hyde’s Grant to Team with Durham at Rider

At Rider, Durham will have a familiar face on the team, as Hyde-Woodstock standout Kenny Grant announced in November that he had accepted a full scholarship to play with the Broncs.

Grant, who comes from Orange, N.J., has been the 9-9 Wolfpack’s leading scorer this season.  The 6-6 forward is an explosive player who can be a dynamic scorer when he turns it on.  Through the first 14 games of the season with Hyde-Woodstock he’s averaging 19.4 points a contest.  He recently led the team to victory with a 40 point performance. Grant and Durham, along with Josh Williams of St. Thomas More will be stepping into a favorable situation at Rider.  The Broncs will graduate two of their most prolific scorers Anthony Myles and Daniel Stewart in the spring, leaving room for Durham and Grant to have a shot at considerable playing time.

Wolfpack’s Jordan to be a Blue Devil Gridder

The college football scene was a madhouse last week as Feb. 5 was National Letter of Intent Day, the day high school and prep players announced their college choices.  Kyle Jordan a 6-foot, 220 pound running back who last season played for coach Sean Saucier at Hyde-Woodstock, announced that he had accepted a full scholarship to Division I Central Connecticut State University.

The CCSU Blue Devils recently brought on former Division II University of New Haven coach Pete Rossomando as the new head man for the New Britain based football program.

While at New Haven, Rossomando was hot on the trail of the speedy Jordan who comes from Norwalk, hoping to land him in a Chargers uniform.  It appears that coach Rossomando got what he wished for but only on a different campus.  His move to CCSU appears to be good not only for that school but for Jordan, who will now enjoy a four year stint as a Division I football player.

 

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