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Rodriguez
receives offer
The varsity boys’ basketball team at Putnam Science Academy endured an up and down season that resulted with an 18-12 record, but a loss in the Great Atlantic Conference tournament left the season on a sour note, with the Mustangs losing their last 3 games. Guard Justin Rodriguez missing the last few weeks of the season had a lot to do with it as well.
Rodriguez, a 6-foot sharp shooting guard from Newark, N.J., was the Mustangs second leading scorer averaging just under 20 points per game before a knee injury forced him out of action for the last couple weeks of the season. Justin played AAU for the Running Rebels out of Lehigh Valley, Penn., and just last week received his first scholarship offer from Division 2 Bloomsburg University, just under an hour and a half away from Lehigh Valley. The Huskies have shown interest in Rodriguez along with Concordia and East Stroudsburg throughout this past season.
Rodriguez before his injury was a man on a mission.
In a home game versus Upper Room Christian Academy in February, Rodriguez couldn’t miss from downtown hitting three after three to finish with 31 points. Rodriguez led the Mustangs in scoring two games prior as Putnam Science was running their winning streak to 7 games. Justin, who was in his first year at PSA, said his first season was “an incredible experience.” Justin added, “Getting to play against other athletes of similar and higher caliber than me in open gyms and practice gave me something to look forward to every day.”
Rodriguez may have led the Mustangs in scoring in some games but it was his leadership he brought every game that made him stand out on the varsity roster. When asked about a game that stood out this season to him, it wasn’t the 31-point game, it was a loss to Perkiomen. “It was the best game we played defensively as a team all season,” Rodriguez said. “We were undersized, we were the underdogs, and we could have given up when we were down 7 at the half but we battled and took a 6-point lead with under 4 minutes to play.” The Mustangs ended up dropping that game but Rodriguez said there was no reason to hang their heads. “The team fought hard and I couldn’t be more proud of the team and how we played that game.”
The off-season has arrived for Justin Rodriguez who will now turn his attention to strength training and working on his craft while also preparing to make a final decision on where he wants to attend college next fall. But don’t expect him to slow down anytime soon. When asked about his biggest takeaway of the season, Rodriguez said, “The grind doesn’t stop just because the season is over. “You have to stay consistent and maintain healthy eating habits along with taking care of your body.” Justin’s goal, much like other athletes who attend Prep Schools to play sports, is to take the right steps towards making your dream become a reality. “If you love the sport, then you will do whatever it takes to get what you came for and I believe if you fully invest yourself into something, you’ll end up on the receiving end of something special.”
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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