PUTNAM — Mark Fox put the finishing touches on his 2017 class when Putnam Science Academy’s big Isaac Kante committed to the Bulldogs last week. The 6-foot, 8-inch post player from PSA picked Georgia over St. Johns, Old Dominion and St. Bonaventure. 

Georgetown and Kansas State were involved as well but the Bulldogs managed to hold off the Wildcats and pick up the commitment of the 230-pound standout.

“I would say it exceeded my expectations because I’ve never seen a place like that,” Kante said following his visit. “The facilities were way better than the other schools I’ve visited and I got to play in it with the guys while I was there.”

Kante spent the past year playing at Putnam Science Academy. He averaged 11.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game for the Mustangs, who finished 34-7 on the year and reached the semifinals of the National Prep Championship tournament. He was the team’s third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder. He also shot a team-best 63 percent from the field.

“Congratulations to Isaac and his family, ”said PSA Head Coach Tom Espinosa. “Isaac grew so much during his post grad year at Putnam Science Academy. He will be playing in the SEC against the best, so much credit to Isaac for reaching his goal.”

Kante becomes the seventh Mustang this year to commit to a Division 1 school. Others include: Jaheam Cornwall- Gardner Webb; Hamidou Diallo- Kentucky; Malik Ondigo- Texas Tech; Alexis Yetna- South Florida; KeAndre Fair- Coppin State; Kent Jones- Xavier.

 

Ian Converse

wins WPI

sportsmanship

athletic award

WORCESTER — Basketball player Ian Converse of Woodstock was recently honored at the WPI Athletics annual banquet.

He was awarded The Percy Carpenter Award which is presented to a senior male who displays the best example of sportsmanship while a WPI athlete Converse was named an All-NEWMAC First Team selection and the program’s first NEWMAC All-Sportsmanship team honoree. 

He also garnered All-WACBA Second Team accolades. Over the course of 25 games played, Converse led the league in offensive rebounds (66) while ranking third in field goals (159), fifth in points per 40 minutes (21.3), fifth in points per game (15.5) and fifth in field goal percentage (48%). 

In terms of the 13 conference games played, the senior topped the chart with 32 offensive boards and was second in points per 40 minutes with 22.7. Converse was also third in field goals (85), fourth in points per game (16.5) and fourth in field goal percentage (49.1%). The double-digit scorer in 20 games, including the last 11, posted six double-doubles on the season. Converse scored 23 points and hauled in nine rebounds in the NEWMAC semifinal versus eventual tournament champion MIT.

 

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Signs 

Alexis Yetna, right, signs with South Florida as his mother and Athletic Director and Head Coach Thomas Espinosa watch. Courtesy photo.

 

 

PUTNAM — Putnam Science Academy post-graduate Alexis Yetna signed to South Florida last week. 

The 6-foot, 8-inch big man and native of France picked up his first high-major offers last spring when he led the Adidas Gauntlet circuit in rebounding while running with Team Belief.

His recruitment went to a brand new level this season though after arriving at Putnam Science Academy in October and again demonstrating his special ability to rebound the basketball.

He added offers from the likes of Iowa State, DePaul, St. John’s, Mississippi State, and N.C. State in recent months but new Bulls head coach Brian Gregory and his staff made him a priority from the moment they took the job at South Florida in March.

With an immediate opportunity to earn minutes in front of him, Yetna pulled the trigger from the American Athletic Conference school May 10. He is the seventh PSA product to earn a full athletic scholarship in the class of 2017.