Seniors taking the next step
Plenty of options available for Valley’s hardwood stars
PROVIDENCE – With their high school basketball careers officially in the rearview mirror, the time has come for the area’s top talent in the senior class to look forward.
For some, college will feature more basketball. For others, it’s off to prep school with the hope of bolstering the recruiting portfolio. Those are the two paths that quite a few of the participants in Wednesday night’s R.I. Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game plan to follow.
One area hoopster who knows what his next step will be after graduation is Brandon Kolek, Cumberland’s sharp shooting wing. He plans to take his penchant for filling up the hoop to St. Andrew’s School in Barrington.
Playing for the Hazard All-Star crew that defeated their Lynch All-Star counterparts, 94-85, at Rhode Island College’s Murray Center, Kolek said he arrived at the decision to enroll at St. Andrew’s last week.
“A lot of people recommended it and I always wanted to go there,” Kolek said, a second-team All-State pick by the RIBCA.
For St. Raphael senior and First Team All-State selection Peter Wilson, there’s a few college options to consider. Division II Assumption College is offering a part academic/part athletic scholarship package while Division II Saint Anselm College has also expressed interest. Wilson says he plans to visit the New Hampshire-based college soon.
Since he hasn’t made a final decision regarding college, Wilson can still showcase his talents for his springtime AAU team, R.I. Elite. Vermont Academy is one of the prep schools he’s looking at while Division III Keene State has also expressed interest.
“Basketball will definitely be part of my future,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s teammate at SRA, Trevante Jones, is planning to go the college football route. A First Team All-Division and All-State pick at safety, Jones mentioned that he’s starting to get his acceptance letters with URI, Central Connecticut, and the University of Maine all in play. If nothing works out at the college, there’s prep school options with Worcester Academy and Connecticut’s St. Thomas More School leading the way.
Wednesday saw Wilson and Jones on opposite teams, a concept that featured a few light moments. In the first half, Jones fouled Wilson in the act of shooting. Wilson swished the 3-pointer, which prompted some good-natured, lighthearted ribbing where Jones was on the receiving end.
“It was weird playing against Peter,” Jones said with a smile.
Shea’s Abdul Ajia, a First-Team All-State pick who helped guide the Raiders to the title game of the Open state tournament, says he has a few prep schools on his radar.
Lincoln’s Tommy Beauchemin, who threw down dunks on back-to-back offensive trips during the second half for the Lynch All-Stars, is considering college hoops at three Division III schools: Lasell College, located in Newton, Mass.; Thomas College in Waterville, Maine; and Boston-based Emmanuel College.
“Being a student athlete is very important to me,” Beauchemin said. “I also can’t picture my life without basketball.”
Burrillville’s Zach Lefebvre is a three-sport standout who was considering playing football at either Roger Williams University or Salve Regina. The quarterback from the Broncos’ Division III Super Bowl winner from this past season is heading to Roger Williams, though he won’t be suiting up for any of the Hawks’ athletic teams (Lefebvre will close out his interscholastic career this spring as a member of Burrillville’s baseball team).
“My body was really hurting, especially after basketball season. My knees … I really can’t do it anymore,” Lefebvre said. “Going from three sports to none is going to be tough next year.”
Wheeler senior and Woonsocket native Sam Hunt has been accepted to Providence College, Boston University, Northeastern, Holy Cross, Clarke University, and URI. Depending on the situation, Hunt may try to walk on as a baseball contributor.