Ex-St. Ray’s star sees instant reclassification results

IT finally clicked in April. The AAU opponents were stronger and more skilled, but they were also older players finishing their junior year of high school like Sidney Wilson. Only he wasn’t incapable of doing something about it. He had an option. And he took it. Wilson announced on July 1 he was reclassifying into the Class of 2018, leaving St. Raymond in The Bronx for prep powerhouse Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., following in the long line of New York City stars leaving the area for high school.

“It was hard,” he said, “but it was something I felt had to do for my future.”

Wilson, who recently turned 17, in- sists the move wasn’t made with his recruitment in mind. He had a few high-major offers, but was mostly being recruited by Atlantic-10 schools. However, after moving back a year, his college outlook has changed drastically. Wilson began to stockpile major scholarship offers.

Local programs like St. John’s and Seton Hall that were interested in him before extended offers. Memphis, UNLV and USC, which Wilson had never even had heard from, joined in. So did SMU.

“It really went crazy after the first tournament where coaches knew he would be 2018,” said Rahme Anderson, Wilson’s AAU coach with New Heights. “Those guys were looking at his physical gifts that needed to improve. He needed another year to get stronger. Once his family made the decision to have him go away to school, a lot of the schools were like, now he’ll be physically ready.”

Wilson said: “It reassured me a little bit that I made the right choice.”

There were a few factors in play, one college coach involved in his recruitment said. The 2018 class isn’t as strong as 2017, for one. At 6-foot-7 and 180 pounds, Wilson projects as a small forward at the next level, but his perimeter skills have only begun to develop. He’s best known for his versatile defensive prowess, finishing ability and shot-blocking skills. And the last, most important aspect is Wilson has enjoyed a very strong July in front of college coaches during the live recruiting period, showcasing an improving jump shot that previously was considered his Achilles’ heel.

“That has had a big difference, too,” the coach said, before adding: “It’s unusual with the level he has jumped.”

The process of reclassifying is nothing new. For years, prospects have gone that route to give themselves more time to qualify academically or face better competition. That isn’t necessarily the issue facing Wilson, who has strong grades and comes from a top New York city program at St. Raymond. But he needed the extra time to get stronger and to mature. Plus, Wilson knows several local stars who reclassified at different points in their high school careers, some even staying in middle school an extra year, to be one of the older players in their class.

“That extra year I get, it will help my game a lot,” Wilson said. “I wanted to develop my game as much as I could. Instead of going to college and having to sit one or two years, I can make an impact at whatever school I go to.”

It’s already paying off for him.

Iona landed a verbal commitment on Friday from three-star forward Darius Hicks, who will attend Coastal Academy (N.J.) in the fall.