New London’s Osborne commits to play at Fairleigh Dickinson
Basketball star verbally commits to play at Fairleigh Dickinson
Charee Osborne graduated from New London High School in 2016 as one of the most successful girls' basketball players in program history.
She scored 1,117 points and led the Whalers to two state championship appearances, winning one title, the first in team history. She earned Class L all-state honors as a senior, when the Whalers were 25-2, and was named The Day's All-Area Girls' Basketball Player of the Year. But Osborne wasn't satisfied. “The goal always for me was to play basketball at the highest level I could,” Osborne said. “Leaving high school and not having the offers I wanted, I felt like it wasn't my game. I had to think, ‘What can I do to present myself in a better way?'” There was only one way. Work hard. On Friday, Osborne announced the ultimate results of her two-year journey since departing New London, during which time she earned NJCAA Division III all-region first team honors twice at Roxbury (Mass.) Community College and, simultaneously, lost 50 pounds.
Osborne, a 5-foot-10 forward, said she has verbally committed to play beginning next season at Division I Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, N.J., receiving a full scholarship. She will have two years of eligibility remaining for the Knights, who compete in the Northeast Conference.
Osborne, currently a sociology major, leaves for the summer session at her new school in May.
“The coach is very welcoming and the team is very welcoming,” Osborne said in a telephone interview. “The campus wasn't too big and it wasn't too small. I worked out, played with them for a little bit, and they were talking to me how they want to develop me. They were interested in me and getting to know me as a person and a player.
“Just after a long time coming, I can say that I achieved my goal. A lot of hard work, taking the JUCO (junior college) route and believing in the process … I'm very excited. It's the ultimate success to the journey, of high school and rec and all that. I verbally committed while I was there (on an official visit).”
Osborne, who averaged 13.8 points and 10.3 rebounds this season, speaks frankly of her weight loss, which she began as a freshman at Roxbury.
“It's like I had another person on my back compared to everybody else,” Osborne said. “I had to transform myself and not stay in that box I was before. I can see the change in myself and my game. Even though I'm not at the goal yet, I can jump higher, sprint faster, be on the court longer.”
Fairleigh Dickinson was 15-15 last season, tied for seventh in the NEC. Other teams in the league include Sacred Heart of Fairfield, Central Connecticut State University of New Britain, Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., and a pair of teams in New York City, St. Francis of Brooklyn and LIU Brooklyn, meaning Osborne will play a number of games close to home.
The Knights are coached by Peter Cinella, the former head coach at American International College in Worcester. Former Boston College coach Cathy Inglese, who has coached in 10 NCAA tournaments, is an assistant under Cinella.
“I already told her the other day I'm really proud of her putting the work in. It's nice when your hard work leads to success,” New London coach Holly Misto said. “Hard work usually leads to good things in life. I'm very happy for her. She's going to do really well there. … The coach at Roxbury did a wonderful job developing her even more.”
Mark Leszczyk, who coached Osborne at Roxbury and led the Tigers to the NJCAA Division III title game in five of the last seven seasons, said seeing success stories like Osborne's are what keeps him coming back to the junior college level.
“It's unbelievable,” said Leszczyk, who also credits assistant coach Kisandra Ayanbeku for having a good rapport with Osborne. “People don't understand why I love this level so much. We call it a ‘bridge to greatness,' corny, I know. But she had a goal in mind. She did the work.
“She never does anything halfway … other people see that and they feed off it.”
Osborne, a two-time captain at Roxbury, retains her connection to New London, citing “the energy we have as a community.” When she graduates, she said she'll become the first member of her family to finish college.
“It's been a journey,” Osborne said. “I'm so happy my mom (Regina) doesn't have to worry anymore. She doesn't have to pay any bills or worry where I'm going to live or how I'm going to get to school.
“We both don't have to worry anymore.”