Area college basketball players to face U.S. Pan Am team in exhibition

Sacred Heart’s Jar’l Spellman and the Western Connecticut State duo of Rashard Rodriguez and Aaron Samuel are members of the USA East Coast squad that will square off against the finalists for the U.S. Pan Am Games team in a 6 p.m. scrimmage at Providence College’s Alumni Hall on Wednesday.

Spellman averaged 8.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3 blocks per game as a junior for the Pioneers.

Samuel, a Stratford native, led WestConn in scoring (14.7) and rebounding (7.5) while Trumbull’s Rodriguez averaged 9.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as a senior.

WestConn coach Guy Rancourt and assistant coach Jamie Procino are part of USA East Coast head coach Michael Longabardi’s staff.

Waterbury’s Mustapha Heron is one of the 18 players pushing to be among the 12 Big East stars representing the U.S. in the Pan Am Games. Tickets to the game are $10 and the contest will be streamed live on the Big East’s official Twitter account.

Heron was second on the 201819 St. John’s team in scoring, averaging 14.6 points per game and was one of four players with at least 40 3pointers.

The Pan Am Games team will be coached by Providence’s Ed Cooley and the roster could be finalized later this week. The U.S. will play in the Pan Am Games from July 31Aug. 4 in Lima, Peru.

BOBCATS MAKE THE GRADE

The Quinnipiac women’s basketball program, fresh off a third straight MAAC tournament title, was recognized by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association for finished tied for 21st among Division I programs with a

3.535 team gradepoint average. The Bobcats finished tied with perennial Pac12 powerhouse Stanford.

Western Illinois’ 3.767

GPA was the best among Division I programs while Division II Tiffin had the best overall GPA among NCAA teams with a 3.809.

Elsa / Getty Images Waterbury’s Mustapha Heron is one of the 18 players pushing to be among the 12 Big East stars representing the U.S. in the Pan Am Games.