Pennington’s Niang earns All-America nod
With seven weeks remaining before schools would usually be resuming, there is still a great deal of uncertainty in New Jersey as high schools try to figure out if, when and how they will return to the classrooms, while also trying to figure out if, when and how fall sports will take place with the coronavirus pandemic continuing to affect the United States.
2020 continues to be a year in which people need some good news.
Pennington School rising senior Babacar Niang received some recently.
Niang has been chosen as a First Team All-America Forward by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
He was one of three New Jersey players selected to the First Team, along with defenders Cao Chaves of St. Benedict’s Prep and Jason Pereira of Seton Hall Prep.
Niang was also one of just four N.J. players who received either a First or Second Team nod from TopDrawerSoccer. Pingry School defender Pranav Jha earned Second Team recognition.
“I feel incredibly honored to be recognized as an All-American. It is an achievement I share with my teammates because, without them, this honor would not have been possible,” said Niang, who was named as The Trentonian’s All-Prep Player of the Year after amassing 13 goals and 16 assists as a junior. “I’m thankful to the entire Pennington community, especially my teachers and coaches, for their support in helping me reach my academic and soccer goals. On the field and in the classroom, I work so hard to represent The Pennington School because the school has given me such an amazing opportunity.”
The national honor was just one of the big things happening for this native of Dakar, Senegal since his junior year was interrupted by the coronavirus.
After helping the 13-5 Red Raiders win a fifth consecutive Mercer County Tournament title in 2019, Niang worked hard to improve his academic standing and came away as a straight-A student.
“It’s a huge deal for him to be named an All-American,” Pennington head coach Chad Bridges said. “Earning it as a junior is a great honor. Babacar works so hard. He’s the ultimate team player, and now he’s made the Dean’s List.”
As his grades soared and his talent became more recognized, Niang also took the time to commit to Wake Forest University, so he would not have to deal with that stress during his final season.
TopDrawerSoccer.com writer Sheldon Shealer described Niang in the All-America release as follows: “A high-level prospect, Niang factored in 29 goals during his junior season and made an early verbal to one of the nation’s collegiate powers. Niang helped Pennington School to a familiar finish — state runner-up to St. Benedict’s Prep. He is the No. 64 prospect in the Class of 2021 IMG Academy 150.”
Niang’s senior teammate, Stas Korzeniowski, with whom he is living while in the United States, was accepted to the University of Pennsylvania, showing the high all-around standards Bridges’ players have.
“There are a lot of good things happening,” Bridges said.
Niang became the second Pennington player under Bridges to be named a TopDrawerSoccer.com AllAmerica following in the footsteps of 2017 grad Ibrahima Diop, another native of Senegal who was a two-time All-American before heading to the University of Connecticut.
Niang enters his final season with 21 goals and 21 assists in his Red Raiders’ career. Korzeniowski also has 21 career goals.
Along with their teammates, they are hoping to get to play some kind of season this fall, although whether another Mercer County Tournament is in the cards is currently doubtful.
Schools continue to focus on plans to return to their buildings, at least part of the time, in the fall.
Meanwhile, many leagues, like the Colonial Valley Conference, are contemplating just having games among their members (those that choose to play). The same may end up being the case for the prep schools.
With practices not beginning any earlier than mid-September and no games before October, new AllAmerica Niang and the rest of the soccer players in Mercer County are keeping their fingers crossed that they will not miss out on the 2020 fall season the way that the 201920 spring sports student-athletes already did.