Casiem Drummond has no shortage of options for where to go after Villanova.
Drummond’s high school coach, Nick Mariniello of Bloomfield Tech, says he has fielded a slew of calls on the 6-foot-10, 275-pound big man from East Orange.
“I’ve gotten calls from at least 20-25 schools,” Mariniello said. “MAAC, Conference USA, America East, Atlantic 10.”
Schools interested in Drummond have to call Villanova and ask for a release. If his interest is not reciprocal, a release won’t be granted. Big East rules prevent Drummond from transferring within the conference. He will have one-and-a-half years of eligibility remaining beginning in December 2009.
Drummond has appeared in just two games this season and averaged 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 19 minutes. He underwent foot surgery last spring and suffered a stress fracture in his other foot a month ago. Villanova head coach Jay Wright also suspended Drummond one game for what he termed a “minor disciplinary” matter.
“I think he wants to play a little more,” Mariniello said. “He’s coming off of foot surgery and he’s probably 90 percent and I don’t think he’s playing as much as he wants to play.”
Mariniello says Drummond’s academics are in great shape.
“He’s in very good academic standing,” he said. “He’s on target to graduate.”
Iona has been mentioned as one possible option, but Iona does not have a scholarship for next semester, when Drummond will transfer.
Speaking of Iona, former Marist and Seton Hall and current Iona assistant Steve Sauers returns to Poughkeepsie tonight when the GAels visit Marist. That game will feature several people with ties to Bloomfield Tech in Marist guard RJ Hall and Iona guard Rashon Dwight, as well as former Seton Hall and Bloomfield Tech assistant Shaheen Holloway, now an assistant at Iona.
“It was a great experience for me,” Sauers told the Poughkeepsie Journal of his time at Seton Hall. “Coach [Bobby] Gonzalez is a very passionate guy about coaching and recruiting. I have a new point of reference; I learned a whole new system. It kind of re-energizes you a bit.”
Sauers added that he enjoys being at Iona under Kevin Willard.
“It’s been exciting,” Sauers said. “Coach Willard, he’s a rising star in the business. I’ve really enjoyed being on his staff and being part of the Iona tradition.”
