Gaston, Brown Remain Committed to Fordham

No matter what happens with point guard Jio Fontan at Fordham, Chris Gaston and Lance Brown say they will honor their commitments.

“No matter what happens I’m committed to Fordham, the 6-foot-7 Gaston said Thursday by phone from New Hampton prep.

“I can’t wait to play with Lance Brown and all the other kids that committed and signed. We all built a relationship in this short amount of time. We all talk to each other.”

Fordham is bringing in Gaston; Brown, a 6-3 wing out of Paterson Catholic; and Brian Freeman, a 6-8, 220-pound senior power forward from Potomac (VA) Potomac Falls. Joel “Air Jamaica” Wright, a 6-6 forward from Thomas Jefferson in Brooklyn, will prep next year next year at New Hampton or Hargrave Military before coming to Fordham in 2010.

Fontan, a 6-1 point guard out of Paterson, N.J., is seeking a release so he can transfer and further word may come next week. The family has had several rounds of meetings with the administration.

“I have spoken to him,” Gaston said. “He’s talking about getting his release.  He was the reason I was going to Fordham in the first place. I just gotta keep going and do what’s right for me.”

Gaston said he told Fontan, “We are all coming and it’s going to be a whole different team. It isn’t going to be the same team as last year.”

Last year’s team finished 3-25 last year, 1-15 in the A-10.

Two Fordham players, Trey Blue and Mike  Moore have already received their releases.

Brown echoed Gaston’s thoughts, saying he’s coming no matter what.

“We will be there no matter what,” Brown said.

Ron Cope, Brown’s uncle and a close friend of Gaston, believes Fordham can turn it around.

“Fordham is really trying to develop a chemistry, a family atmosphere. Jio, Lance, Chris Gaston and Joel ‘Air Jamaica’ Wright,” he said. “Jamaica came there because of these guys.

“We love Jio. He was the person that pushed to get Lance to Fordham. We hope everything works out and he is a Ram. I think this team can be good two years from now.”

(Photos courtesy PLayaz Club and Fordham)