Desmond Wade only needed one official visit to make his college choice.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pound point guard will transfer to Fairfield University after taking an official visit last week. He must sit out a year per NCAA regulations.
Wade, a three-time time All-State performer at Linden (N.J.) High School, also visited Wagner and La Salle unofficially.
“Yes, I like the coaches [at Fairfeld],” Wade said. “The coaches are like a family. It was a nice campus and everything.”
As a sophomore at Houston, Wade started 31 of 35 games last season. He averaged 5.7 points and 4.8 assists per game and helped lead the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1992.
“I can bring them good point guard play,” he said of Fairfield. “Just bring a winning attitude towards the team that we can get back to the [NCAA] tournament.”
GIANNINI GETS EXTENSION
La Salle gave Dr. John Giannini a multi-year extension.
“The basketball program has shown consistent progress during Dr. John’s tenure,” La Salle AD Dr. Tom Brennan said. “The Explorers entered the 2009-2010 campaign as a preseason 4th pick in the A-10 Conference, following two solid seasons with a finish in the upper half of this very competitive conference. Unfortunately, the past season ended with disappointment as it was marked by an unprecedented rash of injuries.”
“Dr. John has demonstrated the ability to recruit highly qualified student-athletes,” Brennan added. “This was evident this past year, in particular, with a class that included five graduating seniors. Education and the concept of student-athlete hold great importance at La Salle.”
“All of us at La Salle are optimistic about next season and the future of La Salle basketball,” said Brennan.
Dr. Giannini said, “I appreciate the opportunity that President McGinniss and Dr. Brennan have afforded me. We have a very talented group of young men in our program–a strong returning group and some very highly regarded newcomers. Our immediate goal is to be selected for a post-season tournament. Quite frankly, I cannot wait for the new season to begin. We plan to make the La Salle family proud.”
WRIGHT TO TOLEDO
Former Michigan player Anthony Wright is transferring to Toledo.
“The coaches at Toledo seem cool and I haven’t met the players yet. The facilities are ridiculous,” the 6-6, 235-pound Wright told ZAGSBLOG.com contributor Alex Kline. “They put $35 million into the arena and it looks good.The non-conference is filled with top tier teams.”
He added: “My role is to score and finally get a chance to do everything I’m capable of doing, and working hard this summer to be a top NCAA scorer.”
FREE THROWS
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