Manny Suarez, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward from Marist (N.J.) High School, verbally committed to Fordham on Monday, as first reported by SNY.tv.
Suarez, who runs with the Albany City Rocks AAU program, also held offers from Monmouth, Drexel, Penn State, Long Beach State and others.
“The reason I chose Fordham is I like the campus and the coaching staff is tremendous,” he said. “When I spoke to them they gave me a lot of details about everything. My family and I just felt comfortable.”
Suarez averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks last season and says he’s feels comfortable at either forward spot.
“It really doesn’t matter that much to me,” he said. “I’m a power forward that can play as a stretch. [Coach Tom Pecora] told me I’m going to play the perimeter and probably inside.”
Marist coach Tony Romano said Fordham is getting someone with “a great skillset for a 6-10 guy.”
“He can do many things,” he said. “He’s excellent on the perimeter, has a great shooting stroke. He’s got a lot of range on his shot and can put the ball on the floor. He can really shoot the ball for a 6-10 guy.
“Defensively, He’s a good help defender and a good communicator.
“The Fordham guys are going to have him out playing the three or four spots.”
Suarez is Fordham’s third 2013 commit, following 6-5 SG Jake Fay of Brimmer & May (Mass.) and 6-6 PF Denzel Gregg of St. Thomas More (Conn.).
KIDD TO HOFSTRA, COLEMAN TO NJIT
Hofstra landed a pledge from 6-5 wing Gervelle Kidd of Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy….Tim Coleman, a 6-5 combo forward from St. Anthony, committed to NJIT over Monmouth and Wagner…2014 F Dwayne Morgan has cut his list to Indiana, Missouri, Seton Hall, South Florida, UNLV & Maryland, according to Alex Kline.
Photo: Hudson County Varsity
