Ithiel Horton, a 6-foot-2 Class of 2018 guard, will transfer to Roselle Catholic with the closing of St. Anthony’s this spring, he told ZAGSBLOG.
“Yes sir,” the Union, N.J., native said by text, adding that he made the move because of a “national schedule, maximum exposure and the chance to play under a great staff that will be with you for the rest of your life.”
Under head coach Dave Boff, Roselle Catholic has won two New Jersey Tournament of Championships titles in the last five years (2013 and ’15) and produced a slew of Division 1 products, including Isaiah Briscoe (Kentucky), Tyler Roberson (Syracuse) and Chris Silva (South Carolina).
Horton averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists last season under Naismith Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley. Hurley announced on April 5 that the school would close after this season, but he told ZAGSBLOG on May 17 that he will now launch the “Hurley Family Foundation” in Jersey City beginning this fall.
“We are excited to have Ithiel coming to RC for his senior year,” Boff said. “It’s a very unfortunate situation for the St. Anthony’s kids so we are hapy to be able to welcome him to Roselle Catholic. We are looking forward to helping him continue to develop and achieve all of his goals.”
Check out Ithiel Horton’s buzzer beater to end the third ? @SAHSFriarNation #SNYInvitational pic.twitter.com/U1thZ49PyR
— Overtime (@overtime) January 28, 2017
As I wrote in this New York Times piece, St. Anthony’s has several elite players now looking for new homes. Along with Horton 6-9 2018 big man Savior Akuwovo visited the Ranney School on Tuesday and could be poised to join stud Class of 2019 guards Scottie Lewis and Bryan Antoine. Should Akuwovo, a natural shot-blocker who averaged 7 rebounds, 6 points and 2 blocks for the Friars, join that program, Ranney would be even more of a threat to challenge for a state title and a possible TOC crown.
Meantime, 2019 guard Alex Rice is still visiting schools and weighing his options. The son of Monmouth head coach King Rice, he averaged 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists at St. Anthony’s.