Courtney Nelson will compete for the William Paterson men’s basketball program after transferring from Rutgers.
Nelson played for the Scarlet Knights during each of the last two seasons, but left the team midway through last season after being declared academically ineligible. The 6-1 guard appeared in 13 games during the 2007-08 campaign, averaging 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds while playing 13.7 minutes per contest. During the 2006-07 season, he saw the court in all 29 games and started twice, averaging 3.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest.
“It was a very difficult decision to leave Rutgers,” said Nelson, who will use his final year of eligibility while playing at William Paterson this winter.
“Rutgers has provided me with a foundation for academics, basketball and life, and I am grateful for all of their efforts. However; I feel that William Paterson University will give me the best opportunity to fulfill my dream of a college degree, winning a national championship, and playing professional basketball. Coach (Jose) Rebimbas has established William Paterson as an elite Division III program and he has proven his ability to place his players in the professional ranks. I look forward to competing in such a competitive and exciting conference.”
The Newark native began his college career at the University of Richmond, where he played in 28 games as a true freshman and averaged 6.1 points and 2.0 assists per game. He the transferred to Rutgers, and sat out the 2005-06 season per NCAA Division I transfer rules.
“We are extremely excited to get a player of Courtney’s ability and stature,” said Rebimbas, who will begin his 14th season as William Paterson’s head coach this November. “We look forward to helping Courtney realize some of his goals and dreams.”
Rated the 82nd-best overall player nationally by Hoop Scoop as a senior at Bloomfield Tech H.S., Nelson also was ranked the 127th-best prospect in the country by Hoopmasters.com. Named a three-star prospect by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, he was The Star Ledger’s 2004 New Jersey Player of the Year after averaging 16 points and seven assists per game. Also a first-team Associated Press all-state honoree, he helped lead his Bloomfield Tech squad to a 25-8 record and a berth in the Tournament of Champions final as a senior.
William Paterson posted a 19-7 overall record and a 10-3 mark in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play during the 2007-08 campaign, winning the league’s North Division title and advancing to the NJAC Tournament championship game.
In other William Paterson news, Abdoulaye Ouedraogo, a 6-8, 240-pound junior forward from Newark Science, has transferred to NAIA Division I school Georgetown College (Ky).
“We’re disappointed that Abdoul has chosen to leave us but we understand that this move afforded him an opportunity to earn an athletic scholarship at Georgetown Kentucky and we wish him well,” Rebimbas said.
GILCHRIST TO TEANECK
On the high school scene, Teaneck native Javae Gilchrist has left Queen of Peace to return to Teaneck High School. An explosive senior guard, Gilchrist helped Queen of Peace reach the Bergen Jamboree semifinals last season, where it lost to Hackensack despite Gilchrist’s 23 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
