Mike Rosario won a championship Thursday night, and Rutgers fans no doubt hope it’s the first of many.
Rosario, the 6-foot-2 McDonald’s All-American shooting guard out of Bob Hurley’s St. Anthony program, scored 19 points to lead AXA Advisors to a 103-98 victory over VP Builders in the title game of the Star-Ledger College Player Summer League.
Florida transfer Jonathan Mitchell, a Mount Vernon, N.Y. native who must sit out next season as per NCAA transfer regulations, added 15 points and 10 boards for the winners. Incoming Rutgers freshman big man Christian Morris scored 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, and Rutgers sophomore guard Mike Coburn, also of Mount Vernon, dished 9 assists.
Rutgers point guard Anthony Farmer led VP with 25 points, while Terrence Grier of FDU added 17 points, 11 boards and 9 dimes. Jaron Griffin had 22 points and 6 rebounds in a losing effort.
Rosario and Morris are part of a recruiting class that also includes Pat Jackson, a wing player from Brooklyn Boys & Girls, and St. Benedict’s big man Greg Echenique. Echenique starred for Venezuela at the recent FIBA Americas U18 Championship, and will play for South America in next week’s adidas Basketball Experience in Dallas.
(PHoto courtesy Brian Kelley)