While it has become fashionable for some national bloggers to trash Ricky Ledo, a high school student, Providence coach Ed Cooley is high on the young man and believes he can build around him going forward.
“When we talk about Ricky Ledo and his journey of wanting to come to Providence College, we’re going to help that young man grow in so many ways,” Cooley said Thursday during a press conference.
“And I think he being one of the best natural scorers in the country is going to allow us not just to attract other players, but other local young men that have dreams and aspirations of coming to Providence College.
“We hope he can score a lot of baskets for us and also make sure he goes to class on time.”
While national bloggers rip Ledo for having attended multiple high schools, Ledo says he tries hard to ignore the harsh criticism.
“I wouldn’t say it really hurt me,” the 6-foot-7 Ledo told SNY.tv in September during an interview at South Kent (Conn.).
“All those people that speak on me, they don’t know me and they never have met me to judge me or my character.”
While some question whether Ledo will get into trouble at Providence, Ledo says his support system there, including his grandparents, Ada and Julio Carrasco, will help him grow and develop.
“I can go right down the street to my house to talk to my grandmother, and I’m close with my grandparents,” he said. “That’s a big reason I wanted them to see me play. My grandparents mean everything to me.”
Cooley also scored a major coup with Kris Dunn, 6-foot-3-inch, 186-pound point guard from New London (Conn.).
“We also feel we have what we think is the best point guard in the country in Kris Dunn,” Cooley said.
“During this summer, he had one of the best summers I’ve seen a point guard have in many, many years. As the recruiting process heated up, at not one point did we get nervous because of the trust, of the kid’s character, his loyalty…
“In order to build a championship program, you need a general, and we feel we signed the best general in the country. Kris is versatile, he’s strong, his character. He has an infectious personality, his smile.
“He’s a kid that one day I hope my daughter marries someone of his character. And that’s saying a lot because her first boyfriend has gotta kiss me first.”
Cooley also has high hopes for shooting guard in Josh Fortune, a 6-5 shooting guard from Kecoughtan High School in Virginia whom Cooley called a “silent weapon.”
“Great, great shooter,” he said. “Another character-based individual. He’s going to allow us to stretch the floor. We feel he’s athletic and talented enough. Big basketball IQ.”
