Fordham continues to pick up talented players from North Jersey.
Lance Brown, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound wing forward from Paterson Catholic, verbally committed to the Bronx school on Friday.
Brown, a second-team Herald News All-Area selection who helped lead PC to the Passaic County championship last February, becomes the second player with Paterson connections to commit to Fordham. Former St. Anthony point guard Jio Fontan, a Paterson native, will head to Fordham this year.
“The academic reputation (at Fordham) is real good,” Brown, who played at Fordham in last week’s Rumble in the Bronx, said Friday by phone. “It’s close to the Ivy league. Also a big part was Jio Fontan. He’s like family to me. He can help me out . Me and him have a good relationship. It’s also close to home. I get homesick and I know my family and my parents can come watch me play.
“I took three visits and I felt comfortable. I really like the coaching staff.”
Fordham assistant Jared Grasso has done a fabulous job recruiting North Jersey. He also landed St. Benedict’s big man Chris Gaston, who will join Brown in 2009. The Rams have two scholarships remaining for that year and are involved with O.D. Anosike, the younger brother of Tennessee women’s star Nicky Anosike, and Kyle Casey of Brimmer & May (Mass.).
Brown, a Teaneck native, averaged 15 points and eight rebounds per game last season when the Cougars finished 23-5 and reached the Non-Public A semifinals, losing to Fontan and the Friars, who went on to win the Tournament of Champions.
When Paterson Catholic beat host Williamsport (Pa.) in a Christmas tournament, Brown scored a team-high 21 points and was named Tournament MVP.
Brown also had offers from George Mason, Robert Morris and Quinnipiac.
“He liked (Fordham),” PC coach Damon Wright said. “They’ve been recruiting him all year and they finally offered him a scholarship. He liked what they had to say and he likes Jio. He’s excited about it.”
Said Brown: “I definitely wanted to commit before my senior year. I’m really happy I made my decision. I’m really happy it’s over with.”
SOPHOMORES HAVE INTERESTWright said 6-5 sophomore Fuquan Edwin, a third-team All-Area selection, also has interest from Kansas, Marquette and Florida in addition to offers from Xavier, Rutgers and Seton Hall….6-6 sophomore Trevor Clemmings has interest from Miami and St. John’s on top of offers from Xavier and the Jersey schools….6-3 sophomore Shaq Thomas, the nephew of Clippers star Tim Thomas, has major interest from Kansas and Syracuse. “I had Kansas call outright on him,” Wright said. “They said, ‘We’re going to follow him and we’re interested in him.'”
