Justin Crosgile, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound combo guard from Wayne (NJ) DePaul Catholic, has made his choice.
He has committed to St. Joseph’s.
“I like St.Joe’s,” Crosgile, a native of Paterson, said Wednesday night. “It’s not too far from home. It’s a small school. They have been pursuing me. They showed me a lot of interest. My brother (Marcus) is going there.”
Crosgile also held offers from St. John’s, Seton Hall, Rutgers and Houston and had interest from Western Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State, Davidson,Virginia, Miami and Notre Dame.
“I’ll bring a lot of energy and defense,” he said. “I think I could play a big part at the guard-oriented school. I think I’ll fit perfectly into that school.”
A two-time Herald News All-Area selection, Crosgile averaged 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for a Spartans team that reached the Passaic County quarterfinals before falling to Paterson Eastside and lost to Seton Hall Prep in the North Non-Public A tournament. He now has 1,340 career points.
He is a speedy guard with a knack for making steals at opportune times. At least twice this past season Crosgile made critical steals late in games to help DePaul win games. He is also a very strong shooter from outside, and is capable of taking over a game from beyond the arc. A tough and proven winner, he led his team to the Passaic county championship as a sophomore.
“I think that St. Joe’s really came on strong after Justin,” DePaul coach Bart Fazio said. “He and Coach (Phil) Martelli and assistant David Duda really hit it off. They’re looking for someone to come right and take over the point guard position his freshman year.”
As for his senior year at DePaul, Crosgile said he wants to get the Spartans back into contention in the Passaic County and Non-Public A tournaments.
“I just want to keep working on my game, get better, get my teammates involved so I won’t have to feel pressure about picking a school,” he said.
Crosgile is the latest Jersey junior to commit to Coach Martelli’s program.
St. Joe’s landed a commitment from 6-8 junior forward Carl Baptiste of North Hunterdon High earlier this season and has also offered David Bruce, a 6-8 junior forward from Linden.
Bruce, who averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, also holds offers St. John’s, Seton Hall, Rutgers, La Salle and Houston, and has interest from Villanova, Miami and Missouri.
***In other St. Joe’s news, Jay Gomes reports that one-time St. Joe’s commit Dom Rutledge of Edison Job Corps. is headed to Hutchison Community College(Ks.). Hutchison recently sent Bobby Maze to Tennessee.
The 6-7, 230-pound Rutledge in November chose St. Joe’s over Seton Hall, St. John’s, Providence and Auburn.
He averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds last season as the team finished 17-13.
“The sky’s the limit,” said Rutledge’s AAU coach Galen Smith said. “I’ve coached a lot of kids in the last 20 years. He has a full body right now. He’s strong. He’s athletic. His wingspan is 7 feet and he has a 40-plus vertical. He can get up over the rim.”
