Justin Sofman is leaving Rutgers, but he won’t have to travel far for his new destination.
Sofman, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound shooting guard from West Milford, made an oral commitment Wednesday to the coaches at Monmouth University.
Sofman, who recently announced his plans to transfer from Rutgers after one season in which he saw limited playing time after suffering a broken jaw, chose Monmouth over Albany. He will have to sit out the 2008-09 season as per NCAA transfer regulations.
“I liked the (Monmouth) coaches when I met them,” Sofman, 19, said Wednesday by phone. “I like the players, so I felt like it would be a good fit. I like the NEC (Northeast Conference).”
Monmouth initially offered Sofman a scholarship out of West Milford High, but he committed to Rutgers instead, and then spent a year prepping at St. Thomas More in Oakdale, Conn.
“I’m happy that I tried (Rutgers),” Sofman said. “My dream was to play in the Big East. I made it here, but it didn’t work out. It was a good experience.”
Sofman has one more final Thursday at Rutgers before beginning his Monmouth career. He plans to train and practice with the team to prepare for the 2009-10 season.
“It’s a plus (because) it’s close to home,” he said.
