On the same day that Seton Hall won at Georgetown for the first time in more than a decade, Pirate recruits Desi Rodriguez and Isaiah Whitehead led Lincoln High School to a breakout victory at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.
The 6-foot-5 Rodriguez — who pledged to Seton Hall last month after Whitehead committed in the fall — went off for a series of dunks en route to 25 points in Lincoln’s 90-66 win over Yates.
“Just by going to college not too far from New York, where everybody from New York can see me play, I want to show that New York is still alive.”
The performance came just a few hours Seton Hall won at Georgetown, 67-57, behind Fuquan Edwin’s 24 points and 6 rebounds and Sterling Gibbs’ 11 points and 9 assists.
“That’s a great win for Seton Hall,” Whitehead said. “I’m really happy about that. I think next year, with the talent that’s coming back and what we’re bringing in, we should be able to win right away. I’m preparing hard for the next level. I know it won’t come easy. It’ll be much harder, but I want to be ready to help Seton Hall right away.”
Edwin will graduate and has a shot at getting chosen in the NBA Draft, but Gibbs will return, begging the question, Who is the man at Seton Hall next year?
Gibbs or Whitehead?
“I always said I was going to a school that needed me, not (one that) wanted me,” Whitehead told MassLive.com of his decision to pick Seton Hall. “I would be the face of the program as a freshman, you can’t get no better than that.”
For now, the Pirates enjoyed a historic victory — and their recruits struck big at the Hall of Fame.
“I tried to show my athleticism,” Rodriguez told reporters. “I tried to dunk it a few times and get the crowd into it. My teammates helped. I feel like I have great chemistry with Isaiah and Elisha [Boone]. We’re just trying to come out and play hard for every minute we’re out there.
“The schedule we’ve played has been tough, but it prepared us for this day and to compete down the stretch.”
Whitehead scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half after Rodriguez had 14 at the break. He said that Lincoln flashed a message about the strength of New York City hoops.
“I always preach that New York City basketball is still at its peak, like it was before” Whitehead told MassLive.com
“Just by going to college not too far from New York, where everybody from New York can see me play, I want to show that New York is still alive.”
