Defense has been the rallying cry for the new men’s basketball coaches at Rutgers and Seton Hall. Mike Rice and Kevin Willard are expected to install an in-your-face, pressing style that worked for them at their previous stops—a style that requires cat-quick guards who can get after it.
Well, one of the best defensive guards to come out of New Jersey in the past 15 years just became available.
Former Linden High School star Desmond Wade is transferring after two successful years at Houston. The junior-to-be wants to come home, and the Garden State’s two Big East programs would seem like potential landing pads.
“He disrupts offenses. People just can’t get by him and he beats guys to spots,” Linden coach Phil Colocchio said. “If you’re looking for your point guard to average 20 points a game then he’s not your guy. If you’re a defensive coach he fits into that mode better than anybody.”
Wade is not a one-trick pony either. He ranked among the nation’s leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio this past winter, handing out 167 assists compared to just 62 turnovers. His steady floor generalship was a big reason why teammate Aubrey Coleman averaged 25 points per game.
“How many times could Aubrey catch and shoot because Dez put the ball in his hands in a good spot?” Colicchio said.
So why hasn’t Wade already found a home on either Big East roster? Much has been made of his height (5-foot-9) and his shooting percentage (39.7 percent, although he hit 37 percent of his 3-pointers).
Those factors didn’t stop him from winning two Group IV titles and beating St. Patrick and St. Anthony while at Linden, and then helping Houston reach the NCAA Tournament this past season. If St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle lands a spot on Rice’s staff as an assistant—several candidates are vying for two open spots, and Boyle is among them—there is no doubt that Wade will be on Rutgers’ radar.
“It seems like the kid always has to prove himself,” Colicchio said. “He went up against Jonny Flynn and won the game. He went up against Tyreke Evens and won the game. He went against Corey Fisher and won the game. He’s one of those guys who all he does is win.”
http://blogs.mycentraljersey.com/rutgers/2010/05/07/defensive-ace-now-available/#more-7469
Well, one of the best defensive guards to come out of New Jersey in the past 15 years just became available.
Former Linden High School star Desmond Wade is transferring after two successful years at Houston. The junior-to-be wants to come home, and the Garden State’s two Big East programs would seem like potential landing pads.
“He disrupts offenses. People just can’t get by him and he beats guys to spots,” Linden coach Phil Colocchio said. “If you’re looking for your point guard to average 20 points a game then he’s not your guy. If you’re a defensive coach he fits into that mode better than anybody.”
Wade is not a one-trick pony either. He ranked among the nation’s leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio this past winter, handing out 167 assists compared to just 62 turnovers. His steady floor generalship was a big reason why teammate Aubrey Coleman averaged 25 points per game.
“How many times could Aubrey catch and shoot because Dez put the ball in his hands in a good spot?” Colicchio said.
So why hasn’t Wade already found a home on either Big East roster? Much has been made of his height (5-foot-9) and his shooting percentage (39.7 percent, although he hit 37 percent of his 3-pointers).
Those factors didn’t stop him from winning two Group IV titles and beating St. Patrick and St. Anthony while at Linden, and then helping Houston reach the NCAA Tournament this past season. If St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle lands a spot on Rice’s staff as an assistant—several candidates are vying for two open spots, and Boyle is among them—there is no doubt that Wade will be on Rutgers’ radar.
“It seems like the kid always has to prove himself,” Colicchio said. “He went up against Jonny Flynn and won the game. He went up against Tyreke Evens and won the game. He went against Corey Fisher and won the game. He’s one of those guys who all he does is win.”
http://blogs.mycentraljersey.com/rutgers/2010/05/07/defensive-ace-now-available/#more-7469
