XAVIER BROWN- COMMITTED TO ST. PETER'S COLLEGE

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Xavier Brown a 5'10 guard from Philadelphia, scholar athlete, and one of the top players in the Philadelphia area.

What are your dreams in life?
My dream in life is to be successful in any or every profession that I decide on whether it be a professional athlete, or a physical therapist.

Tell everyone about your decision to commit to St. Peter's College.
On the 5th of May I visited and committed to St.Peters College. My recruitment started in the 10th grade. I started receiving letters from D2 schools then in my junior year some D1 schools came knocking including offers from Harvard and Yale. At this point in my life my goals were to go to one of these schools but I wanted to wait. Senior year was a complete turn around since I didn't commit on the spot Harvard, and Yale both got guards to come in and I was found in the dark. A couple other schools were looking at me like Rider, St. Francis Pa., Penn, Bucknell, New Hampshire, and Delaware State, but after a visit at St.Peters I knew this was the place where I wanted to be. During my visit I saw every aspect of the school and worked out with the team. They welcomed me and I felt as if I could do some damage on that level. My plans are to go to St.Peters and be a gym rat, get better, bigger, and take my game to another level.

What was your best game?
My best game was when we played Math Civics, and Science I couldn't get it going all game but in the fourth quarter I caught fire and went 5-5 on threes to conclude the game with 23 pts, 5ast, and 4 rebs.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are so important to me because they motivate me to be the best that I can be. These activities make character and has rubbed off on me. I am a Gates Millennium Scholar due to my grades, character, and participation of certain activities which is a full ride to any school of my choice: 4 yrs undergraduate, 4 years graduate, and doctoral school. This is important to me!

What can you do to make yourself better in basketball?
In order to make myself better in my sport I work out on the daily basis, putting in more time, and more work then others . I'm a gym rat. Getting better is what I crave for.

How do you make your team better?
I make my team better by putting my teammates before myself, leading by example, and motivating everyone and constantly letting them know they can accomplish anything.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Advice that I would give to other student-athletes are to work hard on and off the court . "Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard."

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JOSEPH CHILIAK- WESTCLIFFE COMPOSITE SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
Hi there. My name is Joseph Chiliak and I am a 16 year old swingman playing for the Westcliffe Warriors. I am 6'4, a natural shooting guard, but commonly play center because of my skill as a defender. This year I averaged 27 points, 4 blocks, 3 assists, 13 rebounds per game and gained respect all around our school division as being a humble, sportsmanlike leader.

What are your dreams in life?
I dream of one day playing pro basketball and representing my country by playing on team Canada. I also inspire those around me, and anybody else from very small schools and show them that anything is possible with effort. After all.... "Success Is Contagious"

What was your best game?
Its a tie. This year we only had one home game. I started the night off hot and never lost momentum. I ended up finishing with 45 points, 6 blocks, 4 assists, and 11rebounds. The other game a had was a week earlier, and although the numbers weren't nearly as impressive, (20 points, 2 blocks, 9 rebounds) I had my first in-game slam dunk, also the first slam dunk ever in our division.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
During the off season I run around 10 km a day, (5 in the morning, 5 at night) and do an hour long shoot around every day after school. I also watch countless hours of NBA highlights, trying to figure out what moves could lead me to be a more potent offensive player and help me better understand offensive plays to become a better defender.

How do you make your team better?
I make my team better by constantly bringing everything I've got to the table, and doing it in a fashion that command respect. I also bring a positive attitude and a solid commitment to my team.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Don't listen to people who don't believe in you, and never be afraid to lay everything on the line to prove those people wrong. In the words of Michael Jordan, "You can accept failure. You can't accept not trying".

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RICHARD (RJ) HALL- SUFFOLK COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Richard (RJ) Hall. I am a freshman in college and attend Suffolk Community College-Grant. I have a 3.8 GPA. I averaged 15.3 ppg, 5.9 apg, 2 spg, and 4rpg. I helped lead my team to a winning record. I'm a tough 6'0 ft point guard who is lights out shooting. I will be attending Kennesaw State University next year to play basketball.

What is your dream in life?
My dream is to utilize basketball to get an education, which I am doing, and possibly play pro. My goal for next year is to get a 4.0 GPA and come into Kennesaw State, work hard, earn playing time, and contribute to help our team win.

What was your best game?
I've had a lot of good games. My best game of my life was an AAU game my 11th grade year. I scored 32 points and I topped that off by scoring 27 points the next day in a high school summer league game. My best game last year was when I almost had my first career triple double against Seldon CC. I had 17 points, 9 assist, and 9 rebounds.

Why are sports/education important to you?
It's important to me, because both teach you how to work hard, both teach you certain values on how to be successful and grow into a mature young adult. You get nowhere in life without an education. I play to use my education to open my own law practice and sports agency.

How do you make your team better?
I make my team better by playing good, tough defense, being a point guard, distributing the ball, being a leader, being aggressive, and scoring when I need to score.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Work hard. Always work hard. Don't give up because a coach tells you that you aren't good enough. Use that as a motivation to continue to work harder. You can have 100 coaches tell you no, but the 101st one could think you're perfect for his team. Do the intangibles: dive for balls, take charges, play defense.

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MARCUS NEWSOM- NORTHAMPTON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
Hello everyone, my name is Marcus Newsom. I am currently a sophomore at Northampton Senior High School. I am about 6'0 and love to play any game. I play football, baseball, and wrestling. I play football and wrestled both for the school and started and lettered in both sports. I play baseball though for a non-school league because of the post-season this year in wresting, it caused me to miss baseball tryouts. I have been playing these sports every since I could walk. Sports to me is like breathing, it comes to me naturally.

What are your dreams in life?
My ultimate dream in life is to make it big and be one of the few playing for a professional team. I want to be the one people are watching at home, cheering me on, and being a role model to a little kid like many professional athletes are my role models.

What was your best game?
My best game in football happened this past year. I averaged about 6.0 yards a carry on offense and had about 12 tackles on defense. My best game in baseball occurred last summer, when I had a batting average of .750 with two singles and a double, 4 rbi's, and 3 stolen bases. My best match in wrestling was during this year's district tournament I lost to the District Champ by 2 in the quarter-finals.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because with them, I truly believe I will make it far in life. Not only will I make it far, but have a happy and long lifetime. I also believe sports and education have made me the person that I am today. Sports also bring my family closer by being there for every game I have.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
To make myself a better athlete in any of the three sports I play, I attend many camps throughout the year at various colleges like Penn State and Lehigh University. I also practice anything I need to work on to improve my game to the best ability that I can. I stay after practices working on various things and I have also had one-on-ones with past athletes in that sport. Like once a week, I have lessons with the great 3x NCCA Wrestling National Champ, Rick Bonomo.

What is your dream college?
I don't really have a dream college, but some colleges I would love to attend would be Penn State, Oregon, or Notre Dame. I would love to play football in front of the biggest college football stadium at Penn State, go to Notre Dame and have the legacy of being a Fighting Irish, or even Oregon to attend their wonderful campus.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I'm a leader on and off the field. I will always train and work to fullest capacity and be a true asset to my team. I will do whatever I can to make my team better. If I had to choose between winning the Heisman and the National Championship, I would pick winning the National Championship because the team to me comes first.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
One thing I can say, is stay true to yourself. Do not let anyone talk you out of becoming what you want, living your life, or achieving your dream. Anything can happen if you truly believe in yourself and only you can do that.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
Thanks SoSportz. "Success is Contagious"!

DEMITRIUS COVINGTON- PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
Hello my name is Demitrius Covington. I'm a sophomore at Portland High School. I am
5'8 and Love to play basketball. I didn't begin playing to about 8th grade but when I did begin, I didn't stop. Right Now I'm currently playing AAU for Maine Impact. Our season is going alright, we are 6-4.

What was your best game?
My best game was last year when I played my heart out and had 25 points and 5 assists. We were down by 10 going into the half but then I began to heat up. I scored 15 points in the second half but it still wasn't enough, our team lost by 4 points.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because in the household I live in, its the only way out. I want to do everything I can to change the blood line of me and my family.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
I make myself better by getting in the gym everyday and working on my game, analyzing what I did wrong in the prior game, and try to fix the problem.

What is your dream college?
I don't really have a dream college. Just going to college is a dream for me.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I'm a very diverse player. I can shoot the ball and control the tempo of the game. I have a great drive to my game and all criticism I take in a positive way so I can strive to better my game.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
To the other athletes out their, stay focused don't get wrapped up in the hype and the parties. Just focus on your dream and do whatever you have to do to reach your goals.

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ANTHONY SYLVESTER- PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Anthony William Sylvester. Everyone calls me by my last name "Sylvester." I play varsity football for Plymouth High School in Canton, Michigan. I am 5'11 and I weigh 175 lbs. I play cornerback or safety and I also play wide receiver. Our varsity football team has made the MHSAA playoffs 3 years in a row. I play other sports such as basketball and baseball, but football is my favorite. I am 16 years old and a junior. I have 3 touchdown catches to my career 1 interception, and 34 tackles to my career. Almost a "pick 6." I run a 4.86, 40-yard dash. No Colleges or Universities have offered any scholarships.

What was your best game?
My best game was against Salem High School, Canton, Michigan. Salem was down by 14 points in the 4th quarter and they were about to score on a 4th down when they ran a sweep toss run to my side and I made the touchdown saving tackle, which sparked our team to win the game.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because in order to play sports, you need to have great grades. This mindset pushes me and makes me work to have a successful career. I think that education is there for that second career option. I have a 2.9 GPA. In order to maintain a good GPA, sports help me keep my focus, so that I can graduate and can get a good job to support my friends and family.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
To make myself better in football, is to just work at it everyday. Workout, study the game, and eat healthy. I can make myself better by listening to my coaches and teammates. To make myself better in football, I have to work hard everyday, whether it’s on the field or in the classroom. I don’t like to lose or feel down. I have to stay positive about my work ethic and strive to my goals.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is Michigan State University. I visit there every Saturday when football season starts. The atmosphere is just spectacular. Students who go to Michigan State University are successful people. They end up having great jobs and help the world everyday. I love Michigan State because most people in Michigan don’t give them respect they deserve and they somehow work things out to prove people wrong. Cheering on the “Green and White” has been in my blood for 10 years and that will never change. Tom Izzo and Mark Dantonio have really changed the way people think about Michigan State athletics and academics, and I would do anything to be a part of that. They have a positive mindset and a great outcome when student-athletes enter and exit the Michigan State world.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would say that I have a big, strong, willing heart. You need heart and a desire to win, if you want to be a great team. I work hard every single day to get better at what I do. I may not be a leader, or a captain, or a loudmouth, but I am a competitor. I love sports. I will give 110 % every single play, down, and yard that I can get. I never give up and will never back down on anything. As an athlete, it is important to show people wrong, and give it your all in everything.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
To stay in school and do something while you’re in it. You only live once so make the best of it. Never give up and always stay positive to strive towards your goals.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
My shout out to SoSportz is do not pass this opportunity. They can help you get your name out there. You are amazing people in the inside as well as out. Thank you for giving me the chance to show my true colors. Thank you very much SoSportz.

FAZIL ITSINZI- PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Fazil Itsinzi and I play basketball. I am a 5'7 point guard from Portland High in Maine. I've been playing basketball for 6 years. Last year I got mentions in CT to be a great upcoming point guard in the state. I play for an AAU team that goes by Yellow Jackets from Portland Maine. I average close to 4 assist per game as well as 10+ points.

What was your best game?
My best game was when I played a team that goes by Keenebuck and we were down 20 by half. I had 26 points, 3 turnovers, and 6 assist at the end of the game. I had 13 in the 4th quarter and with the help of my teammates we beat them by 6

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because if there wasn't any basketball program in my school I wouldn't be as dedicated and focused as I am in the class room. I know the great progress I make in the classroom makes my parents happy and they have no reason not to let me play basketball. I have good grades and good attendance in all my classes. I have a 3.2 GPA and I am going to continue my success on the court and off.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
For me to get better in sports, I have to have trust in myself meaning I have to be confidence in everything I do on the court and be a leader. Almost 5 out 7 days of the week I am doing basketball workouts, basketball courses, and I do all these steps each day just to get better. I know the season is over but I am dedicated to be the best I can be.

What is your dream college?
I feel like I would be great at Wake Forest University. I like the new coaching staff which this year is Jeff Bzdelik. I felt like when he coached the Denver Nuggets back in 2005 he made them a run and gun team and I feel like that's my style of play. He would help me a lot to mature in the game.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would have to say leadership and have the heart to take on any challenge there is. I know my height wouldn't give me a lot of advantages so I would use my speed and my leadership to do whatever I can to make the results worth living with. I would make sure everyone is in position and I wouldn't let the game get out of hand. I would take everything my coach would expect of me, use what he expects, and as well as what it takes to win. Also, I'll be the coach on the floor.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Be somebody. Make sure you give it all you got no matter what the results are. Just know when things aren't going good that means you have to take the negative and work harder to make them positive. Most importantly, play every game like it's your last and just to play with you heart.

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