By Rick Carpiniello
rcarpini@lohud.com
OSSINING – On Saturday morning, when UConn women’ basketball coach Geno Auriemma asked Ossining High senior Saniya Chong if she had any questions toward the end of her final official recruiting visit, Chong had just one.
She asked Auriemma when she’d be expected to report for training.
“I feel really excited, relieved as well,” said Chong, who also visited Louisville and Ohio State before committing to UConn Saturday. “I’m just really happy right now. I feel like I really made a good choice. I think it’s the best thing for me.
“All the colleges, basically every college has the same concept. But UConn, I just really fell in love with it – the players, the campus, how close it is to home, the staff, the coach.”
The night before, Chong had told her high school coach, Dan Ricci, “Coach, I’m ready (to commit).
Ricci had been taking Chong and her mom to all her visits. They met with Auriemma at UConn Thursday, went to his house for a team barbecue that night, spent time with the players, and went to class Chong attended a class with UConn senior Bria Hartley. Ricci drove back Friday – he coaches football, and had a Friday night game – then made the trek back to Storrs, where Chong made her decision and then attended a team practice Saturday.
“What she really wanted was what she has in high school – a family-type of setting with the players,” said Ricci (whom Chong calls Uncle Ricci). “She got that from the other schools she visited but she didn’t think she was going to see that at UConn, being that they’re all stars, All-Americans and high-profile players.
“(On Friday) she said, ‘It went really well. Not what I expected. Everybody’s so nice and they get along with each other. It’s great.’”
Ricci believes that Chong will get significant minutes as a freshman next year – she’s one of four guards on the current roster, and UConn uses three-guard set where they all handle the ball – and that her passing and defense will be on display with high caliber teammates.
“Anything’s possible, I guess,” Chong said. “But as long as I work hard – as hard as I worked to get to the position I am in now – we’ll see what happens.”
Chong is one of the greatest offensive players in local high school history. With 2,060 points she will surely break Peekskill’s Sheila Wagner’s Westchester/Putnam/Rockland record of 2,476 points, and FDR-Hyde Park’s Karen O’Connor’s Section 1 record of 2,662, both set in the 1980s this season. Ossining, a two-time Section 1 Class AA champ, is 61-9 in her 70 career games.
84 Comments
Not at all impressed with Gallagher..saw her play in metro classic…..
Does the Journal News (or any other publication) ever post a preseason review of the section 1 and 9 HS teams (ranking, players to watch, etc)? – thanks in advance for any info.
Journal News has historically printed a review of teams and key players. Until last year the content was comprehensive and complete. Last year the article was very weak, and most fans and readers, were very dissapointed. I think enough readers wrote in complaing that this year the expectation is that the Journal News will go back to its comprehensive and complete preview. I think it used to cover two pages of print. Last year was just a half of page.
In past years yes..last year no..I think some reasons was that no one was assigned to cover the girls game in the beginning last year…questionarres were sent out to all section 1 coaches about returning players,strengths,projections but the majority of the responses weren’t used…I think on a whole every year the JN news coverage of hs sports(especially girls) has gotten worse..sometimes it’s better to just get MSG coverage ( love the effort and passion of that devaney guy)
Thanks for the info – I will continue to check here and MSG Varsity as suggested – good luck to all the girls this year!
Holla, right on. MSG blows away Journal News. DeVaney is terrific. Journal News should be embarrased by last year’s coverage. We should all cancel our subscriptions unless the Journal News goes back to its coverage as provided in prior years. The old previews had pages of predictions and analysis. Last year sucked.
I agree, it would be great to have a preview of the girls teams for this year with a lot more indepth coverage of each Class and team.
Now Josh does a good job covering varsity insider( football / boys basketball) and mike doughty does a nice job on the hockey blog but Kevin Devaney does it all he covers all sports and vie personally seen him at hockey,football,baseball,and girls basketball ( he even showed up at section 1 exceptional senior ball game in 2012 when most others gave it no press) if all the reporters worked like KD we would have no complaints
6 days till section 1 hoops.
2012-13 rockland predictions
Small school division
T1)pearl river
T1)am
3)tz
4)nyack
5)nanuet
Big school division
1)cl.south
2)north rock
3)cl north
4)suffern
5)east ramapo.
Best coach..L.Moylan(pr)
MVP ..small school -M.Paehus(AM)
Big school- L.Castaldo(cl south)
Nike tourn still on sched for late Dec. i do not know who they are playing. If
I find out I will post.
Where is the Nike tourney held?
@stanner grad…isn’t that the tournament held in Orlando ( Disney) every year?
@stanner. Over Xmas break
An earlier post stated that the Nike is in Arizona.
Ok gotcha…didn’t see that
Yes Arizona over Christmas
Holla -when are u going to put your review up? Just wondering-enjoy seeing peoples opinions(isn’t that what blogs are for?) Just hope its positive(as well as other peoplles post-as its a high school girls bball blog and should be)
Not here to slam any girls….after a few years working Rockland games and knowing some of the coaches have some insights and look forward to the coming year…big fan!
Looks like some of the local girls are starting college on the right foot. Kim Hanlon had a big game in a losing effort. Asia Jackson is starting for Hofstra and Sofia Roman had some decent playing time for Dartmouth. I’m excited about watching these woman play this season.
I am so excited for the girls @hanlon fan… They are excellent students and athletically will represent the Westchester Area very well!!!
Well Sunday nite,Tom morning- afternoon section 1 girls will start there road to the county center…AA will be O town, A ?,B.Irvington…I will be keeping an eye on Rockland girls and while I have no horse in the race,will be cheering for my cousins daughter( nr) but as you will see from preview no favorites
Rumor has it Hamilton landed a top Transfer, their 3rd transfer in 2 years!!
She is better then Maia Hood, wayyyy better!!!!!!!!!!!!
With this girl Tiffany Carselli and Maia, they gonna be state champs
It has been asked a few times on here..is Mia playing? And don’t get all full of yourself. Winning states in class F( that’s the class there in right?) is the easiest of all the classes..let them beat the ossinings,the irvington’s,mount vernons,pearl river etc,etc before you go all primal beating your chest
Any word on who the new coach is at Brewster?
Any news on the new coach at Kennedy Catholic?
Rumor Willis. Who cares about Hamilton and you are proud that your school district can bring in transfers and build a team. This is a public school league. This is not AAU or catholic or private schools. You are talking about buying a high school team. Big deal. Who cares. Be proud of the schools that build a program with kids who attend their schools and are home grown in the district. You are fool A reall fool. I hope your coach complies with the rules. I also see people on this blog suggested section 1 investigate Hamilton for its pracitices.
Where is Mia Hood going to play in college?
She is a top student,good student/citizen( her parents are 100% class and raised a good kid)and will attend a solid D1 or D2 program
And yes that was posted by a non Hamilton parent / just a fan- friend
If youre a friend why are you calling her Mia?
Go Ossining!
Go Saniya!
We’re off to the races with Girls Basketball! Yes I am an Ossining Fan and Proud of It. The naysayers speak and the kids produce that’s a great combo. Keep saying all the negatives people and we Ossining Fans will just enjoy game after game watching THE PRIDE in their quest for a state championship. These kids have worked 4 or more years together to reach that goal and I for one would love to see them accomplish that! They are not only a team but a very close family and I am Proud to say I am an Ossining Fan!