Zachary Lyon:
Future150 Regional Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball: NC, SC & VA
San Diego, CA (Future150) -- Andrew Force contributed heavily to this article.
Eric Monroe (2016 PG) of GamepointNation has decided to continue to his basketball career in the Ivy League, at Yale.
"We just talked in depth about all the details of the schools that were (still on the table)," said Eric's father, Phil Monroe. "Once Eric woke up this morning, he seemed to have some clarity."
Eric was privileged to be able to play in the Adidas Gauntlet and gained plenty of exposure. He has decent size (6-foot-2, 175) for a floor general at the next level.
College coaches made sure to start showing interest and priority in Eric, as he had offers from Brown, Colgate, Dartmouth, and Yale among others.
"We always planned to make a decision that would set him up for the rest of his life," said Mr. Monroe.
This is where the Ivy League schools can really steal some recruits with top of the line academics that will always give them something very soft to fall back on in case professional basketball doesn't materialize.
"If we were going to chose any other school, it was going to have to be a (high-major) type program."
Monroe had a strong April, during which he earned the majority of his offers. He started to mentally evaluate the schools individually.
"Basically when Brown (University) took Brandon Anderson, that offer came off the table," said Gamepoint AAU Head Coach Charlie Mercado.
Considering Anderson is a point guard and is in the same class as Monroe, the decision to cut Brown was very understandable.
"So it was down to Colgate, Dartmouth, and Yale," said Coach Mercardo. "Coaches from Dartmouth and Yale told him the offer was his if he wanted it. But they were recruiting other guys. Eric just didn't think he could wait six more weeks until his official visits."
As a decision seemed to be looming for Eric, his family decided to sit down last night and discuss his options, and analyze the situations he would be placed in.
Yale was the battle for Monroe's signature. Of course he can not sign until November, but Eric considers his recruitment over.
Coachable Winner
Coach Mercado raved about Monroe back in April after the fought against the Atlanta Celtics in Indianapolis, Indiana for the adidas Gauntlet.
"Eric has played for me the last four years," said Coach Mercado. "He was a starter on our 15u team as an eighth grader. The kid is just a winner. He played varsity as a freshman at St. Augustine, the year they were State Champions. They were also CIF Champs."
During his high school career Monroe already won two City Championships and a State Championship. He was Second-Team All State last year.
"He has a winning attitude," said Coach Mercado. "Everything he is involved with seems to be successful.
Like Horace Grant or Kurt Rambis, Monroe wears sports goggles every game. It will probably make him a fan favorite at Yale, because fellow students will be able to draw caricatures, wear goggles to emulate him, and do other silly things that college hoop fans do to support the team.
"He wears the goggles because he got poked in the eye really good, said Coach Mercado. "Two years ago the doctor told him, 'If you get poked in the eye really good again you could have some issues.' He is very coachable kid. I loved coaching him for the last four years. He does whatever he needs to do."
And now Yale gets to embrace Monroe's work ethic and competitiveness. He will join them in just about a year from now.
The Monroe family seems very satisfied and at peace with Eric's decision. The coaching staff at Yale should be ecstatic as they have snatched up a great player to help lead their team for the next couple of years.
Eric has played for me the last four years. He was a starter on our 15u team as an eighth grader. The kid is just a winner. He played varsity as a freshman at St. Augustine, the year they were State Champions. They were also CIF Champs.
He has two City Championships and a State Championship. He was Second-Team All State last year.
He has a winning attitude that he has. Everything he is involved with seems to be successful.
If you have seen a couple years ago and seen him now he
He wears the goggles because he got poked in the eye really good. Two years ago the doctor told him, 'If you get poked in the eye really good again you could have some issues.'
He is very coachable kid. I loved coaching him for the last four years. He does whatever he needs to do.
He is going to go out in mid-June and take some visits.
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