Choate’s Brandon Sherrod heads a group of five incoming freshmen to the Yale men’s basketball team next season.
Sherrod, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound forward, led Stratford to a 27-0 mark and the Class L state championship two years ago and was named the Register’s State Player of the Year. He played at Choate last season and fielded offers from a pair of Atlantic-10 schools.
“He’s the most athletic post man that I’ve ever had,” Yale coach James Jones said. “He’s got the best combination of power and athleticism. He’s got like Ross Morin power and Matt Kyle’s athleticism.”
The Bulldogs return four starters from last year’s 15-13 squad which finished third in the Ivy League at 8-6.
Also headed for Yale is Javier Duren, a 6-4 point guard, from St. Louis.
“He’s a lefty which gives us a whole different dynamic,” Yale coach James Jones said. “We might bring the ball up on the left side of the court instead of always bringing it up on the right side.”
Armani Cotton chose Yale over Northwestern. Cotton, a tough 6-6 small forward, played at Northfield Mt. Hermon last year and is from New York City.
Matt Townsend, a 6-7 powerhouse from Westchester is also headed to Yale. Jones said Townsend is ‘toughest kid he’s ever seen.’ Said Jones: “He’ll get every rebound.”
Rounding out the class is 6-11 Will Childs-Klein, also from St. Louis, who Jones says could be the team’s next Greg Mangano.
“He’s the type of kid I wish I could red-shirt,” Jones said. “He’s not going to get a lot of time next year with Greg here but he’ll learn a lot from him. They have a lot of similar characteristics.”