WINCHESTER — Millbrook senior guard Jordan Sugars likes that he won't have the added stress of impressing prospective collegiate coaches during his senior season because, as of now, he already has one.
After visiting the campus during the opening week of the school's fall session, Sugars verbally committed to play for the Navy Midshipmen, continuing both a promising athletic and academic career for the esteemed school in Annapolis.
"It feels real good. It's always been my dream to play Division I-A basketball and now that I get the chance I'm real excited," said Sugars, who averaged 16.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game during his junior season with the Pioneers.
"It was basketball and also academics. They're a good academic school to prepare me for my future. I was happy about the basketball but I'm more excited about the academics and getting a good education."
For Navy, noted for its difficult admissions standards as well as historic athletic success across many sports, Sugars will also become part of a program — led by Billy Lange — that he and his high school coach, Scott Mankins, believe to be up and coming nationally.
"I think this is an absolute perfect fit both for him as a player, as a person and also for the Naval Academy," Mankins said.
"I think Coach Lange is in his third or fourth year and he's gotten them turned around to where they are very competitive. The tempo that he prefers is what Jordan prefers, as well. He runs a very, very good program. And I think Jordan is going to fit in well with his style of play."
The Mids finished last season with a 14-16 record after winning nine of their first 12 games, failing to make postseason play. The team will play maybe its toughest schedule under Lange in 2007-08 with games against Seton Hall, Drexel and either Penn or Virginia.
Lange, a former assistant at Villanova, has compiled a 34-52 record at Navy since he was hired before the 2004-05 season, hoping to become more competitive in the Patriot League.
In their 101-year history, the Midshipmen have had 67 winning seasons and 12 All-Americans — most notably former NBA center David Robinson — and have reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times, including four trips to the Sweet 16 and three to the Elite 8, respectively.
Because of NCAA rules on verbal commitments, Lange was unable to comment on Sugars.
