agee to walk-on at Bona

[garf]

This has been written about in various posts of late as a likely scenario. The Niagara Falls daily paper reported it this morning.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Agee to walk-on at St. Bonaventure
By Nate Beutel
Niagara Gazette

Kelvin Agee has a chip on his shoulder. The Niagara Falls High School senior is bringing that chip with him to the Southern Tier and St. Bonaventure University.

The Niagara Gazette Boys Basketball Player of the Year will attend the Atlantic-10 school and walk-on to the men’s basketball program in hopes of securing a scholarship in the future.

“This is a good opportunity for me to prove my talents to people,” Agee told the Gazette. “I felt like I was under-recruited and now it’s time to prove that.”

The college selection process was a difficult one for the first team all-state selection. Agee had received interest from several smaller Division I and II schools, but was waiting for better opportunities when Bona finally came calling. After conversations with mentor Sal Constantino and former Bonnies great and LaSalle High School standout Tim Winn along with a successful unofficial visit, St. Bonaventure’s staff offered Agee a chance to walk-on.

“This is not the way kids draw it up, but I think it’s going to end up being a real good choice for Kelvin in the end,” Constantino said. “He wants to prove to people that he can play at that level.”

Agee, who said he likes Bona’s campus — especially the historic Reilly Center — added that the team’s style of play was also a big plus.

“Bona plays that run and gun style and I think that fits my offensive and defensive capabilities,” he said.

Constantino agreed.

“He fits their style really well,” the current NFHS girls junior varsity basketball coach said. “They get up and down and that’s when Kelvin is at his best.”

Agee averaged more than 22 points and eight rebounds this past winter, leading the Wolverines to the state championship game for the second consecutive season. He finished his three-year varsity career with 1,043 points and more than 400 rebounds.

But now, it’s time for Agee to start a new chapter in his life.

“I’m pretty happy that the decision is over with,” he said, while noting that he may redshirt his first season. “Now it’s time to get to work and show everybody I can do this.”

[wgt]

I'm glad that Kelvin will be at Bona in the fall. I'm sure his dad, who preferred Bona to other options, was a factor in the final decision. Niagara sure has been producing quality Div I players. Hopefully Kelvin will prove to be one as well. I like that "chip on his shoulder" mind set. All the best to Kelvin in his future career at Bona.

[portpasses]

I love the idea of him redshirting this year and hopefully gaining a scholarship next year, ala House. He's the type of player who could really develop over the next 12 months working hard in the weight room and at practice. And would be a nice fit as a freshman next year when Ogo and Eleby are seniors.

Now.....that still leaves 2 'ships for this upcoming season. My hope would be that Schmidt finds a big man somewhere to help spell Andrew and House, even if it's the Juco route. He can still keep one ship "in his back pocket" as he likes to do for a potential late transfer.

[coljsSBU]

I'm glad it is finally finalized. When I talked to Tim Winn last week he made it sound like it was done but this cements it. I've seen Agee play a couple of times and he has a wirey body that may produce on the defense end with tipped balls and steals. He has decent speed but I would like to see him develop more from the outside. Him walking on or redshirting may help him develop into a successful A-10 player for the Bonnies.

[GoPadres]

Very excited about Agee coming to Bonas. For those who have seen him play, what is the knock on his game that made him a low D-1 prospect as opposed to a higher level prospect? On paper he looks very good.

[sbuSTUDent2005]

Agee will be a good addition. Welcome aboard!

On another note, many thanks go to Tim Winn for his help in the process. He really has a deep admiration for SBU. I really wish he'd be brought on as an assistant, he'd be a great recruiter.

[Chuck]

Jun 1, 2009 10:10:05 GMT -5 GoPadres said:

Very excited about Agee coming to Bonas. For those who have seen him play, what is the knock on his game that made him a low D-1 prospect as opposed to a higher level prospect? On paper he looks very good.

Agee is not a high major prospect, because of his size. At 6'2", 170 pounds he is too short and too thin for SG at the high major level. He does not have the ball skills for PG. Schmidt is looking to add some muscle to his rail thin body.

Really like how Schmidt take chances with players, who do not fit the profile. There have been numerous times the Bonnies have passed on players who did not fit the profile. Such as Canisius star Frank Turner wanted to sign with the Bonnies, but Solomon decided Turner at 5'9" and 160 pounds was too small and light to play for the Bonnies, so he signed Jermaine Calvin and Terron Diggs. Or how about Baron passing on James Reaves. Reaves was the Greater Rochester Player of the Year, but Baron refused to recruit him because Reaves was overweight and slow. Reaves wound up finishing in Niagara's all time top 20 scorers.

Agee has already proved he can play, he just needs time to add muscle. Like so many other players, who do not fit the profile Agee could well be worth the gamble.

[towniegrad]

Yes. Glenn Hagan was too small and also did not fit the "profile" . It was very magnanimous to offer him a chance to walk on.He probably would have fit in better at UB if they were willing to offer him a scholarship.

[ddsmugs]

JR Bremmer was 6'2" Hey it could happen

[woof]

blogs.buffalonews.com/preptalk/2009/06/falls-agee-to-walk-on-at-bona.html

Falls' Agee to walk on at Bona

Kelvin Agee of Niagara Falls, a first-team All-Western New York selection in boys basketball this year, will attend St. Bonaventure and walk on the basketball team.

"Hopefully I'll walk on the first year and get a scholarship the next four years," Agee said.

Agee said he was recruited by Quinnipiac, but that the Division I school in Connecticut was waiting on another recruit -- "It was like I was in line," said Agee. The 6-3 senior swingman also said Niagara and the University at Buffalo were interested in him, but also as a walk-on.

"Niagara and UB all wanted the same deal, with me to walk on -- Niagara basically has its whole team coming back and UB has a lot back, too," he said. "It came down to what school would I feel better with and that was Bonaventure. It's in a tough conference and I want to prove I can play at that level."

Agee said the recruiting process wasn't what he thought it would be.

"It was really different than what I thought -- there was a lot of waiting, schools calling, some schools not calling," he said. "I feel like I could have been a highly recruited guy -- when I played among the best players, I put up better numbers or at least as good numbers as those players. Even some local schools, I thought I would be high on their radar.

"When I took a look at the [Bonaventure] campus, I liked their style, and their players remind of myself," said Agee. "It's a good fit for me and I hope to show what I can do."

---Keith McShea

[GoPadres]

The more I read about this kid, the more I think we just got a steal.

[fjs64]

The official announcement:

www.gobonnies.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/060109aab.html

[b4life]

Sounds like a low risk, high reward situation. He seems ready to prove that he can play at the A10 level.

[room109]

This has been a long process. No 'ship is puzzling thou??? Schmitty must still be looking for a 7 foot center or West Coast type power forwards.

After watching X and Dayton in playoffs we a still light years behind. We need 10 players in and out all game long with fresh legs if we want compete in the IMPROVED A-10 league