Before his unofficial visit to Syracuse in June, Shaker High School (Latham) center Brad Sheehan received little interest from major college programs. Recruiting experts pegged him as an Ivy League or Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference prospect, but on his visit to Syracuse, Sheehan’s career took a turn.

The Orange coaching staff unexpectedly offered him a scholarship on the visit and many coaches figured it was only a matter of time before the lifelong Syracuse fan accepted the first major offer he received. But another twist on Monday threw them for a loop.

Sheehan verbally committed to Georgia Tech on Monday night during a visit from Yellow Jackets head coach Paul Hewitt to Sheehan’s home in Latham. Impressed by Hewitt and Georgia Tech’s academic program after a fall visit, Sheehan decided he fit better as a Yellow Jacket than an Orange, despite never formally visiting the SU campus.

‘The complete package of academics and basketball was what I was really looking for,’ Sheehan said. ‘The visit (to Georgia Tech) really impressed me. I enjoyed spending time with the players. (Hewitt) said a lot of good things. I’ve never heard a bad word spoken about him.’

Ultimately, Sheehan’s visit to Atlanta pushed Georgia Tech over Syracuse. Sheehan felt he would see more playing time as a Yellow Jacket. At 6 feet, 10 inches, he is taller than every current Georgia Tech player.

After visiting Virginia this weekend, Sheehan originally intended on visiting Syracuse in October. Monday, Sheehan changed his mind and decided to tell Hewitt of his commitment to Georgia Tech. Throughout the process, Sheehan’s coaches felt the decision would come down to Georgia Tech and Syracuse.

He was originally considering Penn State in addition to Georgia Tech, SU and Virginia.

‘It was a tough decision,’ Shaker High head coach Jeff Holmes said. ‘He and his family weighed all the factors. He just felt right about (Georgia Tech). It was the right combination of academics and athletics. Coach Hewitt made him feel comfortable. He talked about developing Brad as a whole person. That was big.’

Sheehan wanted to make a decision on a school before the start of the high school basketball season. He said he wanted to end the pressure of visiting schools and choosing where he’d spend the next four years as quickly as possible so he could enjoy his final year of high school.

Sheehan’s family played an important role in his decision. His mother, Kelly, works as a student accounts clerk at Siena, where Hewitt was head basketball coach from 1997 to 2000. Jim Hart, Sheehan’s AAU coach with the Albany City Rocks, said Kelly has been a fan of Hewitt’s and liked the prospect of her son playing at Georgia Tech.

‘My family and coaches helped me out, but I had the final say and made the final decision,’ Sheehan said. ‘I already had seen Syracuse a little bit, and I knew Georgia Tech was the best fit. I didn’t want to wait any longer.’

On top of academics, Georgia Tech runs a system more complimentary to Sheehan’s skills. The Yellow Jackets play a fast-paced, attacking offense that fits Sheehan’s quickness and good touch around the basket.

‘I think that’s going to be a good spot for him,’ said Carmen Marciariello, former coach of the Albany City Rocks and current director of basketball operations at Siena. ‘I’m excited. He’s going to have a great career.’

Georgia Tech’s gain is a harsh loss for the Orange. Syracuse is thin at the center position – junior Darryl Watkins is the only true center on the team – and Sheehan was the only SU center prospect in the class of 2006.

Sheehan said he did not want to base his decision on being a fan, though, and the fact he was a fan of the Orange may have actually hurt Syracuse. He instead chose more tangible criteria for using his college, like strength of the basketball program and the reputation of its business school.

‘The kid was a ‘Cuse fan and so was his father,’ Hart said. ‘So maybe it’s a little surprising that way. People who were recruiting him knew that and some thought, ‘Why bother?’ I’m sure some schools thought Syracuse had it sewn up.’

Wizard shot in Alexandria

Syracuse native Andray Blatche, a second-round pick of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, was shot near his home in Alexandria, Va., on Sunday.

The Washington Times said the 19-year-old was in a car with some friends when they pulled over after noticing a van trailing them. Men from the van approached the car and told Blatche to get out. They shot Blatche before he could, according to a police report.

The attack occurred around 6:30 Sunday morning, the report said. Blatche’s mother, Angela Oliver, said the bullet passed through Blatche’s chest only an inch away from his heart.

Blatche was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital and will recover fully in a few weeks. The injury shouldn’t affect his basketball career, as he is already in good spirits and gaining energy.

‘He’s doing wonderful, and he’s back to his normal self,’ Oliver said. ‘In a couple weeks, he’ll be back to normal Andray. He’s feeling much better.

‘I want to thank Syracuse for all their blessings and prayers. It’s been great.’

This and that

Single-game tickets for the regular season go on sale at the Carrier Dome box office Oct. 12. Season ticket packages are already available. … Rep. James Walsh honored Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim in a speech to the U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 19. … ESPN will show two more Syracuse games on its ESPN2 station, said Big East Associate Commissioner Tom Odjakjian. ESPN2 will air the Orange’s Jan. 11 game at Notre Dame and the Feb. 15 matchup against Cincinnati at the Carrier Dome. SU now has at least 10 regular season games on national television.

Published on September 27, 2005 at 12:00 pm