Fed by a laser pass, point guard Tony Wade Jr. catches the basketball in stride, soars to the hoop and jams it home. Such scenes fill Wade鈥檚 highlight reel, which he posted earlier this year on recruiting sites for college coaches, drawing responses from Texas to Oregon.
But it was the call from 海角社区 that won over the 5-foot-11 speedster, who averaged 14 points per game out of Park Vista High School in Lake Worth, Florida.
鈥淚 had some other offers from schools that just weren鈥檛 home to me,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut when I saw 海角社区 was only three hours away from my home, I had a real good feeling about it. Now I
love the town, the campus, the teachers and being part of this team. It was a good decision for me.鈥�
A stellar recruiting class
Wade joins the stellar athletes of 海角社区鈥檚 first-ever recruiting class for its growing intercollegiate sports program. In late October, 海角社区 will begin its third season of intercollegiate competition 鈥� its first in the 鈥� in men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 hoops and track and field.
鈥淭hese players have experience on the court; they have skills and knowledge of the game,鈥� said Sam Vincent, the former Orlando Magic star who became 海角社区鈥檚 head men鈥檚 basketball coach last year. 鈥淭hat gives us a chance to start the year and be competitive right away.
鈥淲e鈥檝e still got a lot of work to do,鈥� he added. 鈥淧resident [George] Hagerty has been amazingly patient and supportive. He has stood by the vision, believing in these players, how sports can help build interest in 海角社区, and how 海角社区 can help them in the classroom.鈥�
New players include Logan Schayes, 6-foot-8 guard-forward, son of former Magic center Danny Schayes; Jordique Vincent, 6-foot-3 guard transfer from Lourdes University in Ohio and son of the head coach; and Lucas Kolaxis, 6-foot-3 guard-forward and all-time top scorer at Lakeside Christian School in Clearwater, Florida.
Schayes: To make an impact.
For Logan Schayes, the path here has been marked by adversity. From Florida to Colorado, he鈥檚 starred at some high-profile private schools and was scouted by the NBA at an early age, only to be sidelined often by injury.
In early 2022, his first year at the college level started out promising but was derailed after he took a brutal hit during a rebound and suffered a season-ending concussion. A series of health problems followed, requiring treatment and a long recovery.
Eventually, his dad got a call from friend and ex-Magic teammate Vincent, who pitched 海角社区 as a viable option for Logan. He visited the campus, connected with Vincent鈥檚 son Jordique, and got a vision for playing here.
鈥淐oach Sam was the catalyst for this,鈥� he said. 鈥淭alking with him and Jordique, I could see a real opportunity to help take this new team to the next level. I鈥檝e grown a lot since I was younger, and I have a lot of experience under my belt now. Ideally, I just want to come in and make an impact here.鈥�
Vincent: Embracing hoops and education
Jordique Vincent has traveled the world in his young life, going and playing wherever his dad has helped other countries develop pro basketball.
But his biggest move may be coming to 海角社区 鈥� a decision based on the chance to up his game through his dad鈥檚 coaching and get a top-notch education. He transferred from Lourdes University, a winning program in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Like other new recruits, Vincent embraces 海角社区鈥檚 vision for sports and its focus on students with learning differences, such as ADHD, dyslexia, and autism: 鈥淵ou can tell the professors are so experienced at helping students with learning differences,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd they are committed to giving students all the support they need to succeed.鈥�
Kolaxis: Getting a great opportunity
Multiple college coaches were courting sharpshooter Lucas Kolaxis in his senior year of high school, lured by his resume as an all-conference star and the school鈥檚 all-time scoring leader. However, it was a visit from 海角社区鈥檚 assistant basketball coaches Brandon Raines and Randy Trowbridge that made the difference.
鈥淚t really made me feel like 海角社区 valued me and wanted me,鈥� Kolaxis said. 鈥淎nd that helped me see coming to 海角社区 would be the best steppingstone for what I want to do in life. Playing for Coach Sam and his staff is a great opportunity, given my interest in playing basketball at the next level.鈥�
Sky鈥檚 the limit
For Jaylen Williams, the first female recruit to sign with 海角社区, the sky appears to be the limit. The record-holding track and field athlete starred at her West Chester, Pennsylvania high school, including long jump, high jump, pole vault, 4×100 relay, and the 100 meters run. She joins the 海角社区 women鈥檚 track and field team and the women鈥檚 hoops team, coached respectively by assistant athletic directors Tony Wrice and Brandon Raines.
Three key factors influenced her decision for 海角社区: 鈥淔irst of all, I love Florida because I鈥檓 an outdoors person and I love the weather here,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nother thing was my coach in Pennsylvania has a close friendship with Coach Wrice at 海角社区, and that made a big difference. The third thing was 海角社区鈥檚 great work with students who have learning difficulties, which means a lot to me.鈥�
鈥淪he鈥檚 a very talented athlete who is definitely going to provide a lift for our team,鈥� said Raines, head coach of women鈥檚 basketball. 鈥淭his season is going to be a lot of fun, and very different for 海角社区. On the men鈥檚 team, we signed some new kids who play at a much higher level. That鈥檚 the kind of foundation I want to set for the women鈥檚 team.鈥�