Windward Basketball Seniors Sign College Letters of Intent

Proudly wearing the sweatshirts of the colleges they will play for come 2012, three of Windward’s best and brightest basketball stars signed their letters of intent at a ceremony in the school’s gym on Monday afternoon.

The long, lanky seniors sat poised and proud behind a center desk as their families beamed from ear to ear and snapped photographs while Coach Steve Smith sang their praises.

Smith noted how much all three had achieved not just athletically but academically, too.

Upper School Associate Director Kevin Newman spoke about how all three have “not only been great student athletes but also wonderful members of this community. They do a great job of being leaders on campus and they also have great character.”

Nick Stover will be staying closest to home, having been recruited to play for Loyola Marymount University. He told Patch he had no problem staying in Los Angeles.

“Los Angeles is an amazing place,” he said. “I have absolutely no reason to want to leave here. All my friends and family are here and I love the staff and the players at LMU. I had a great feel for the campus, which is beautiful and I’m excited to go there.”

Nick’s older brother, Anthony, plays basketball for UCLA but their mother Rena said Nick was under no pressure to follow his brother.

“My husband and I really felt throughout the recruiting process that LMU was the best place for Nick,” Stover told Patch. “He’ll also be challenged academically. We really feel you have to go to the school that loves you the most and that was [LMU].”

Paris Baird will be heading to San Jose State, not quite down the road, but as she told Patch, “It’s really the perfect distance. I’m not that far from home.”

Paris said she chose San Jose because “it had the right vibe. There’s a new coach taking over this year and it was really was the coach who sold me. He said my positive energy can bring great things to the team.”

Many thought Imani Stafford would head straight to USC. After all, it’s where her mother – WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Pam McGee – went to school, and Imani’s brother, JaVale McGee plays in the NBA for the Washington Wizards.  However, although Imani was offered a place at USC, she has chosen to attend the University of Texas.

“They have a great college,” Imani told Patch. “I wanted to be part of a bigger program, something that’s bigger than me, and college is about new experiences and I want that. I want to challenge myself and I’m also looking forward to playing all the top-ranked teams once I’m there.”

The somewhat formal signing ceremony and speeches were quickly followed by a very laid-back lunch designed with teenagers in mind: pizza (straight out of the box) and sodas.

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