It has been a long road for New York native and talented Deer Park High School 5-foot-10 senior point guard Aaren Edmead. As one of the top guard prospects in the state of New York, Edmead has developed his basketball talent over time through countless hours of hard work and dedication to his craft. This week, Edmead would end a long college recruiting process for himself - signing a national letter of intent with Wagner University, a division-I program that competes in the Northeast Conference.
Edmead would finally sign with Wagner during the early signing period, after first committing to another division-I program in the fall - UMass-Lowell. After Edmead and his family learned of NCAA sanctions against the UMass-Lowell basketball program, Edmead would de-commit from the program and re-open his college recruitment, before finally committing to Wagner and finally signing last week.
For Edmead, the signing meant much more than just signing a basketball scholarship. Edmead would become his high school's first division-I basketball signee in 43 years! I cannot put into words on this website what that must have felt like for Edmead and his family to make that kind of history, while also being able to fulfill this young man's dream of playing division-I basketball.
Aaren's father John Edmead, is one of the top basketball players still in the city of New York and possibly the state. John Edmead was a nice college player himself during his time, and still remains in tip-top physical shape - competing in local basketball leagues in New York, where he is very well respected.
John Edmead wanted the best for his son, whom he has trained since he was first able to hold a basketball. Over the past two years, while Aaren was rated as the top young point guard prospect in Long Island, New York, Aaren Edmead would travel to the state of Arizona consistently and stay in his parent's other home located in South Phoenix. The goal would be to help attract more West Coast college basketball recruiting for Aaren.
As a result, Edmead would start at the point guard position for the Arizona Magic Elite basketball program. Edmead would play for the Arizona Magic for two club seasons and would help lead the program to several top finishes. Coached by long-time successful club coaches, Kenny Mullins and Gino Crump, Edmead would compete against many of the top guard prospects in the West.
This past summer, Edmead would elect to return to his roots back in New York, and finish out his high school basketball career back in his hometown. He would turn up his play considerably and earn himself some significant recruiting attention, as he would gain the support and respect of Rivals.com for his basketball talents. Amidst numerous recruiting stories about Edmead on the Rivals.com network, Edmead would then pick up enough recruiting attention to land a signing with Wagner University.
Edmead chose Wagner over offers from St. Francis (NY) and UMass-Lowell, and also received strong recruiting interest from such division-I college programs as Cal-State Bakersfield, Canisius, Fairfield, LIU Brooklyn, Sacred Heart and Texas State.
Overall, it could have happened for a better kid. Edmead has been built for this - working hard his entire life to reach his dream of playing division-I basketball. For his father John and his mother, they are very proud of their sons accomplishments.
Edmeads's high school coach John McCaffrey believes in his player's ability to get it done. McCaffrey told Rivals.com, "He's a winner. Has been since day one."
