Trentonian: Shawn Valentine recieved scholarship offers from a list of schools that included Rutgers, Temple, La Salle and St. Bonaventure -- all teams with higher profiles than Rider.

But Valentine, a 6-foot-7 combo guard from Winslow Twp, spurned those other offers Monday and chose Rider, a move that gives the Broncs an early recruiting victory for the 2011-12 season.

Valentine, a rising senior, averaged 17 points, five rebounds and four assists last year for Winslow Twp. Though he's played a large percentage of high school minutes at point guard, he figures to be a wing for Rider, which will also add Virginia transfer Jeff Jones in 2011-12.

Reached by phone Monday, Valentine said he narrowed his choices to Rider and Rutgers, chosing to stay in his home state and, he said, to play for a coaching staff with which he felt comfortable.

Read more...