by Alex Schwartz

A source with knowledge of the situation tipped me off that James Loupos '10 of Montgomery (NJ) had committed to Navy this weekend, so I caught up with the 6'6 combo forward within the hour to get more information. "It was a very difficult [decision] because Vermont and Columbia had so much to offer as well, but the Naval Academy had so many great options during and after basketball," stated Loupos. Columbia and Vermont, both of which offered, were the only other schools he seriously considered, as they "were the three that expressed the most interest." When did he make his pledge? "It was all I could think about for the past few days and then I woke up Saturday and knew that I had made up my mind." This is the second year Navy has grabbed an under-the-radar player from NJ, pulling Montez Blair '09 of Timber Creek out of the Garden State last year.

In other news, Corey Chandler, who was dismissed from Rutgers and then was expected to visit St. Bonaventure and Binghamton, has officially selected Binghamton. St. Bonaventure may well have pulled out of the running after landing Brett Roseboro '09 earlier this week. Chandler is, according to a source close to the situation, on Binghamton's campus and began taking classes there today. Interestinly, Binghamton actually beat Rutgers at the RAC this past year in a game that I attended. Chandler, who went to Newark Eastside (NJ), will have two years of eligibility left for the America East school.