COLLEGE BASKETBALL: WOODRING VERBALLY COMMITS TO PLAY AT MANSFIELD (2020-04-05)
BY TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportWAVERLY "” Six-foot-eight Waverly senior Scott Woodring had plenty of suitors, but for a number of reasons, primarily academics, he recently gave a verbal commitment to play his college basketball at Mansfield University.
(Woodring will sign a National Letter-of-Intent in the near future, once the NCAA lifts its recruiting blackout put in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.)
"First of all, (Mansfield) has a great education program, and I want to be a teacher; that definitely attracted me."
There were a few other basketball-related reasons for his commitment as well.
"One thing that appealed to me about Mansfield is being a part of reviving the program; to help build it back up.
"And, there's a chance for me to get minutes right off the bat, so I'll have a chance to prove myself right away," said Woodring, who will be playing with a pair of familiar faces.
"I'll get to play with Jon Ward, and my AAU teammate (Graham Wooden of Oneonta); that was another big factor for me," added Woodring. "I've gotten to know Graham over the last couple years, and he's a good friend of mine. It should be fun playing with him for four years."
Woodring, who chose Mansfield over Daemen College, also had interest from East Stroudsburg, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Binghamton, if he was willing to be a walk-on.
Woodring said Mansfield's coaching staff has been in contact with him for several years.
"They've kind of had me on their radar since I was a sophomore. I've stayed connected over the last few years."
Woodring averaged 32.9 points and 16.9 rebounds per game through seven games as a junior season before a knee injury ended his season. As a senior, he averaged 26.3 points and 14.8 rebounds.
Waverly coach Lou Judson, who is fifth all-time (second when he graduated) in Mansfield history in scoring and holds the single-season scoring record, says the jump from the IAC to Division II is a difficult one, but believes Woodring will be successful.
"Most kids struggle to understand what it takes to play at any level of college basketball, and the PSAC is one of the best (Division II) conferences in the country," he said. "It's extremely physical."
"I know with the way Scott works, his basketball IQ, and his feel for the game, he will succeed," added Judson. "He's able to do so many things at both ends of the floor."
Woodring knows what he needs to work on to be successful at the next level.
"I think I need to get my shot a little more consistent from the outside, and I need to work on my face-up game.
"I need to get quicker and more explosive - work on my quickness to help my perimeter defense to stay in front of guys," said Woodring.
Judson said the overall athleticism he'll face at the next level will present a big challenge.
"I would say he'll probably be a stretch-4, maybe play the center position, which has evolved over the years to the point he'll be able to step out and shoot the 3 a little bit, especially within their offense.
"He's played against some very good competition with his travel AAU team, but this is a totally different animal," said Judson.
"He'll have guys 6-3 or 6-4 guarding him who can out jump him for rebounds, but what he lacks in athleticism, he is going to make-up for with his intelligence," he noted. "That's why I think he's going to have a great career at the next level. He's so cerebral and has such an understanding of the game that he's going to out-smart guys fundamentally, and below the rim.
"Mansfield University is very lucky to get him. He's a student-athlete who is going to excel in the classroom, he's going to be a leader in the locker room, and he's the type of player who is a great teammate," continued Judson. "You don't find that in a freshman at the collegiate level very often these days.
"I'm tickled to death Scotty is going to Mansfield, where I played. Coach (John) Szentesy was a grad assistant when I was there," added Judson. "I know he's going to have a great career."
Judson is looking forward to watching Woodring play at the next level, including next year with former teammate Jon Ward, who will be a senior at Mansfield.
"I think that helped draw Scott to Mansfield," said Judson. "For several months, I thought he was going to go to Damaen, but I think there's a comfort level there with Graham Wooden and Jon (Ward) both there.
"I'm looking forward to watching those guys play together next year, and to watching Scotty for the next four years."
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IN PHOTO: Waverly senior Scott Woodring.
