Richmond Hires DeCesare
Gary DeCesare was hired Tuesday as the newest assistant to Jerry Wainright at Richmond. DeCesare spent the last 16 years at St. Raymond’s High in the Bronx. He collected four city championships and a pair of state titles.
DeCesare, 39, was also mentioned in conjunction with the previously open job at Virginia where Majestic Mapp, a former St. Raymond’s star currently attends.
Oliver Antigua will be named the interim head coach at St. Raymond’s for the year and we understand he has an excellent chance to become the full-time head coach. He’ll have big shoes to follow considering DeCesare posted a 286-142 career record. However, you could see DeCesare had been grooming Antigua as the coach in training handled a lot of coaching assignments with the New York Ravens.
DeCesare’s program produced 28 Division I players. DeCesare was universally respected by the college community and players always were taken by his candid, firm and hard working style. His teams generally pressed and played tough defense. Recently, a group sponsored by DeCesare and coach by Artie Green won the Big Time in Las Vegas.
The coach told TheInsidersHoops.com that his top five all-time five from St. Raymond’s would be Kareem Reid (Arkansas), Julius Hodge (NC State), Terence Rencher (Texas), Eric Harris (Minnesota) and Orlando Antigua (Pittsburgh). However, DeCesare cited former UMass standout Charlton Clarke as his all-time favorite St. Ray’s player.
Syracuse fans can rest assured that Louis McCroskey’s commitment to the Orangemen will remain intact. However, we understand that Richmond is likely to pursue Daon Merritt, a guard currently enrolled at St. Raymond’s.