My friends Leaving

[IllinoisArcher]

05/01/2006

SDSU men sign Illinois point guard

Two time all-state selection Garrett Callahan of Seneca, Ill., signed a national letter of intent Monday, indicating he will enroll at South Dakota State University next fall and compete for the Jackrabbit men’s basketball team.

A 6-foot-2, 165-pound point guard, Callahan earned first-team all-state honors twice from both the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and Associated Press. Callahan led Seneca High School to a 66-1 record the last two seasons, including an undefeated 35-0 record and Class A state championship in 2006. He set Illinois State Tournament records for consecutive free throws made with 26 and highest free throw percentage in a tournament at 96.8 percent.

A four-year starter, Callahan averaged 14 points per game as a senior and finished his career as Seneca High School’s all-time leading scorer with 1,710 points and 440 assists. Other career totals for the three-time Interstate 8 all-conference and all-area selection include 173 three-pointers, 230 steals and 370 rebounds.

Callahan also has been an all-conference selection in baseball, a regional and sectional qualifier in golf and is a member of FFA and the National Honor Society.

SDSU, located in Brookings, S.D., currently competes as an NCAA Division I independent. The Jackrabbits are coached by Scott Nagy, who has compiled a 229-97 record in 11 seasons at SDSU

[Guest DesertTrophyHunts]

Re: Good Bye to one of my Best friends

****, I thought somebody died by the title of your thread. Congrats to your buddy!

DTH

[IllinoisArcher]

Re: Good Bye to one of my Best friends

[ QUOTE ]

****, I thought somebody died by the title of your thread. Congrats to your buddy!

DTH

[/ QUOTE ]

there i changed it haha

[IllinoisArcher]

Re: Good Bye to one of my Best friends

Photo: File

Garrett Callahan, Seneca

SENECA -- It is nearly nine and a half hours and approximately 608 miles to get from Seneca to Brookings, S.D.

So why would Irish basketball star Garrett Callahan make the long journey? How about for a Division I hoops scholarship to South Dakota State University?

The 6-foot-2, two-time consensus first-team all-state point guard who led Seneca to a perfect 35-0 record and a Class A state championship this season, inked a national letter of intent Monday to play for coach Scott Nagy and become a member of the Jackrabbit program.

South Dakota State will be entering its third year as a Division I independent. The Jackrabbits finished this season with a 9-20 record, after going 10-18 in their inaugural campaign at the D1 level.

Callahan chose SDSU over an offer from Division II Lewis, while also receiving interest from fellow D1 schools Eastern Illinois, Northern Illinois and Colgate.

"I always figured I'd stay in Illinois to play," said Callahan, who admitted he didn't know anything about the program until they started recruiting him about a month and a half ago. "I took a visit out there last week and got a chance to play with and hang out with the players, and they seemed like a good group of guys to be around. Coach Nagy is all about winning and that's what I like."

Nagy was drawn to Callahan's playmaking intangibles.

"Just from watching him play, I knew that he could score, but it's the other things that he brings to a team that I want, like his toughness and smart play," Nagy said.

Callahan's prep coach, Doug Evans, felt Callahan had a realistic chance to play in the Division I ranks after a strong summer of playing against top-notch Class AA players.

"Definitely after watching Garrett this summer, I knew for sure he could play at the D1 level," Evans said. "We were playing some of the top Class AA schools in the state and he was going up against some kids that were going to sign with major D1 programs, and not only were we winning the games, but he was doing what he needed to do for us to win.

"He's got a lot of strengths, but I think his maturity and vision are his biggest assets. ... He's just got that sense of what needs to be done out on the floor. Most players just react; he envisions it."

Callahan feels he brings a legitimate lead guard to the Jackrabbit squad.

"They don't have a true point guard, so I want to go there and run the offense," Callahan said. "I'm going in there thinking if I work hard enough, I can go in and distribute the ball and get it where it needs to go so we can score."

Nagy has high hopes for his newest recruit.

"We expect him to play right away and compete for a starting position," Nagy said. "He's used to winning, and it's very important to me to have a guy that knows how to win. I expect as he grows and gets used to the college game, he'll become a great leader for us."

Playing Division I basketball is a dream come true for Callahan.

"I'm pretty sure I can play with the best in the nation, so going D1 was my goal, and I finally achieved it," Callahan said.