Recruiting Report: AJ Gareri (2017)

<p><em>PHO’s </em>10th-ranked 2017 <strong>AJ Gareri</strong> is one of the state’s most versatile and well-rounded 2017s.</p> <p>With three offers already in tow, and a lengthy list of interested schools, it’s shaping up to be an eventful next year-and-a-half for the talented junior.</p> <p>“I have offers from Kent State, Toledo, and Ohio, and then I’ve heard from; Dayton, Xavier, Butler, Penn State, Davidson, Belmont, Akron, Bowling Green, Miami of Ohio, Cornell, Wright State, Oakland, Richmond, and Lehigh,” said Gareri.</p> <p>Kent State was the first school to offer in March, followed by Ohio in July, and Toledo offered in mid-August.</p> <p>Gareri has visited Kent State, Ohio, and Dayton, he says he plans to visit Toledo soon.</p> <p>He mentioned to <em>PHO</em> which schools have shown the most interest of late.</p> <p>“I’ve talked to Belmont a lot recently, and Cornell, right now I’m talking to those to the most,” said Gareri.</p> <p>The talented junior spent his 16U season playing with DB Hoops, and says showcasing his versatility was something he did best.</p> <p>“I tried to show all my offensive skills and my defensive ability. I feel like I really showcased my versatility, being able to step out and hit the three, and play in the post, whatever my team needed me to do I could do it,” said Gareri.</p> <p>“I think my strength is how versatile I can be, I feel I’m a very strong 3-point shooter, mid-range I can do, and in the post I feel like I’m pretty strong. I want to be a stretch-four, I feel equally comfortable in the post or on the wing.”</p> <p>As he heads into his upperclassmen years with the Orangemen, Gareri says he’s looking to become more of a leader, and that the team’s chemistry should be a strong suit.</p> <p>“I think this year I’m going to be the leader of the team, I’m not much of a vocal guy, but I try to lead by example. I’m going to try and be more vocal this year,” he said. “Our team, we all get along really well, we all have a very good relationship with each other. Some of us have been playing together since fourth grade, so we should all have pretty good chemistry.”</p>