2019 flip: Lenny Ricca realizes dream of going D-I
St. Thomas Aquinas senior guard Lenny Ricca verbally committed to Division II Flagler College after visiting the St. Augustine program in January. This week, however, Ricca decided instead to accept a preferred walk-on offer from Division I Florida Gulf Coast…
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Continue ReadingSt. Thomas Aquinas senior guard Lenny Ricca verbally committed to Division II Flagler College after visiting the St. Augustine program in January.
This week, however, Ricca decided instead to accept a preferred walk-on offer from Division I Florida Gulf Coast University.
“It’s really exciting to be headed to FGCU next year,” Ricca said Thursday. “Playing Division I basketball has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and FGCU was the program that was willing to give me a shot.”
The 6-foot-2 Ricca showed excellent vision and had a good assist-to-turnover ratio as a senior. He averaged in double-digits but drew praise from former St. Thomas Aquinas coach Steve Strand for sacrificing his game for the greater good of the team.
“He’s the reason everybody else has upped their game,” Strand said. “He feeds R.J. [Taylor] a lot. He feeds Shane [Hunter] a lot. It’s really made us better. He has really sacrificed his scoring for the good of the group.”
Oglethorpe University and Berry College in Georgia, and Hampden-Sydney in Virginia had offered Ricca. He had picked Flagler in order to stay in-state.
Now, he will be able to play even closer to home. He said FGCU’s proximity and its fan base were key factors in his decision.
“I really liked how FGCU was so close to home,” Ricca said. “That was big.
“Also, how the students are really into the basketball program. I’ve seen videos of people packing into Alico Arena to watch us play. I’m excited to be a part of that next year. Having the chance to play at Dunk City was definitely an opportunity I couldn’t pass on.”
Coach Michael Fly and FGCU went 14-18 overall in 2018-19. It was 10-4 at home and 9-7 in ASUN league play.
Zach Scott, a freshman guard out of Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy, was the Eagles fourth-leading scorer at 8.4 points per game.
“I’m happy for him,” Strand said. “Here’s his chance.”
If you have high school or travel basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via text at 954-661-9671.