May 12, 2009
Location is everything in real estate -- and recruiting.
The UMass Lowell men's basketball team and coach Greg Herenda look to be putting location to good use with a pair of highly-touted in-state recruits for next season.
One of newcomers will definitely ring a bell for fans of Merrimack Valley Conference basketball. Former Methuen High School standout and scoring machine Romeo Diaz and Tilton School point guard Scott Tavares-Taylor will both make Costello Gymnasium their new home next season.
"Finally."
That was Diaz's response when asked this week if he was happy to make things official. His road to UMass Lowell had a few twists, but he and Herenda both believe it will ultimately be worth it for what seems like an ideal fit.
Diaz, who graduated from Methuen last year, spent the fall at Mississippi Elite Christian Academy in Jackson, Miss. He returned shortly before Christmas, leaving school as he chose to focus less on basketball and more on preparing to take college entrance exams so he could be eligible to play this coming season.
The best part about being a River Hawk for Diaz? What else? Location.
"UMass Lowell is 15 minutes from my house," Diaz said. "My friends and family can come see me play."
Diaz, a 2007-08 All-Merrimack Valley Conference selection as a senior, had one of the performances of the year with his 51-point 17-rebound 11-assist performance in an triple-overtime thriller against Dracut last winter.
The 6-foot-5 guard/forward averaged 26 points, eight rebounds and three steals per game during his senior year for the Rangers.
"I think the style of play fits my game perfect. It fits my game. The guys on the team are cool dudes," he said.
Herenda echoed the sentiments about him being a perfect fit, adding, "What makes Romeo special is that he is really excited to be coming to school here. That makes me very happy. I don't think you can put a price tag on it when a guy wants to come to a university right up the road."
Tavares-Taylor, a Boston resident who played high school basketball at Lexington High School, led Tilton to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class B championship and the 2009 Prep National Championship.
The 5-foot-10 speedster manned the point guard position on a Tilton team that finished the season with a record of 29-2. He played there along with Lowell resident Alex Oriakhi, who will play for the University of Connecticut next year.
"We love the fact that he played with Big East caliber players and led his team to the prep national championship," Herenda said of Tavares-Taylor. "It shows that he's a winner and a leader, and I am very hopeful he'll do the same here for us."
