Latest, Recruiting

McMaster Lands SG Joe Rocca

Published by Gilbert Muako on February 3, 2011

It’s exciting times for McMaster University’s basketball program. Just four days after landing top prospect Aaron Redpath, a 6-foot-4 scoring guard, coach Amos Connolly and the Marauders have managed to pick up another top recruit to join their 2011 class, receiving a pledge from St. Christopher’s star guard Joe Rocca.

“I felt very welcomed when I met the guys,” the 6-foot-3 scoring threat said. “It just felt right, I felt like it was a family, McMaster will challenge me academically as well as athletically and they have a great supporting cast with a great fan base and unbelievable sponsors.”

Communication was key as well, he felt he truly clicked with McMaster’s coaching staff, they were pretty clear and straight forward with him during the recruiting process.

“Coach Amos has a drive like no other,” Rocca said. “He is so committed to making something great and makes that apparent to his players and recruits, he knew who he wanted. He really made everything clear to me about all aspects of the process which made it easier on myself. He wants the best for everyone on his roster and will go to great lengths to help them whether its academically or athletically.”

Rocca is currently leading his St. Christopher’s squad to a 32-8 record and he brings a lot to the court. He’s competitive and extremely hard working and eben though he isn’t the best athlete he makes up for it with his hard-nosed playing style and excellent shooting. Capable of making shots from all areas on the floor with, a great looking form to boot, he is definitely one of the best all-around shooters in the class.

With him and Redpath, McMaster has a couple of guys who are dangerous shooting the ball from outside and Rocca’s excited about what they both bring to the table.

“Me and Aaron talked quite a bit prior to us committing and I’m just so excited that I’m going to have the opportunity to play with such a great player,” Rocca said. “We can play all the guard spots so I feel that me and him can really help each other and help the team by spreading the floor and having guys that can knock down shots. Its really gonna help both of us and our team having more than a few threats from deep and having guys that can constantly push each other in practice.”

During his recruiting process, Rocca had some NCAA Division 1 interest and a lot of CIS schools vying for his services. In the end he narrowed it down to his top three choices of Western, Windsor and Mac.

“They are all great programs” he said. “I respect [Windsor head] coach [Chris] Oliver and [Western head] coach [Brad] Campbell so much. They have been so good to me but at the end of the day it felt right at McMaster and that’s where I’m going to be and where I want to be.”

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