Teshaun Steele is, now, the happiest he’s ever been. The 6-foot-7 wing from Worcester, Mass., is committed to play at the University of New Haven next fall. Years of hard work have paid off, and he can now call himself a Division 1 college basketball player.
But it didn’t come without stress, anxiety and even periods of doubt. To realize his dream, Steele had to overcome an emotional rollercoaster.
A back-to-back Mass. high school champion at Worcester North, Steele moved to Darrow last winter for a postgraduate season to do what many in his shoes do, seeking more exposure and better competition in pursuit of a Division 1 scholarship. But as he enjoyed a breakout season, emerging as one of the best two-way players in NEPSAC Class AAA, Steele found himself on an island.
College interest came and went. Steele heard from some coaches – including Div. 1 schools – after last summer’s NEPSAC showcases. Communication died down during the season, then picked up again toward the end of the winter. But the interest wasn’t reaching a tangible stage. As the season ended, Steele – an All-NEPSAC Class AAA selection – didn’t have any committable offers.
Why? Welcome to the NCAA transfer portal waiting game.
