By STU SWARTZ
After making scores of good decisions on the basketball court, Ethan Hussey has made a solid one from the sideline.
The Goshen High School senior, No. 9 career scorer in Redskin boys history, has decided to further his academic and athletic careers at the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne.
It was a grueling process for Hussey who had been weighing the option of even playing basketball in college or just concentrating on being a student.
“It has been a long and winding process, but I feel like I have made the right decision,” said Hussey during a press conference at the GHS media center Tuesday afternoon.
“I had narrowed it down to Saint Francis, Marian and Wisconsin-Parkside. I visited Saint Francis a week after spring break, liked the school and the coaching staff.
“Not long after our (Redskin) season was over, I missed basketball a lot. It has always been my favorite sport and things started clicking about my sophomore year.”
Hussey finished his GHS career with 902 points and he is the most prolific free-throw shooter in Redskin history at 85.5 per cent on 201-for-235. He was 95-of-111 this season for 85.6 per cent.
Hussey tallied 426 points his senior year, No. 9 on the Goshen single-season chart. His game high was 35 at Fairfield against the Falcons. Only four Redskins have tallied more in a game.
The Goshen star was named to The News’ All-Area first team and was also a first-team Class 4A All-Sectional selection of The News.
He shot 55.4 per cent from the field overall this past winter and was 21-for-57 on 3-point tries. Hussey also led the Redskins in rebounds with 140.
“I know I have to get stronger this summer and I need to work a lot on my ball-handling,” said Hussey who plans to major in general business at Saint Francis. “I am excited to get started.”
Saint Francis, an NAIA program, is part of the Mid-Central Conference which includes Goshen College and Bethel.
Jeff Rekeweg, former DeKalb player, is the head coach at Saint Francis.
“What I like most about Ethan Hussey is that he is a competitor,” said Rekeweg. “His basketball skills are obvious and he plays the game with a great spirit.
“We actually got in late on recruiting Ethan, but our financial situation changed and he will be getting a lot of help to come to our school.
“We see him as an ideal student-athlete for Saint Francis. He is able to do a lot on the basketball court and is also a solid student.”
Among those joining Hussey in the Saint Francis freshman class are Rob Franklin and Kevin Bloom of East Noble, Brad Sneary of Fort Wayne Snider and Joe Kosiarek of Dwenger.
Goshen’s last scholarship boys basketball player was 2003 graduate and Indiana All-Star Andrew Hershberger who attended Western Michigan in Kalamazoo.
