Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — Calling it one of the proudest days in the history of the program, St. Andrew’s School head basketball coach Mike Hart confirmed senior center Cedric Kuakumensah has given a verbal commitment to attend Brown University in the fall of 2012.

Kuakumensah, a Worcester native, chose Brown over hometown Holy Cross and the University of Pennsylvania. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound pivot averaged 12 points and nine rebounds last season.

Kuakumensah is the first St. Andrew’s player to commit to an Ivy League school. He can pen his formal Grant-In-Aid papers to Brown in the November signing period. Former Saint standout and Lincoln native Joey Accaoui qualified to attend Cornell, but opted to accept an offer from the University of Vermont.

“It’s a proud day for us and for Cedric,” said Hart. “For one of our kids to go to Brown shows they’re finally starting to get it. It’s not all about basketball. It’s about getting an education.”

The recruitment of Kuakumensah is a sign Brown is attempting to recruit at a higher level under the stewardship of fourth-year head coach Jesse Agel. Kuakumsensah was the Bears’ top target in the recruiting Class of 2012, according to Hart.

“He had a really good visit. He liked the school. He wanted to go there, which is tremendous,” said Hart.

The player Brown gets next fall is one who already is accomplished on the defensive end. Hart said the focus of Kuakumensah’s skills development over the next year will be on offense.

“He’s an extremely gifted defensive player and his offense is getting better,” said Hart. “Brown is really excited about his potential.”

More St. Andrew’s notes

Kuakumensah and the rest of his St. Andrew’s mates can officially start practice for the upcoming season on Nov. 12.

The highlight of the Saints’ always-testing schedule this year is a trip to British Columbia, Canada.

Hart's thoughts

* Hart chimed in on the recent college conference realignment craziness. He has a keen interest in the changes with former Saints’ standout Michael Carter-Williams at Syracuse, which along with Pittsburgh has decided to leave the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I don’t understand it. I just don’t get college sports anymore,” said Hart. “It’s getting to the point where you have to replace the word college with the words minor league. The way schools are chasing money, the fact that there’s no loyalty, I really think it’s becoming minor league sports.”

Hart said he’s had first-hand experience with the changes in recent years, as the emphasis has shifted away from education toward athletics to an even greater extent.

“At the highest levels I don’t think academics are stressed to an extent at all anymore, and that’s sad,” Hart added.

*The Saints' coach had nice things to say about new Providence College head coach Ed Cooley. The two have known each other for years. Cooley was on the Boston College staff when the Eagles recruited former St. Andrew's star Rakim Sanders.

"Ed's a great guy. He's doing a great job at Providence," said Hart.

Another of Hart's former players, the mercurial Ricardo Ledo, has said he'll become a member of Cooley's Friars. Hart remains on the fence about whether the Ledo-PC relationship can work.