Upper Marlboro Product to Play for St. Mary's College

After careful deliberation, recent Riverdale Baptist School graduate Jerome Tolson has decided to play college basketball next season at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, bypassing Virginia Wesleyan, Washington Adventist University and Husson University, among others.

“I’m so excited,” said Tolson, 17. “I’m overwhelmed really. I’m looking forward to going down there.”

The Seahawks are led by head coach Chris Harney, who has been St. Mary's head coach for six seasons and is the program’s second winningest coach. “Coach Harney is a great coach,” Tolson said. “He’s willing to work with me to become a better man and better my skills in basketball.”

The Seahawks finished the 2010-2011 campaign at 25-6, falling to Middlebury College in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Meanwhile, Tolson averged 12.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while leading the Crusaders to a 24-13 record during his senior campaign at the Upper Marlboro private school.

He was also selected to play for the District All-Stars in the preliminary contest of the 38th annual Capital Classic High School All-Star Game, where he finished with five points in the District All-Stars’ 104-97 loss to the Suburban All-Stars.

The Seahawks, a Division III school, are scheduled to play Division I St. John’s of the Big East Conference next season, a matchup to which Tolson looks forward.

“I’m too excited,” he said. “I don’t even know what to say. I just want to
get onto the court.”