Men's Basketball | March 13, 2018

PHILADELPHIA - La Salle University men's basketball signee Osun Osunniyi was named Most Valuable Player of the National Prep Championship game, highlighting a number of outstanding accomplishments by student-athletes that have signed with the Explorers for the 2018-19 season.

Osunniyi, who inked a National Letter of Intent with the Explorers last November, helped Putnam Science Academy to the school's first-ever national title on March 8. He scored 27 points, including 19 in the second half and overtime, to push the Mustangs past Northfield Mount Hermon. 

Leading up to the title matchup, the 6-10 Osunniyi had 13 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks in a semifinal win over Woodstock Academy, and added 14 points and seven boards in a quarterfinal victory over Scotland.

During the regular season, Osunniyi was a menace on the defensive end, averaging 2.1 blocked shots per outing as he was named the Great Atlantic Conference North Division I Defensive Player of the Year. 

Jared Kimbrough, a 6-7 forward from Neptune, N.J., was named to the Shore Conference Basketball Coaches Association First Team after a standout season for the Scarlet Fliers. Kimbrough, who scored 1,000 points during his high school career, was named Asbury Park Press Boys Basketball Player of the Week after scoring 28 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in a win over Howell.

Kimbrough registered a game-high 21 points in a narrow four-point loss to Montclair Immaculate, featuring Syracuse signee Jalen Carey (20 points). He also had 19 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots in the final game of his high school career against Moorestown.

Ed Croswell, a 6-7 forward from Philadelphia, has been a force in the paint all season for St. Joseph's Prep. Croswell had 18 points, 15 rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals as the Hawks defeated Neumann-Goretti and advanced to Catholic League semifinals at The Palestra for the first time since 2013. The loss for N-G was its first at home in 12 years.

A Second Team All-Catholic League choice, Croswell's team is still playing in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 6A Tournament. St. Joe's Prep, led by La Salle University Hall of Athletes inductee Speedy Morris, will take on Abington in a second round game on Wednesday, March 14.

One recruit who had his season cut short was 6-7 guard Jack Clark. The Cheltenham High School product, who was on pace to score 1,000 points for his career, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a game in late January and missed the remainder of the season. Clark garnered Suburban One American League First Team Honors, despite his mid-season injury. Read more about Clark's journey following the injury here.

Osunniyi, Kimbrough, Croswell and Clark join transfer Traci Carter as part of La Salle's group of newcomers for 2018-19. Carter, a Philadelphia native who played his high school ball at Roman Catholic and Life Center Academy, spent his first two seasons of collegiate basketball at Marquette. The 6-1 guard averaged 4.6 assists per game as a freshman to rank fifth in the Big East, and will be eligible to compete after sitting out this past year.