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Brathwaite keeps Holy Cross to Virginia pipeline going
By Dylan Butler July 4, 2009The burgers and chicken at Chris Brathwaite’s Fourth of July barbeque never tasted better. That’s because on Friday night the Holy Cross defensive lineman verbally committed to play at the University of Virginia.
The 6-foot-1, 250-pound Brooklyn native chose the Cavaliers over Fordham and Hampton University. He also drew interest from Rutgers, Penn State, Hofstra, Delaware and Stony Brook.
“I feel pretty good,” Brathwaite said. “I really liked the school and I really enjoyed the coaching staff. When they offered me, I knew that was what I wanted.”
Brathwaite, who has already qualified through the NCAA Clearinghouse, has been on a tear in the past five weeks, racking up MVP honors at combines all along the east coast.
At the Nike Combine in Charlottesville, he was named MVP, at the Connecticut 5-Star Showdown, Brathwaite was named the defensive top performer and at the Long Island National Underclassman Combine, Brathwaite earned the overall MVP. He also opened eyes at combines at Rutgers and Penn State.
“He’s really shown what he can do,” Holy Cross coach Tom Pugh said. “I guess some people questioned his height, he’s 6-1, 250, dunks a basketball. He’s just physical. He can do a lot of things physically.”
Brathwaite said he didn’t place an emphasis on making a decision before the start of his senior season, but that is an added bonus.
“I really wanted to concentrate on my season,” he said. “I didn’t want anything interrupting what I had to do with the team I’m currently on.”
Off the field, Pugh calls Brathwaite “disciplined,” and “a family-orientated young man.” He said Brathwaite’s decision to get up at 5 a.m. to begin his journey from Canarsie to Flushing to attend Holy Cross “shows you that he has the discipline to get to the next level.”
And on the field?
“On the field he’s scary,” Pugh said. “He can play. He’s a guy you don’t want to run into on the field.”
Brathwaite plays defensive tackle for Holy Cross and has started on the offensive line since he was a sophomore. In Virginia’s 3-4 defense, Brathwaite will play as an outside linebacker. It’s a position he’s unfamiliar with, but he doesn’t think it will take him time to adjust.
“It’s kind of like playing defensive end, but dropping back into coverage also,” he said.
Brathwaite is the latest Holy Cross standout to head to Charlottesville, following wide receiver Kevin Ogletree’s footsteps. Sylven Landesberg, Holy Cross’ all-time leading basketball scorer, is also at UVA.
“I guess they like the Holy Cross guys,” Pugh said.
dbutler@fiveborosports.com
The 6-foot-1, 250-pound Brooklyn native chose the Cavaliers over Fordham and Hampton University. He also drew interest from Rutgers, Penn State, Hofstra, Delaware and Stony Brook.
“I feel pretty good,” Brathwaite said. “I really liked the school and I really enjoyed the coaching staff. When they offered me, I knew that was what I wanted.”
Brathwaite, who has already qualified through the NCAA Clearinghouse, has been on a tear in the past five weeks, racking up MVP honors at combines all along the east coast.
At the Nike Combine in Charlottesville, he was named MVP, at the Connecticut 5-Star Showdown, Brathwaite was named the defensive top performer and at the Long Island National Underclassman Combine, Brathwaite earned the overall MVP. He also opened eyes at combines at Rutgers and Penn State.
“He’s really shown what he can do,” Holy Cross coach Tom Pugh said. “I guess some people questioned his height, he’s 6-1, 250, dunks a basketball. He’s just physical. He can do a lot of things physically.”
Brathwaite said he didn’t place an emphasis on making a decision before the start of his senior season, but that is an added bonus.
“I really wanted to concentrate on my season,” he said. “I didn’t want anything interrupting what I had to do with the team I’m currently on.”
Off the field, Pugh calls Brathwaite “disciplined,” and “a family-orientated young man.” He said Brathwaite’s decision to get up at 5 a.m. to begin his journey from Canarsie to Flushing to attend Holy Cross “shows you that he has the discipline to get to the next level.”
And on the field?
“On the field he’s scary,” Pugh said. “He can play. He’s a guy you don’t want to run into on the field.”
Brathwaite plays defensive tackle for Holy Cross and has started on the offensive line since he was a sophomore. In Virginia’s 3-4 defense, Brathwaite will play as an outside linebacker. It’s a position he’s unfamiliar with, but he doesn’t think it will take him time to adjust.
“It’s kind of like playing defensive end, but dropping back into coverage also,” he said.
Brathwaite is the latest Holy Cross standout to head to Charlottesville, following wide receiver Kevin Ogletree’s footsteps. Sylven Landesberg, Holy Cross’ all-time leading basketball scorer, is also at UVA.
“I guess they like the Holy Cross guys,” Pugh said.
dbutler@fiveborosports.com