It was during a Westchester County high school football game under the evening lights when I encountered Patrick Theodole. Beyond the Section I sports junkie pleasantries, we became immersed in conversation.
The topic? Not football.
Instead, we talked the leaps-and-bounds growth of Jabarie Hinds. Hinds, who cooked opponents to the recipe of 37 points per game down at Bob Gibbons and has evolved into more of a prolific scorer while developing a dependable jumper, has become the hunted in the world of Big East recruiting.
I rattled off a number of top-flight Division-I schools that were actively hounding the latest guard from Westchester’s richest hoops real estate. It certainly elicited a response from Theodole, who’s one of the Knights’ many assistant coaches under longtime coach Bob Cimmino.
“Oh, there’s more schools on his list than that,” Theodole said, reacting to my list of around 8-10 potential Division-I suitors for Hinds.
Theodole—who teaches at Hastings High School, my alma mater—is not wrong here.
“They all seem hungry,” said Hinds, a junior guard who was Pippen to Sherrod Wright’s Jordan, operating offense for the Knights last season.
“I got offers from Oklahoma State, UNLV, Wake Forest, Seton Hall, St. John’s, James Madison, Louisville, and a couple more.”
Hinds has no favorites, no leaders yet. He hasn’t cut any schools from a list that’s akin to a 7-year-old’s Christmas gift list in length.
You can’t write off any team yet. The blink-quick, springy guard still has two years of high school remaining.
Even James Madison, which may or may not be at the bottom of his list, has a tie to Hinds. Former Mount Vernon standout Jomo Belfor, who plays against Hinds during the Knights’ traditional open gyms, played for the Dukes a few years ago.
Hinds keeps his former teammates, many of whom Mount Vernon molded and launched to Big East careers, close to his presence. Kevin Jones (West Virginia), Mike Colburn (Rutgers) and Jonathon Mitchell ((Rutgers) remain tight with Hinds.
“I learned a lot (from the older guys). I played behind Mike Colburn when he was in high school, so I learned a lot from him. (Former Mount Vernon Knights now playing in the Big East or elsewhere) always come up to the gym, in the off-season we work out. We play open gym. They teach me a lot of stuff, and you know, I teach them stuff too.”
As the lone acclaimed player—and one of the few players who played a significant role on last year’s squad—returning, Hinds has rapidly evolved into the face of this storied program.
He knows he’s going to hold some ownership of the team this year.
“Everything is mine now,” said Hinds. “I’m the captain. I’m the only starter back right now, so everybody’s got to work for a spot and go hard in practice every day.
Is keeping a perennial power intact a heavy burden?
“Always,” said Hinds.
“The pressure is there, big time. We need to play hard, go hard every day in practice, make sure we take no plays off, and we should be alright.”
If Hinds continues to orchestrate the offense and grow as a scorer, his future hardwood home should be better than alright.
For more recruiting info please visit our friends at NBE Basketball
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