Local hoops star appears closer to college choice

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

It appears a local high school boys basketball star is moving closer to making his college decision.

Taj Thweatt, a rising senior who helped lead Wildwood Catholic to a historic season last winter, announced via social media over the weekend that he has whittled his college choices down to eight schools.They include Seton Hall, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Miami, Temple, Penn State, Florida and Illinois.

Some of the schools on that list have yet to offer a scholarship to the 6-7 Thweatt, although all have at least shown strong interest. Thweatt has also received scholarship offers from, among others, Bowling Green, Monmouth and Loyola. Some national powerhouses, including Villanova, Louisville, UCLA and North Carolina, have also shown varying degrees of interest.

Thweatt averaged 20.2 points and 10.7 rebounds last season as a junior for Wildwood Catholic, which went 27-2, won the Cape-Atlantic League playoff tournament and lost in overtime in the South Jersey Non-Public B title game to Ranney, the eventual Tournament of Champions winner.

Thweatt was the consensus South Jersey Player of the Year by all major media outlets and was a second team all-state selection.

Thweatt has been competing for Team Rio during the 2019 spring/summer AAU season.

Thweatt’s teammate at Wildwood Catholic, 6-6 guard Jahlil White, has also received numerous Division I scholarship offers. White is currently sidelined with a knee injury but is expected to return to the court this fall.