St. Andrew's standout will play basketball at Villanova

Cole Swider signs National Letter of Intent

By Mathew Galvao
Posted 11/15/17

St. Andrew's School basketball star Cole Swider made things official on Wednesday, Nov. 8, after he signed his National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Villanova University next season. 

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St. Andrew's standout will play basketball at Villanova

Cole Swider signs National Letter of Intent

Posted

St. Andrew's School basketball star Cole Swider made things official on Wednesday, Nov. 8, after he signed his National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Villanova University next season. 

“It feels good. I made my decision June 30th and now I can finally say I’m going for sure, so it feels good,” said Swider after the signing. 

The 6-foot 8-inch small forward feels he can bring a hard-working style of basketball along with skill and a scoring touch. 

“I’m gonna bring a tough player, shoot the basketball and just keep on working and hopefully win a national championship,” Swider said.

The highly regarded recruit fielded offers from an array of college hoop powerhouses but his decision came down to Duke, Syracuse, Xavier and Villanova. He said his connection with Villanova head coach Jay Wright played a factor in making his decision. 

“He (Wright) made me feel like a priority. I feel like I could go there and play right away. Everything just fit me,” Swider said. “He is just a really good guy. He wants to know you as a person. He was really genuine.” 

Villanova has had recent success as basketball program, winning a national championship in 2016 against North Carolina. Swider explained that being able to contend year in and year out is important to any athlete and the Wildcats give him that opportunity. 

“As a basketball player you wanna win so seeing that they’ve done it at the highest level with winning a national championship is big,” said Swider. “For me, going there and being able to play right away for a team that’s won a national championship was big in my decision.” 

In four games played last season at St. Andrew’s, Swider averaged 33.5 points-per-game. Swider has also spent time playing AAU basketball for the Boston Amateur Basketball Club noting how both experiences will help him translate to the collegiate game. 

“It’s definitely prepared me a lot. Coach Hart and coach O’Shea, they’ve prepared me to play, hopefully, right away at Villanova. Without them I don’t know where I’d be. I really appreciate what they’ve done for me,” Swider said. 

The Portsmouth native spoke of the ability to represent Rhode Island outside of the northeast and what it means to him to have this opportunity.

“It’s awesome. Rhode Island is such a small state and people don’t really think a lot of basketball players come out of here,” Swider said. “Being able to go to Villanova and let people know from this state that it’s possible, and that’s awesome.”

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