DeAndre Wilkins commits to Wagner

6-foot-10 DeAndre Wilkins committed to Wagner Monday, signifying a huge coup for Bashir Mason and Seahawks on recruiting trail. (Photo by ZagsBlog)

By Jonathan Reyes (@werdynerdy)

On Monday, Wagner College’s Bashir Mason caused chaos on the hill himself with the recruitment news of a verbal commitment from DeAndre Wilkins, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound center from Edenton, North Carolina.

Currently a senior at Great Bridge Christian Academy in Chesapeake, Virginia, an hour-plus drive to and from his hometown, Wilkins' reasons for why he chose Wagner were its academics, close proximity to Manhattan and winning program. He also noted the brotherhood atmosphere the players on the team gave off, and said he thinks his large presence and eye for blocking shots in the post fits right into the high-intensity practices and coaching Mason offers.

“It’ll be a completely new experience for me,” Wilkins said of transitioning from North Carolina to New York, “and it’ll challenge me and it’s something I’m not quite comfortable with. I feel that being in that situation I’ll grow as a person and extend my horizons.”