Andy Kimball
Opinion Columnist
Senior Alex Floresca will finish his senior year as a Statesman basketball player and then play at the University of San Diego.
On Nov. 12 Floresca signed his national letter of intent to become a future University of San Diego Torero.
Floresca said he chose the University of San Diego “because it was the perfect fit for me, it has a good basketball team, and is a good school academically.”
The Toreros are a NCAA Division I program in the West Coast conference. They have two conference championships and two NCAA tournament berths in 2003 and 2008. In 2008 they had a first round upset of the University of Connecticut 70-69 in overtime.
The University of San Diego were 18-17 last year and are off to a 4-5 start this season.
Floresca started playing basketball in sixth grade for the Junior Statesman middle school team for Webster and has stayed with the Statesman ever since.
About who inspired him, Floresca said “Coach (Jay) Blossom, he helped me get to where I have gotten today and is one of the reasons for the scholarship I received.”
Floresca was an all-conference selection in the suburban south as a junior and starred in the Statesman’s district championship run last year, leading the Statesmen’s victory over rival Kirkwood with 20 points and eight rebounds in their 65-59 victory. It was the Statesman’s first District championship in four years.
Floresca said the game “Was a big win…gave us the feeling of a championship.” He added, “It was the favorite part of my (basketball) career.”
About his expectations for this season, Floresca said, “They are high. We can go far in the playoffs” and added, “This is our year.”
The Statesman will get to prove that when they start their season against Oakville in the Webster Classic on Dec. 11. (note: I will update the teams scores before mailing)
