On Thursday, April 19, 2018, Central Bucks East seniors Kyle Cassidy and Jesse Rivera were recognized for committing to continue their basketball careers at the collegiate level. Check back for photos of the event.
“They’re similar stories in that both came into our program and worked themselves into college basketball players,” coach Erik Henrysen said. “They didn’t come in tremendously confident or even ready for varsity basketball. The time, effort, commitment they put it – it’s nice to see their results.”
Kyle Cassidy – DeSales University (Basketball)
Major: Business Marketing with a minor in Sports Management
Final list of colleges: DeSales, Drew University, Gwynedd Mercy, Penn State-Harrisburg, Marywood
Reasons for choosing DeSales: “I had been talking to the coaching staff for a while, and when I took my visit, it just felt like a second home, and the program really fits me. They win a lot, which is always nice. It just was a good spot for me to be able to continue my next four years. I’m excited to be living there and going there to school.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball at the collegiate level? “I always knew I wanted to play – I just didn’t know which level. When I got into high school my sophomore year, I realized I had a real chance of continuing playing at the next level. Late in my junior year is when I got my first couple of looks. That’s when I definitely knew I was going to play.”
Coach Erik Henrysen says: “Kyle is just a gym rat. He’s a guy that when practice is over he’s still in the gym. It’s time to go home, and he’s still in the gym. Kyle is somebody that lives, breathes, sweats basketball. It’s nice see him go to a school that really values shooters in DeSales because Kyle’s a pure shooter and a great scorer.”
About Kyle:
Favorite food: Chicken Parmesan
Favorite music: Lone Survivor
Favorite music: Drake
Jesse Rivera – Cairn University (Basketball)
Major: Pre-Med
Final list of colleges: Cairn, Messiah, Temple, Pitt, Liberty
Reasons for choosing Cairn: “It was just a good combination of all the schools I visited. It’s close, and it’s also a Christian school, and that was really important in me deciding. I could also play basketball there, so it just all worked out.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball at the collegiate level? “I always wanted to play college basketball, and I knew it was a reality when – over the summer, a coach e-mailed me. A couple coaches came to see me. It didn’t really hit me until the Cairn coach came to my game. I liked him a lot.”
Coach Erik Henrysen says: “Jesse is like another coach on the court. Just in terms of being a captain, he would be the first one to get the balls and bring them into the gym. He really loved not only being part of the team but being a leader, and he did a great job for us. He played himself into probably our most important player down the stretch. He was instrumental in our playoff game against Owen J Roberts at a time when we were up against it – it was Jesse that was able to get the assist to (Nick) Roggio on a play we’ve practiced since day one. It was nice to see that pay off with Jesse being the one to springboard us to that win.”
About Jesse:
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite movie: B Movie
Favorite music: Hip Hop
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