Noah Springwater has announced he is taking his versatile game to the Ivy League with the Columbia Lions. The senior made his decision after visiting Columbia during the end of September. Springwater and his family really liked Coach Kyle Smith, the staff, and the players, which he considered important elements in choosing a college.
Springwater says of his visit to Columbia, "I stayed with sophomore guard Brian Barbour who is from the Oakland area and went to Monte Vista. I had a great time there meeting the majority of the players as everyone was really welcoming and supportive. They seem to be a pretty close group and like each other a lot. I got the chance to play in an open gym while I was there and then observe a conditioning practice. I met with all of the coaching staff as well as some of the staff that oversees the athletic programs and deal with a lot of what the athletes need while at school."
As a 6-foot-2, 170 pound combo guard, Springwater will attempt to make another run at a NorCal title with the Red Devils. Springwater enters the 2010-2011 season with 1,223 points.
This selfless player who focuses on the fundamentals and intangibles of the game of basketball fits well with the Columbia program. Columbia runs a similar style of basketball as Coach Kyle Smith's previous college, St. Mary's. Columbia will play a four out system where players are expected to be versatile in that they can handle the ball, pass and shoot, and thus are empowered to make reads and plays. This is actually very similar to the system at University High.
In addition, Columbia has an Ivy League level of education that fits with the rigorous University High academic standards. Springwater wanted to attend a top academic school. Other schools that Springwater was in contact with had included Amherst, Williams, Whitman, University of Portland, and Penn. Of note, Springwater is the first DI commit from San Francisco in two years.
University High Coach Randy Bessolo says about the Columbia decision made by his guard, "I am thrilled for Noah that all his hard work over the last four years was rewarded with such a great opportunity to study at one of the top academic institutions in the country and to play basketball in one of the most storied athletic leagues in the history of college sports. Kyle first scouted Noah three years ago for St. Mary's and knows what a special player he is getting, while we know Noah will be playing for a great teacher and mentor in Kyle Smith."
Expect a successful senior season for Springwater in the Presidio Heights for University High before he takes his show onto Broadway in the Big Apple.
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