Darnell Brodie 6’10 270 lb. Center 2017 Putnam Science Academy
Question: How did it feel to commit to Seton Hall last month?
Darnell: It is the best feeling to see Seton Hall fans excited to have me play there next season. I have been to a few games at the Prudential Center and the fans have been crazy. The fans are crazy into the game, cheering for defense and supporting the guys. I can’t wait to play in front of them.
Question: You had offers and interest from a handful of schools from Temple and St. Joe’s to East Carolina and Monmouth, what about Seton Hall led you to commit?
Darnell: When looking at all of the colleges that recruited me, I knew I wanted to go somewhere where I was needed and not wanted. Any college can show up and say I want you, but not really need you and push you to develop your game to the point where you expect it to be or beyond where you expect it to be. Seton Hall showed me they needed me and how they would help me develop.
Question: I know you visited Seton Hall for the Rutgers game in December and committed the day after? What did you do on the visit and what about it made you want to commit?
Darnell: When I was on the visit, I was basically on the team for the day. I got a chance to see the campus and all that, but I also got a chance to sit in on a film session and see how the guys go through that. I sat through practice and saw the guys do their thing. I stayed in the hotel with the guys before the game, ate with them and got to know them more. Seeing all of the stuff they did together to prepare for the game and how close they are as a team and to the fans after the game, it felt like I was supposed to be there already. It felt like family. It felt like I was home.
Question: Who was involved with your recruiting and commitment?
Darnell: Fred Hill saw me way back when. when he was recruiting Ish. All of the coaches reach out and talk to me. I love the coaching staff.
Question: What did the coaches tell you about your future role at Seton Hall?
Darnell: I am going to be playing behind Angel Delgado next year. I’ll be learning from him and developing my game alongside Coach Grant. I like the atmosphere because they want me to come in the year after and take over and dominate.
Question: How does it feel for the coaches to have the confidence in you to develop and be a force in your sophomore year?
Darnell: It is a great opportunity. I am going to come in and give it my all each and every night. I am going to work hard and continue to get better and do what I need to do to be successful. I want to be an animal and dominate the game.
Question: What are the strengths of your game right now and what do you think you need to improve on?
Darnell: First off, I am a great rebounder. I have a soft touch around the rim and I am also a great passer. I know I need to work on becoming more of a leader. I also need to work on my offensive game for the next level, but I am active and going to come in with a lot of energy. I have a strong presence and am going to dunk everything.
Question: Having a guy that you are already familiar with on the team in Ish, how much has his development at the school helped attract you?
Darnell: First things first, East Side defense is always there. When I was in high school with Ish I knew he was a hard worker, but they changed him. To see how active he is now and where his game is now compared to where he was in high school is crazy. He told me a lot about the school and how good it was and how much it helped. He told me how they are a family there and they push each other on and off the court.
Question: You left Newark East Side to go to Putnam Science Academy, how was that transition?
Darnell: To tell you the truth, I really didn’t want to leave East Side at first, but I had to do what was best for me to develop my game for the next level. Coming to Putnam has been a great choice for me because it is the highest level of high school basketball in the country. Being around the bigs last year, Mamadou Diarra and Tyere Marshall [6’8, 220 lb. freshman at Rider University] helped me develop my game. They got me used to playing against good bigs and got me to be stronger in the post.
Question: In my interview with your uncle, he talked a lot about individual instruction and the hard work you put in to be able to play basketball at a high level. What can fans expect from you next season?
Darnell: I am going to come in and be ready to listen to all the coaches and learn from them. They are great and they’ve been there for me and I want to help the team win.
Question: That is all of the questions I had for you, is there any message you want me to pass along to the Seton Hall fans?
Darnell: I am excited to be a part of the team next year. I am Hall In.
Question: How did it feel to commit to Seton Hall last month?
Darnell: It is the best feeling to see Seton Hall fans excited to have me play there next season. I have been to a few games at the Prudential Center and the fans have been crazy. The fans are crazy into the game, cheering for defense and supporting the guys. I can’t wait to play in front of them.
Question: You had offers and interest from a handful of schools from Temple and St. Joe’s to East Carolina and Monmouth, what about Seton Hall led you to commit?
Darnell: When looking at all of the colleges that recruited me, I knew I wanted to go somewhere where I was needed and not wanted. Any college can show up and say I want you, but not really need you and push you to develop your game to the point where you expect it to be or beyond where you expect it to be. Seton Hall showed me they needed me and how they would help me develop.
Question: I know you visited Seton Hall for the Rutgers game in December and committed the day after? What did you do on the visit and what about it made you want to commit?
Darnell: When I was on the visit, I was basically on the team for the day. I got a chance to see the campus and all that, but I also got a chance to sit in on a film session and see how the guys go through that. I sat through practice and saw the guys do their thing. I stayed in the hotel with the guys before the game, ate with them and got to know them more. Seeing all of the stuff they did together to prepare for the game and how close they are as a team and to the fans after the game, it felt like I was supposed to be there already. It felt like family. It felt like I was home.
Question: Who was involved with your recruiting and commitment?
Darnell: Fred Hill saw me way back when. when he was recruiting Ish. All of the coaches reach out and talk to me. I love the coaching staff.
Question: What did the coaches tell you about your future role at Seton Hall?
Darnell: I am going to be playing behind Angel Delgado next year. I’ll be learning from him and developing my game alongside Coach Grant. I like the atmosphere because they want me to come in the year after and take over and dominate.
Question: How does it feel for the coaches to have the confidence in you to develop and be a force in your sophomore year?
Darnell: It is a great opportunity. I am going to come in and give it my all each and every night. I am going to work hard and continue to get better and do what I need to do to be successful. I want to be an animal and dominate the game.
Question: What are the strengths of your game right now and what do you think you need to improve on?
Darnell: First off, I am a great rebounder. I have a soft touch around the rim and I am also a great passer. I know I need to work on becoming more of a leader. I also need to work on my offensive game for the next level, but I am active and going to come in with a lot of energy. I have a strong presence and am going to dunk everything.
Question: Having a guy that you are already familiar with on the team in Ish, how much has his development at the school helped attract you?
Darnell: First things first, East Side defense is always there. When I was in high school with Ish I knew he was a hard worker, but they changed him. To see how active he is now and where his game is now compared to where he was in high school is crazy. He told me a lot about the school and how good it was and how much it helped. He told me how they are a family there and they push each other on and off the court.
Question: You left Newark East Side to go to Putnam Science Academy, how was that transition?
Darnell: To tell you the truth, I really didn’t want to leave East Side at first, but I had to do what was best for me to develop my game for the next level. Coming to Putnam has been a great choice for me because it is the highest level of high school basketball in the country. Being around the bigs last year, Mamadou Diarra and Tyere Marshall [6’8, 220 lb. freshman at Rider University] helped me develop my game. They got me used to playing against good bigs and got me to be stronger in the post.
Question: In my interview with your uncle, he talked a lot about individual instruction and the hard work you put in to be able to play basketball at a high level. What can fans expect from you next season?
Darnell: I am going to come in and be ready to listen to all the coaches and learn from them. They are great and they’ve been there for me and I want to help the team win.
Question: That is all of the questions I had for you, is there any message you want me to pass along to the Seton Hall fans?
Darnell: I am excited to be a part of the team next year. I am Hall In.
