Monday, August 10, 2015

New Aussie Gator

"San Francisco State head men's basketball coach Paul Trevor has announced the signing of Damien Rance from Endeavor Hills, Victoria, Australia. Rance is a 6-6 forward who just graduated this Spring from Pope John XXIII High School in Sparta, New Jersey. This past season, the Lions captured the New Jersey Non-Public A State Championship (largest private school division).

Rance hails from a small town in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Before making the move to New Jersey to complete high school, he played his youth basketball for the Dandenong Basketball Association, where he met current assistant coach Vince Inglima. At that time, Inglima was playing professionally for the Dandenong Rangers' SEABL (Southeast Australian Basketball League) team.

"I'm thrilled to have another former Dandenong Ranger as part of our program," said Inglima. "I have such fond memories of my time in Australia, and it is great to be able bring another Ranger into the Gator family."

Rance averaged 7.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for the Lions during his senior season. He assisted in Pope John XXIII finishing 29-4 including 10-0 in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. Besides being New Jersey State Champions, they were runners-up in the Tournament of Champions. 

Last summer prior to his senior season, Rance was a member of the AAU Team New Jersey Playaz. That team captured the EYBL Peach Jam Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia, and was ranked No. 1 nation in 2014. 

"Damien is probably the most experienced freshman that we have ever brought into our program," added SF State head coach Paul Trevor. He won the New Jersey state championship after spending a summer on the top ranked AAU program in the nation. Those experiences will help make the jump to college basketball quicker than most freshman. He has a college body to go along with a complete skill set. He is one of those guys who can do a little of everything. If he continues to show the work ethic and willingness to learn that has gotten him this far, I think Damien will be contributing in a big way sooner than later."

The newest Gator, a McDonald's All-American Game nominee, scored a season high 15 points twice this past interscholastic season while starting in every game for the Lions. Rance attended the Rowville Sports Academy (RSA) in Rowville, Victoria for grades 7 through 10 before transferring to Pope John XXIII for his junior and senior years.  RSA is a specialized high school that combines academic work with sport specific training for its students. It just so happened that Inglima was on of the coaches at the academy for three of those years.

"Ever since I coached him at the Rowville Sports Academy when he was 12-years old, I've known that he could be a great player someday," Inglima said of Rance. "I am incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to work with him again and see how much better he can get." 

Rance joins College of the Canyons guard Coley Aspey along with All-State Cabrillo College guard Warren Jackson and All-State College of the Sequoias forward Brantley Bynum in the Gators' 2015 recruiting class.  SF State finished the 2014-15 season with an 11-15 record including going 9-3 at home.  The Gators had two All-Conference selections in Udun Osakue and Bren Haley."

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