SHINING SEA: Hun School boys’ basketball player Andrew Seager heads to the hoop in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, post-graduate forward Seager scored 23 points to help Hun defeat Perkiomen School (Pa.) 53-37. The Raiders, who moved to 4-4 with the win, host Academy of New Church (Pa.) on December 19 before going on holiday break. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Andrew Seager enjoyed a superb career for the Ocean Township High boys’ basketball program, but he decided that spending a year at the Hun School for a postgraduate season would help him hone his skills for the college game.

“I felt as though coming to coach [Jon] Stone and Hun would prepare me well for the next level,” said Seager, a 6’7 forward.

“The competition is the biggest thing. Last year I didn’t shoot one three in my senior year and I averaged 21 points. This year, coach Stone yells at me when I don’t shoot the ball. Colleges want to see me expand my game. They have made me shoot my jump shot a lot in practice this year so it has been getting my confidence up. Coach Stone has helped a lot.”

Last Wednesday at Pennington, Seager displayed his offensive versatility, scoring 18 points to help Hun pull away to a 57-44 victory.

“I was mad because I got two fouls called on me in the first half, so I couldn’t play that much and impact the team,” said Seager.

“In the second half, I had to make up for the time I didn’t have in the first half. I just had to go and do whatever it takes to get the team to win.”

Seager liked the way the Raiders went up-tempo in the second half against Pennington.

“We were forcing it a little too much, we should have gotten out running more like we did in the second half,” said Seager.

“We kept running. We didn’t play near as good as we can in this game today. We did some little things to get the win today, so that is all that matters.”

Quickly developing a good relationship with his new teammates, Seager is enjoying his Hun experience.

“They welcomed me with open arms, they are really friendly kids and I call them my brothers now,” said Seager.

“Eric Fleming took me under his wing. Now I live there so I hang out there everyday. It is like a brotherhood now, it is awesome. I really like it here.”

Hun head coach Stone likes having Seager on his squad. “Andrew is very steady; he has a lot of poise with the ball,” said Stone of Seager who scored 23 points to help Hun defeat Perkiomen School (Pa.) 53-37 last Saturday and improve to 4-4.

“He is very comfortable with the ball in his hands and we are comfortable with the ball in his hands as a team. One thing you maybe didn’t see tonight is how good of a passer he is. I think we will see more of that as the year goes on. He is also really good in the low post.”

While Hun was clinging to a 38-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter, it got things going down the stretch.

“We did some nice things, both defensively and offensively; some guys made some plays out there, which helps,” said Stone.

Stone credited 6’6 forward Fleming with making some plays in the win. “He definitely had a few blocks, especially in the first half,” said Stone. “He is long, he is active. When he is doing those kind of things, it really adds a nice dimension to us.”

Hun’s depth gives it an added dimension. “We are such a unique team, we are the deepest team I have ever had,” said Stone, whose team hosts Academy of New Church (Pa.) on December 19 before going on holiday break.

“Trying to find the right combination is really hard some nights. I think we are getting there. We still have a little ways to go defensively. We are definitely getting there and improving. I think we have the potential to be better than we are.”

Seager, for his part, believes that the performance against Pennington is a harbinger of positive things to come for the Raiders.

“It is good because down the stretch in the year when we have the MAPL (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) tournament and stuff, I feel like all the games are going to be close,” said Seager. “We are going to have to find a way to pull away so this is helpful.”