Esposito makes decision, commits to Villanova
Firecracker chose BIG EAST Wildcats from interest of over 80 Division I programs
With a phone call Monday evening, the long recruiting journey of Emily Esposito was over. She hung up the phone after speaking with Head Coach Harry Perretta and took a deep breath…she turned to Mom and Dad and said “I just committed to Villanova”.
With that decision, Emily just ended one of the most heavily college recruiting careers in Maine Schoolgirl history. Over 80 Division I schools had interest in her joining their program and over the last 12 months after several college visits she narrowed the list to 5 schools. She went on second visits to get a better feel for the school, the atmosphere, attended games, observed practices, then in the Fall the list was narrowed to 3.
From the first time she spoke with Coach Perretta there was a connection. He was direct, honest…Emily was to. If anyone knows Emily she is a thinker…she analyzes…she wants to understand so the two of them hit it off very quickly. Emily asked about the potential of playing overseas or getting into coaching after college. They had some real in depth discussions which deepened their relationship.
Emily’s Firecracker coach Don Briggs said, “I am not surprised one bit in her college choice. I have coached Emily since eighth-grade…she has been in our program since sixth-grade. We have had great conversations about different schools and what her goals are. She is making this decision based on a lot of homework. She had a high level of maturity going through this process and I am so happy for her and her parents Tony and Karen.”
Briggs continued, “Emily came on the recruiting scene early due to injuries on our 16U team. Allie Clement had some foot problems, and Olivia Smith tore her ACL. I moved her up and the visibility with her skillset was almost immediate. But, it wasn’t always easy and that is why I have a lot of love and admiration for Emily. She puts a lot pressure on herself to play well and she didn’t handle failure very well early in her career. Here is a player that gets up before school and shoots…does hundreds of pushups, runs and she had to work through the process of understanding even with all that you will still have games where things don’t go your way. Personally her biggest growth over the last two years hasn’t been in her skills but her mental preparation and management.”
Coach Perretta, while he can’t comment on the commitment, in prior conversations has indicated how much he loves her competitiveness, her mental toughness, and ability to score in all aspects of the game. He said, we put a high value on that versatility.
“I know the type of player and person Villanova is getting” Briggs said. “She is a gym rat, she has a high basketball IQ, and she will compete. Mom and Dad have been model parents allowing their daughter to be held to a high standard, allowing her to be coached, and supporting the process.
Villanova plays in the Big East Conference, finished 22-14 (12-6 in conference), and lost in the quarterfinal of the WNIT. With Emily’s commitment, she joins seven prior Firecrackers playing Division I basketball.