The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Pick Up Hoops Transfer Justin Cerasoli
7/11/2005 | Men's Basketball
July 11, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss head basketball coach Rod Barnes announced Monday that Justin Cerasoli has elected to transfer to Ole Miss from Seton Hall.
Due to NCAA transfer rules, the 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard can start practicing with the team in the fall but is ineligible for the 2005-06 season. Cerasoli may begin playing in the 2006-07 campaign with three years of eligibility remaining.
"Justin is a very knowledgeable point guard, who plays with a lot of energy and enthusiasm," Barnes said. "At 6-5, he gives us good size in the backcourt and the ability to do a lot of different things. It's going to be great to work with him for a year as we've done with Dwayne Curtis. With Justin joining the recruiting class we have coming in, we feel we have completed the future of our team at every position, and we're very excited."
Cerasoli played in 26 games as a freshman for the Pirates in 2004-05, earning the starting nod 10 times. The Chicago native turned in averages of 6.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists, and dropped in 15 points against nationally-ranked Pitt on the road and 16 against Notre Dame with 5 boards and 4 assists. He also tallied 10 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals against then-defending national champion UConn.
Out of West Aurora High School, Cerasoli was ranked No. 29 nationally in the 2004-05 freshman class by Athlon and No. 50 by Lindy's. Over his junior and senior seasons, West Aurora compiled a 55-5 record and finished third at the 2004 state championships.
Cerasoli was selected to the EA Sports Roundball Classic, featuring many of the nation's top talent, and was named co-MVP of the Gymrats Midnight Madness East-West All-America game in Voorhees, NJ, prior to his senior year.
