East's Andreozzi signs with Roberts Wesleyan College
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Athletics Director Dawn M. Bak, Roberts Wesleyan Coach Rob McCoy, East principal Neal Miller, and Justin's father, Randy. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Roberts Wesleyan College is gaining a late-blooming basketball player.

Williamsville East senior Justin Andreozzi, who came on strong at the end of the Flames' 2006-07 season signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Raiders last Wednesday at East.

"I got good recommendations from a couple people and I had a couple of friends who went there and it seemed like a good fit," said Andreozzi. "The location was close. It was far enough where I'm away from home but close enough to come back whenever I need to."

Andreozzi, a 6-5½ shooting guard/small forward, saved his best basketball in high school for last, scoring 22 points, including four three-pointers, grabbing 11 rebounds, and blocking four shots in the team's 84-70 Section VI Class A quarterfinal loss at McKinley.

"Justin is what I call a late bloomer," said East coach Dennis Belote. "He started the year as a sixth or seventh man and worked his way up to starting the last 10 or 11 games. He had rapid growth from last year to this year, growing almost four inches and rapid improvement in his game once he recovered from a broken wrist over the summer."

Belote added that Roberts Wesleyan College coach Rob McCoy liked Andreozzi's growth and improvement over the year.

Andreozzi, who earned nine varsity letters in four sports at East, was also looking to play basketball at Buffalo State College and Medaille College. He is undecided but leaning towards pre-law.

Roberts Wesleyan finished 16-14 overall in 2006-07 with a 5-5 mark in the American Mideast Conference.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com