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Big Red standout Haney officially headed to Nova Southeastern

By ANDREW GRIMM 3 min read
Andrew Grimm SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED — Steubenville Big Red senior Santino Haney officially signed his letter of intent to continue his academic and basketball careers at Nova Southeastern University on Wednesday, joining Santino, front, center, for the occasion were, front, from left, Joann Straker, parents Susan and Michael Haney and Debbie Straker; middle row, from left, Reno Saccoccia, MaryJo DiPietro, Jillian Haney, Taylor Haney, Lori Wilkerson, Anthony Saccocia, Carlo Saccoccia, and Brenton Colabella; and back row, from left, Aaron Newman, Joe DiPietro, Greg Bowers, Derrick Coulter, Erica Gaus, John Arlesic and Jeff Lombardo.

STEUBENVILLE -- Santino Haney has had one of the most decorated careers in Big Red basketball history and it still has a season to go.

Once that impressive high school career wraps up, the senior is headed to one of the most decorated programs in NCAA Division II basketball.

The Steubenville standout put pen to paper on Wednesday to make official his commitment to Nova Southeastern University, signing his official letter of intent to play for the Sharks.

Haney had previously committed to NSEU back in August.

"It's a full circle moment knowing that all of the hard work and all of the hours in the gym have paid off," Haney said. "The coaching staff and everything about the program made me want to be a part of it. They were awesome and they made me feel like they really wanted me. That was a big part of it for me, knowing that they wanted me and I felt like I would fit well in the program there. That was a deciding factor."

The Sharks have won the two of the last four NCAA Division II National Championships, and of course are guided by West Liberty University legend Jim Crutchfield.

Haney was the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association Division III East District and District 5 Coaches Association Player of the Year last season along with being a first team All-Ohio selection in helping lead Big Red to a 26-2 record, OVAC championship, district and regional championship and state runner-up finish.

He averaged 21.3 points, five rebounds, 6.3 assists and 3.8 steals, all team-highs, in what was his junior season.

A starter since he was a freshman, Haney has already passed 1,000 career points, sitting with 1,378 with a season to go and has a strong chance to become Big Red’s all-time leading scorer this winter.

"This is great for the program to have another player go to the next level," Big Red head coach Mike Haney, who is Santino's father, said. "The last few years we've had multiple guys with Josh (Zimmerman), Aiden (Davis) and Will (Taylor), and now Santino getting that opportunity to play at the next level. It's really exciting for the program to get to see kids be able to continue to play basketball at the next level."

Crutchfield coached at West Liberty from 1989-2017, spending from 2004-2017 as the head coach before his success at Nova Southeastern.

"Coach Crutchfield is a legend around here and the way they play is the way we like to play, press and get up and down the court," coach Haney said. "I think (Santino) will fit in well with that kind of system."

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