No longer one of the top remaining shooters available on the recruiting market, 6-foot-5 off guard Austin Galuppo of Scotland Campus Sports (Pa.) has committed to Weber State.
Out of California, Galuppo has fled from relative obscurity in his post-graduate season, surfacing as a long range sniper capable of heating up in a hurry.
Galuppo is the second Knight to commit to Weber State this season, joining teammate and close friend Judah Jordan.
Jordan, a point guard out of Maryland, has done a commendable job helping Galuppo maximize his impact as a deft shooter and high-scoring guard/wing.
The rapport between the two was evident during Scotland’s 90-72 victory over Our Savior Lutheran (NY) during the tail end of the PSA Showcase last month. Galuppo’s hot hand lit up the formidable foe to the tune of 31 points, including 17 in the first half.
The 3-point ace thrived on another national stage during the Prep National Showcase in New Haven, Conn., scoring 19 points (all in the second half) as Scotland came roaring back from a double digit halftime deficit to deliver a 79-59 upset over Northfield Mount Hermon (Ma.).
Consisting primarily of post graduates, Scotland Campus Sports (16-0) has catapulted to a No.3 national ranking heading into tomorrow’s heavily anticipated matchup with Perkiomon Prep.
“Judah going there definitely factored into my decision, because he’s pretty much my best friend out here and we play really well together on the court,” said Galuppo, who chose Weber State over Southern Utah, Bryant, Cal Poly, and San Jose State.
“The way that coach (Randy) Raye runs his program really attracted me to the school.”
Gaining muscle, finely tuning his ball handling, and developing an adeptness for the mid-range game are the most noteworthy differences Galuppo has experienced in his post graduate season. He’s averaging 28.7 PPG during a recent four game span and has ramped up on his efficiency, another area which he’s devoted significant focus to.
Scotland Campus head coach Chris Chaney has won three national championships during his storied stay in the prep ranks. The most memorable of that trio was the 2005 Laurinburg Prep team, which went 40-0 and pummeled foes by a staggering 40-point margin of victory.
That team was known for its oceanic depth, featuring 17 different leading scorers and a prep record 15 Division-I signees on one roster. Among those 15 were David Marek, the former Southern Utah sharpshooter who is currently an assistant coach at Weber State.
“Dave had been following what Austin has been doing all season and there was intrigue there,” Chaney explained.
“With (Spencer Johnson) transferring, that opened up a scholarship for the 2019 class. Dave basically reached out and gauged if Austin would be up for it. With the relationship between Austin and Judah and the relationship between myself and Dave, it was pretty much a deal sealer.”
The prospect of playing right away also had unique appeal to Galuppo, who attended the 9-6 Wildcats’ 90-82 loss to Southern Utah on Jan.5.
“With a shooter like Austin, a scorer like him, and a guy with his IQ, I’d say the Big Sky is a good league for him,” Chaney explained.
“I think he’s been great for us this year, not just because of his ability but because we are trying to keep developing him as a player so that he’s ready for the next level instantly.”
Galuppo said the decision wraps up one of the main goals he set for himself when he elected to take a post-graduate season. The others?
“Win a national championship and finish off an undefeated season,” Galuppo explained.
