Seton Hall Lands Sina and Manga
4/19/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Seton Hall men’s basketball program signed New Jersey standout Jaren Sina (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s) and junior college transfer Stephane Manga (Orleans, France/Princeton Day Academy/Monroe College). Sina is a 6-2 three-time all-state guard who scored 2,146 points and dished out 861 assists at Gill St. Bernard’s. Manga comes to South Orange from Monroe College where the 6-6 forward averaged 14.9 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Mustangs last season.
“We are thrilled to have Jaren and Stephane join our family here at Seton Hall. They are high caliber players with great character who will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact in our program both on and off the court,” said Pirates' head coach Kevin Willard.
Sina is a four-star recruit who was ranked in the top-100 nationally in the 2013 class by ESPN. The three-time Somerset County Player of the Year helped transform Gill St. Bernard’s into a national power. The Knights broke into the USA Today High School top-25, rising as high as No. 15 in 2012. Sina played for his father, Mergin Sina, who was a two-year letter winner at Seton Hall (1984-86). Jaren Sina finished as the all-time leading scorer and assist leader in Somerset County history, and was second in three-pointers. He also helped guide the Knights to consecutive Somerset County titles (2011 & 2012) and 2012 sectional championship.
As a senior, Sina led Gill St. Bernard’s averaging 21.3 points, 9.1 assists and he buried 117 threes. The Knights advanced to the NJSIAA Tournament Semifinals and finished with a 19-8 overall record playing a national schedule. Sina averaged 20.1 points as a junior and handed out 8.4 assists per game to lead Gill St. Bernard’s to a state runner-up finish and a 28-4 record. He was a finalist for the Gatorade State Player of the Year.
“Jaren has a high basketball IQ, he is one of the purest shooters I have seen and has excellent ball handling skills,” explained Willard. “I am confident Jaren will thrive in our style of play. Without a doubt, Jaren adds a new dimension to our backcourt. It is exciting when we attract elite local talent like Jaren as these young men have the opportunity to play in front of their family and friends and share the experience.”
Manga scored 462 points, had 37 steals and handed out 2.6 assists per game in 2012-13 under head coach Jeffrey Bustad at Monroe College (N.Y.). He scored in double figures in 22 of 31 appearances, including nine 20-point performances, and shot 46.6% from the field. Manga earned First Team All-Region honors as the Mustangs went 24-8 advancing to the NJCAA Division I Region 15 championship game.
Manga is ranked No. 19 for 2013 junior college players. He competed in the 2012 All-American JUCO Showcase Elite 80 and made the Top 20 All Star Game. He played in 24 games as a freshman at Salt Lake Community College. Manga attended high school at Princeton Day Academy in Maryland.
“Stephane is a very athletic wing who is explosive on both ends of the court,” said Willard. “He has a knack for scoring and excels when playing above the rim. Stephane will have the opportunity to flourish in our system as he can impact the game in a variety of ways.”
Sina and Manga will help bolster the Seton Hall roster in 2013-14, which will also feature sophomore guard Sterling Gibbs (Scotch Plains, N.J./Seton Hall Prep/Texas) who transferred to the Pirates after playing one season at Texas. Gibbs starred at Seton Hall Prep where he graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer (1,984 points).
