By Allie Piergustavo
The men’s basketball class of 2019 holds a lot of potential, and freshman LaDarien Griffin is no exception. He had a remarkable high school career and is more than ready to carry that momentum into his career with the Bonnies.
The 6-foot-7 forward finished his senior year at Providence High School in Jacksonville, Fla. with a 31-1 record while averaging 12.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Griffin also won a state title for Providence his senior year, capping off a remarkable season.
“It was great for my city in general,” Griffin stated. “It brought the city together.”
Griffin also spoke highly of his AAU team, Nike Team Florida. FloridaHoops.com rated Griffin 50th in its top 100 players in the state of Florida. Max Preps also rated him sixth in the state in his position as a forward.
“Playing AAU, you had to grow up really quick because you’re not home with your mom all the time,” Griffin said. “It prepared me for college, where you’re on the road constantly.”
Griffin first heard about St. Bonaventure and its basketball program while watching the NBA draft. He then attended a few A-10 games and was impressed by what a great program it is. When asked what he’s most excited for at Bonas, Griffin stated that the energy of the Reilly Center was definitely something to look forward to. When asked what he had heard about the RC, Griffin responded that it was the “toughest place to play in America.”
“It’s really hard to play here, really hard to hear,” he added.
In his freshman year, Griffin is ready to take on the challenge. His main focus in the offseason was improving his shooting, and he hopes to make an impact for the Bonnies this upcoming season. He has a simple gameplan to make this happen.
“Just play defense. Attack the glass and finish at the basket.”
intrepidsbu.com 
This is such a well written article. I can’t wait for this upcoming season!