City of Basketball Love

By Olivia Valania
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Sean Griffin’s college decision was not only a commitment to where he will continue his basketball career. It was bigger than that: a commitment to serve his country, and a way to set himself on the right path after his hoops career is done.

The 6-foot-8 Bishop Shanahan grad, is now taking a prep year at the Peddie School (N.J.), officially gave head coach Jon Perry the call on Monday, September 22. Griffin is ready to join Perry’s Navy program and the tough regimen that a military academy provides. 

Attending the Naval Academy means not just the four years of rigorous training in Annapolis (Md.), but a five-year military service requirement afterwards. After Griffin’s prep year is over, he will head to Annapolis in June for ‘Plebe Summer’ where he will go through intensive conditioning that will develop him into a midshipman. 

But he is confident that he is set, feeling this opportunity will better him as a person.

“I thought it was the place for me,” Griffin said. “It really sets you up in life, too, which is something that I really consider, my career after basketball, which the Navy helps you prepare for.”

When Griffin narrowed his decision down to his final two schools, he was between Navy and archrival Army West Point. Navy and Army were two of his five offers along with D-IIs Chestnut Hill, Post (N.Y.) and Jefferson. Griffin said he highly considered Jefferson as well, but wanted the challenge that a military academy and Division I program provided.

“The goal had always been to play Division I basketball, the two schools that had offered me were not just any Division I school, they came with a whole added component with the service,” he said. “There’s a lot more those kids have to balance on their plates besides school and basketball. 

“For me, as far as Army and Navy, I just had to figure out what I wanted my college experience to look like and was I okay with the five year commitment on the back-end. After really thinking about it and talking to a lot of alumni, I was like I honestly think this would be great for me as it would only help me as a person.” 

He took official visits to both Army and Navy in recent weeks, seeing West Point over Labor Day weekend and the Naval Academy from September 18-20, enjoying both campuses and coaching staffs. But ultimately, it was Navy that had the edge for their constant contact and connection with Griffin.

Navy assistant Brett Barron began contacting Griffin his junior high school season. But when a back injury struck him that March and he tore a ligament in his foot during AAU that required surgery, leaving him unable to play until October, that connection then fell through. After those setbacks, Griffin decided to pursue a prep year this season at the Peddie School, meaning he got one more AAU season under his belt, and that is when Navy came back around. 

In May, after the AAU live period where Griffin played for East Coast Cyclones on the Made Hoops circuit, conversations with Barron started up again, this time more heavily pushing recruiting. For the high school live period in June, the Peddie School participated in the Mid-Atlantic Independent School Team Camp to which Navy’s head coach Jon Perry came to watch Griffin.

After seeing Griffin play there and in the two weeks of the AAU live period in July, Perry was sold and gave him the offer officially on July 20. Griffin was impressed by the constant effort they continued to pour into him.

“They definitely make me feel appreciated there, they showed a lot of love over the past months that I have been in contact with them,” Griffin said. “They really made it known that they wanted me there on campus so I just went with my gut about it.”

Griffin’s high school career at Bishop Shanahan required a lot of work. From starting on the freshman team to the next year moving up to varsity to the setbacks with injuries to learning to adjust to his newfound height, he was able to take on the challenges and rise to being the leader his Eagles team needed. 

Though he has the frame of a big, he has guard abilities, not afraid to pull up outside the arc and showcase his strong 3-point abilities, and he shows comfortability handling the ball. However, he never lets his height and size go to waste, as he provided Shanahan with plenty of monster dunks and high-quality blocks. 

But, to Shanahan head coach, John Dougherty, while he more than appreciates the many points and exciting plays Griffin provided, it was his leadership on the court that mattered most.

“Sean, when we would break a huddle, was almost always that voice,” Dougherty said. “He would just get guys together and lead them. He’s intelligent, he’s athletic, he’s an all-around good kid, he’s a good student, he’s smart and intelligent with basketball, he’s very calm, he’s very goal-oriented and goal-driven so he’s been the leader of our team the last two years.”

This will be Perry’s first season as Navy’s head coach after serving twelve seasons as an assistant. Last season, the Midshipmen had a 15-19 overall record and finished mid-table in the Patriot League, going 10-8 in the conference. 

Though he started his high school journey as a 6-foot kid on the freshmen team and he faced tough injuries during a crucial junior year, he grew to be the 6-8 senior leader and star of his Shanahan team. Now, Griffin has felt he has proven himself in this Division I commitment and is ready to work to get himself ready for the rigor of Navy’s basketball program and military service. 

“It definitely feels good,” Griffin said. “I’ve been through the process for basically two years now. It’s been a long process but I’m happy that it’s done, happy to say that I got a college that I’m going to next year. I’m really excited to see what’s next.”