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Skidmore gets recruiting steal in Westtown's Rupkus

04/30/2015, 9:45pm EDT

By Josh Verlin

Ari Rosenfeld (@jmverlin)
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For some, the recruiting process is an exciting time, filled with offers from major programs and constant calls and texts from high-profile coaches.

For others, however, things don’t always go as planned. Westtown guard Ed Rupkus falls into this group.

Rupkus, a native of Lithuania, decided to end the stressful process tonight, committing to Division III Skidmore and head coach Joe Burke.

He has been a fringe Division I recruit over the course of the last year, and recently picked up his first offer from Saint Peter’s along with new interest from several other D-I programs. But after a disappointing weekend at the Pittsburgh Jam Fest during the second April live period, those schools stopped calling and Rupkus felt the time was right to make his commitment.

“After last weekend in Pittsburgh, I didn’t play that well, I kind of had a bad weekend and the coaches started recruiting other players, they told me that they were looking for somebody else, something else,” Rupkus said. “I had a couple of D-II schools that were kind of interested in me, but I just wanted to stick with one of the schools with great academics, they really wanted me, they also have a great basketball program so I just wanted to end it, this process.”

Nevertheless, Rupkus is now excited to spend the next four years at Skidmore, where he is an impact recruit for Burke and his staff.

“I feel like the burden, I dropped a burden off my shoulders so I’m feeling way better now,” he said. “I know I’ll have a great experience there so I was just ready to make a decision.”

Skidmore is fresh off of a run to the D-III NCAA Tournament, in which the Thoroughbreds advanced to the second round. Since arriving at Skidmore from Navy in 2010, where he was an assistant, Burke has built the small Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) school into a strong program, winning three Liberty League conference titles and making the NCAA Tournament three times.

Things are certainly looking up, as he has now landed his highest-rated recruit in his five years at the helm.

“We’ve had some guys get some [Division I] looks for sure,” Burke said. “This one was probably...because of the exposure of the program he plays in, the level of talent he has, and the looks he was starting to get late, this is probably the biggest-profile kid that we’ve got.

“We’re thrilled, absolutely thrilled. He’s a great kid, great student, great player. The sky’s the limit for him, to be honest with you.”

Rupkus will be the second Westtown player to play for Burke at Skidmore, as guard Nan Yijep just wrapped up his Thoroughbreds career.