Pitino lands big-time shooter

by Mike Rutherford on Feb 22, 2008 12:48 PM EST in News

In news first broken by bartenpa (the Andy Katz of Card Chronicle), Northfield Mt. Hermon School (Mass.) sharp-shooter Mike Marra has committed to Louisville.

"Why not?" was Marra's answer to why he pulled the trigger on a college choice now. "I was ready. I feel excellent."

Marra averaged 22.1 points and 11 rebounds and shattered Smithfield High's school record for 3-pointers with 111 during the 2006-07 season. He then left home to play at NMH, where he's joined by three other former Interscholastic League stars -- Hendricken's David Rufful, Barrington's Matt Brown and Providence's Quineill Simmons. Marra was recruited by Providence College and URI over the summer, and Massachusetts offered a scholarship, as well.

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"He told me how much he liked my shot and that he wanted me at Louisville," Marra said of Pitino. "It was a tough decision, but it's similar to my decision to come to Northfield Mt. Hermon. It'll help me meet my goals in life."

Marra is advertised as one of the best prep shooters in the country. He's averaging 28 points in his first season at Northfield, and has reportedly shot 55% from three-point range over the past 11 games.

The decommitment of Lamont Jones earlier in the week makes Marra the lone commitment in Rick Pitino's class of '09.

There's not a great deal of Marra film out there, but here's a quick clip from his days in Rhode Island.