Teondre Bromell signs with Olney Central College
Last Updated on 5/23/2013
Published on 5/25/2012
By Chris Sokoloski
csokoloski@gtowntimes.com
Carvers Bay High School's Teondre Bromell took the first step toward his goal of playing in the NBA by singing with Olney Central College in Illinois on Thursday afternoon.
"I have high hopes of going to the NBA and it all starts right here," Bromell said.
"Teondre is probably one of the best, most well-rounded kids I've every coached in 16 years," Bears head coach Jeff Mezzatesta said. "I really do think that he's going to be another one to put Carvers Bay on the map."
Bromell graduates as Carvers Bay's the all-time leading scorer with 1,086 points.
"It took a lot of hard work and effort," Bromell said.
As a senior he was one of the Class A top five senior in the state, was named to the All-State team, was the Coastal Basketball Coaches Association's player of the week five times and the U.S. Army player of the week once.
He was also on the High School Sports Report's All-State team as a junior and senior.
Mezzatesta has been coaching Bromell since the young man showed up for basketball camp when he was in sixth grade.
"You could tell there was something special," Mezzatesta said. "He was always smiling, always upbeat."
Bromell played a lot of football when he was younger, but started playing more basketball as he got older.
"I wanted to be like my brother [Trent]," he said.
He played football for Carvers Bay but prefers basketball.
At Olney Central he wants to major in engineering and minor in education.
"I started doing teacher cadet this year and it really opened my eyes that I could be a teacher and I think I could do a good job," Bromell said.
He is hoping that after he's finished at Olney Central he can continue his education, and his basketball career at a larger school, possibly in Division I or II.
"I know it's going to be a whole different level from high school," Bromell said. "I'm just ready to get in there and work out and get stronger and faster and improve my game."
Mezzatesta said the biggest transition for kids from high school to college is taking responsibility for themselves.
"In college you have a lot of freedom," the coach said. "Nobody's going to care if you succeed or if you fail. You have to have the inner drive to combat freedom. And that's hard for a lot of kids."
Bromell's advice for his younger teammates?
"Work harder than I did. I worked pretty hard but if they work harder they can do the same thing."
