Former Steel-High standout Rameik James, a 5-10 shooting guard with area code range, is planning to continue his basketball career at Mercyhurst University’s North East Campus, a two-year school some 15 minutes east of Erie.
Mercyhurst North East competes at the Division II level of the National Junior College Association of America.
In his final season at Steel-High last winter, James averaged 11.8 points per outing for a 17-7 Rollers outfit coached by Tramayne Hawthorne that collared its second consecutive Mid-Penn Capital Division championship.
Hawthorne’s senior-laden Rollers also advanced to the District 3-AAA tournament, but a loss to eventual state quarterfinalist Lancaster Mennonite in the round of 16 brought an end to Steel-High’s season.
A first-team Mid-Penn Capital all-star as a senior, James scored in double figures 13 times, bagging a career-high 21 points in a win over Susquenita. All seven of James’ field goals in that win came from beyond the arc.
James, in fact, used his ridiculously quick release to splash 64 treys during his senior season.
As for Mercyhurst North East, David Gahan’s Saints last season finished 19-8 and reached the semifinals of the Division II Region 3 tournament.
Gahan will be entering his sixth season.
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