USF Signs Former Rutgers Guard Manny Quezada To Scholarship Contract

June 21, 2005

Manny Quezada (pronounced Kah - Sah - duh), a 6-2, 185-pound guard from Washington Heights, NY who played 25 games for Rutgers University as a freshman last season, has signed a scholarship contract to play basketball at the University of San Francisco.

Quezada, who averaged 2.8 points per game in 25 games at Rutgers, will have three years of eligibility with the Dons starting in 2006-07. He will practice with the team in 2005-06.

"Manny was an outstanding prep player that has the potential to be a solid combo guard in our program," said USF head coach Jessie Evans. "He saw limited time at Rutgers as a freshman, playing behind two senior guards, but showed he could play when he saw action. With regular playing time, he can be a top-notch player."

He showed his ability against two top teams in Big East action, scoring 12 points against Connecticut in 22 minutes and adding nine points against Syracuse in 12 minutes of action. Against the Huskies, he nailed five of eight shots, including both of his three-point attempts.

Quezada was a standout player throughout his career at the prestigious St. Albans School in Washington, DC, the same school attended by USF assistant coach Anwar McQueen. The lead guard transferred from Norman Thomas High School in New York to St. Albans following his freshman year.

As a senior, Quezada was named USA Today/Gatorade Player of the Year from Washington D.C. He averaged 24.4 points, 6.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds in leading St. Albans to a 22-5 record and a league championship. A First-Team All Metropolitan selection by the Washington Post, Quezada was selected to the Michael Jordan Capital Classic Regional All-Star Game in April where he scored 10 points and hit two three-point jumpers in 17 minutes of action.

A First-Team Interstate Athletic Conference (IAC) selection, Quezada earned MVP honors in leading his to team to the Gulfshore Shootout Title in Naples, Florida. With his team trailing one of Georgia's top teams, Norcross Wesleyan HS, by 17 points in the fourth quarter, Quezada responded by scoring 23 of his career-high 44 points in the fourth quarter, including five three-pointers, to lead his team to a 77-75 victory.

Earlier in the season, he poured in 41 points, exactly half of his team's 82 points, in a victory over Alta HS, the Utah state champions. One of his other top games came vs. Bullis HS of Washington, DC when he scored 32 points as he displayed an array of cross-over dribbles, penetrating ability and three-point shooting accuracy in leading St. Albans to a come-from-behind win, scoring 10 consecutive points during the comeback. Quezada is St. Albans' all-time leading scorer in points and scoring average. Quezada scored 20 or more points in a game 17 times, 30 or more points five times and eclipsed the 40-point mark twice. He scored in double figures in 26 of St. Albans' 27 games.

As a junior, Quezada averaged 20 points, six assists and five rebounds per game. A highlight of his junior season was when he poured in 36 points and dished out eight assists in a win over Norfolk Collegiate School, a top private school program. Quezada was born on April 13, 1985.