NCAA Basketball: Emerging prospect Angelo Brizzi receiving high-major interest

Unheralded prospect Angelo Brizzi showed a lot of improvement in his junior season, and as a result, he has started to hear from high-major schools.

2021 three-star prospect Angelo Brizzi has recently started to draw interest from high-major programs. Brizzi has picked up five scholarship offers over the last two-and-a-half weeks with three of the overtures coming from high-majors, including Villanova, California, and Georgetown. California was the latest to offer on April 17.

The Warrenton (VA) native had a strong junior season as he made significant improvements in the areas of scoring, shooting, and playmaking over his sophomore season. Brizzi averaged 20.3 points, 6.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 triples, and 3.2  steals as he led Highland High School to a 28-3 record as well as an appearance in the VISSA D-II State semifinals where the Hawks fell to Norfolk Collegiate 75-71. He shot 47% from the field, 35% from beyond the arc, and 75% from the free-throw line while also producing three double-doubles.

The 6-3 guard described himself to Jacob Polacheck of ZAGSBLOG as a “scoring point guard who can shoot it off the dribble and off the catch from deep.” He also said that he plays hard, is willing to do the little things, and is a great passer. Brizzi commented on what he needs to improve this offseason as well.

Overall, Brizzi holds 23 offers and has drawn interest from several other programs, including Iowa, Marquette, Maryland, Northwestern, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. He said that Villanova, Georgetown, Yale, Dartmouth, and Old Dominion are the schools that have been in contact the most. Brizzi added that while he also hears from Davidson and Belmont regularly, he has not been offered by those schools.

According to Fred Hodge of The Fauquier Times, Brizzi was expected to visit La Salle and Drexel this past fall, and UNC invited him to visit Chapel Hill. Plus, he accepted invitations to watch Louisville play at Virginia, and Northwestern at Maryland during the 2018-19 season.

Brizzi said that he is still sorting through his offers and what he is hearing from the schools. He plans on making a decision sometime this fall, but that could change depending on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

"“I’m going to see how this whole virus situation plays out, but the plan was to use the summer to see who’s interested and then start narrowing it down to make a decision in the fall of my senior year. I’m hoping that can still be the plan. That’s the goal right now. We’re hoping this can all clear up before then. We’ll have to see, but it could change just based on how everything turns out.”"

So, what is he looking for in a school?

“A good basketball culture and the school being invested in the program,” Brizzi said. “A strong degree and just a good connection with the coaching staff, the campus, and everyone around it.”