Xavier’s McDermott picks North Dakota

CEDAR RAPIDS - Senior Adam McDermott is the latest Cedar Rapids Xavier athlete to commit to a Division I college program, choosing to play basketball at the University of North Dakota.

'I really liked the campus and the atmosphere,” McDermott said after his official visit and meeting with the coaching staff. 'Everything that North Dakota had to offer from both the school and basketball perspective felt right to me.”

He will start attending in the fall of 2015.

Schools with great athletics programs may not always be the best fit for some athletes, whether it is academically or the general atmosphere is not right for them. Luckily for McDermott, he was able to find the perfect school for him.

'I really liked the players, coaches, facilities, and everything else UND had to offer,” McDermott said. 'North Dakota is going to be very special in the up-and-coming seasons, and after the visit, I knew I wanted to be a part of the program, so I decided not to wait and verbally commit.”

Located in Grand Forks, N.D., McDermott will be able to go to school while playing the sport he loves. With an enrollment of around 15,000, he will have a chance to be seen by many other students and play against elite competition.

McDermott averaged a team-best 16.5 points per game and totaled of 52 3-point field goals last season.

Often with an early commitment, many athletes are not very motivated for their last high school season. McDermott is just the opposite. He has high expectations for the team this year.

'My goals for this basketball season are to win the MVC and to win state,” McDermott said. 'I can't wait to get back in the gym with all my teammates and get the season going. We have a lot of work to do though, but I think this season will be special.”

Practice begins Nov. 17 with the first game two weeks later at home.