College Commitment: Tucker Pellicci (2020 Franklin HS)
The last time we chatted with Tucker Pellicci back in November, the Franklin senior had a plan. The continually developing 6-foot-11, 240-pound post was aiming to pick up more college interesting during the year and then possibly make a decision in February. Well the month has arrived and Pellicci has made a decision. Days after receiving an official scholarship offer from Hawaii Pacific, the big man pulled the trigger and committed to play for the Sharks.
“I felt it would be a better fit for me in Hawaii,” Pellicci said. “I want to major in Business and the location in which you do it, in my mind makes a huge difference. So being in an urban setting compared to a more rural setting, and in International Business, Hawaii is half-way between Asia and the mainland U.S., that really was a big factor.”
Certainly taken into account with his decision was the basketball side of things as well. “They have a few big guys that I can go in and compete with and I can really get better with,” Pellicci said. “I wanted to be with a team that I could develop with bigger guys because you’re not going to get better if you’re playing with little dudes. I would also be flying on the West Coast to be playing all of my games so I’d be close to home so my family could watch me play.”
“Plus, it’s Hawaii,” Pellicci continued. “You can go out and go to the beach every single day and there’s no complaining there.”
Pellicci also held a couple of other offers but indicated that when it came down it, it was between Hawaii Pacific and Colorado State-Pueblo. He noted that he was really intrigued by CSU-Pueblo and felt that the program and coaches were amazing, but in the end Hawaii Pacific seemed to offer him more in terms of where he could see himself living for the next four years.
With the decision in the books, Pellicci is now looking forward to the last few weeks of the high school season. It’s been a huge year for the big man – one where his 33-rebound performance against Madison was one of the best single-game performances in state history – and according to him, it’s far from finished.
“A big part of making the decision (now) was not worrying about impressing any more coaches and just playing my game,” Pellicci said. “I can now go into the playoffs with a clear mind as I do feel that we will be making the playoffs this year. So I’m trying to go into that with as much motivation and as much momentum as possible and try to get a state championship.”
Pellicci currently ranks as the #24 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2020 rankings.