Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

John Snow has enjoyed several learning experiences in his young basketball life.

First, he grew up hearing stories of how good of a basketball player his father, John, Sr. was when he was a high school standout for Newark West Side High School (now known as Malcolm X. Shabazz High) in the early 1970s.

“I always hear stories of how good he was,” Snow said. “He was a legend. I’m nowhere near as good as he was.”

Snow then received a great basketball education at Montclair Kimberley Academy.

“I learned a lot there,” Snow said. “My coaches there prepared me for college basketball and how to be ready for the next level.”

Snow never got a chance to play on the same court with last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he does know the most famous product of MKA.

“I have hung out with him,” Snow said. “He’s an incredible guy. I’m proud to say I went to that school. He’s done well and so have I.”

Snow then went to Seton Hall to be a walk-on with the Pirates.

“I didn’t have any promises,” Snow said. “I tried out for the team and made the team. I went to practice every day and practiced with the team.”

Snow saw limited action, a total of four minutes in three games.

“But it helped me get accustomed to the college game,” Snow said.

But there was one problem.

“I wanted to play,” Snow said.

So Snow remembered that Rutgers-Newark was very interested in him while he was at MKA. Rutgers-Newark head coach Joe Loughran never lost sight of Snow.

“Coach Loughran used to call me every day,” Snow said. “He came to my games at MKA. I was very interested in playing there.”

“I saw him a ton at MKA,” Loughran said. “At first, he committed to us, but he then had the dream of playing (NCAA) Division I and wanted to go to Seton Hall. He’s a smart kid. He knew what he was doing. He had a good basketball background and that definitely helped him. He has a good basketball IQ.”

All of the stops along the way benefitted Snow, so when he finally arrived at R-N to begin his sophomore year of college, he was ready to contribute.

“I loved it here right away,” Snow said. “I love the people. I love the program and how it’s run. It was a good fit.”

Snow didn’t know whether he would get a chance to play right away.

“I definitely had to get adjusted to the speed of the game,” Snow said. “I don’t want to say I thought I could play right away. I thought it might take me a while.”

However, Snow worked his way into the starting lineup. He has started 18 of the Scarlet Raiders’ 24 games so far this season, averaging 7.6 points and 3.3 rebounds, a remarkable number considering Snow is a 6-foot guard.

“We expected him to fit in,” Loughran said. “I’m honestly not surprised he done what he’s done. He’s more solid than I might have thought. He’s a steady kid, consistent. He does the things to get us going.”

Just last Saturday, when the Scarlet Raiders mounted a huge comeback against Rowan, Snow led the Scarlet Raiders with 19 points.

“He kept us in the game,” Loughran said. “He can go to the basket strong because he’s such a strong kid. He can hit the pull-up jumper and he’s a deceptive 3-point shooter. He can really do it all. He’s also a good defensive player and we need a guy like that. He’s a glue guy who fits in great with us.”

And since he’s only a sophomore, Snow will be a fixture in the Scarlet Raiders’ rotation for the rest of this season – and two more to come.

“He’ll take on a bigger role next year,” Loughran said. “With guys like John, we’ll be in good shape.”

Snow likes the way the Scarlet Raiders have come together this season.

“We have a strong bond, a good camaraderie,” Snow said. “I think the key to our season has been the chemistry. We’re so close as a team. There’s constant interaction, both on and off the court. We’re really more like a family than a team and I like that. We’re always together.”

Snow is still undecided about a declaring a major at R-N.

“I might go into business or sports management,” Snow said. “I also might have computer science as a minor. Maybe I might become a sports agent or start my own sports brand.”

Obviously, John Snow is a young man with a bright future and has a good head on his shoulders. His basketball acumen has been documented. He’s going to be a fixture at R-N for the years to come.