'Awesome opportunity' awaits Wadsworth boys basketball's Solomon Callaghan at Wright State
Wadsworth senior Solomon Callaghan grew up playing basketball with hopes of one day receiving a scholarship from a Division I college.
That goal will be a reality for Callaghan, who is a Wright State University recruit and is making the most of his final high school season. Two games into it, the four-year captain and four-year starter already has a 45-point game and he's on his way to becoming Wadsworth's career scoring leader.
Callaghan, who is 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, said Wright State recruited him to play point guard and on the wing.
“It is amazing,” Callaghan said of the opportunity to play at Wright State under coach Scott Nagy.
“I have always wanted to play Division I college basketball and I have worked my whole life to do so. I felt a great connection with the coaching staff and they have built an incredible culture.
“... They are year-in-and-year-out one of the highest competing teams. For example, they won an NCAA Tournament game last year. They played really well in the tournament and I am excited to be a part of that as a Raider.”
Wright State compiled a 22-14 overall record last year, going 15-7 in the Horizon League and winning the league tournament. The Raiders then beat Bryant in an NCAA Tournament opening-round game before losing to Arizona.
Callaghan said he is excited to explore Wright State’s campus and the city of Dayton.
“It is a good distance from home,” Callaghan said. “Close enough to where I can get home, but far enough away where I have distance between myself and my family. My family means a lot to me, so definitely having that connection and being here in Ohio means a lot to me.”
Callaghan received a dozen scholarship offers, including from Akron and Youngstown State. He verbally committed to Wright State on Aug. 10 and signed a National Letter of Intent with the Raiders on Nov. 9.
“I was offered by a lot of good programs,” Callaghan said. “This was one of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make. Saying no to schools and obviously accepting Wright State was a tough decision. I had so many offers from good programs and great coaches.”
Callaghan averaged around 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal per game last season as a junior for Wadsworth and earned All-Ohio Division I honorable mention.
Callaghan is off to quite a start this season, scoring 24 points in a 76-56 season-opening win over Perry and 45 points in a 92-87 four-overtime win over Brunswick on Dec. 6. That leaves him 107 points shy of becoming the program's career scoring leader.
Wadsworth’s all-time leading scorer in boys basketball is Bob Lyren with 1,203 points. Doug Bell is second at 1,193, followed by Callaghan (1,097 points), who passed Ben Falkenberg (1,031) this season, and Jamie Lyren (1,009) and Bill Vukovich (999) late last season.
Callaghan, who also received All-Ohio Division I honorable mention as a sophomore, has been a double-figure scorer throughout his Wadsworth career. He averaged 12 points a game as a ninth-grader before scoring 15 a game as a sophomore.
“Solomon has an awesome opportunity,” Wadsworth coach Mike Moser said. “I have personally talked with the coaching staff at Wright State on several occasions. He is going to go play for a great staff with guys who really like him. I am excited for Solomon. Solomon works his tail off. I am happy to see that hard work continue to pay off for him because he always does things the right way.”
Moser, a 1997 Wadsworth graduate, said he has known Callaghan for more than a decade.
“I teach physical education in town, and I used to teach elementary P.E., and I had Solomon in class I think as young as kindergarten,” Moser said. “I have got a phenomenal relationship with him. I probably know him, next to his parents, about as good as your going to and I am super happy for him. I am really excited for him.”
Wadsworth opens boys basketball season with two wins
Callaghan isn't the only Wadsworth player off to a nice offensive start. Maxx Bosley and Caden Madigan joined him as the top scorers in the team's wins over Perry and Brunswick to open the season.
Bosley scored 23 points in the win over Perry and Madigan added 16 points. In the four-overtime thriller against Brunswick, Bosley scored 21 points and Madigan scored 20.
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Wright State basketball recruit Solomon Callaghan leads Wadsworth
