Jaren Sina commits to Northwestern

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ESPNU 100 point guard Jaren Sina committed to Northwestern on Monday.

Sina, who is 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, is from Lake Hopatcong, N.J. and attends Gill St. Bernard's School. He chose Northwestern over Alabama, which he had previously committed to.

Sina is ranked No. 75 overall in the Class of 2013 and No. 13 at point guard by ESPN Recruiting. He is Northwestern's most highly-rated recruit since ESPN began its rankings in 2007.

"There was obviously location; it's a great place," said Sina's father Mergin, who coaches Gill St. Bernard's. "Academically, it's one of the top programs, and the kids can play at a high level. Coach (Bill( Carmody and (assistant Fred) Hill and staff, we've been attracted to the way they played all year. It's a similar style we play in high school. I think it's a great transition for Jaren."

ESPN recruiting analysts Dave Telep and Reggie Rankin believed Sina was the perfect type of player for Carmody's Princeton offense.

"He's a strong player for their style, the son of a coach and has swagger," Telep said. "He's a really strong fit and confident player." Rankin said, "I always compare him to a young man's Bobby Hurley. He can make shots and pass. He's got good, not great speed. He has a really good feel. The kid's just a good player that would be good for that system because he can dribble, shoot and pass."

Hill was the lead recruiter on Sina and was a key factor in Sina's commitment. When Hill was the Rutgers head coach, he was the first to offer Sina as a freshman.

"Coach Hill is a great guy," Mergin said. "Northwestern is very lucky to have coach Hill. The tie was there with Coach Hill. Once we knew he was at Northwestern, we knew he would follow Jaren and do a great job of recruiting him."

Sina is expected to provide Northwestern with depth in the backcourt during his first few seasons. David Sobolewski will be a junior and Tre Demps will be a redshirt sophomore at the point guard spot when Sina arrives to the Wildcats in the 2013-14 season.

Mergin thought other top-100 recruits could follow in Sina's footsteps to Northwestern.

"Northwestern got Jaren," Mergin said. "I know it's a start. Once you get a player with Jaren's talent -- I'm not saying Jaren is going to be the Derrick Rose of Chicago -- but other people may follow him. People who really want to be student-athletes. There will be some players who will follow us."

Sina plays for Team Final, a Pennsylvania-based club team, in Nike's EYBL. Team Final went 12-8 in the spring in the EYBL, and Sina averaged eight points, two rebounds and two assists in 19 games.

Sina is Northwestern's first Class of 2013 commitment.

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Scott Powers is a general reporter for ESPNChicago.com. He is an award-winning journalist and has been reporting on preps, colleges and pros for publications throughout the Midwest since 1997.