Gene Teague has searched for the right place to play basketball.
In high school, after three years at St. Augustine Prep, he transferred to Living Faith Academy in Cherry Hill so he could get more exposure to college scouts.
He then attended Apex Academy, a post-secondary school in Pennsauken. He became the top-ranked post-graduate player in the state.
He is now on to his second college. Teague transferred from Southern Illinois University to Seton Hall, school officials announced Thursday.
The Vineland native said this is his final stop.
“I was just trying to find a home,” the 21-year-old said on the phone Thursday. “I feel like I have found that now. This school has everything I want – being close to home, one of the best leagues in the nation. This is where I should have been all along.”
Teague, 6-foot-9, 290 pounds, was recruited by Seton Hall out of high school, but said he wasn’t interested in the Big East program at the time.
He ended up at Southern Illinois where he averaged 7.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in two seasons. Teague had a breakout season his sophomore year when he averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds, and had four double-doubles in 19 games.
But he missed games due a sprained ankle and he was also suspended for three games for disciplinary reasons.
Even though basketball seemed to be coming together and Teague became a better player, things didn’t feel right for him.
He missed his family and friends – who were only able to attend one of his games in two years – and didn’t get accustomed to a lifestyle outside of New Jersey.
“There was nothing wrong with the school. It was a nice school. It was just in the middle of nowhere,” Teague said. “I really wanted to be closer to home. That’s the main reason why I left.”
Teague will have to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules. He will be ready to play for the 2012-13 season.
Seton Hall finished 12th in the Big East last season with a 13-18 record and was 7-11 in the league.
“I’m really excited to welcome Gene to the Seton Hall family,” coach Kevin Willard said. “His size and post skills will certainly bolster our front court next year and his presence at practice will only make our young big men better this year.”
Teague has been at Seton Hall for nearly three weeks already taking classes, but his transfer wasn’t official until Thursday.
He looked at other schools during the process with all of them being on the East Coast. He expects his family to go to every home game once he starts playing for the Pirates.
Teague also picked Seton Hall because he felt he would get a chance to pick up where he left off with the Salukis.
” basically told me he needed me to come play for him,” Teague said. “He said he wanted me to come be a monster. If I work hard, I can do that. I am just looking forward to becoming a better player on and off the court. I know they will offer that to me.”
Teague was a Press first-team All-Star in 2007.
