Late Wednesday morning, even after all of the formalities had been wrapped up, Jonas Page’s mind continued to spin at mach speed.
And when one considers what the recent Susquehanna Twp. grad has been trying to absorb for the past week, those who’ve bumped into the 6-7, 180-pounder as a remarkably hectic yet memorable stretch has played out will immediately understand.
As for Page’s wide grin?
Merely a side effect from the whirlwind courtship that resulted in the talented Indians jump shooter bagging the NCAA Division I basketball scholarship he’s been chasing for quite some time.
Finalizing his college plans in the Susquehanna Twp. library late Wednesday morning, Page solidified his move to the Sunshine State by signing a letter of intent with Florida International.
Page is the first Susquehanna Twp. player to align with a D-I men’s basketball program since Dewayne “The Glove” Spencer trucked off to Hampton some 10 years ago.
Page, however, may have set a record of sorts by needing just over one rapidly paced week to wrap things up.
“It was really amazing,” Page said. “I had to take it.”
And considering FIU didn’t contact Page until last Tuesday — just hours before he donned a cap and gown for commencement — one can see why he’s still a bit overwhelmed by how swiftly his immediate future took a sudden turn to the southeast.
Page was all set to attend IMG Academy, a prep school in Bradenton on Florida’s Gulf Coast, until FIU invited him for a weekend visit and a tour of its Miami campus. A good bit of dialogue later — dialogue highlighted by a scholarship offer — Page verbally committed.
“I’m really excited for him,” said Susquehanna Twp. head coach Vince Rogers, who dispatched Page’s highlight tapes to some 40 programs and put that same video online. FIU, even though Pitino was still in charge, was among those schools on Rogers’ mailing list.
“He’s worked extremely hard and he’s persevered through some tough times. I’m just happy it worked out for him and his family.”
Wednesday morning, with family members, school officials, former teammates and friends looking on, Page signed with a Golden Panthers program now fronted by first-year coach Anthony Evans.
Evans landed in Miami after spending a half-dozen seasons and winning 99 games at Norfolk State. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native was chosen to succeed Richard Pitino, who relocated to Minnesota.
“I still haven’t felt the full impact of it,” admitted Page, who verbally committed on Sunday before returning to suburban Harrisburg. “It just happened so quickly. Just last Tuesday I was set on IMG and one phone call and I go down there and see an amazing campus.
“I’m so excited.”
Page is excited about a number of things, all of them tied to FIU.
* The Golden Panthers, 18-14 last season under Pitino, are leaving the Sun Belt Conference in a few weeks for Conference USA.
* Evans-coached teams generally compete at a frisky tempo and prefer the transition game, a style of play that Page’s game fits rather snugly since he likes to run the floor and hoist jumpers. Page, after all, bagged 40 3-pointers during his senior year at Susquehanna.
* FIU wants Page, who averaged just under 13 points and seven rebounds per game for a Susquehanna Twp. club (25-5) that won a Mid-Penn Keystone Division title and reached the second round of the PIAA Class AAA tournament, to play in the backcourt.
* And Page, even if he was swept up in a whirlwind courtship, is part of Evans’ initial recruiting class at FIU.
“I’m really grateful for this situation, being one of the first recruits,” Page revealed. “That helps me feel like I’m helping to build a program and I’m going to be a special part of it.
“I’m looking to just go and work my hardest and play my hardest right now,” Page continued. “Work my way in and try to see if I can be an impact player.”
Immediately, too.
Planning to start driving south later Wednesday, FIU wants Page in Miami by Saturday so he can get familiar with the Golden Panthers’ offseason workout regimen and his teammates. Especially since Page knows he needs to add weight and strength to his slender frame.
Developing an improved handle, particularly since Page is ticketed for FIU’s backcourt, will be on his to-do list as well.
“He’s a kid who can shoot the ball very well, he has excellent form,” Rogers said. “Again, at 6-6, if he can add 20 pounds, he can do some great things at the D-I level.
“He hasn’t even scratched the surface of what he can do.”
“It’s a great situation for him,” said Susquehanna Twp. assistant coach John Ruby, a former D-I assistant. “He’ll work.
“He’ll have to work, but it’ll be good for him.”
Plus, one of FIU’s summer sessions begins next week. That will give Page, who wants to major in physics, an early look at the academic demands he’ll need to deal with when not playing ball.
Or hitting the beaches, which are just some 25 minutes from campus.
“I really love the weather down there, that’s what I like,” admitted Page, who spent his first two high school seasons at Carlisle.
“I was happy for that. I was really set on Florida, because I just love the weather down there and love the environment. When another Florida school called with a Division I offer, I was just really excited.”
MICHAEL BULLOCK:mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n