Geneva's Navigato selects Toledo
Geneva senior Nate Navigato can finally set his mind at ease and gear up for some college basketball.
"I'm just excited to be a Toledo Rocket," the 6-foot-8 guard-forward said Tuesday afternoon while watching the Vikings' softball team beat Elgin. He'd committed to Toledo and Rockets coach Tod Kowalczyk earlier in the day.
Navigato, the Daily Herald's Tri-Cities All-Area co-captain last season with St. Charles East guard Cole Gentry, had committed to Buffalo on Sept. 16, 2014, and signed his letter of intent in February. Following the NCAA season, Buffalo coach Bobby Hurley left to take the head coaching job at Arizona State.
Despite Buffalo interim head coach Nate Oats expressing interest for Navigato to remain at Buffalo, a slight uncertainty and a desire to stay closer to home caused the Geneva senior to request a release from his National Letter of Intent. That was granted in mid-April.
"I think very highly of him," Navigato said of Oats, who accompanied Hurley to Geneva the day Navigato committed to Buffalo.
"I think he can do great at Buffalo."
Navigato - who finished as Geneva's all-time leader in scoring, assists, blocks, steals and 3-point baskets while leading the Vikings to fourth place in Class 4A - chose Toledo over Bradley. He also drew either offers or interest from University of Illinois-Chicago, American University in Washington, D.C., and other Eastern programs such as James Madison, Marist, George Washington and Duquesne.
On April 28 he visited Toledo and was hooked. Toledo staff had visited Navigato last summer while playing with his Mercury Elite AAU team.
"I think this is a great opportunity for me," he said. "Coach Kowalczyk is a great coach, I love all the players there and the campus is really awesome. I love everything about Toledo. It's a great fit for me."
The Rockets finished 20-13 and 11-7 in the Mid-American Conference (including a 92-88 win at Buffalo). The 2015-16 roster includes Chicago-area products Nathan Boothe of Warren and Kurt Hall of North Chicago.
Navigato will report to Toledo for a camp starting June 29, return in August for another session, and then finally go back for good when school begins in late summer.
"It's definitely a relief," he said.