The Tri-Lakes in northern New York will be getting some representation on the NCAA Division I men’s basketball court. Saranac Lake, New York, native Markus Navarra plans to take his talents to Youngstown State University, a mid-major basketball program in Ohio. “It means a lot. It’s a great opportunity,” Navarra said. “Going to hopefully make the best of it.”Navarra was a standout athlete at Saranac Lake High School, competing for the school’s football and men’s basketball teams. His junior season saw his numbers skyrocket from his first year on varsity as a sophomore. He averaged 12.4 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game, 1.5 steals per game, and 1.5 blocks per game. However, Navarra decided to transfer out of Saranac Lake at the start of his senior season, starting his journey on the preparatory basketball committee circuit. He said this decision was a tough one, but a key one to make to receive the right amount of exposure to become a NCAA Division I athlete. “I decided to go to prep school because obviously of the greater opportunity to play higher competition, higher standards, higher everything,” Navarra said. “It puts you closer to everything, Division I coaches, unless you’re super good, they’re all looking at prep schools or transfers. It was really a lot of sacrifices to be made. I had to leave my hometown. No senior year, no prom, none of that.” Navara played his first year of prep school at Putnam Science Academy in in Putnam, Connecticut, and AAU basketball for the Northeast Revolt before competing in his final year of prep school at Lee Academy in Lee, Maine. He was thrilled that Youngstown State gave him the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level, despite having to get surgery for a hip injury. “I had to find a school that was willing to take that on,” Navarra said. “It was honestly really hard, to be honest. I’m just lifting, doing workouts, running and just shooting on my own time. Hopefully, they’re expecting me to be fully ready to go by September.” Navarra will join a Youngstown State squad that finished Horizon League play this season with a second-place regular season finish at 21-13. Youngstown was also one win away from the NCAA men’s basketball tournament after a loss to Robert Morris University in the Horizon League championship.

SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. —

The Tri-Lakes in northern New York will be getting some representation on the NCAA Division I men’s basketball court.

Saranac Lake, New York, native Markus Navarra plans to take his talents to Youngstown State University, a mid-major basketball program in Ohio.

“It means a lot. It’s a great opportunity,” Navarra said. “Going to hopefully make the best of it.”

Navarra was a standout athlete at Saranac Lake High School, competing for the school’s football and men’s basketball teams. His junior season saw his numbers skyrocket from his first year on varsity as a sophomore. He averaged 12.4 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game, 1.5 steals per game, and 1.5 blocks per game.

However, Navarra decided to transfer out of Saranac Lake at the start of his senior season, starting his journey on the preparatory basketball committee circuit. He said this decision was a tough one, but a key one to make to receive the right amount of exposure to become a NCAA Division I athlete.

“I decided to go to prep school because obviously of the greater opportunity to play higher competition, higher standards, higher everything,” Navarra said. “It puts you closer to everything, Division I coaches, unless you’re super good, they’re all looking at prep schools or transfers. It was really a lot of sacrifices to be made. I had to leave my hometown. No senior year, no prom, none of that.”

Navara played his first year of prep school at Putnam Science Academy in in Putnam, Connecticut, and AAU basketball for the Northeast Revolt before competing in his final year of prep school at Lee Academy in Lee, Maine. He was thrilled that Youngstown State gave him the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level, despite having to get surgery for a hip injury.

“I had to find a school that was willing to take that on,” Navarra said. “It was honestly really hard, to be honest. I’m just lifting, doing workouts, running and just shooting on my own time. Hopefully, they’re expecting me to be fully ready to go by September.”

Navarra will join a Youngstown State squad that finished Horizon League play this season with a second-place regular season finish at 21-13. Youngstown was also one win away from the NCAA men’s basketball tournament after a loss to Robert Morris University in the Horizon League championship.