Solomon Gustafson, a 6’8” power forward, of Rock Island High School and the Quad City Elite has committed to Quincy University and head coach Ryan Hellenthal. The senior picked the Hawks over his other scholarship offers from Culver-Stockton and St. Cloud State. At Quincy, he will be joining his former Rock Island teammate; Jamir Price, who is currently a freshman guard. 

When asked why he made his choice, Gustafson said “I picked Quincy because of the community surrounding the school, basketball is a big deal there and I really like that…and I felt at home when I was on campus.”

Another big factor that came up multiple times in his reasoning was the coaching staff at Quincy. “The Quincy coaches were amazing, they never pressured me but were just honest and cared about me making the right decision…the coaches were personable and I felt like they cared about me as a person other than just basketball.”

Gustafson is an effective 6’8” big man on both ends of the court with a good frame and length. He is an active defender with good shot blocking ability that can rebound at a high rate. On the other end, he scores well around the basket and hits the offensive glass hard. When asked how he sees himself fitting in with his future team, “I see myself filling in the shoes of the big guys that are graduating.”

“I wanted to get the pressure of my shoulders so I could focus on my senior season, but I also felt that Quincy was definitely the right fit for me,” Gustafson mentioned on why the time was right to commit. With his senior season getting close, Gustafson is looking to be a leader for his team and to get a state championship before he heads off to Quincy next fall.