3 More Iona Prep Star Athletes Commit To Big Name Programs

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Iona Prep will once again be well-represented in the NCAA as three more students signed letters of intent to join athletic programs at Division I schools after graduating.

The Iona Preparatory School scholar-athletes declared their intentions as part of the school year’s second National Signing Day. The announcements bring the total to thirteen Division I signings from the Class of 2022.

An ESPN-style National Signing Day event this week marked the occasion.

The letter of intent announcements were accompanied by remarks by Athletic Director Ryan Mahoney and Varsity Football Head Coach Joe Spagnolo. Parents, teachers and fellow students were able to watch remotely.

All three are captains of the school’s first-ever Catholic State Championship team.

The student athletes being celebrated had an average GPA of 90 (as did their teammates) The team was one of five of the nine Iona Prep fall sports teams—some 267 scholar-athletes—to have a collective GPA above 90. The cumulative GPA of those nine teams was also a 90.

The three latest Iona Prep Gaels to commit to Division I schools are well-known in the region and will soon have the chance to make names for themselves on the national stage.

Biographical information on the latest college recruits was provided by Iona Preparatory School:

Justin Joly, 17, Brewster, NY
Football | University of Connecticut - DI

Justin has been a 4-year member of the football program and 3-year varsity starter. Sophomore year, he helped the team reach the CHSFL semifinals. In his junior year, the team was undefeated in the Spring 2 season and, senior year, Justin led the team to an 11-1 record where they were league champions, CHSFL champions, and NYS Catholic Champions. Justin had other offers and interests from Delaware, Stony Brook, Monmouth, University at Albany, Maine, University of Rhode Island, Sacred Heart, University of New Hampshire, and Richmond. As a sophomore, Justin was named All-League. As a senior, Justin was named to the Lohud Super 11 list and was a captain of the varsity football team. As a wide receiver, Justin had 67 catches for 1,033 yards and 13 total touchdowns. He also had 362 rushing yards and one interception on defense. He was named State Championship offensive MVP, Senior Bowl offensive MVP, First Team All-League LoHud Player of the Week for his performance against Stepinac and won the trophy for excellence awarded by the varsity football team. Justin is a member of the African American Society and also played 3 years of basketball. He is a volunteer with the Jack & Jill Foundation, an organization that invests in services and programs that focus on impacting the underlying issues affecting African-American children and families.

Justin Federico 17, Putnam Valley, NY
Football | Wagner College - DI - NEC

Justin is a 3-year member of our football program and a 2-year varsity starter on the offensive line. He was a member of the undefeated spring 2 varsity football team and team captain for the 11-1 league, CHSFL and NYS Catholic Championship team. Justin was a finalist for the preseason LoHud super 11 list. He was named MVP of the NYS Catholic championship game by the varsity coaching staff. Justin was a finalist for the Golden Dozen award, which recognizes the area’s top scholar-athletes. Justin had other offers and interests from Marist, LIU, Merrimack, Stony Brook, Stonehill, and Central Connecticut State. Justin is a 3-year member of our wrestling program and is also a member of the STEM club, the Big Brother program, and the Leadership Committee. Justin has a 92 overall GPA and received First Honors.

Scott Becker, 18, Briarcliff Manor, NY
Football | Princeton University - DI - Ivy League

Scott is a 3-year member of our football program and a 3-year varsity starter on our offensive line. He was also a member of the state championship JV lacrosse team in 2019. Sophomore year he helped the team win the regular-season league title and reach the semifinals. During his junior year, he helped the team go undefeated in the Spring 2 football season. Senior year he led the team to an 11-1 overall record, the league title, CHSFL Championship, and NYS Catholic Championship. Scott had other interests and offers from all but one Ivy League school, Army, Navy, Air Force, Holy Cross, Fordham, Lafayette, Sacred Heart, Bryant, and Missouri State.

As a sophomore, Scott was named All-County and was named MVP of the Battle of the Bridge against Pope John at MetLife Stadium. In his junior year, he was named All-League and All-County. Scott’s senior year, he was a team captain, named to the LoHud Super 11 team, was All-League, CHSFL Lineman of the Year, and the first-ever Iona Prep recipient of the Monsignor Peter’s Memorial Trophy, which is given to the top scholar-athlete in the CHSFL. Scott is the Vice President of the International Relations Club, St. John House Captain, a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and a Big Brother program member. Scott has a 97.4 overall GPA and will continue his academic and football career at Princeton University.