Benet's Haggerty accepts offer from UW-Milwaukee

A year ago Ryan Haggerty simply hoped to play Division III basketball.

This week the Benet senior fulfilled a much bigger dream when he accepted a Division I scholarship to play for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Haggerty's meteoric rise began in the summer when he participated in AAU tournaments in Boston and Las Vegas for the Illinois Wolves. It was a match made by Benet coach Marty Gaughan, who assisted the Wolves in the off-season.

Combined with standout performances in summer showcases, the 6-foot-8 forward suddenly appeared on the Division I radar.

After a visit last weekend to Milwaukee that included his entire family attending Saturday's game against Detroit, the Panthers coaching staff offered Haggerty a scholarship. He called the staff on Sunday to accept the offer.

"The way things were going I had a feeling it was on the horizon," said Haggerty, a Glen Ellyn resident. "As soon as they offered I knew in my mind that I'd accept the offer. But I wanted to talk it over with my family to make sure it was the right decision."

Gaughan believes Haggerty's best playing days are ahead of him. In fact Haggerty already is expecting to be redshirted next season to prepare for the rigors of the college game.

Haggerty's size and talent while facing the basket attracted the Panthers' attention, Gaughan said.

"He caught their eye and generated some interest," said Gaughan, whose last recruited Division I player was Neal Fitzgerald, who went to Creighton in 1991. "They're projecting him for where he'll be in the future. They're looking at where he'll be two years from now."

In his second year as a varsity starter, Haggerty is averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds for Benet (5-7).

"This was a dream of mine since I was a little kid," Haggerty said. "It's such a relief to have the decision made. Now I can just focus on the rest of the season."