St. Peter's guard Reilly Walsh has verbally committed to attend the New Jersey Institute of Technology on a full athletic scholarship, the Advance has learned.

The 6-foot-4 senior, who is coming off an Advance All Star season for a team that finished 27-4 overall, decided to commit to the Division 1 Highlanders after also drawing interest from the likes of Northeastern, Columbia, Iona, Fordham, Penn and St. Anslem.

Walsh will join a team coached by former Staten Island resident and St. Peter's basketball standout Jimmy Engles, who has done an admirable job turning NJIT into a competitive program since taking it over for the 2008-09 season.

"I just think it's a great fit for me ... I visited there a couple of times, I saw them practice and I think I will fit right into their system,'' said Walsh, a soon-to-be three-year varsity player at St. Peter's. "Coach Engles and his coaching staff came to see me play several times, including during the (CHSAA playoffs at the end of last season) and in Pittsburgh and Springfield, Mass., when I played with the (Staten Island) Stingrays over the summer.

"Coach Engles has done a great job turning their program around and I'm really looking forward to being a part of it.''

St. Peter's coach Charlie Driscoll, who watched former star and Jaques Award winner Ryan Woods play for NJIT in recent years, said he thinks Walsh made a sound decision.

"It's a good fit for several reasons,'' said Driscoll. "For starters, he's a very good student and he'll be close to home. I think he's looking forward to playing for Jimmy (Engles), who's been watching him for a while.

"Jimmy and his assistants were very interested in Reilly and I'm happy for them as well.''

The versatile Walsh enjoyed a highly successful junior season in which he helped the Eagles capture the school's 30th SIHSL championship, as well as make an appearance in the CHSAA AA Intersectional semifinals.

Walsh, a deadly 3-point shooter, averaged 15.0 points, a team-high 5.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest on a team that thrived on balance. He also shot 84 percent from the free-throw line and is considered a top-notch ball-handler and defender.

Walsh said he will likely play shooting guard for the Highlanders, although it hasn't been formally discussed.

"I'll contribute any way I can,'' said the West Brighton resident. "I didn't talk to them directly (on what position) I'll be playing, but they think i could be (a big contributor) and said they wanted me.

"I know they're confident in my shooting ability, so maybe I'll be a shooting guard, but I'd do whatever they want me to do.''

"I think he'll be a two-man (shooting guard),'' added Driscoll. "I know they like the way he shoots and he's got a very good basketball IQ, so I can see him as a two or three (shooting forward).''

NJIT is currently an independent school, but with a brand-new facility being constructed on its campus in Newark, the program is expected to join a conference in the upcoming years. The Highlanders were 13-16 overall a year ago, but returns their leading scorer (guard Damon Lynn) and have a roster with 11 underclassman for the upcoming season.

In addition to Woods, former Advance All Star Isaiah Wilkerson, a Curtis product, has played for Engles at NJIT and the current roster includes former McKee/Staten Island Tech scoring machine Osa Izevbuwa.

The 17-year-old Walsh, who hasn't decided on a major, is glad to get his decision out of the way before his senior year starts.

"I'm comfortable with my decision. I didn't want to pass up their offer and I'm glad I took it,'' said Walsh, whose father, John, is the junior varsity coach at St. Peter's. "I'm looking forward to my senior year, as well as my (years at NJIT).

"They play well together. They play well as a team and that's something I really like.

"And I'm also very excited I'll be close enough for family and friends to come watch me play.''