ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Nelson Kaputo, a 6-foot-1 guard from Toronto, Ontario, has accepted an athletics grant-in-aid from St. Bonaventure University. He will have four years of eligibility.

Kaputo has extensive experience for successful high school and AAU programs and also played for Canada's under-17 national team. North Pole Hoops ranked Kaputo eighth on its list of Class of 2016 Canadian prospects.

"We are ecstatic to have Nelson join our program," said St. Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt. "He's a consummate point guard … a pass-first point guard with a great feel for the game. He's an attacker and a playmaker on the floor.

"One of the main things we look for in recruiting is kids who come from successful programs, and Nelson has always delivered when he's been in pressure situations. He knows the sacrifices and dedication it takes to be successful."

This past March, Kaputo led St. Michael's College School to its second Ontario Provincial Championship in the last three years as well as the top spot in North Pole Hoops' national rankings. St. Michael's defeated St. Edmund Campion, 79-59, in the OPC title game, to finish the season 37-0 against Canadian competition and 47-1 overall.

Kaputo also played for the highly-competitive CIA Bounce AAU program. Last summer, Caputo earned a spot on the Canadian Under-17 national team that traveled to the FIBA World Championships.

Kaputo will join a talented Bonnies backcourt that features returning starters Marcus Posley and Jaylen Adams.

"Nelson gives us depth. We won't have to shift Marcus (Posley) to the point guard if something happens to Jay – we can keep him at his natural position (shooting guard)," Schmidt said. "He really gives us more flexibility. Maybe we'll play all three of them together at times. It's just a good situation to have more depth."

Kaputo will be the fourth new member of Schmidt's team next season. He joins junior college swingman Courtney Stockard, freshman forward Derrick Woods and freshman swingman LaDarian Griffin.

St. Bonaventure returns three starters – Posley, Adams and Dion Wright – from last year's 18-13 team.