Piscataway’s Saintil Headed to FDU-Florham

Follows Up Solid Career at MCC with Commitment to D3 Devils of Freedom Conference


Cameron Saintil (#25 in White) of Piscataway puts up a shot for Middlesex County College in the first half of the Blue Colts Region 19 semifinal game versus Cumberland County College on March 2nd. Saintil recently committed to play at FDU-Florham next season.

EDISON, NJ—While former GMC standouts Letrell West and Deontae Crawford were big stars for Middlesex County College this past season, Piscataway alum, Cameron Saintil was the glue that held the Blue Colts together. With gritty performances at both ends of the floor, Saintil made a significant contribution to the 2018-19 Blue Colts drive to a Region 19 crown, and an appearance in the NJCAA Division 3 National Championship Tournament.

Middlesex County College, under the guidance of former St. Joseph’s boys basketball head coach, Dave Turco, turned in its best season since 2007-08 with a 27-7 overall record including a 16-4 mark in Region 19 to earn the 2nd seed in the post-season tourney. Saintil played in all 34 of MCC’s games including 32 starts. He played a total of 812 minutes, or an average of 23.9 minutes per game, made 63 of 149 shots from the floor for 42.3 percent including 23 of 52 from downtown for 44.2 percent.

Saintil, who played in each of the past two seasons at MCC, also made 62 of 78 from the free throw line for 79.5 percent. He collected 144 total rebounds including 33 on the offensive glass while handing out 67 assists, swiping 14 steals, and blocking 13 shots. Saintil averaged 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and just under 2.0 assists per contest. He only committed 76 personal fouls, fouled out of just one game, and committed 49 turnovers for an assist to turnover ratio of 1.4.

However, it was the intangibles that Saintil brought that made him so special and a key ingredient to this Middlesex County College men’s basketball team this season. It was his hustle, scrapping for loose balls, going across the floor to get a rebound, drawing charges, and doing the little things most people do not notice much in a game, but add up to being a very important factor in a team winning or losing a game. Much of these traits were very evident in Middlesex C.C.’s win at Union (83-76) on November 27th of this past season.

Saintil will be bringing those qualities to the Freedom Conference next fall. A little more than a week ago, GMC Hoops learned that Saintil will be attending the Florham Campus of Farleigh Dickinson University, where he will be playing alongside fellow GMC standout, Derrick Whitaker of South River for the Blue Devils next season. FDU-Florham has had its share of former GMC players at the school in the past including Andrew Biancosino (J.P. Stevens), Mike Williamson (Bishop Ahr), Steve Herdman (South Amboy), and Joe Duffy (J.F. Kennedy).

Playing for MCC a year ago as well, Saintil was on a Blue Colt squad that finished 13-16 overall including a 9-15 record in conference play. Saintil had a good freshman campaign by playing in 28 of MCC’s 29 games. He connected on 47 of 133 shots for 35.3 percent including 9 of 35 from three, and made 43 of 64 shots from the line for 67.2 percent. Saintil also tallied 93 total rebounds including 28 on the offensive glass, 18 assists, 7 steals, and 4 blocks. He only committed 4 fouls and 24 turnovers. He averaged 5.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.

Over his two year career at Middlesex, Saintil made 110 of 282 shots from the floor (39.0 percent) including 32 of 87 (36.8 percent) from long distance. He also made 105 of 142 attempts from the charity stripe (73.9 percent) to tally 357 points for his career, or an average of 5.8 points per game. Saintil also grabbed a total of 237 rebounds including 61 on the offensive boards for an average of 3.8 per contest. In addition, the Piscataway native compiled 85 assists, or an average of 1.4 per game, 21 steals, and 17 blocked shots.

In the 2019 Region 19 Tournament, Saintil started out with a 13 point performance on 5 of 9 shooting from the floor and 3 of 5 from the line along with 10 rebounds for a double-double, 5 assists, and a steal in a 94-79 win over the Community College of Philadelphia. Against Cumberland County College in the semifinals, Saintil struggled offensively with only 2 points, which both came at the line, but he still proved to be a factor with 11 boards, 7 assists, and a steal in 25 minutes of action.

Finally, in the Championship Game, Saintil played 34 minutes, made 4 of 6 shots including a three, and made all three of his free throw attempts for 12 points along with 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Over the three games that MCC played in the Region 19 tourney, Saintil tallied 84 minutes of playing time, made 9 of 20 shots from the field, and 8 of 12 from the line for 27 points, 28 rebounds, 16 assists, and 2 steals for an average of 27 minutes, 9.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.

Saintil will be joining an FDU-Florham men’s basketball program that has been rebuilding over the past couple seasons. The Devils, one of three teams within a couple minutes of each other in The Rose City of Madison, New Jersey, was only 7-18 overall including a 4-10 mark in conference play this past season. Neverthless, it was still a step up from the 2017-18 campaign when FDU-Florham only went 3-22 overall including a 3-11 record in the Freedom Conference. The additions of Saintil and Whitaker from the GMC will help further improve the Devils fortunes. Congratulations Cameron on making it to the next step in your college career, and continued success moving forward.