Ex-BRHS Basketball Star Starter on Division I Team

In his first year as a member of the New Jersey Institute of Technology men's basketball team in 2010, former graduate Arjun Ohri played a pivotal role off the bench for the Highlanders.

Arjun, a 2006 Bridgewater graduate, averaged 5.5 points a game and made 46 percent of his three-pointers (28-of-61) in 21 games.   

This year, the senior is starting.

Thus far through the team's first five games—NJIT has a 2-3 record—Ohri is averaging nine points a game and shooting 44 percent from three-point land (11-of-25). His minutes are up from 13.1 the previous season to nearly 21 this season.

"It feels great," Ohri said. "I've worked real hard throughout my career in basketball to get to where I have gotten."

"And getting the starting position has been a dream come true, especially at the D-1 level," he added. "I'm just very thankful and blessed to have gotten the opportunity."

What makes Ohri's feat impressive is that during the offseason, he was interning, and was thus unable to concentrate solely on getting ready for this season until the internship was over.

"I worked very hard," he said, "harder than I've ever worked before."

"Coach [Jim] Engles really pushes us to our limits and beyond," he added. "I really didn't spend much time on my game in the offseason due to my internship, so when I got back to school, I had to make up for lost time."

Despite having accomplished a lot on the court since graduating from BRHS—Ohri wasn't heavily recruited out of high school, but worked his way from prep school through the Division III ranks and on to NJIT—he's not resting on his laurels.

"I'm never satisfied," he said. "I always want more."

"You can never be successful in life if you are satisfied," he added. "You need to keep fighting for your dreams and goals. That's what life is about. But I have worked really hard and I am very greatful to be in the position that I am in, and to have been given the opportunity to start is just another blessing."

NJIT traditionally plays one of the hardest non-conference schedules in the country. The Highlanders play conference ball in the Great West Conference.

Before the team tackles the Great West, NJIT has notable games with national power Georgetown in Washington D.C. Dec. 3, and Seton Hall at the Prudential Center Dec. 6. The team will also battle Rutgers in Piscataway Dec. 22.

"It would be tremendous to get support from the Bridgewater community for the Rutgers game," Ohri said. "I love playing against good competition. That's why we play the game."

"It's been a dream to play at some of the places we have, such as Maryland, and soon-to-be Georgetown, Rutgers and Seton Hall," he added.

Upon graduation, Ohri plans to attempt to play overseas, but also would like to be a business owner.

"Basketball comes to an end for everyone [at some point]," he said. "Must have a plan B."

For now, Ohri is a major plan of attack for the NJIT offense, and teams have begun to take note.

In the season opener against Manhattan College in New York, the Jaspers bench called out "shooter" every time Ohri curled around a screen or caught the ball.

"I've improved myself in the preseason and in practice," Ohri said. "The main thing now is consistancy and focus."

Update on other local college basketball players, and former BRHS grads [Note: Cullinan is an Immaculata graduate]:    

Max Schwartz, sophomore forward, Stevens Institute of Technology: Schwartz has played in all of the team's six games. He's averaging 4.3 points and 1.8 rebounds a game for the 5-1 Ducks, who play in D-III.

Jeff Cullinan, senior forward, Moravian College: Cullinan, who's majoring in business management, is averaging 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds a game for the D-III school. He's started all five games and the team's record is 2-3.