Sacred Heart’s Mustapha Heron on his way to Auburn

Sacred Heart boys basketball standout Mustapha Heron signed on the dotted line Thursday to play for the Auburn Tigers of the Southeastern Conference.
Heron made his commitment official by signing a National Letter of Intent. Heron is a five-star recruit according to several different basketball outlets, and he’s ranked in the Top 25 in the country by those same organizations, according to a story posted on the Auburn men’s basketball website.
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl certainly seems excited about landing Heron, who led a dominant Sacred Heart to an undefeated state championship and No. 1 ranking last year.
“Mustapha is a program changer,” Pearl told www.auburntigers.com. “Mustapha was one of two of three players this summer whom I enjoyed watching more than anybody. You talk about productive, impossible to stay in front of, vicious at the rim, explosive with either hand, tremendous range in his jump shot, willing defender, leader and mature beyond his years.”
High praise from the coach of a Division I college basketball program. There’s still one more year of high school basketball left for Heron at Sacred Heart as the Hearts try to go for a three-peat. Heron is obviously the big name returning, but he’ll also have junior Tyrn Flowers alongside him. Flowers has solid skills as a big wing and could certainly be a Division I player as well.
Sacred Heart will play in Class M in the state tournament this year, thanks to the CIAC’s success in tournament factor. The Hearts open the season at Wilby on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. 
Of note, Sacred Heart will play in two big tournaments this year. First up is the annual Spaulding Hoop Hall Classic at Springfield College on Jan. 16. On Jan. 18, the Hearts go to the Big Apple Classic at Baruch College in New York.