By MICHAEL McGARRY Staff Writer, (609) 272-7185

BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP -

Scott Greenman does not look like a Division I college basketball prospect. He just plays like one. The St. Augustine Prep senior is one of New Jersey's best guards. He announced Wednesday he will attend Princeton University in fall 2002.

"Scott can beat you in so many ways," said Middle Township coach Tom Feraco, whose team lost to St. Augustine 77-59 in last season's Cape-Atlantic League championship. "He can beat you with the pass. He can beat you with the jumper. He can beat you from the foul line. He plays all phases of the game, which you don't see a lot of kids do today."

The St. Augustine roster lists Greenman as 5-feet, 11-inches tall. He says he is 5-91/2 but, laughing, asks a reporter to list him at 5-10. He weighs 165 pounds and that is after he gained 15 pounds over the summer through weight training.

"You see me out there, and you're not going to be intimidated by my stature," Greenman said. "I go out there and let my game speak for itself and let people think what they think."

Greenman is quicker and stronger than he looks. He compensates for any physical shortcomings with intelligence and hard work.

"I'm not slow," he said. "I'm not unathletic. I feel I'm athletic."

Greenman has started since he was a freshman. St. Augustine is 73-12 and has won a state championship, three South Jersey titles and two CAL championships with Greenman in the backcourt.

He averaged 12.7 points and 5.7 assists last season.

This season Greenman is the leader of Hermits team that is No. 1 in The Press' Preseason Elite 11.

St. Augustine coach Paul Rodio admitted the Hermits occasionally tease Greenman about his appearance.

"He knows it's a joke because he's been very successful," Rodio said. "He makes the right decisions. He knows what to do in key situations. He's not in awe of other people. He's very confident in his game."

Greenman is an unselfish player. He is an excellent outside shooter but can also penetrate to create shots for himself and teammates. His biggest asset on defense is his quick hands.

Greenman has a bit of babyface that is emphasized by his short haircut. He is tougher than he looks, however. He showed his mental strength against perennial New Jersey power St. Patrick's of Elizabeth last season.

Greenman made 1-of-15 shots in a 69-43 loss to St. Patrick's as a sophomore. Last season he made 8-of-11 shots - including a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer - as the Hermits won 59-57.

"He's a kid that has looked down the barrel of adversity and withstood it," Rodio said.

Greenman, a Linwood resident, comes from a basketball family. His father Allan Greenman was a standout at Atlantic City High School and Bucknell University in the 1970s.

"I liked playing basketball as soon as I started," Greenman said.

Greenman learned early the importance of playing intelligent basketball.

"I was always the point guard on my teams," he said. "If I controlled the tempo and made good decisions, we had a pretty good chance of winning. If I played stupid and had a lot of turnovers, we lost."

Greenman chose Princeton over Stanford University, which offered a full athletic scholarship.

"Princeton recruited me great," said Greenman, who has a 3.9 grade-point average. "They have a real good out-of-conference schedule and every year they have a good chance to go to the NCAA Tournament."

The Hermits will need every bit of Greenman's leadership this season.

St. Augustine is talented but will rely on young, inexperienced players to fill key roles. Freshman Larry Farmer will start. Freshman Myron Rolle will be one of the first players off the bench.

"We're going to go as far as (Greenman) takes us," Rodio said. "He knows our schedule. He knows what we're up against and what we have to do for us to be successful."

Greenman would like nothing more than for Farmer and Rolle to experience what he did as St. Augustine freshman. The Hermits won the state Parochial B championship that 1998-99 season.

"Everybody said time flies, but you don't notice it going by," Greenman said. "I remember what happened my freshman year like it was a few weeks ago. I'm looking forward to a good senior year."