REPORTS: Northern Illinois transfer David Coit tells the ‘underdog’ story that led his commitment

Texas A&M has secured a late commitment from David Coit, a transfer from Northern Illinois.

The 5-11, 175-pound guard averaged 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over 29 games for the Huskies during the 2023-24 season. Coit had an impressive performance with 10 games scoring 25 or more points, including four games where he surpassed 30 points. Despite his achievements at Northern Illinois, Coit has faced significant challenges along the way.

“I attended Princeton Day School in New Jersey and wasn’t recruited by anyone. I had no stars, and not a single school showed interest in me. After my post-grad year, I performed well, but then Covid struck, and everyone advised me to give up on basketball. However, I still wanted to pursue my dream,” Coit shared.

Pursuing his dream required Coit to make significant changes in his life, including taking a day job and losing weight.

“I took a gap year during 2020-2021, working out and delivering pizza,” he said. “During that time, I lost 30-35 pounds. A year later, my mentor became the head coach at Atlantic Cape JUCO, and he invited me to play for him. Initially, I was hesitant because I didn’t want to stay home, but he convinced me that it would be beneficial. I arrived in August, and within a month, I received 5-10 Division I offers. That experience completely transformed my life.”

During his time at Atlantic Cape, Coit topped the national scoring charts and earned JUCO All-American honors before moving on to NIU.

Having successfully navigated the transition from JUCO to Division I basketball, Coit now faces another adjustment as he joins the Aggie program this late in the summer. He recognizes that there could be challenges ahead, but he’s eager to contribute to a team that has the potential for NCAA Tournament success.

“They’re already a top 10-15 team, so I know I’m entering into a great situation,” he said. “I’m joining a program with coaches who excel at working with smaller guards. They want me to score and shoot, and my ability to play both on and off the ball will provide a fresh dynamic that they didn’t have last year. It’s the new style they were looking for.”

Now that Coit has committed to Texas A&M, he believes his mindset and attitude will help elevate the Aggies to new heights.

“Aggie fans can expect someone who works incredibly hard,” he said. “I have a true underdog story. I give my all in everything I do and pour my heart into the game. I’m a winner, I want to be here, and I feel blessed to be a part of this. I’m hungry, unselfish, caring, and loving.”

Coit has also set ambitious goals for the upcoming season.

“We have the potential to be great,” he said. “The goal is a National Championship. They made it to the tournament and lost to Houston in overtime, and they’ve competed in SEC championships—so they’ve done it all. At this point, our focus is on winning an SEC Championship and making a run for the National Championship.”