Bersch, who averaged 13.1 points for the state Group 4 champion last season, entered the summer on the lists of a number of Division I schools.

His name, however, was crossed off on a few of those lists when Bersch suffered a separated shoulder in mid-July - the heart of the college evaluating season.

Bersch is smart enough to know all about the recruiting game. Actually he's smart enough to know just about anything, with a 4.0 grade point average.

"The injury hurt me with a lot of bigger schools," he said.

Earlier this week, Bersch accepted a full scholarship from American University.

American may not be a so-called big school, but the Eagles are growing in basketball stature.

Last season, when coach Jeff Jones guided them to the Patriot League title, the Eagles earned their first-ever NCAA tournament berth.

In addition to the academics and the emerging basketball program, Bersch thought highly of the loyalty shown by the coaching staff, which never wavered in its commitment to him after the injury.

Bersch can sign a letter of intent on Nov. 12. The NCAA prohibits college coaches from commenting on a recruit until he officially signs with the school.

When college coaches were allowed to visit high schools in early September, Jones and his American U. assistants spent the day at Rancocas Valley, according to Red Devils coach Jay Flanagan.

"Mike was their top recruit," Flanagan said.

So the injury didn't seem to bother American. In a strange way, it may have helped the Eagles, because other schools dropped out of the recruiting derby, choosing to pursue the healthy players in the summer.

It's not as if Bersch was without offers after the injury. La Salle, New Hampshire, Albany, Boston University and Holy Cross were among the schools that offered him a scholarship, according to Flanagan.

"I think bigger schools would have come after Mike, but American had everything he was looking for," the coach said.

There is an old axiom in recruiting that a player is better going a level lower than one too high. The inference is that a player, with stars in his or her eyes, might choose a school where playing time is almost nonexistent.

"He was their top recruit and will get to play the 2-3 position," Flanagan said, referring to shooting guard and small forward.

As for Bersch, he seems to be a good fit at American. What school wouldn't want a 6-7 swingman who hit 10 of 11 treys last season during a state semifinal win over Trenton Central?

Though Bersch could get playing time at American, another good match was academics. He will major in math, minor in biology, then attend graduate school for engineering.

That's quite a future he has planned.

Bersch had a good feeling when he made his official visit to American on the first weekend of October. He played pickup basketball with his future teammates and thought the school had everything he was looking for.

"It was a great environment," Bersch said.

So he made the oral commitment and doesn't worry about what would have happened had his shoulder not been injured in the summer.

American University is no consolation prize. It's a great place to play basketball and attend school.

And the Eagles have done well to receive a commitment from a player who has healed from his summer injury and could show the big schools that they should have stayed around for the ride.

or mnarducci@phillynews.com.