HOT RECRUITING INFORMATION FOR SEPTEMBER 2001

Saturday, September 29, 2001 and Sunday, September 30, 2001

For a number of years Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, DE and the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC have been the places to be right after Christmas, if you want to see the best high school basketball in the nation.  And they still are!  However, it looks like Hal Pastner of Vision Sports will also join that elite group with the inaugural Academy Sports Holiday National Championship, which will be Houston, TX, December 26th-29th, and is being presented by NIKE.  As a matter of fact, Pastner's event, which will feature an elite field of eight teams comprising a National Division and a field of eight Texas teams playing simultaneously in an 8-team Texas Division, promises to be the premier event in the nation this winter.  We are talking about seeing the nation's top two teams in Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA and Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, as well as New York (Rice) NY, Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, Louisville (Male) KY, Midwest City (H.S.) OK, Concord (DeLaSalle) CA, and Beaumont (Ozen) TX in the National Division and Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, Texas City (H.S.) TX, Sugar Land (Clements) TX, Houston (Aldine Nimitz) TX, Houston (Westfield) TX, Houston (Cy Springs) TX, and Houston (Eisenhower) TX in the Texas Division.  We also will see two of the top five seniors in the nation in 6'7 Carmelo Anthony from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, who is ranked as the #1 senior in the nation by the HOOP SCOOP, and 6'9 Sheldon Williams from Midwest City (H.S.) OK, as well as 6'11 Jr Kendrick Perkins from Beaumont (Ozen) TX, who is the #2 junior in the nation by the HOOP SCOOP.  The tournament also will feature a number of other players who are ranked among the top 100 nationally in their class, including 6'10 Sani Ibrahim from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'1 Chadd Moore from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'1 Justin Gray from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'4 Hassan Adams from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'7 Jr Trevor Ariza from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'3 Brandon Heath from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'4 DeAngelo Alexander from Midwest City (H.S.) OK, 6'3 Jr Michael Bush from Louisville (Male) KY, 7'3 Jr Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY, 6'8 Soph Arturo Dubois from New York (Rice) NY, 6'3 Soph Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY, 6'11 Jr Grant Billmeier from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'1 Jr Michael Nardi from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'10 Jr Ndudi Ebi from Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, 6'4 Cedrick Hensley from Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, 6'6 Soph Dion Dowell from Texas City (H.S.) TX, and 5'11 Frosh David Devezin from Sugar Land (Clements) TX.  Others to watch include 6'8 Antywane Robinson from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'2 Eric Watkins from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, and 6'5 Richard Joyce from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'6 Jr Keena Young from Beaumont (Ozen) TX, 6'7 LaVar Carter from Louisville (Male) KY, 6'0 Jason Wingate from New York (Rice) NY, 5'9 Keydren Clark from New York (Rice) NY, 6'4 Lamar Hurd from Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, 6'6 Tim Mayes from Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, 6'7 Marlon Pompey from Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, 6'10 Jr Elijah Miller from Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, 6'7 Jr Cartier Martin from Houston (Aldine Nimitz) TX, 6'0 Jonathan Burnett from Texas City (H.S.) TX, 6'6 Kenneth Henderson from Houston (Westfield) TX, and 6'6 Zach Parker from Houston (Eisenhower) TX.  The tournament will be held at the Campbell Center, which a state-of-the-art facility with 4,900 seats located near Houston's Intercontinental Airport.  A first round game will be played on Wednesday evening, December 26th, followed by seven more first round games on December 27th, eight games on December 28th, and 1st through 8th place games for both divisions taking place on December 29th.   And I plan on being there on the final day!  For more information, contact Hal Pastner at 1-866-866-6400. 

Friday, September 28, 2001

All systems are go for Rick Barrett's annual Midnight Madness, which is scheduled to tip-off tomorrow afternoon in Cherry Hill, NJ.  Expected to be in attendance for the top all-star game, which will be late in the evening, are 6'1 Daniel Horton from Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX, 6'6 Allen Morrill from Arlington (Sam Houston) TX, 6'9 Jr Harrison Schaen from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'7 Trevor Ariza from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'5 Maurice Ager from Detroit (Crockett) MI, 6'8 Jr Leon Powe from Oakland (Vocational Tech) CA, 6'8 Jr Ndudi Ebi from Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, 6'9 Jr Walter Waters from Detroit (Southeastern) MI, 6'5 Jr Olumuyiwa Famutimi from Flint (Northwestern) MI, 6'5 Matt Walsh from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, 6'3 Jr John Winston from Richmond (Salesian) CA, 6'5 Soph Tim Pierce from Oakland (Fremont) CA,   6'2 Robert Hite from Cincinnati (Winton Woods) OH, 7'0 Keith Butler from Philadelphia (Celestial Prep) PA, 6'9 Omar Williams form Philadelphia (Celestial Prep) PA, 6'3 Tommy Baker from Millville (H.S.) NJ, 6'2 Jr Jamar Nutter from West Orange (Seton Hall Prep) NJ, 6'4 Jr Marquis Webb from Paterson (Catholic) NJ, and 6'8 Jr Will Sheridan from Hockessin (Samford) DE.  Barrett also is hoping to get 6'7 Carmelo Anthony from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, who is ranked as the #1 senior in the nation exclusively right now by the HOOP SCOOP, and it appears that there is about a 50-50 chance of 6'5 DeAngelo Alexander from Midwest City (H.S.) OK showing up.  Alexander was originally scheduled to attend, but now it looks like he's receiving pressure to stay home and attend Greg Swaim's event, which is scheduled for Saturday in Tulsa, OK.  Unfortunately I will not be able to attend Barrett's event for the first time in a number of years, but our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin our Northeast Editor Dave Schultz both will be in attendance.  Speaking of Rubin, he also tells us that 6'7 Nana Mensah-Bensu from Richland (St. Augustine) NJ has verbally committed to George Washington.  And this might be the beginning of a trend for Colonials.  If you will recall, earlier this fall first year head caoch Karl Hobbs got another commitment from a player in the Philadelphia area - 6'9 Omar Williams from Philadelphia (Celestial Prep) PA.

The job that Larry Eustachy has done at Iowa State the last two years has been absolutely amazing, but the best appears to be yet to come, as the Cyclones are currently in the process of reloading.  If you will recall, the Iowa State got an early commitment several years ago form 6'4 Adam Haluska from Carroll (Community) IA and earlier this fall they landed 6'10 Jackson Vroman from Snow (JC) UT and 7'1 Chris Alexander from Indian Hills (JC) IA.  The commitment by Alexander is especially interesting, because it comes on the heels of Eustachy hiring former DePaul and Loyola-Chicago assistant coach Lance Irvin.   Remember, Alexander played on the Illinois Fire AAU team for Irvin's father Mac Irvin.  And now it looks like Irvin has used his strong Illinois-based ties once again to help the Cyclones get another player from the Land of Lincoln.  However, that isn't the case according to Todd Franklin, who is the head coach at Southeastern (JC) IL.  "Really it was a team effort," says Franklin.   "Bob Sundvold and Randy Brown did a great job of laying the groundwork early and Eustachy did most of the work in the end." The player we're talking about is 6'0 Tim Barnes from Southeastern (JC) IL and he is ranked as the #1 point guard in the junior college ranks by Rick Ball.  In addition to having landed two excellent inside players (Alexander an Vroman), a terrific wing player (Haluska), and an outstanding point guard (Barnes), we also suddenly find Iowa State's recruiting class ranked among our top five on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date.  Actually it is tied at #4 with Memphis behind Duke, Florida, and Illinois and ahead of Purdue, Louisville, Syracuse, Xavier, Iowa, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Villanova, Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska, UNC-Charlotte, Oklahoma, and Marquette.  And that's the order, but obviously it will continue to change daily as commitments come in between now and the beginning of the fall signing period, which traditionally begins on the second Wednesday in November (this year that date is November 14th).

Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson tells us that Ohio State has gotten its second verbal commitment from 6'9 Charles Bass from Crete (Crete-Monee) IL.  If you will recall, the Buckeyes pulled off a major coup during the summer when they beat the Michigan schools for 6'4 Ricardo Billings from Detroit (Rogers) MI.  Also, even more recently, they got an absolute steal in 6'5 JaQuan Hart from Flint (Northern) MI, who did not meet the eligibility requirements necessary to be admitted into school at the University of Michigan.  So now the Buckeyes have turned their focus onto big men and Bass was one of the best available.  We're talking about a 6'9, 190 lbs. pencil-thin athletic with a 7'2 wing span who is still growing.  In other words, his best days are still ahead of him.  As a matter of fact, he might be well served by red-shirting his first year at Ohio State.  We also have gotten a report from our West Coast Editor Dinos Trigonis about 6'7 Travis Niesen from Mission Viejo (H.S.) CA picking Santa Clara, plus Trigonis tells us that 6'1 Patrick Hadden from Irvine (Woodbridge) CA is very close to making a verbal commitment to Princeton.  We also understand that Boston College is making a push for 6'6 Onye Ibekwe from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA, who also is getting serious attention from schools, like UTEP and San Francisco.  This is especially interesting, because Ibekwe's younger brother - 6'9 Jr Ekene Ibekwe - is one of the top juniors in Southern California, as well as a legitimate top 50 junior nationally.  Obviously, getting Onye could be the entree to that helps the Eagles get Ekene a year from now.   However, last time Boston College got a West Coast kid - 6'7 Craig Smith from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, it didn't do them much good when it came time to get the superstar in the next class from the same school.  We're talking about 6'7 Evan Burns from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, who recently verbally committed to UCLA.  We also are getting reports about 6'10 Akin Akingbola from Greenwich (Brunswick) CT verbally committed to Clemson.  If this is true, Akingbola is a great catch for the Tigers.  Sure, he's far from being a finished a product, but he has a tremendous natural talent and big time athleticism. 

We talked with John Rhodes, the Executive Director of the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC last night and has provided us with a schedule for the first round of games at his tournament.  On Wednesday, December 26th, it will be West Orange (Seton Hall Prep) NJ versus Cleveland (St. Joseph's) OH at 3:30 PM, Lincroft (Christian Brothers) NJ versus Myrtle Beach (H.S.) SC at 5:15 PM, Lexington (H.S.) SC versus Philadelphia (Simon Gratz) PA at 7:00 PM, and Martinsburg (H.S.) WV versus Socastee (H.S.) SC at 8:45 PM.  Then, on Thursday, December 27th, it will be Shreveport (Evangel Academy) LA versus Georgetown (Scott County) KY at 3:30 PM, The Colony (H.S.) TX versus Florence (Wilson) SC at 5:15 PM, Memphis (White Station) TN versus Radcliff (North Hardin) KY at 7:00 PM, and Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY versus, Latta (H.S.) SC at 8:45 PM.  Yes, that last game will feature what promises to be the premier match-up of the entire winter.  We're talking about 6'1 Raymond Felton from Latta (H.S.) SC, who is ranked as the #3 senior nationally by the HOOP SCOOP behind 6'7 Carmelo Anthony from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA and 6'9 Amare Stoudemire from Orlando (Cypress Creek) FL, versus 5'11 Soph Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY, who is the #1 sophomore in America, as well as one of the top five players nationally regardless of class by the HOOP SCOOP.  Speaking of impressive match-ups, Rhodes has several others on his agenda at The Carolina's Finest Shootout on Friday and Saturday, November 30th and December 1st, at Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, SC.   On Friday night it will be Myrtle Beach (Socastee) SC versus Latta (H.S.) SC at 7:00 PM and Florence (Wilson) SC versus Raleigh (Broughton) NC at 8:45 PM.  Yes, that's 6'10 Jr Major Wingate from Florence (Wilson) SC versus 6'10 Shavlik Randolph from Raleigh (Broughton) NC in the second game! Then, the next night it will be Myrtle Beach Socastee) SC versus Florence (Wilson) SC at 7:00 PM and Latta (H.S.) SC versus Raleigh (Broughton) NC at 8:45 PM.  And this time it promises to be even better, as Randolph and Felton square off in the second the game.  Getting back to the Beach Ball Classic, Rhodes thinks the sleeper team of the tournament will be Evangel Christian, which features an impressive front line with 6'11 Alex Kireyev and 6'7 Shadrach Roome.  And the favorite should be The Colony (H.S.) TX with 6'2 Deron Williams and 6'3 Bracy Wright, who this season are expected to form what promises to be the best high school guard duo in the nation.  Especially interesting is the fact that both Wright, who has commmitted to Indiana, and Williams, who has committed to Illinois, both said no to the schools in their backyard and, instead, have elected to go far away from home to play in the Big-10.  

Thursday, September 27, 2001

Brick Oettinger of the Recruiter's Handbook and PrepStars.com informs us that Wake Forest has received what is expected to be its fifth and final commitment in this recruiting class from 6'8 Chris Ellis from Marietta (H.S.) GA.  We're talking about a guy who currently doesn't rank among our top 100 seniors nationally.  But he will next time we update our rankings.  Ellis not only is one of the fastest rising players in the senior class nationally, but he is a physical specimen who possesses both skills and power around the basket.  He also comes from great basketball basketball family - his father is former University of Tennessee star Dale Ellis.  As a matter of fact, he looks just like him, although the younger is a lot bigger physically.  He also should provide an excellent complement inside to 6'9 Eric Williams from Wake Forest (Rolesville) NC, who has the potential to develop into an excellent player down the road for the Deamon Deacons.  Wake Forest also has landed three excellent perimeter players in 6'5 Trent Strickland from East Flat Rock (East Henderson) NC, 6'1 Justin Gray from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, and 6'5 Richard Joyce from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA and, as a result, their recruiting class now is ranked #10 on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date.  

We also have confirmed that West Virginia has gotten a verbal commitment from 5'11 Darryl Hill from Milford (Academy) CT, who is ranked #4 at the point guard position by Dave Benezra in the Athlon Pre-Season Basketball Magazine behind 6'1 Raymond Felton from Latta (H.S.) SC, 6'2 Anthony Roberson from Saginaw (H.S.) MI, and 6'2 Marshall Strickland from Sykes (South Carroll) MD and ahead of 6'2 Sean Dockery from Chicago (Julian) IL, 6'0 Mike Lasme from Burlington (Life Center) NJ, 6'2 Daniel Horton from Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX, 6'2 Johnny Gilchrist from Virginia Beach (Salem) VA, 6'3 Jarrett Jack from Worcester (Academy) MA, 5'11 Elijah Ingram from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, 6'2 Gerry McNamara from Scranton (Bishop Hannan) PA, and 5'11 Dee Brown from Maywood (Proviso East) IL.  Well, in our opinion that's a little ridiculous, but we do like Hill well enough to consider for our top 100 nationally, if he wasn't a 5th year player.   If you will recall, Hill put up incredible numbers and got a lot of mid-major looks a year ago while playing for Ron Naclerio at Bayside (Cardozo) NY.  An added year of maturity has already helped, but the key for this extremely talented athletic combo guard who still needs to improve his ball handling skills and decision making is the future.  In other words, the Mountaineers have already successfully recruited the heir apparent at point guard to 6'0 Jonathan Hargett, who promises to be one of the premier freshmen in college basketball. 

If you will recall, Montrose Christian head coach Stu Vetter told us at the Charlie Weber Invitational Tournament in College Park, MD on Friday night that he thought his current freshman class was his best ever.  That's a pretty strong statement when one remembers that Vetter has already won two high school basketball national championships - one at Oakton (Flint Hill) VA and anotehr at Frederick (St. John's at Prospect Hall) MD.  And Vetter will tell you that one of the key reasons for his success is that most of his players started in his program as freshmen and went through the developement process.  Well, it looks his the current class just got better, as we have confirmed via Brian Merritt of the Elite Scouting Service in Baltimore, MD that 6'9 Frosh Julius Powell is transferring from North Carolina to Rockville (Montrose Christian) MD.   This is important, because Powell will join a freshman class that already includes 6'0 Frosh Eric Price, 6'7 Frosh Mike Freeman, 6'5 Frosh Travis Ivey, 6'2 Frosh K.J. Katzui, and 6'3 Frosh Ryan Scott.   Speaking of Scott, he is the son of Dennis Scott, who played for Vetter at Flint Hill in the mid-80's.  Scott also is the connection with Powell.   Apparently they are best friends. 

The race for 6'8 Sean May from Bloomington (North) IN still appears to be a tight one between Indiana and Louisville, but in the end we believe May will elect to stay home and play for Hoosiers head coach Mike Davis.  Not only has May lived in Bloomington, IN and grown up on Indiana basketball most of his life, but he also is already the cornerstone of what already has turned out to be a very successful recruiting class.  If you will recall, one of the big reasons why 6'2 Marshall Strickland from Sykes (South Carroll) MD and 6'3 Bracy Wright from The Colony (H.S.) TX picked Indiana is because they were both sure that May would be joining in them this fall.  Right now we have May ranked no higher than #35 nationally, but that doesn't mean he will end up ranked that low.  As a matter of fact, we had him listed among our top five nationally when he was a junior.  However, he was slowed by injuries last spring and, as a result, has never gotten back into good playing shape.  In other words, we're going to let him earn it.  And when he does and assuming he picks Indiana, the Hoosiers will have three probable McDonald's All-American's in this recruiting class.  This would move Indiana's recruiting class up to #6 behind Duke, Florida, Illinois, Memphis, and Purdue and ahead of Louisville on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date.   However, if May surprises us and picks Louisville, that would move the Cardinals recruiting class up to #2 behind Duke and ahead of Florida.  We also have confirmed that Indiana University is no longer in the hunt for 6'9 Chris Hunter from Gary (West Side) IN.  While Hunter passes the look test with his size, mobility, and athleticism, he didn't pass the play test this spring and summer, as he was mediocre at best.  However, Hunter does have a lot of potential, which is why we had him ranked among our top 40 nationally as a junior.  It also is why a number of big time schools, including Michigan, Ohio State, and Seton Hall have scholarship offers on the table.

Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson has confirmed that 6'9 Chris Booker from Tyler (JC) TX has verbally committed to Purdue and we are getting unconfirmed reports that 6'9 Kei Madison from Okaloosa-Walton (JC) FL has committed to Mississippi State.  Booker, who is one of the top 20 junior college players in the nation, picked the Boilermakers over schools like Louisville, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Washington State.  What Booker does best is face the basket and score, so it will be especially interesting to see how he complements 6'10 Matt Keifer from Evansville (Mater Dei) IN, who is ranked #44 nationally by the HOOP SCOOP.  If you will recall, Keifer also has more of a finesse game, as he has the ability to step out and shoot 3-pointers and handle and pass the ball on the perimeter.  Purdue also has a steal in 6'4 David Teague from North Bridgton (Bridgton Academy) ME, who was terrific when we saw him this summer at the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, NV.  And rounding out Purdue's recruiting class, which is now ranked #5 on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date, is 6'6 Melvin Buckley from South Holland (Thornwood) IL, who is a legitimate top 150 senior nationally.  As for Madison, who, like Booker, is recognized as one of the top junior college players in the nation, the irony that he is going to Mississippi State.  If you will recall, Madison signed with Alabama last fall, but ran into off the court and academic problems that probihited him from being admitted into school.  In other words, Madison is following in the footsteps of several other players, like Antonio Jackson and Mario Austin, both of whom we originally thought were headed to Alabama, but ended up at Mississippi State.  The word we're getting now is that Madison has verbally committed to Mississippi State, but it doesn't really  matter.  Apparently the Southeastern Conference has rule, whereby, you have remain at the same junior college for at least three semesters (excluding summer school), before you can play in the SEC.  Obviously this would exclude Madison from playing the SEC next year, because he was at Southern Union (JC) AL a year ago.  Instead, we're guessing that Madison will end up at Cincinnati, which is really the only other serious contender on his list. 

Wednesday, September 26, 2001

I am really not too excited about all the hoopla regarding whether Michael Jordan comes out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards this season.  However, I do like the fact that Jordan plans to donate his entire first year salary to the charities that are helping the victims and their families in the World Trade Center disaster.  This is just one more great example of why Jordan is one of the most popular sports figures all of time, as well as one of the best role models our nation has today.  And hopefully other big name athletes will follow Jordan's example.  In addition to giving to charities, it also might be a good idea for some of these multi-millionaires to start thinking about giving back to the grassroots, which in many cases helped get them where they are today.  But it may be too late to help the Glaxo-Welcome Holiday Tournament in Raleigh, NC, which appears to be losing one of its primary sponsors (Midway Airlines).  As a result, schools Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, and Marion (Tabor Academy) MA may have no tournament to play in the week after Christmas.  Bobby Jacobs, the executive director of Slam Dunk to the Beach, tells us that his phone has been ringing off the hook today, but his tournament is full, unless Marrero (John Ehret) LA, which recently lost a number of its players, including 6'6 Derek Burditt, drops out of the field.  Jacobs would like to take Tabor Academy and put them in the Slam Dunk to the Beach bracket, along with Bronx (All Hallows) NY, Jacksonville (Arlington Country Day) FL, Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX, Memphis (East) TN, Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, Inglewood (H.S.) CA, and Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA.  Jacobs also has Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary) OH, which features 6'6 Jr LaBron James and will be one of the top two or three high school teams in the nation, in his tournament, but they can't play in the big bracket due to restrictions by their state association on the number of games they can play during the season.  In other words, St. Vincent-St. Mary can only play in two games in Delaware.  The rest of the tournament is also loaded with incredible talent, despite the fact, that the NIKE Sponsored Tournament in Houston, TX has four teams - Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, New York (Rice) NY, Midwest City (H.S.) OK, and Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ - that were originally committed to play at Slam Dunk to the Beach.  The rest of the Slam Dunk to the Beach field includes Amityville (H.S.) NY, Washington (Archbishop Carroll) DC, Radnor (Archbishop Carroll) PA, Severn (Archbishop Spaulding) MD, Atlantic City (H.S.) NJ, Brooklyn (Bishop Loughlin) NY, Wilmington (Bradywine) DC, Potomac (Bullis) MD, Lewes (Cape Henelopen) DE, Roanoke (Cave Spring) VA, Charlestown (H.S.) MA, Middle Village (Christ the King) NY, Dublin (Coffman) OH, Newtown (Council Rock) PA, Horsham (Hatboro-Horsham) PA, Newark (Vocational Tech) DE, Absecon (Holy Spirit) NJ, Cape May Court House (Middle Township) NJ, Milford (H.S.) DE, Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD, Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) CA, Cincinnati (Roger Bacon) OH, Richland (St. Augustine) NJ, Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ, Wilmington (St. Elizabeth) DE, Virginia Beach (Salem) VA, Hockessin (Sanford) DE, Washington (Spingarn) DC, Stroud (H.S.) OK, Towson (Catholic) MD, Camp Hill (Trinity) PA, Troy (H.S.) OH, and Cincinnati (Winton Woods) OH.

Our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin was at game last night and he ran into 7'0 Keith Butler, who has surfaced at Philadelphia (Celestial Prep) PA.  So Rubin took the opportunity to get an updated list of schools, which includes North Carolina, Illinois, Miami-FL, Cincinnati, Louisville, Seton Hall, and Georgia.  Butler is a terrific shot blocker and has a great natural feel for the game, but he's still got some major question marks.  Not only does he an academic question mark, but he needs to develop his skills and play with more aggressiveness and consistency.  Rubin also tells us that 6'0 Mike Lasme from Burlington (Life Center) NJ, who is ranked #69 nationally in the senior class nationally by the HOOP SCOOP, has reneged on his commitment to the University of Massachusetts.  Lasme is a world-class athlete and highlight film in transition, but he lacks a true position. 

Division I college coaches can't be in attendance, but that doesn't mean that the Hoop Group 2001 Fall Jam Fest, which will be held at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA and at William Allen High School in Allentown, PA, won't be outstanding.  Not only does the open division of the tournament feature most of the top teams from the New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, but, if who is listed on the rosters means anything, it looks like most of the top players from those areas will be in attendance as well..  Let's take a closer look at the teams and top players.  Pool A has the Long Island Panthers, Jersey City Heat, St. Paul's Crusaders, South Brunswick PAL.  Pool B has the Tim Thomas Playaz, LPAC Knights, L.V. Blue Devils, and Adirondack Spirit.  Pool C has the New Jersey Roadrunners, Philly Hoops, Long Island Lightning, and Greater Pocono.  Pool D has the New York Ravens, James Lee, Central Jersey Hawks, and Hurricane B-Ball.  Pool E has 3 on #, Jersey City Warriors, Jr All Stars, and New York Roadrunners.  Pool F has the Madison Square Broncos, NEPA/Hoop City, South Jersey Select, and Cumberland Cougars.   Pool G has the Jersey Demons, Connecticut Select, B.C.S.L, and West Jersey Dogs.  Pool H has the New Jersey Celtics, Sam Rhines, Prime Time Players, and CWNY.   Pool I has the Jersey Shore Cyclones, Jersey Jaguars, Pennsylvania/Jersey Panthers, and Assist Management.  Pool J has Positive Image, Newark Rams, 92nd Street Y, and Monmouth Knights. The list of top players includes 6'8 Jason Fraser from Amityville (H.S.) NY, 6'6 Curtis Sumpter from Brooklyn (Bishop Loughlin) NY, 6'2 Gerry McNamara from Scranton (Bishop Hannan) PA, 6'1 Elijah Ingram from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, 6'3 Randy Foye from Newark (East Side) NJ, 6'1 Allan Ray from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, 6'2 Taquan Dean from Neptune (H.S.) NJ, 6'9 Charlie Villaneuva from Blairstown (Blair Academy) NJ, 6'2 Jr Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 6'4 Mike Cook from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 6'11 Jr Grant Billmeier from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'1 Jr Michael Nardi from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'11 Ted Skuchas from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, 5'11 Jr Ben Luber from Newtown (Council Rock) PA, 6'7 Mani Messy from Colora (West Nottingham) MD, 6'7 Soph Keving Palacios from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ, 6'2 Rahim Scott from Philadelphia (Martin Luther King) PA, 6'4 Kenall Sanchez from Pennsauken (Bishop Eustace) NJ, and 6'11 Jr Aaron Gray from Emmaus (H.S.) PA.  Also in attendance and playing in the 11th Grade Division is 6'7 Derrick Character from Scotch Plains, NJ, who is the #1 8th Grader in the nation, according to the HOOP SCOOP.   However, the first player we are going to tell our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin to check out is 6'8 Jr Luol Deng from Blairstown (Blair Academy) NJ.  Assuming that he picks up where he left off when we saw him last summer, Deng will likely be ranked as the #3 junior nationally by the HOOP SCOOP, behind 6'6 Jr LaBron James from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary) OH and 6'9 Jr Kendrick Perkins from Beaumont (Ozon) TX, when we update our list of the top juniors nationally later this fall.

Tuesday, September 25, 2001

Our Washington, DC Area Editor Steve Turner is confirming that 6'2 Johnny Gilchrist from Virginia Beach (Salem) VA, who is ranked #57 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, has verbally committed to the University of Maryland.  This comes as a major surprise to us, because Gilchrist failed to show on the Boo Williams team over the weekend at the Charlie Weber Invitational Tournament in College Park, MD.  Several people have raised the possibility that instead of playing in the tournament Gilchrist might have been making a visit to Maryland.  But if he did, his AAU coach Boo Williams didn't know about it.  As a matter of fact, I talked to Williams about this very matter and he didn't seem to be real pleased that Gilchrist hadn't made the trip.  Sure, Williams had 6'2 Jarrett Jack from Worcester (Academy) MA, but one another experienced guard in the backcourt to go along with 6'3 Soph Marquis Cooke from Suffolk (Nansemond River) VA and 6'2 Jr Robert McKiver from Washington (Archbishop Carroll) DC would have helped him go a long further in the tournament.  This moves Maryland's recruiting class into a tie at #13, along with Michigan State, on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date and we expect the Terrapins to move into the top five when they get 6'9 Travis Garrison from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD.   If you will recall, Maryland already has verbal commitments from 6'4 Chris McCray from Capital Heights (Fairmont Heights) MD and 6'7 Nik Caner-Medley from Portland (Deering) ME.  However, the commitment from 6'6 Cortez Davis, which they received last spring, didn't hold up.  Speaking of Davis, did you know that he has surfaced at the basketball factory that new head coach Chris Chaney is building at Laurinburg (Institute) NC?  Turner also tells us that Tim McKenna has gotten the head coach job at Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD.   Apparently it was a two-horse race between McKenna, who currently is the girls' coach at Good Counsel, and Steve Howes, who is still a teacher a Good Counsel.  Interestingly, both McKenna and Howes had a lot to do with the success of the program several years ago when they had Virginia's Roger Mason and George Washington's Chris Monroe.  Speaking of George Washington, Turner tells us that Colonials are pushing hard for 6'7 Ryan Lambert from Gaithersburg (Northwest) MD.  If you will recall, Lambert played extremely well over the weekend and, as a result, now deserves top 200 consideration in the senior class nationally.  Turner also tells us that the Gonzaga DC Classic at Gonzaga High School in Washington, DC, December 13th-15th, will be loaded.  The field includes Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, Washington (Gonzaga) DC, Alexandria (T.C. Williams) VA, Forestville (Bishop McNamara) MD, Miami (North Miami) FL, Briarwood (Archbishop Malloy) NY, and Roanoke (Catholic) VA.  

It also comes as no surprise that 6'4 Wayne Arnold from Lilburn (Berkmar) GA has made it official for the University of Georgia. If you will recall, we told you last week that this would happen, unless something unforeseen happened on his official visit.  This is great news for the Bulldogs, because Arnold is the #2-ranked player in the state behind 6'10 Alexander Johnson from Albany (Dougherty) GA.  However, the Georgia coaching staff has something else to worry about, because Johnson, who committed to the Bulldogs last spring, may be on the verge of reneging.  Apparently Dougherty head coach Charlie Givens, who was the driving force behind getting this done so early in the first place, is no longer calling the shots on this one.  Instead, a street agent in Albany, GA has entered the picture and, as a result, he is shopping him around to anybody who is interested.  We're already hearing Louisville, Alabama, and Cincinnati being mentioned as possibilities (they all had been heavily involved when Johnson committed to Georgia), but that list will likely get longer before it gets shorter.  We also have heard that 6'7 Armein Kirkland from Tyler (Lee) TX had verbally committed to Cincinnati, but anybody who is reporting this one as done has jumped the gun.  Apparently the holdup is Kirkland's scheduled visit to Texas Tech.  Either way, we're not sure that it will matter in the long run, unless Kirkland changes his attitude and stays out of trouble.  The word we get from our Texas Editor Wes Grandstaff is that Kirkland didn't play for his high school team last season, because he was kicked off the team prior to the start of the season.  He also was demoted from the Team Texas' #1 team to the #2 team during the summer of 2000 due to attitude problems.  And later he was kicked off Team Texas' #2 team.  Kirkland also played for Mitch Malone's Texas Blue Chip Team during the summer of 1999.  But Kirkland's history of not lasting too long in any one place may be the least of his problems.   Remember, anybody who goes to play for Bob Knight or Bobby Huggins has only two choices - the coach's way or the highway.  Grandstaff also points out that nearly all of the top players in Texas are already verbally committed.  The top ranked player in the Dallas area who is still available is 6'5 Seneca Collins from Duncanville (H.S.) TX.  But he's the subject of an intense recruiting battle among Auburn, Tennessee, and Tulsa.  The top ranked player in the state of Texas is 6'8 Brad Buckman from Austin (Westlake) TX.  Not only is Buckman ranked #15 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, but he currently is the #2-ranked unsigned senior nationally.  However, before you get too excited, don't forget that Buckman's father is one of University of Texas head coach Rick Barnes' closest friends.  As a matter of fact, they're in business together.   In other words, it would be a major upset if this kid doesn't stay home and play for the Longhorns. 

Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson tells us that 6'5 DeForrest Riley from Cincinnati (Winton Woods) OH has made a verbal commitment to Penn State.  Johnson also tells us that Riley will be the #2-ranked player in the state when he updates his Ohio rankings, which is expected to happen within the next 10 days.   However, we have a hard time believing Riley would be ranked ahead of 6'1 Chris Quinn from Dublin (Coffman) OH, 6'2 Robert Hite from Cincinnati (Winton Woods) OH, and 6'5 Alex Carmona from Troy (H.S.) OH, all of whom are ranked in the 70-80 range in the senior class nationally by the HOOP SCOOP.    But that doesn't mean that Riley, who combines athleticism and skills, isn't the jewel of Penn State's recruiting class.  If you will recall, the Nittany Lions also have received verbal commitments from 6'10 Robert Summers from Gahanna (Lincoln) OH and 6'0 Brandon Cameron from Gary (Westside) IN.   This is especially surprising, because in recent years the Penn State coaching staff has developed a reputation for taking players who were getting underrecruited and maximizing their talent and potential.  However, in this case, we're not sure if either player is good enough to play in the Mid-American Conference.  In other words, it might take a major miracle for the Nittany Lions to get back to the NCAA Sweet 16 if players like Summer and Cameron are getting quality minutes.  Johnson also is reporting that 6'4 Ron Lewis from Columbus (Brookhaven) OH, who is an absolute steal for Bowling Green, led All-Ohio Red to a 63-52 victory over the Grand Rapids Storm in the championship of the Ohio-Michigan Prep Spotlight Challenge in Toledo, OH over the weekend.  Lewis also was named the tournament MVP, but the big surprise of the tournament was 6'10 Jr Drew Neymick from Muskegon (North Muskegon) MI.  "Neymick reminds me of former USC center Brian Scalabrine," says Johnson.  "Neywick is a better athlete than Scalabrine, but he's not as strong.  At least not yet.  Neymick can step out and shoot the three, plus he's strong inside, as he uses his power game to beat you on the boards and score around the basket."

A lot of attention has been paid to the great recruiting class that Duke has already had this season.  If you will recall, the Blue Devils recruiting class, which already includes 6'10 Sheldon Williams from Midwest City (H.S.) OK, 6'2 Sean Dockery from Chicago (Julian) IL, 6'4 J.J. Redick from Roanoke (Cave Spring) VA, 6'2 Sean Dockery from Chicago (Julian) IL, 6'10 Michael Thompson from New Lenox (Providence) IL, and 6'7 Lee Melchionni from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, is already ranked #1 on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date.  And it will likely get even better, because the Blue Devils also are expected to get 6'10 Shavlik Randolph from Raleigh (Broughton) NC.  Sure, Randolph plans to take all of his scheduled visits, but we have reason to believe he's already told the Duke coaching staff that he plans to become a Blue Devil.  However, we haven't spent any time talking about who Duke is looking in for the future.  We understand that 6'5 Jr Olumuyiwa Famutimi from Flint (Northwestern) MI is already at the top of their list for the Class of 2003, plus we're starting to hear the Blue Devils mentioned for 6'2 Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA.  Certainly that's not good for Temple, because Shakur is the protypical point guard that the Owls have made a living with during the John Chaney era.  However, our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin reminds us that Chaney is currently 67 years-old.  So Chaney's status is really year-to-year.   Rubin also informs us that Siena has stolen one in 6'7 Michael Haddix from Philadelphia (St. John Neumann) PA and it appears that Mississippi State has gotten 6'5 Sammy Richardson from Utica (Hinds County) MS, who is ranked as the #1 senior in the state by Lavel Johnson, who is the Mississippi Editor for both the HOOP SCOOP and MidSouth-Hoops.Com.

Our West Coast Editor Dinos Trigonis tells us that 6'10 DeAngelo Collins from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, who is the highest ranked unsigned senior nationally in the senior class, according the HOOP SCOOP, simply picked up in the 9th Annual Fullcourt Press Fall Hoops Classic where he left off two weeks ago when we saw him at the 2001 Fullcourt Press Fall Showcase.   "Collins had one game where he scored 40 points and he averaged over 30 ppg for the tournament," says Trigonis.  "He played like a guy on a mission."  If you will recall, Collins told us two weeks ago that his goal was to be the best player in the nation and he planned to prove that to us in the McDonald's American Game next March.  Collins has never gotten the notoriety, credit, or respect he deserves, at least in part, because he's had a troubled past.  However, at this stage we like him better 7'0 Tyson Chandler from Compton (Dominguez) CA, who was drafted #2 in the NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, but then was traded to the Chicago Bulls.  Collins isn't as skilled as Chandler, but he doesn't have a position problem like Chandler (Chandler wants to be a wing forward).  Collins is also a lot meaner and tougher on the boards and around basket, plus he is showing signs of becoming a winner, which was evident when he rallied his team (Sports Express) in the second half to knock off Bob Gottlieb's BWBA Orange Squad, 69-65, in the championship game.  Obviously Collins was named the MVP of the tournament and, as Trigonis points out, this sends a loud statement that Collins intends to battle 6'7 Evan Burns from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA and 6'4 Hassan Adams from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA as the top senior on the West Coast.  Sports Express' road to the championship also included emotional and highly contested playoff victories over H-Squad (58-48) and J-town (74-70).  Also ranked among the top 12 dozen players in the tournament, according to Trigonis, were 6'5 Shaddean Aarson from Claremont (H.S.) CA, 6'8 Jr Trevor Ariza from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'3 Brandon Heath from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'5 Jr Arnold Gore from Baton Rouge (White Castle) LA, 6'5 Jr Justin Hawkins from Lakewood (Mayfair) CA,  6'9 Jr Ekene Ibekwe from Carson (H.S.) CA, 6'6 Onye Ibekwe from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA, 6'1 Jr Rayshawn Reed from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, 6'11 Soph Robert Rothbart from Mountain View (St. Francis) CA, 6'9 Jr Harrison Schaen from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, and 6'2 Jr Eric Webb from Grand Rapids, MN.  Also named to the All-Tournament were 6'2 Soph Curtis Allen from Palos Verdes (Rolling Hills) CA, 6'9 Rodrique Benson from Del Mar (Torrey Pines) CA, 6'9 Frosh Jamaal Boykin from Del Mar (Torrey Pines) CA, 6'6 J.J. Brull from Del Mar (Torrey Pines) CA, 6'8 Jr Kenny Crockett from Las Vegas (Cheyenne) NV, 5'9 Jr Shawn Davis from San Diego (Lincoln) CA, 6'4 Frosh Brian Harvey from Carson (H.S.) CA, 6'2 Michael Hubbard from Bellflower (H.S.) CA, 6'6 Jr Justin Hynes from Alta Loma (H.S.) CA, 6'5 Soph Marcel Jones from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'7 Jr Josh Kramer from Del Mar (Torrey Pines) CA, 5'11 Rommel Marentez from San Diego (St. Augustine) CA, 5'10 Jason McKinney from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, 6'3 Cameron Munoz from Claremont (H.S.) CA, 6'3 Hampton Nunley from Santa Monica (St. Monica) CA, 5'11 Kurt Oliver from Crestline (Rim of the World) CA, 6'1 Soph Gabriel Pruitt from Compton (Centennial) CA, 6'2 Daniel Quijano from Rancho Santa Margarita (Santa Margarita) CA, 6'7 Joshua Raynes from Los Angeles (Franklin) CA, 5'11 Dominque Sims from La Habra (H.S.) CA, 6'4 Jr Drew Terry from Irvine (Northwood) CA, 6'5 Chad Thornton-King from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA, 6'5 Jr Fred Washington from Torrance (Bishop Montgomery) CA, 6'3 Jr Wesley Washington from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'4 Johnny Wheeler from Las Vegas (Cheyenne) NV, and 6'1 Marcus Williams from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA.

Monday, September 24, 2001

Well, it looks like we knew what we were talking about several days ago when we told you that 6'10 Chris Bosh from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, who is ranked #5 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, was on the verge of making a verbal commitment to Georgia Tech.  Bosh is a shot blocking athlete with good offensive skills, incredible natural talent, and vast potential, but what makes this so huge is the fact that Bosh is the highest ranked senier in the nation who was still available.  He joins 6'2 Jarrett Jack from Worcester (Academy) MA, who committed to the Yellow Jackets last week, in a recruiting class that is now tied ranked #9 on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date.  Our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin tells us that 6'2 Jermaine Thomas from Frederick (Governor Thomas Johnson) MD has verbally committed to La Salle.  Thomas is best described as a combo guard, because what he does best is shoot the basketball.  However, he didn't grow enough nor did he develop the point guard skills necessary to get heavily recruited by schools in the ACC and Big East.  So first year Explorers head coach Billy Hahn was able to go back to his old stamping grounds (he was a long time assistant coach at Maryland) and get one of the top players in the area.  Rubin also tells us that 6'1 Will Holloman from Jacksonville (Wolfson) FL has verbally committed to the University of Richmond and our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson is reporting that William & Mary has a verbal commitment from 6'7 Jack Jenkins from Andover (Proctor Academy) NH.  Not only is this a steal for the Tribe (Jenkins is a legitimate top 200 senior nationally), but it gives head coach Rick Boyages and his staff the luxury of focusing exclusively on juniors and sophomores this winter.   If you will recall, William & Mary had an excellent recruiting class a year ago when they signed 6'0 Nick D'Antoni from Myrtle Beach (Socastee) SC, 6'10 Nathan Loehrke, from Mattawan (H.S.) MI, 6'9 Tom Viglianco from Huntsville (Jones) AL, and 6'8 Steve Sorenson from Hudson (Western Reserve) OH.  William & Mary also got an early commitment a year ago from Taylor Mokris from Charlotte (Providence Day) NC, plus they got 6'7 Adam Hess, who transferred last fall from Eastern Michigan, and 6'2 Brent Howell from Auburn (H.S.) AL, who signed with Eastern Kentucky a year ago, but recently decided to enroll at William & Mary, where he will be eligible beginning second semester this winter.  Johnson tells us that Boyages, who previously was the associate head coach at Ohio State, is now in the perfect position advantage of some of his old contacts, as 6'11 Jr Matt Lefeld from Coldwater (H.S.) OH, 6'11 Jr Josh Higgins from Vandalia (H.S.) OH, 6'9 Jr Mike Newman from Westerville (North) OH, and 6'2 Jr Kevin Anderson from Worthington (Thomas Worthington) OH are all prime early targets for the Tribe in next year's recruiting class. 

Sunday, September 23, 2001

It was a big day for the Tim Thomas Playaz at the Charlie Weber Invitational Tournament this weekend in College Park, MD.   The senior and junior teams never got to play against one another, because the tournament for 17-Under Division was separated into two different fields.  However, the Tim Thomas Seniors beat the Tallahassee Wildcats, 77-66, to take home the championship in their division and the Tim Thomas Juniors held on to beat the Philadelphia Phoenix, 67-64, to win the championship in the the other division.  No Most Valuable Player or all-tournament team were officially named, but our choice would have been 6'8 Jason Fraser from Amityville (H.S.) NY, who finished with 21 points and numerous rebounds in the championship game.  However, what broke the back of the Tallahassee Wildcats in the title game was the outside shooting of 5'9 Donald Copeland Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ and 6'0 Dwayne Lee from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, who combined for seven 3-pointers and 28 points.  We also would have have put 6'4 John Winchester from Raleigh (Bonner Academy) NC on the all-tournament, based on his performance during the entire weekend. Winchester not only is one of the most underrated players in the nation, but he also has no weaknesses in his game, as he showed he can nail the three, handle, pass, and rebounding extremely well for somebody his size.  The Tallahassee Wildcats were led by 6'5 Rashad Anderson from Lakeland (Kathleen) FL and 6'10 Jr Akini Adkins from Tallahassee (Leon) FL, both of whom had 17 points in the championship game.  We already knew what a prolific scorer and talent Anderson is, but Adkins has improved dramatically since last summer and he's got an incredible soft touch, which he uses to score seemingly at will from mid-range.  He also has terrific quickness, mobility, and shot blocking ability around the basket, but he still needs to get big stronger.  The leading scorer for the Tim Thomas Playaz Juniors In the other championship game was 6'2 Jr Jamal Warren from Holyoke (H.S.) MA with 13 points, but, even more important, he provided the needed spark when the game was on the line in both the semi-finals and the championship game.  The big hero for the Tim Thomas Playaz Juniors in the semi-finals was 6'6 Jr Sean Banks from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ, who shot the lights out from beyond the arc en route to a 28-point effort.  We also thought 6'3 Jr Jamar Nutter from West Orange (Seton Hall Prep) NJ played well and 6'8 Jr Will Sheridan from Hockessin (Samford) DE played better than he did during the summer.  But where was 6'11 Jr Darryl Watkins from Paterson (Catholic) NJ?  He should be dominating at this level, but he and Sheridan are the first player we've mentioned who should not be on the all-tournament team.  We continue to be impressed by 6'6 Michael Blackshear from Philadelphia (Simon Gratz) PA, who is one of the toughest inside players in the senior class nationally regardless of size and position.  But our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin refuses to give Blackshear the full credit he deserves, because he projects as a tweener at the next level.  However, we do, because merit has to mean something.  However, this is a debate for another time.  We also would put 6'5 Dahliek Powell from Philadelphia (Roxborough) PA on the all-tournament team, because he combined with Blackshear to score 34 of their team's 64 points in the championship game.  In addition to the 11 players (Fraser, Copeland, Lee, Winchester, Anderson, Adkins, Warren, Banks, Nutter, Blackshear, and Powell) mentioned above, we also would have to include 6'9 Travis Garrison from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD 6'4 Chris McCray from Seat Pleasant (Fairmont Heights) MD, 6'11 Dakin Braddick from Ft. Washington (National Christian) MD, 6'3 Jr Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 6'9 Thiero Almamy from Durham (Mt. Zion Christian) NC, and 6'1 Allan Ray from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY on our 16-man all tournament team.  Garrison had what might have been the best performance of the tournament in the game when his team was eliminated by the Tim Thomas Playaz Seniors this morning.  Braddick, who is best described as Tayshaun Prince without the jump shot, was the driving force the National Christian team, as they advanced all the way to the semi-finals.  Shakur continues to better and better, plus he's developed into a pure point.  Almamy was a monster on the boards and around the basket.  Ray is unstoppable when he decides to go to the hole.   Some of the players who really improved the value of their stock over the weekend were 6'6 Ismael Njaye from Homestead (Berkshire) FL, 6'8 Gordon Klaiber from Greenbelt (Roosevelt) MD, 6'7 Jr Robert Dorsey from Baltimore (Douglas) MD, 6'7 Ryan Lambert from Gaithersburg (Northwest) MD, 6'6 Jr LaKeith Blanks from Ft. Washington (National Christian) MD,   6'11 Jabbar Young from Ft. Washington (National Christian) MD, 5'9 Jr Daon Merritt from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, 6'11 Ted Skuchas from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, 6'9 Soph Guibunda Cornello from Greenwich (H.S.) CT, 6'5 Ulrich Kosepka from Washington (St. John's) DC, 6'3 Jr Safwaan Muhamad from Lithonia (H.S.) GA, 6'3 Frosh Johnny Watkins from Washington (Mary Margaret Washington) DC, and 6'10 Soph Aaron Agnew from Bellair (H.S.) OH.  Njaye is an amazing athlete, as well as perhaps the best defensive player in the tournament.  However, right now the only school that is showing serious interest is American University. Klaiber is a multi-dimenionsal athlete with a nice shooting touch, good rebounding skills, and excellent quickness around the basket.  However, he needs to get stronger physically and get his house in order off the court.  The word is Klaiber will be ineligible to play this season.  So a year of prep school a year from now appears to be a definite possibility.  Dorsey also is an academic question mark, but he played a pivotal role for Baltimore Select, which advanced to the semi-finals in their division, thanks to a well balanced attack that also included 5'11 Terrance Whiters from Durham (Mt. Zion Christian) NC, 6'8 Jr Denard Abraham from Middleburg (Notre Dame) VA, 6'2 Jr Tyler Smith from Baltimore (Douglas) MD, 6'2 James Taylor from Baltimore (Dunbar) MD, and 6'3 Jr Gerald Brown from Baltimor (Douglas) MD.  McCray and 6'2 Soph Isiah Swann from Rockville (Magruder) MD were the go-to guys and 6'11 Soph Roy Hibbert from Rockville (Georgetown Prep) MD has the potential to be a great one down the road, but Lambert impressed us with his quickness, rebounding, and natural ability around the basket.  Blanks, who just missed making our all-tournament team, impressed us with his athleticism, ball handling, outside shooting, and versatility.  Merritt, who is emerging into one of the premier junior point guards in the junior class nationally, combines speed, strength, and savvy with great handling and passing skills to form the perfect complement to Ray in the backcourt.  Young, was perhaps the most improved player in the tournament from Friday night when he was not much more than a spectator to Sunday when he was one of the big reasons why National Christian advanced all the way to the semi-finals in their Division.  Skuchas deserves a lot credit, because he's one of the hardest working players in the senior class nationally and, as a result, he's becoming less mechanical and more agile all the time.  He also is very skilled and his wing span is incredible.  Cornello is just a sophomore, but his athleticism, mobility, soft touch, and incredible wing span make him more than just a little intriguing.  Kosepka was one of Rubin's favorite players in the tournament, because he combines great athleticism and slashing ability with good 3-point shooting ability.   Muhamad was especially good on Friday night, as he showed us excellent 3-shooting range and explosive athleticism.  We mentioned Watkins, because he's going to be terrific down the road.  We didn't see Agnew, because we didn't focus on the 16-Under Division, but Brian Merritt of http://www.elitehoops.com was singing his praises.  A special thanks to Charlie Weber, who deserves a deal of credit for overcoming more than his share of adversity to have what is still the premier fall tournament in the nation. 

In addition to watching games non-stop Friday night and all day yesterday and today, we've also gotten recruiting information from some of the players in the tournament.  St. John's, Villanova, North Carolina, and Louisville are the final four for 6'8 Jason Fraser from Amityville (H.S.) NY,  Yes, Fraser confirms that Connecticut is out and Louisville is in.   However, the Huskies are the strong leader over Tennessee and Florida State for the services of 6'5 Rashad Anderson from Lakeland (Kathleen) FL.  Florida, Florida State, North Carolina, and LSU appear to be the early favorites for 6'10 Jr Akini Adkins from Tallahassee (Leon) FL.  Missouri, Kentucky, and Miami-FL are the final three for 6'10 Kevin Young from Homestead (Berkshire) FL.  St. Joseph's is a heavy favorite for 6'0 Dwayne Lee from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, but he also mentions Fairfield, Rhode Island, and Manhattan.  Tennessee appears to be way out in front for 6'4 John Winchester from Raleigh (Bonner Academy) NC.  As a matter of fact, Winchester is scheduled to make an official visit to Knoxville, TN next weekend.  Winchester also has already set up a visit to Miami-FL for the following weekend, plus he's also still considering West Virginia, Boston College, St. Joseph's, Texas, and Massachusetts.  Boston College, George Washington, Cleveland State, Richmond, and Massachusetts are among those showing the most interest in 6'8 Nana Menshah-Bensu from Richland (St. Augustine) NJ and 6'6 Michael Blackshear from Philadelphia (Simon Gratz) PA appears to have it narrowed to Temple, UNC-Greensboro, and Towson.  La Salle, St. Joseph's, Richmond, and Temple are the early leaders for 6'11 Jr Aaron Gray from Emmaus (H.S.) PA. 

Saturday, September 22, 2001

It comes as no surprise that some of the players we were hoping to see at the Charlie Weber Invitational Tournament this weekend in College Park, MD have failed to show.  But one player we thought sure we'd see was 6'2 Johnny Gilchrist from Virginia Beach (Salem) VA, whose final three schools are Maryland, Georgetown, and N.C. State.  Gilchrist's absence is especially not a good sign for the University of Maryland, but it also probably doesn't bold well for Georgetown.  As a matter of fact, another player we wanted to see - 5'11 Jr Ben Luber from Newtown (Council Rock) PA - missed his game this morning to go across town to make an unofficial visit to Georgetown.  Also missing in action this weekend was 6'0 Jr Maureece Rice from Philadelphia (Strawberry Mansion) PA.  So we didn't get to make our much anticipated comparison among 6'3 Jr Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, Rice , and Luber.  Instead, well just have to take Allen Rubin's word for it that this is the order of the top three juniors in the Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Area this year.  It also looks like there has been a domino effect, as all three of Georgia Tech's prime point guard targets have verbally committed within the last 72 hours.  The first to go was 6'1 Elijah Ingram from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, who finally made it official for St. John's on Wednesday.  Then 6'2 Jarrett Jack from Worcester (Academy) MA made it official for Georgia Tech on Thursday and 6'2 Deron Williams from The Colony (H.S.) TX made it official for Illinois yesterday.  Our Texas Editor Wes Grandstaff also is looking for 6'10 Chris Bosh from Dallas (Lincoln) TX to make it official for Georgia Tech in the near future.  Bosh is making an official visit to Georgia Tech this weekend, but the ground workout for this was laid a long time ago.  Remember, Bosh was one of the prime recruiting targets for Yellow Jackets head  Paul Hewitt last summer (we saw Bosh play a lot and nearly every time Hewitt was there as well).  If this happens, it would move Georgia Tech's recruiting class into a tie at #9, along with North Carolina, on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date.  It also would keep Georgia Tech right on schedule in terms of moving into a position to challenge the upper echelon teams, like Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, in the always tough Atlantic Coast Conference.  Remember, Jack is a 5th year player, but, if he counted among seniors, he'd be ranked among our top 30 nationally.  Bosh was ranked #32 nationally prior to the summer, but he was sensational at the adidas ABCD Camp, where he finished ranked #7 in camp by the HOOP SCOOP, and, as a result, skyrocketed into our top five nationally in our post-summer senior rankings.

Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson also has confirmed that 6'5 Dan Grunfeld from Glendale (Nicolet) WI has verbally committed to Stanford and 6'9 Tommy Swanson from North Crowley (H.S.) TX has picked Baylor.  Grunfeld's commitment is especially interesting, because he's not that naturally talented, but he is a great outside shooter and has a great understanding of how to play the game.  Obviously this comes as no surprise, because he's been around basketball all his life.  Remember, his father Ernie Grunfeld is the general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks.  Initially we look for Grunfeld to be a role player for The Cardinal, but he's improved so much in the last six months, we think it's impossible to predict where his development may stop.  Johnson also is looking for 6'5 DeForrest Riley from Cincinnati (Winton Woods) OH, who is visiting State College, PA this weekend, to commit to Penn State in the near future.  Russ Blake of RivalsHoops.com tells us that 6'9 Mustapha Diouf from Collin County (JC) TX has committed to the University of Richmond.  Our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin believes 6'1 Scott Greenspan from Richland (St. Augustine) NJ may have committed to Princeton.  However, he can't confirm it at this time.   Rubin also tells us that the final four list for 6'11 Ted Skuchas from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA includes Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, Penn State, and Georgia Tech.  But really the smart money is on Wake Forest and Vanderbilt.   Rubin also believes that George Mason may be close to getting a verbal commitment from 6'2 DeWayne Spencer from Harrisburg (Susquehanna Township) PA.   We also are hearing that 6'11 Soph Roy Hibbert from Rockville (Georgetown Prep) MD, who is one of the top two sophomores in the Washington/DC area, along with 6'9 Soph Brian Johnson from Arlington (Bishop O'Connell) VA, is already a total lock for Georgetown.  Apparently the connection is Philadelphia 76ers center Dikembe Mutombo.  The word we get is that the former Hoyas center pays for Hibbert's tuiton at Georgetown Prep. 

Friday, September 21, 2001

It looks like you can write it down again, as 6'1 Bryan Hopkins from Dallas (Lincoln) NY, who is ranked #8 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, has reaffirmed his commitment to SMU.   Our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin has the scoop on 6'9 Eric Davis from Raleigh (Bonner Academy) NC.   Davis has decided to return the Northeast to play at Seton Hall.  If you recall, Davis, who is now in his 5th year of high school, was a sophomore at Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA, a junior at Rydal (Abington Friends) PA, and a senior at Camden (H.S.) NJ.  Davis needs to become more consistent, improve his efficiency, and continue to develop his skills, but he does have a lot of potential.  Dave Telep of BlueChipHoops.com tells us that 6'4 Jarrett Jack from Worcester (Academy) MA has made it official for Georgia Tech.  Not only is that a perfect fit, but it also means the Yellow Jackets are no longer looking for a point guard.  So our guess is that 6'1 Elijah Ingram from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ is even more of a lock for St. John's.  If you will recall, we thought Georgia Tech was a lot stronger for Ingram than most people realized.  We also have confirmed via his mother that 6'3 Markus Sailes from Richmond (Varina) VA has decided to attend Virginia Tech.  Apparently this one happened about a week ago, but our Virginia Editor Tony Squire was asleep at the switch.  Speaking of Sailes, he was one of the players who helped himself the most earlier tonight at the Charlie Weber Invitational Tournament in College Park, MD.  He's a good ball handler and passer, is excellent in transition, and capable of being a point guard at the Big East level, if he gets bigger and stronger physically.  Also really impressing us earlier tonight were 6'4 Chris McCray from Seat Pleasant (Fairmont Heights) MD,   6'11 Dakin Braddick from Ft. Washington (National Christian) MD, 6'3 Jr Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 6'9 Thiero Almamy from Durham (Mt. Zion Christian) NC, 6'1 Troy Hailey from Rockville (Montrose Christian) MD, and 6'7 Jr Linas Kleiza from Rockville (Montrose Christian) MD.  McCray not only is an excellent outside shooter and a big time athlete, but he also has an outstanding feel for the game.  In other words, he should be the perfect replacement for Juan Dixon at the University of Maryland, which is where he committed last spring.  And just like Dixon, who was ranked among our top 90 nationally as a high school senior in 1998, McCray is very underrated nationally.  Currently we have McCray #67, but next time we update our nationally rankings, we'll cut that in half.  As a matter of fact, McCray might be good enough to get McDonald's All-American consideration.  Braddick is a 5th year player, but this long armed shot blocking skinny athlete does a lot more than just pass the look test, as he demonstrated excellent rebounding, passing, and handling skills for somebody his size.  Braddick is being recruited by Tennessee, Georgetown, South Carolina, Saint Louis, and South Carolina State.  As a matter of fact, we liked Braddick a lot better than 6'11 Jabbar Young from Ft. Washington (National Christian) MD, who is getting recruited by a lot of big time schools, like Wake Forest, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Tulane, Kentucky.  Shakur also will be 5th year player a year from now (he's currently a repeat junior), but his age, athleticism and ability to play the point guard spot have elevated him into the #1 spot in the junior class in the Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Area.  Almamy was like a highlight film earlier night as he dunked over people and beat everybody on the boards with his aggressiveness and athleticism.  Almamy isn't very skilled, but Memphis head coach John Calipari will teach him the rest.  If you will recall, Almamy, who is yet another 5th year player, verbally committed to the Tigers in August.   Hailey was one of the best 3-pointer shooters we saw earlier tonight.  He also plays hard, makes things happen, and provides senior leadership, as he's only one of two seniors on the Montrose Christian team.  Kleiza is getting his first taste of big time competition, but he's very aggressived, surprisingly mobile, and tough on the boards.   Plus, he'll have two years to refine his game under the legendary Stu Vetter.  Speaking of Vetter, he tells us that his current freshmen class, which includes 6'0 Frosh Eric Price, 6'7 Frosh Mike Freeman, 6'3 Ryan Scott, 6'2 K.J. Matzui, and 6'5 Travis Ivey, is the best group he's ever had.  That's a heck of a statement when one rememebers that Vetter already has won high school national championships at two other schools.

Attending the Charlie Weber Invitational not only is allowing us to see all the outstanding underclassmen, but it has allowed us to sort out where a lot of the top players in the area are going to school.  Surfacing at Ft. Washington (National Christian) MD are 6'2 Soph Earl Rigsby, who is a repeat sophomore, and 6'6 Jr LaKeith Blanks, who is repeat junior.  Eric Price, who is a repeat freshman, because he didn't take care of business last spring at Washington (Gonzaga) DC, is at Rockville (Montrose Christian) MD, where he might already be the best player one the team.  Our Washington, DC Editor Steve Turner also helps us fill in some of the other blanks, as he tells us that 5'11 Jr Tre Kelly is back at Washington (Dunbar) DC, 6'7 Jr Omari Israel is back at Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD, after a brief stay at Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, and 6'8 Soph Brian Johnson is back at Falls Church (Bishop O'Connell) VA.  If you will recall, last summer Johnson was rumored to be transferring to Montrose (Christian) MD.  Turner also tells us that 6'9 Travis Garrison from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD may be on the verge of making a verbal commitment to the University of Maryland.  However, Garrison told our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin earlier tonight that Michigan and Miami-FL were also still on his list.  Turner also appears to have the scoop on 6'2 Jr Robert McIver from Stone Mountain (Redan) GA.   Apparently McIver, who made an early verbal commitment last spring to Georgetown, has been stashed at Washington (Archbishop Carroll) DC.

Thursday, September 20, 2001

It comes as no surprise that 6'4 Josh Washington from Lubbock (Monterey) TX has elected to stay home and attend Texas Tech.  Washington will provide with Red Raiders with athleticism and outside shooting.  It does come as somewhat of a surprise that 6'1 Bryan Hopkins from Dallas (Lincoln) TX appears to be on the verge of verbally committing to SMU again.   If you will recall, Hopkins verbally committed to SMU on Wednesday, September 5th, but reneged five days later.  Apparently the University of Texas really turned up the heat and they came a lot closer to getting this one done than a lot of people realize.   However, now it appears to be tipping back the other way.  We also believe that 6'4 Wayne Arnold from Lilburn (Berkmar) GA is on the verge of making a verbal commitment.  As a matter of fact, Arnold is making his official visit to the University of Georgia today and, if all goes well, he probably will pick the Bulldogs.   However, if everything does not go right on the visit, then Southern Mississippi might be the team to beat.  Clemson and Alabama are also still on Arnold's list, but they appear to be long shots.  We also have confirmed that Xavier has gotten a verbal commitment from 6'9 Anthony Myles from Olney (JC) IL.  This is important, because it moves the Musketeers recruiting class into the #6 spot nationally on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date behind Duke, Florida, Memphis, Louisville, and Syracuse. Greg Swaim of GregSwaim.com doesn't believe that 6'8 Kevin Bookout from Stroud (H.S.) OK is the lock everybody thnks he is for the University of Oklahoma.   "The Sooners are still one of the favorites, but Oklahoma State has made a strong push lately," says Swaim.  "And Arkansas is also right there, along with Illinois and Tennessee." UCLA also is still being mentioned, but Swaim tells us that if Bookout picks UCLA, he won't play basketball.  "He will only compete in track."  We find this especially interesting, because UCLA head coach Steve Lavin needs all the help he can get inside and Bookout would be exactly what the docter ordered.  We also hear that UCLA is in the hunt for 7'0 Julius Lamptey from Oklahoma City (Northeast) OK, but Swaim doesn't think the Bruins will be able to take Lamptey.  Remember, UCLA recently got a verbal commitment from 6'7 Evan Burns from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, who is an academic question mark.  So is Lamptey and the feeling is that UCLA won't be able to bring in two players in the same class who fall into the academic risk category.  Instead, we think Lamptey is a near lock for Oklahoma State, although Illinois and Oklahoma both still a have shot a sneaking in the back door. 

Wednesday, September 19, 2001

It's finally done!  I'm talking about our first ever Iowa/Kansas/Missouri/Nebraska/Oklahoma Report, which I've been working on for the last several weeks.  And it hasn't been easy, especially in the state of Kansas.  Part of the problem stems from restrictions imposed by the state that limit the participation of players in certain events.  Also the fact that a lot of players in the state get a late start in high school makes it difficult to start tracking guys at an early age.  However, the big reason it was so difficult to even get names is basketball in the state of Kansas is down.  Thus, explains why programs like Kansas, which recruits heavily on the West Coast, and Kansas State, which relies heavily on junior college players, have had to look elsewhere for quality talent.  So the valuable contribution made by Eric Bossi, Editor & Publisher of phog.net & a contributor to PrepStars.com, who helped us in both Kansas and Missouri, is greatly appreciated.  We also are strong in Nebraska, because Herb Welling, who is the Nebraska Editor of the HOOP SCOOP, as well as a long time coach at the Five-Star Basketball Camp, knows that state like the back of his hand, and in Oklahoma, where Greg Swaim, Oklahoma Editor of the HOOP SCOOP & Editor of Publisher of GregSwaim.com, has that state covered like a blanket.  We're also better than I thought we'd be in Iowa, but the person who helped us with that state would rather remain anonymous.   So obviously I'm pretty pleased that we finally have both depth and accuracy with our rankings that go 85 deep in the senior class, 40 deep in the junior class, 23 deep in the sophomore class, 10 deep in the freshmen class, three deep in the 8th Grade, and two deep in the 7th grade.  And they're all ranked in order!  So once again the HOOP SCOOP is on the cutting edge.  Don't believe it?  Just try and find somebody else who even publishes a comprehensive list like this for this area of the country. 

The GregSwaim.com/bigTime Shootout in Oklahoma City on September 15th is one of only a few events that coaches can attend this fall and over 60 were there to see 6'4 Richard Jones of Oklahoma City (Douglass) OK 6'8 Robbie Roland of Moore (H.S.) OK OK, 6'5 Jr J.R. Giddens of Oklahoma City (John Marshall) OK, 6'10 Jr Zach Green of Norman (Community Christian) OK, 6'4 Jr Joe Ross Merritt of Oklahoma City (McGuiness) OK, 6'3 Jr Jared Mitchel of Alva (H.S.) OK, 6'9 Jr Charles Ramsdell of Kingfisher (H.S.) OKand 6'4 Jr Matt Gibson of Oklahoma City (Putnam City) OK.  One sophomore that had coaches scrambling for more information was 6'9 Soph Darnell Jackson of Oklahoma City (NW Classen) OK and an 8th grader that everyone is beginning to hear about is 6'8 Drew Haymaker of Edmond (Santa Fe) OK.  Swaim's final event of the season will be held on September 29th in Tulsa, OK at Oral Roberts University and it promises to be even better than the first.  Not only will the college coaches be back, but 6'8 Kevin Bookout from Stroud (H.S.) OK, 6'7 Marques Hayden from Oklahoma City (Putnam City) OK, 7'0 Julius Lamptey from Oklahoma City (Northeast) OK, and 6'9 Taj Gray from Wichita (East) KS are among those who are expected to be in attendance.    For more information go to Swaim's web site, which can it found at GregSwaim.com. 

Tuesday, September 18, 2001

There is no question that Eastern Kentucky head coach Travis Ford is second to none in terms of individual instruction and getting the most out of his talent.  Obviously a lot of this dates back to when he was a player at the University of Kentucky during the Rick Pitino era.  But his father, Eddie Ford, who is widely regarded as the leading force behind grassroots basketball in the state of Kentucky today, was also just instrumental in his developement as both a player and a coach.  In other words, working on drills and individual instruction and being a student of the game has been something that the younger Ford has been doing his entire life.  It also is something he has been able to capitalize on in terms of recruiting and the latest is example is 6'9 Tyler Best from Frankfort (Central Catholic) IN, who has verbally committed to Eastern Kentucky.   Just like Ford, Best comes from a great basketball family (his brother, Travis Best, played at Louisville and Purdue), but he wasn't blessed with great speed, quickness, and athleticism.  Instead, Best has developed into one of the top seniors in the state of Indiana via hard work and developing excellent skills.  Right now his game is more inside, but he is expected to play more on the perimeter for the Colonels, because he also is a good 3-point shooter and has ability to handle the ball out of the perimeter.   Best, who also has that great work ethic and burning desire necessary to become a great player, should be the perfect complement to the three excellent inside players - 6'8 Richard Sadler from Mt. Airy (Habersham Central) GA, 6'6 Michael Haney from Madisonville (North Hopkins) KY, and 6'10 Johnny Hardwick from Compton (JC) CA - and the good point guard - 6'1 Kenyatta Dix from Frank Phillips (JC) TX - that Eastern Kentucky landed in last year's recruiting class.  Plus, Eastern Kentucky also has 6'5 Shawn Fields, who sat out last year after transferring from the University of Georgia, waiting in the wings.  Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson also tells us that Miami-OH appears to have stolen one in 6'3 Josh Hausfeld from Cincinnati (Roger Bacon) OH, who also one of the top football players in the state, as well as a borderline top 10 basketball player, and Arkansas has gotten a pair of commitments from 6'8 Rashard Sullivan from Miami (Norland Senior) FL and 6'7 Brandon Tobias from Ft. Lauderdale (Dillard) FL, both of whom are teammates on the Coast to Coast AAU team, but neither of whom is good enough to help the Razorbacks remain in the upper half of the rugged SEC.  Greg Swaim of GregSwaim.com informs us that last night on his radio show 6'1 Nate Johnson from Penn Valley (JC) MO reaffirmed his commitment to Oklahoma State.  Johnson also said that he doesn't plan on taking any more official visits and this is important, because Mike Sullivan of RivalsHoops.com recently went on record saying that Johnson was still open and making official visits.

Saturday, September 15, 2001, Sunday, September 16, 2001, and Monday, September 17, 2001

Late last week Rusty Hampton, the beat writer who covers the University of Kentucky for the Louisville Courier-Journal, called to get our insight about 6'9 Bernard Cote from Montreal (Chaplain-St. Lambert) QU.  So it comes as no surprise that Cote has made a verbal commitment to the Wildcats.  And we'll tell you the same thing we told Hampton.  When we first Cote at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions on Memorial Day Weekend, we thought he was awful.  He also wasn't ranked among our top 50 players last summer at the NIKE All-American Camp, but we did have him listed among the top 15 power forwards in camp.  But after that he apparently exploded at Eddie Ford's tournament in Louisville, KY.  However, we still aren't sure the Wildcats won't recruit over Cote down the road.  In other words, he promises to be a great blue collar banger inside and this important in a day and age when there is a premium on keeping most of your players together for three or four years.  Cote also helps provide the Wildcats with exactly what they need in this recruiting class - another body inside, a point guard, and the best available player.  If you will recall, Kentucky already has the point guard in 5'9 Brandon Stockton from Glasgow (H.S.) KY, who committed to the Wildcats last spring, and likely will also get the great player in 6'5 Antwain Barbour from Wabash Valley (JC) IL, who is widely regarded as one of the top two or three players in the junior college ranks.  We also are getting reports about the possibility of 6'10 Jr Major Wingate from Florence (Wilson) SC making a verbal commitment to the University of South Carolina in the immediate future.  And, if this happens, some people think the Gamecocks will be able to turn the heat up on 6'1 Raymond Felton from Latta (H.S.) SC, who verbally committed to North Carolina last March, and make him reconsider his earlier decision.  But we'd be very surprised if this happens, because we believe that all the parties involved are far too legitimate and ethical.  Remember, Felton is a first class kid in every way and there are very few people in all of basketball who we have more respect for than South Carolina head coach Dave Odom. 

We are getting reports about 6'7 John Tofi from San Francisco (Burton) CA making a verbal commitment to UTEP, 6'7 Brandon Tobias from Ft. Lauderdale (Dillard) FL committed to Arkansas, and 6'10 Ted Morris from St. Louis (Chaminade) MO picking Indiana State.  Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson also has the scoop on 6'9 David Paris from Modesto (Christian) CA, who has verbally committed to the University of California.  Paris isn't ranked among our top 100 nationally, but we did rank him #11 at the center position at the NIKE All-American Camp and we especially like his potential.  Right now Paris is best described as a wide body, but he's deceptively mobile for his size and he's got good skills and soft hands around the basketball.  This too comes as no surprise, because California already has a verbal commitment from Paris' high school teammate - 6'2 Richard Midgely.  Paris picked he Golden Bears over Michigan, Ohio State, UTEP, New Mexico , and Arizona State.  Johnson also tells us that there is no doubt that new head coach Stan Heath will continue the winning ways at Kent State.   Not only do the Golden Flashes have an absolute steal from 6'6 Cliff Brown from Ferndale (H.S.) MI, who also had been receiving interest from schools like Connecticut and New Mexico, but they also have 6'4 Antonio Gates already enrolled in school.  You remember, Gates, who originally signed to play football, but also planned to play basketball at Michigan State.  Well, that never materialized.   Instead, he transferred to Eastern Michigan, but dropped out of sight for a while when head coach Milton Barnes got fired several years ago.  More recently Gates  surfaced at Sequoias (JC) CA, where he got his junior college degree, and now has two years of eligibility remaining at a four-year school.  If you will recall, almost a month ago we told you that 6'8 Greg Johnson from Southern Union (JC) AL and 6'7 Brandon Vincent from Okaloosa-Walton (JC) FL were both at Ole Miss on official visits. Well, our Mississippi Editor Lavel Johnson, who also serves is same capacity for MidSouth-Hoops.Com, tells us to write Johnson down for the Rebels.  This is especially interesting, because Johnson signed last fall with Auburn, but didn't make it academically last spring and, as a result, went back to junior college for another year.  Johnson (our Mississippi Editor, not Greg) also tells us that 6'7 Charles Gaines has transferred from Southwest Missouri State to Southern Miss. 

Can you believe that the first of the pre-season college basketball magazines has already hit the newstand?  That's right!  I have a copy in hand of the Athlon Sports 2001-02 Preview and I was especially interested their NCAA Tournament predictions and All-American Teams, list of head-coaches-in-waiting (Athlon's next 10 geniuses of college basketball), and prep player rankings.  They have Kentucky beating Illinois in the NCAA Championship game, with Duke and Florida rounding out the rest of the NCAA Final Four.  Now I like to go out on a limb as much as the next guy, but I also like to be right and not picking Duke as the pre-season favorite is a little ridiculous.  I also am amazed at how poor the talent level is in college basketball and, if you don't believe it, just look who is on Athlon's first, second, and third team All-American Teams.  The first team consists of Duke's Jason Williams, Illinois' Frank Williams, Kentucky's Tayshaun Prince, Florida's Brett Nelson, and Stanford Casey Jacobsen, the second team consists of Boston College's Troy Bell, Maryland's Juan Dixon, Florida's Udonis Haslem, Indiana's Jared Jeffries, and Missouri's Kareem Rush, and the third team consists of Duke's Carlos Boozer, Western Kentucky's Chris Marcus, St. Joseph's Marvin O'Connor,  Iowa's Luke Recker, and Tito Maddox, who was supposed be at Fresno State, but, due to questions regarding his amateur status, is currently missing in action.   The list of the 10 geniuses of college basketball includes Connecticut's Dave Leitao, Duke's Johnny Dawkins, Florida's John Pelphrey, Alabama's Orlando Early, North Carolina's Doug Wojcik, Ohio State's Paul Biancardi, Gonzaga's Bill Grier, Saint Louis' Brad Soderberg, Arizona's Josh Pastner, and DePaul's Rashon Burno.  The last two are especially interesting, because Pastner is a volunteer assistant coach at Arizona and Burno is still a senior point guard at DePaul.  All these are good names, but missing from the list are many of the other sharp assistant coaches in the game today, including Arizona's Jay John, Kansas' Neil Dougherty, Louisville's Mick Cronin, Auburn's Mike Wilson, New Mexico's Joe Dooley, Memphis' Steve Roccaforte, Arizona State's Tony Benford, Michigan State's Brian Gregory, Duke's Steve Wojciechowski, Michigan's Charles Ramsey, Texas' Brian Cousins, Colorado's Larry Gay, LSU's Butch Pierre, Oregon's Scott Duncan, South Florida's David Zimroth, North Carolina's Fred Quarterbaum, and Syracuse's Mike Hopkins and Troy Weaver, just to name a few.  I also liked the high school rankings, which were provided by Dave Benezra and Mark Mayemura of RecruitingUSA.com. They have 6'3 Dajuan Wagner from Camden (H.S.) NJ listed as the #1 college freshman, 6'9 Amare Stoudemire from Orlando (Cypress Creek) FL, 6'10 Paul Davis from Rochester (H.S.) MI, 6'6 Leonard Cooke from Old Tappan (North Valley Regional) NJ, 6'7 Antoine Wright from Groton (Lawrence Academy) MA, and 6'1 Raymond Felton from Latta (H.S.) SC listed as the best player at their respective positions in the senior class,  6'7 Jr LaBron James from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary) OH as the #1 player in the junior class, and 5'10 Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY as the #1 player in the sophomore class.  We also found it interesting to see where all the Rockfish guys (Benezra and Mayemura also run the L.A. Rockfish club team program) are ranked, including USC-bound 6'11 Rory O'Neill from Ridgecrest (Burroughs) CA, who is listed #27 among incoming college freshmen; Gonzaga-bound 6'9 Dustin Villepigue from Simi Valley (H.S.) CA, who is listed #100 among incoming college freshmen; 6'7 Bryant Markson from Monrovia (H.S.) CA, who is ranked #5 among senior small forwards; 6'3 Tim Drisdom from Calvery Chapel (Downey) CA, who is ranked #14 among senior point guards; 6'3 Wes Wardrop from Worcester (Academy) MA, who listed among the top 200 seniors in the nation; 6'0 Jr Khalif Ford from Diamond Bar (H.S.) CA, who is ranked #9 nationally in the junior class; and 6'11 Soph Robert Swift from Bakersfield (Garces) CA, who is ranked #3 nationally in the sophomore class.  Swift does not exclusively play for the Rockfish, but the word on the street is that may change next summer. 

Friday, September 14, 2001

Ro Russell, who is the co-director the Grass Roots Canada AAU team and the editor of a web site, which you soon will be able to find at www.hoopscanada.fan.ca, tells us that 6'6 Denham Brown from Toronto (Westhill) ON, who is ranked #60 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, has made it official for the University of Connecticut.  Brown, who also is the 5th best wing guard still available behind 6'5 Rashad Anderson from Lakeland (Kathleen) FL, 6'4 Hassan Adams from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'5 Antonio Lawrence from Fresno (San Joaquin) CA, and 6'3 Randy Foye from Newark (East Side) NJ, is a big time athlete and an excellent 3-point shooter.  However, like most players from Canada, he still needs to continue to develop his skills and learn how to play the game.  And that's why picking the Huskies and playing for head coach Jim Calhoun is such a good  move.  Remember, Calhoun is great at pushing his players and getting the most out of the talent he has at hand.  Russell also wanted me to be sure to give credit where credit is due.  Apparently Wayne Dawkins, who is the head coach at Toronto (Westhill) ON, was very involved in Brown's recruiting process.  In the end, Brown selected the Huskies over Boston College, Rutgers, Kansas, Connecticut, and Gonzaga. 

We also have confirmed via Greg Swaim of GregSwaim.com that 6'6 Kelenna Azubuike from Tulsa (Victory Christian) OK, who is ranked #62 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, did indeed make it official for Oklahoma today.   This brings the number to 64 of players who ranked among our top 100 nationally who already are verbally committed.  The 36 who are left include 6'10 Chris Bosh from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, 6'10 DeAngelo Collins from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, 6'1 Bryan Hopkins from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, 6'8 Brad Buckman from Austin (Westlake) TX, 6'8 Jason Fraser from Amityville (H.S.) NY, 6'10 Shavlik Randolph from Raleigh (Broughton) NC, 6'8 Kevin Bookout from Stroud (H.S.) OK, 6'7 Matt Trannon from Flint (Northern) MI, 6'1 Elijah Ingram from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, Anderson, 6'2 Deron Williams from The Colony (H.S.) TX, 6'7 Kennedy Winston from Mobile (Blount) AL, 6'10 Sani Ibrahim from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'8 Sean May from Bloomington (North) IN, Adams, Lawrence, 6'9 Ike Diagu from Garland (H.S.) TX, 6'8 Travis Garrison from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, Foye, 6'10 Alou Kane from Dyke (Blue Ridge School) VA, 6'7 Marquis Hayden from Oklahoma City (Putnam City) OK, 6'2 Johnny Gilchrist from Virginia Beach (Salem) VA, 6'10 Matt Haryasz from Page (H.S.) AZ, 7'0 Julius Lamptey from Oklahoma City (Northeast) OK, 6'8 Charles Davis from Selma (Southside) AL, 6'1 Greg Brown from Milwaukee (Vincent) WI, 6'7 Andre Igoudala from Springfield (Lanphier) IL, 6'6 Brandon Roy from Seattle (Garfield) WA, 6'5 Alex Carmona from Troy (H.S.) OH, 6'5 Maurice Wade from Milwaukee (Vincent) WI, 6'6 Elliott Poole from Chicago (Farragut) IL, 6'8 Rashawn Freeman from Schenectady (H.S.) NY, 6'8 Brian Feeney from Gilbert (Mesquite) AZ, 6'10 Moulaye Niang from El Cajon (Christian) CA, 6'5 Maurice Petty from Shelby (Crest) NC, and 6'6 Bobby Jones from Long Beach (Poly) CA.  In other words, getting involved with players early is more important than ever and one of the best at doing that is the University of Iowa.  As a matter of fact, we wouldn't be surprised if the Hawkeyes get the earliest commitment on record sometime this fall.  Yes, they already have that big a jump on 6'8 Frosh Luke Zeiller from Washington (H.S.) IN, who ranked as the #2 freshman nationally by the HOOP SCOOP.   Remember, Iowa head coach Steve Alford is a legend in the state of Indiana.   So it makes sense that he'll be able to get more than his share of players in that state to continue to look strongly at the Hawkeyes.

Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson provides us with a verbal commitment that has slipped through the cracks.  Did you know that Colorado got a commitment several weeks ago from 6'9 Tyler Jones from Denver (Manual) CO?  Jones, who is a legitimate top 200 senior nationally, needs to get bigger and stronger, but he is a big time athlete who is active inside and has a lot raw talent and potential.  In other words, he's the perfect guy to bring in to play behind 6'11 David Harrison from Brentwood (Academy) TN and 6'9 Jason Carter from Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV, both of whom signed with the Buffaloes in last year's recruiting class.   Johnson also tells us that 6'7 Robert Sanders is transferring from the University of Toledo to Wisconsin-Milwaukee.   Actually this comes as no surprise, because Tony Jones, who originally recruited Sanders to Toledo, has moved onto Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he is now the associate head coach.  Our West Coast Editor Dinos Trigonis also is reporting that 6'1 Fernando Sampson from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA has verbally committed to Cal Poly-San Luis Obsipo. 

Yesterday I got ahold of a memorandum dated September 11, 2001 to Division I head coaches from Jim Haney, the Executive Director of the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches).   Especially interesting were the results of a recent survey that were included with that memorandum.  The first question asks do you support rescinding the present 8/5 Scholarship rule?   Overall, 459 (86%) said yes, while 74 (14%) said no.   Breaking it down even further 206 (91%) college coaches voted yes, while 20 (9%) said no; 149 (85%) athletic directors said yes, while 26 (15%) said no; and 105 (80%) presidents said yes, while 27 (20%) said no.  Obviously, any way you slice it, that's an overwhelming number who are against the rule, which limits colleges from signing no more than eight players over a two-year period and having no more than a total of 13 players on scholarship at any one time.  The second question asks would you be interested in seeing a modification to the 8/5 Scholarship (only if it can not be rescinded)?  And the result were almost the same, as overall 446 (84%) said yes, while only 87 (16%) said no.  Again, breaking it down even further, 195 (86%) college coaches voted yes, while 31 (14%) said no; 149 (85%) athletic directors said yes, while 26 (15%) said no; and 103 (78%) presidents said yes, while 29 (22%) said no.  However, the consenus is not so overwhelming when the survey asks would you favor having a limit of 14 scholarships for men's basketball?  This is one additional scholarship.   Overall 247 (46%) said yes, while 286 (54%) said no.  However, 138 (61%) of college coaches said yes, while 88 (39%) said no.  In contrast, 64 (37%) athletic directors said yes, while 111 (63%) said no, and 46 (35%) presidents said yes, while 86 (65%) said no.  Obviously there is a major division between college coaches and athletic directors and presidents.  And this is indicative of most of the problems related to college athletics - there is a lack of communication, as the people at the top don't understand the problems and needs of the people in the field.  The final question is a little more complicated.  "The Collegiate Commissioners Association is proposing a change to the present 8/5 scholarship limitation.  The commissioners are proposing that the first two years of a new initial scholarship rule you would have nine scholarships over a two-year period with no more than five scholarships in any one year.  After the first two years, there would be a limit of four per year with a maximum number of 14 scholarships.  Provided the 8/5 rule is not rescinded, would you support this proposal?"  Overall 236 (44%) said yes, while 297 (56%) said no.  However, this time all three groups are more in agreement, as 111 (49%) college coaches said yes, while 115 (51%) said no; 75 (43%) athletic directors said yes, while (57%) said no; and 51(39%) presidents said yes, while 81 (61%) said no.  Two things suddenly become obvious after looking at these last two questions.  First, college coaches don't want any restrictions on the scholarships they can offer during any one or two year period.  Second, the athletic directors and presidents are less in tune with the fact that in most cases they won't need 14 scholarships if they only allow a maximum of scholarships to be offered in any given year.  It has always been the editorial policy of the HOOP SCOOP that any rule that places scholarship limits on players is bad for the game.  Another problem that the NCAA seems to have no clue what a devastating effect in promises to have on the game is the new NBA's Developmental League.  Everybody knows that the number of high school and college players declaring for the NBA Draft prematurely is totally out of control.  But you haven't seen anything yet.  Just imagine what the mass exodus is going to be like from the college ranks into the Developmental League when players reach their 20th birthday.  In other words, it could decimate the level of talent in the game today.  Sure, the people who want college basketball to be more like the Ivy League would get their wish, but the sport would also take a major financial hit in terms of ticket sales and television rating.   This would be too bad for minor sports, as most them would simply cease to exist, because their would be no money to pay for them.  Up until now, our society as a whole hasn't seemed to care whether some poor inner city white or black kid (this is a social-economic problem, not a racial one) gets screwed out of a scholarship and labelled a dummy, because they weren't properly prepared to pass a standardized test.   However, when some politician's son loses his soccer scholarship or a civic leader's daughter loses her volley ball scholarship, you can bet that all shit will start to hit the fan.  All this brings us to something I feel very strongly about, but, which is very much open to debate - an athlete is better off in college than in some minor league setting.  Of course it's not the NBA's responsibility to provide educational opportunities and, as a result, help improve a person's lot in life.  But it is the responsibility of institutions of higher learning, as well as society as whole via the actions of the government at the local, state, and federal levels.  In other words, the many of the problems that are being addressed right now in college basketball have the potential for far greater reaching implications than most people can begin to imagine.   Getting back to the survey, the next question gets right to the heart of the matter, as it asks do you support returning to the previous scholarship limit of 13 scholarships with no limitations on initial scholarships?  Overall 457 (86%) said yes, while only 76 (14%) said no.  The breakdown was 199 (88%) coach college votes yes, while 27 (12%) voted no; 152 (87%) athletic directors voted yes, while 23 (13%) voted no; and 107 (81%) presidents voted yes, while 25 (19%) voted no.  They also asked coaches college only whether they would support breaking the live evaluation period during the month of July into two separate 10-day periods separated by a dead period?  It comes as no surprise to us that 195 (86%) coaches voted yes, while 31 (14%) voted no. 

Thursday, September 13, 2001

Charlie Weber called this morning to tell me that he has no intention of cancelling his tournament next weekend (September 21st-23rd) in College Park, MD.  "I'm not going to let those bastards disrupt our way of life," says Weber.  "I don't care how many teams cancel.   I'm going on with the tournament.  It's going to be business as usual."  Not only does he sound more than just a little pissed off, but obviously he is starting to get over the incredible shock of the tragic events that occurred earlier this week in our country.  Our West Coast Editor Dinos Trigonis also called yesterday and he too was pissed off at me for lumping him into the same category as our New York Editor Ron Naclerio.  If you will recall, two days ago he was the one who provided the initial report that turned out to be totally false about Boston College head coach Al Skinner and on of his assistants originally being booked on one of the two flights that crashed into the World Trade Center.  Trigonis points out that it was only his job to confirm whether Boston College had cancelled their visit with 6'7 Bobby Jones from Long Beach (Poly) CA.  "The kid isn't going to know details, like where the coach is coming from or what flight they're taking," says Trigonis.  We also talked briefly with Naclerio yesterday and he said  "if that's the biggest problem I have in his life, I'm doing pretty well."  When you stop and consider all that this country has been through this week, he is right.  However, that unfortunately seems to be his normal attitude anymore.  Sure, just like anybody else, I would love to see Naclerio get a college coaching job, but, at the same time, he needs to understand the importance of accuracy, credibility, and journalistic integrity.  Fortunately Trigonis is much easier to deal with and already he has the scoop on an important verbal commitment that occurred on the West Coast late last night.  We're talking about 6'7 Evan Burns from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, who is ranked #11 nationally by the HOOP SCOOP, making a verbal commitment to UCLA.  There are still questions about Burns' academic situation and whether he will be able to get into UCLA, but this is still a huge commitment, as it shows that UCLA is a strong as ever in their own backyard.   Burns is an incredible athlete who is best in a wide open uptempo setting and, as a result, should fit right in with the stockpile of outstanding perimeter players - Cedric Bozeman, Dijon Thompson, and Andre Patterson - the Bruins landed last fall.  Trigonis also tells us that 6'4 Hassan Adams from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA will visit UCLA in early September, but really what UCLA needs to do is sign several quality inside players.  At the top of their list is 6'11 Erazem Lorbeck from Slovenia, but after that, it's anybody's guess what the Bruins will do with their remaining scholarships.  Sure, the Bruins are still mentioned with players, like 6'8 Brad Buckman from Austin (Westlake) TX, 7'0 Julius Lamptey from Oklahoma City (Northeast) OK, and 6'10 Matt Haryasz from Page (H.S.) AZ, but Buckman is believed to be a near lock for Buckman, Lamptey will likely pick either Oklahoma State or Illinois, and Stanford is going to be tough to beat for Haryasz. 

Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson tells us that after making an official visit to Miami-FL last weekend, 6'2 Robert Hite from Cincinnati (Winton Woods) OH, who is ranked #74 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, has verbally committed to the Hurricanes.  Hite is a little undersized for the 2-spot at the big time college level, but he's so naturally talented and athletic, it doesn't matter.  In other words, Hurricanes head coach Perry Clark, who is widely regarded as one of the best recruiters in the nation, has done it again.   He has identified an extremely talented player outside of his natural recruiting base who was getting underrecruited and gotten it done once again.  Johnson also tells us that Davidson has landed 6'9 Ian Johnson from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA and that 6'8 Jr Omari Isreal, who transferred to Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA this fall from Wheaton (Good Counsel) VA, is no longer in school at Oak Hill.  Apparently he wants to play the wing forward spot and he doesn't want to sit behind 6'7 Carmelo Anthony, who is the #1-ranked senior in America by the HOOP SCOOP.  Johnson also has finally confirmed that 6'9 Soph Al Jefferson is still at Prentiss (H.S.) MS.  If you will recall, it was reported this summer that Jefferson might transfer from Prentiss to McComb (H.S.) MS.  Our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin tells us that 6'8 Omar Williams from Philadelphia (Celestial) PA has verbally committed to George Washington and 6'3 Jr J.R. Reynolds from Roanoke (Catholic) VA has made an early commitment to Virginia.   However, we can't confirm that at this time.  But we can tell you that ever since the commitment by 6'6 Derrick Byars from Memphis (Ridgeway) TN to the Cavaliers a week ago, we've been hearing that Reynolds might be next and that it could happen very soon. 

Wednesday, September 12, 2001

Like so many other events that are scheduled to be held in the immediate future, both the Five-Star Hoops Classic at the College of Staten Island in Staten Island, NY and the Fullcourt Press Falls Hoops Classic in Lynwood, CA have been cancelled due to the terrorist attacks that occurred yesterday on the World Trade Center and on the Pentagon and the current crisis and time of mourning that currently exists in this country.  Five-Star's Leigh Klein tells us that the plan is to reschedule the  Five-Star Hoops Classic in the spring.  Dinos Trigonis, who is the director of the Fullcourt Press Falls Hoops Classic, is looking into rescheduling his event for next weekend.  This is unfortunate for us, because I am already in Southern California and had planned to attend his tournament.  However, assuming things return back to normal, by next weekend I will have returned home and left again for the College Park, MD to attend the Charlie Weber Invitational Tournament, which will be held September 21st-23rd.  One event that is still on for this weekend is Greg Swaim's Big Time Shootout in Oklahoma City, OK, September 15th.  Speaking of Swaim, he also tells us that 6'9 Sheldon Williams from Midwest City (H.S.) OK verbally committed to Duke University Monday night on his radio show which is archived on his web site at Greg Swaim.com.  But no press conference was held yesterday due to the tragic events that took place in our country.  Instead, an official announcement is expected later in the week.  However, for our purposes we will count Williams as officially committed to the Blue Devils.  This is of major importance, because it moves the Blue Devils recruiting class into the #1 spot on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date.  It also is significant, because only three players - 6'10 Chris Bosh from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, 6'9 DeAngelo Collins from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, and 6'1 Bryan Hopkins from Dallas (Lincoln) TX - are still on the board.  And it would have been only two, except Hopkins reneged on SMU on Monday.  If you will recall, he verbally committed to SMU last week, but now it appears he is having second thoughts.  Originally we thought Hopkins was going to immediately commit to Texas, but now it looks like he's having a very difficult making a decision. Such a difficult time that our Texas Editor Wes Grandstaff thinks Hopkins might put off making a decision until spring.   Moral to the story, if you know where you want to go, don't beat around the bush.   Go ahead and get it over with, because you never know whether that scholarship offer will still be on the table when you finally decide to grab it.  But, as in the case of Hopkins, if you aren't sure or somebody else is pushing you in a certain direction, take your time and get it right.  After all, your college choice is usually one of the most important decisions of your life.  It also usually effects what direction you head in the rest of your life.  Another player from the Team Texas club team program that we are watching carefully is 6'10 Alou Kane from Dyke (Blue Ridge School) VA.  Minnesota, UNC-Charlotte, SMU, and Maryland are all in serious contention, but North Carolina is also making a serious push for this raw athletic big man who currently is ranked #52 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP.  Kane would be a terrific consolation prize, if the Tar Heels don't get one or two of the coveted big men they were targeting during the summer.  We're talking about 6'10 Shavlik Randolph from Raleigh (Broughton) NC, who believed to be a total lock for Duke, 6'9 Torin Francis from Marion (Tabor Academy) MA, who recently picked Notre Dame, 6'8 Jason Fraser from Amityville (H.S.) NY, who is currently has St. John's and Villanova at the top of his list, and 6'8 Sean May from Bloomington (North) IN, who is expected to pick either Indiana or Louisville.  

Tuesday, September 11, 2001

It comes as no surprise that college coaches, who are busy making in-home visits and watching players work in their high school and junior college settings, are stranded all over the nation tonight.  But two coaches are safe and sound at home in Boston, MA.  We're talking about Boston College head coach Al Skinner and one of his assistants, both of who were planning to fly across the country this morning to make an in-home visit with 6'7 Bobby Jones from Long Beach (Poly) CA.  Fortunately Jones called Skinner late last night to reschedule the visit.   And, as it turned out, that phone call saved their lives.  Yes, at this time last night both coaches had confirmed reservations on one of the two planes that crashed into the World Trade Center this morning.  So after a catastrophic day of devastating proportion, hopefully this news will serve as some small consolation.  In other words, it appears that Skinner, who is one of the good guys in the business, will get to continue coaching college basketball and influencing young men in a positive way for many more years to come.  Not only has Skinner, first at Rhode Island and now at Boston College, established himself as one of the best up-and-coming head coaches in the game, but he also is a first class act.  So is his staff, which usually outworks their competition and does a great job of finding the sleeper that who is getting underrecruited.  The best example of this is 6'1 Troy Bell, who was the Rookie-of-the-Year in the league two years and the catalyst of the team last winter, as the Eagles were one of the surprise teams in college basketball last season. Our Philadelphia Editor Allen Rubin is now telling us that this story is not true, despite the fact that our New York City Editor Ron Naclerio confirmed it for a second time with his original source late yesterday afternoon and our West Coast Editor Dinos Trigonis confirmed from his end that the player in question last night was Jones.  Instead, the player that Boston College had an in-home visit scheduled with on Monday was 6'7 Brandon Bowman from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA.  However, he recently verbally committed to Georgetown, so he cancelled the scheduled in-home visit with Boston College last week.   Before that happened Ed Cooley, who was the unnamed Boston College assistant, was supposed to meet Skinner in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, September 10th and Cooley may have been scheduled on Flight 11 on Monday.  But according to Rubin, who talked with Boston College assistant coach Bill Coen this morning, neither Cooley nor Skinner were ever booked on one of the two flights that crashed into the World Trade Center yesterday.  Instead, Skinner and Coen, who were in Seattle,WA on Sunday to make an in-home visit with 6'6 Brandon Roy from Seattle (Garfield) WA, flew from Seattle to Houston on Monday to make an in-home visit with Dwight Jones.  Obviously this is a classic example of poor journalism on Naclerio's part and not asking enough questions to make sure all the facts are correct on Trigonis' part.  As a matter of fact, I originally had written the part about Jones differently, but, then, Trigonis called me and confirmed Jones was the player in question.  Obviously this is worst piece of reporting we've done in our 18 years in the business.  It also is a classic example of somebody assumimg something and not checking the facts.  Sure, some of the minor details appear to be correct, but the essential part of the story was not and, as a result, Naclerio and Trigonis both have serious credibility problems, as well as questions they will have to answer, if they want to keep writing for this publication.  As for Bobby Jones, Rubin tells us that Boston College now has an in-home visit scheduled with him on Friday, September 14th. 

The Bank of America City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, FL, December 18th-22nd, won't have more McDonald's All-Americans than the McDonald's All-American Game, but it will have nine players - 6'10 Shavlik Randolph from Raleigh (Broughton) NC, 6'4 Hassan Adams from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'10 Torin Francis from Marion (Tabor Academy) MA, 6'5 Rashad Anderson from Lakeland (Kathleen) FL, 6'1 Johnny Gilchrist from Virginia Beach (Salem) VA, 6'7 Jr Trevor Ariza from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'8 Jr Warren Scott from New Orleans (Abramson) LA, 6'8 Jr Leon Powe from Oakland (Vocational Tech) CA, and 6'8 Jr Chris Taft from Brooklyn (Xaverian) NY - who will get McDonald's All-American consideration.  Tournament Director Donnie Wilkie also may have the #1-ranked team in the nation in Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, plus a number of other good teams in a field that includes Bronx (All Hallows) NY, Marion (Tabor Academy) MA, Raleigh (Broughton) NC, Virginia Beach (Salem) VA, Philadelphia (Simon Gratz) PA, New Orleans (Abramson) LA, Missouri City (Hightower) TX, Brooklyn (Xaverian) NY, Oakland (Vocational Tech) CA, Miami (Christian) FL, Lakeland (Kathleen) FL, St. Petersburg (Lakewood) FL,   Ft. Myers (Cypress Lake) FL, Cape Coral (Mariner) FL, and Ft. Myers (Bishop Verot) FL.  For more information contact Wilkie at (941) 743-5889 or email him at cityofpalms@yahoo.com.   Wilkie annually has the best tournament in the nation the week before Christmas.   However, he also is a great ambassador for basketball in the state of Florida, so he also provides us with the fields for the Kreul Classic, the Rotary Great Florida Shootout, Ft. Lauderdale Beach Holiday Classic, and the Junior Orange Bowl Tournament, all of which wil be held prior to Christmas, as well as the Hooters Classic and adidas Kingdom of the Sun Tournamnet after Christmas.  The Kreul Classic, which will be held in Coral Springs, FL, December 15th-20th, includes Oyster Bay (St. Dominic) NY, McKee (Jackson County) KY, New Orleans (George Washington Carver) LA, Landsdale (Penn Wood) PA, Alpha Omega, Bahamas, Pompano Beach (Ely) FL, Miami (Northwestern) FL,  Sunrise (Piper) FL, Hollywood (Hollywood Hills) FL, Miramar (H.S.) FL, Orlando (Faith Christian) FL, Copper City (H.S.) FL, Coral Springs (H.S.) FL, Coconut Creek (H.S.) FL, Miami (Archbishop Carroll) FL, Brandon (Pendleton School) FL.   The Rotary Great Florida Shootout, which will be held in Kissimmee, FL, December 18th-22nd, includes Greenwood (H.S.) SC, Harrisburg (H.S.) PA, Birmingham (Parkway Christian) AL, Selma (H.S.) AL, Starkville (H.S.) MS, Tallahassee (Godby) FL, Tallahassee (Leon) FL, Miami (Senior) FL, Lauderdale Lake (Boyd Anderson) FL, Parkland (Douglas) FL, Orlando (Edgewater) FL, Orlando (Dr. Phillips) FL, Eustis (H.S.) FL, Leesburg (H.S.) FL, Oviedo (H.S.) FL, and Kissimmee (Osceola) FL.   The Ft. Lauderdale Beach Holiday Classic, which will be held at Westminister High School in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, December 20th-22nd, includes Lexington (Catholic) KY, Hi Hat (South Floyd) KY, Provo (H.S.) UT, Bryn Mawr (The Shipley School) PA, Orlando (First Academy) FL, Deerfield Beach (H.S.) FL, Ft. Lauderdale (Cardinal Gibbons) FL, and Ft. Lauderdale (Westminster Academy) FL.  Junior Orange Bowl Tournament, which will be held at Miami Dade CC-Kendall, December 20th-22nd, includes Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA, New Orleans (Grace King) LA, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Ft. Lauderdale (St. Thomas Aquinas) FL, Miami (Monsignor) FL, Miami (North Miami) FL, Coral Gables (H.S.) FL, Miami (Columbus) FL.   The Hooters Classic, which will be held in Clearwater, FL, December 26th-29th, includes Pittsburgh (Central Catholic) PA, Shaker Heights (H.S.) OH, Destrehan (H.S.) LA, Selma (Southside) AL, Lakeland (Kathleen) FL, Orlando (Cypress Creek) FL, Orlando (Evans) FL, Miami (Monsignor Pace) FL, Hialeah (Champagnat) FL, St. Petersburg (Lakewood) FL, St. Petersburg (Boca Ciega) FL Clearwater (H.S.) FL, Largo (H.S.) FL, Tampa (Plant) FL, Tarpon Springs (H.S.) FL, East Lake (H.S.) FL, Seminole (H.S.) FL.  The adidas Kingdom of the Sun, which will be held in Ocala, FL, December 26th-29th, includes Warrenville Height (H.S.) OH, Byrdstown (Pickett County) TN, Atlanta (Whitfield Academy) GA, Lawrenceville (Central Gwinnett) GA, Tallahassee (Florida) FL, Tallahassee (Rickards) FL, Miami (Christian) FL, Miami (Northwest Christian) FL, Eustis (H.S.) FL, Hawthorne (H.S.) FL, Leesburg (H.S.) FL, Sparr (North Marion) FL, Ocala (Vanguard) FL, and three more teams yet to be named. 

Monday, September 10, 2001

The press conferences won't be held until tomorrow and Tuesday, but the cat is already out of the bag, because Greg Swaim of Greg Swaim.com is reporting that 6'10 Sheldon Williams from Midwest City (H.S.) OK and 6'6 Kelenna Azubuike from Tulsa (Victory Christian) OK will make verbal commitments to Duke and Oklahoma, respectively.  And if that weren't enough Swaim also is reporting that 6'10 Shavlik Randolph from Raleigh (Broughton) NC has also already informed the Duke coaching staff that he plans to become a Blue Devil.  Obviously this reaffirms what we've told you on December 29, 2001 in our Hot Recruiting Information Section.  If you will recall, we predicted the Blue Devils would get Williams, Randolph, 6'10 Michael Thompson from New Lenox (Providence) IL, and 6'2 Sean Dockery from Chicago (Julian) IL to go along with 6'4 J.J. Redick from Roanoke (Cave Spring) VA, who at the time was the only player already verbally committed to the Blue Devils.   Getting both Williams and Randolph would clearly give Duke the #1 ranked recruiting class on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date.  It also would provide an interesting scenario, whereby, history repeats itself.  We're talking about several years ago when Duke landed Chris Burgess, who had the bigger reputation, and Elton Brand, who turned out to be the better player.  Remember, Randolph, who now is ranked #20 nationally by the HOOP SCOOP, had a terrible summer and, as a result, the value of his stock dropped dramatically.  In contrast, Williams, who now is ranked #4 nationally by the HOOP SCOOP, had an outstanding summer.  So his value continues to increase.  Getting back to Azubuike, Swaim deserves a lot of credit, because Azubuike's family wanted to keep the entire thing under wraps until the press conference on Thursday.  But being the good journalist Swaim is, he did his homework and beat everybody on this one.  He also apparently has pissed off Azubuike's parents, but sometimes that just goes with the territory.  Swaim also tells us that Oklahoma State did get an expected verbal commitment over the weekend from 6'0 Julian Richardson from Miami (Pace) FL and that Cowboys head coach Eddie Sutton is doing an in-home visit with 7'0 Julius Lamptey from Oklahoma City (Northeast) OK tonight.  Our guess is that Oklahoma State will get Lamptey, but we aren't willing to count out Illinois just yet.  Remember, Fighting Illini head coach Bill Self, who previously was the head coach at Tulsa and Oral Roberts and an assistant at Oklahoma State, has all the right connections to get this one done.  Lamptey is still considering Oklahoma, Georgia, and UCLA, but it would be a major upset if he picked one of these schools.

Our Philadelphia Editor Allen Rubin tells us that 6'11 Keith Butler from Winchendon (School) MA and  6'4 Zakee Boyd from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ both have surfaced at Philadelphia (Celestial) PA, which formerly was Philadelphia (Life Christian) PA.  As a result, our guess is that Butler won't make it academically (nobody ever seems to from this school) and will have to go the junior colleg route.  So it should come as no surprise that the University of Louisville's prime recruiting targets now are 6'8 Sean May from Bloomington (North) IN and 6'10 Chris Booker from Tyler (JC) TX.  However, it likely will come down to whichever player commits first, as the Cardinals only have one scholarship remaining.  If you will recall, Louisville got 6'3 Taquan Dean from Neptune (H.S.) NJ last spring, 6'7 Francisco Garcia from Winchendon (School) MA early in the summer, and 6'10 Kendall Dartez from Vincennes (JC) IN in late August.  Our guess is the Cardinals will get Booker, despite the fact May had a great visit to the University of Louisville day before yesterday.  As a matter of fact, right now Louisville appears be the leader for May. However, in the end we think the local pressure on May to stay home and attend Indiana will be next to impossible to overcome.  In other words, the longer this one goes, the more it favors Indiana.  Booker, who is expected to visit Louisville later this month, is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Cardinals, because he's 240 lbs., has great hands, is ranked among the top 25 junior college players in the nation.  Right now Louisville and Purdue appear to be the co-favorites for Booker, but Kansas, Texas Tech, and Washington State also are still being mentioned.

We also have confirmed that 6'10 Matt Gorman from Watertown (H.S.) NY, who is ranked #96 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, has verbally committed to Syracuse.  This also comes as no surprise.  As a matter of fact, we're been telling you that the Orangemen were the strong leader for Gorman since last spring.  Gorman joins 6'7 Carmelo Anthony from Towson (Catholic) MD and 6'2 Gerry McNamara from Scranton (Bishop Hannan) PA to move Syracuse's recruiting class into the top five nationally, along with Florida, Duke, Memphis, and Duke, on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date.  Gorman doesn't have great athleticism, so at times, like at the adidas ABDD Camp, he was like a fish out of water.   However, when he was in a more structured setting, like on his club team at the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, NV, he turned a lot of heads.  Still, we don't see Gorman walking in and beating out the two inside players Syracuse landed a year ago - 7'1 Craig Forth from East Greenbush (Columbia) NY and 6'10 Mark Konecny from from Waterbury (Holy Cross) CT, both of whom are expected to get a valuable year of experience under their belt this season.  But it's tough to pass on a good big man, especially when he is right in your backyard, which in this case is upstate New York.  We also a getting reports that the commitment by 6'1 Bryan Hopkins from Dallas (Lincoln) TX to SMU may not hold up.   As a matter of fact, the word on the street is that Hopkins will have a press conference tomorrow to announce that he is reneging on SMU and, instead, will attend the University of Texas.  This doesn't come as a major surprise, because we told you all along that the Longhorns would be tough to beat.  We also told you for a long time not to count out Texas on 6'3 Bracy Wright from The Colony (H.S.) TX, but our Texas Editor Wes Grandstaff tells us that chances of Wright reneging Indiana are slim and none.  As a matter of fact, Grandstaff now tells us that one was over four or five months ago and that Wright's commitment a week ago was nothing more than a formality.

The best game of the entire day at the 2001 Fullcourt Press Fall Showcase at Jordan High School in Long Beach, CA was the first game at 10:00 AM, which featured most of the top freshman in Southern California, including 5'10 Frosh Maurion Henderson from Los Angeles (Palisades) CA, 6'4 Frosh Brian Harvey from Carson (H.S.) CA, 6'5 Frosh Marcus Johnson from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'4 Frosh Jamaal Boykins from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, 5'9 Frosh Brian McTear from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA, 6'2 Frosh Ed White, Jr from North Hollywood (Harvard-Westlake) CA, 6'5 Frosh Morgan Rosborough from Long Beach (Jordan) CA, 6'2 Soph Jonathan Toliver from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'7 Frosh Amir Mosley from Los Angeles (Pacific Hills) CA, and 6'8 Frosh Brett Horner from Fullerton (H.S.) CA, as well as one of the top eight graders in 6'0 Andre Dunn from Los Angeles (Calvary Christian) CA.  The best player in this class in Southern California is Henderson.  Not only is he is quick off the dribble, but he has excellent handling and passing skills, deep 3-point shooting range, and savvy beyond his years.  However, the best player in game was Harvey, who impressed us with his ability to beat you both inside and outside.  We're talking about a relentless competitor who is a phyiscal specimen and force on the boards, plus he's a surprisinly good ball handler and he can beat you with outside shooting.  We especially liked his fade away jumper, which he used to bury several 3-pointers.  And not too far behind Harvey and Henderson was Johnson.  He's not the outside threat the other two are, but he's a big-time athlete with great hops and explosive moves to the hole.  In other words, he's more of slasher, but he also impressed us with his moves around the basket, handling skills in the open court, and timing on the boards.  Boykins also is an excellent rebounder for his size, but we also liked his versatility, nose for the ball, and athleticism.  McTear is already an outstanding point guard, as he has a great feel for the game, is an excellent passer, good defensively, and extremely quick in transition.  White doesn't pass the look test, but he's got a great feel for the game and he's a prolific scorer.  As a matter of fact, Dinos Trigonis, who was the event director, was heard comparing White to Stanford star Casey Jacobsen.  And he should know, because Jacobsen emerged into one on the premier high school players in the nation while playing AAU ball for Trigonis at places like the Bob Gibbons' Tournament of Champions during the spring before his senior year in high school.  Rosborough doesn't pass the look test either.  Not only is he a wide body, but he's big, slow, and out of shape.  But he does have soft hands and a knack for being in the right place at the right time and, as a result, he reminds us of 6'8 Sean May from Bloomington (North) IN.  Toliver impressed us with athleticism and rebounding, but what he did best was shoot the three.  Mosley is a long armed shot blocker, but he isn't very aggressive nor is he as productive as he should be inside.  However, we still give the edge to Mosley over Horner based on athleticism. and potential.  But all that could change if Horner, who has a size 18 shoe, continues to grow and doesn't lose his mobility and agility.  Physically and athletically Dunn had no problems playing up a year, but he also impressed us with his ability to hit the outside jumper.  The best player in the Sophomore Game was 6'5 Soph Marcel Jones from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA.  He needs to get bigger and stronger and we question his outside shooting, but he's a tremendous natural talent.  He also is excellent in transition, good on the boards, and unstoppable around the basket.  We also liked all the good guards in the Sophomore Game, including 6'2 Soph Curtis Allen from Palos Verdes (Rolling Hills) CA, 6'4 Soph Thomas Woods from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, 6'3 Soph Arron Afflalo from Compton (Centennial) CA, 6'2 Soph Adrian Adarko from West Hills (Chaminade) CA, 6'1 Soph Gabriel Pruitt from Compton (Centennial) CA, and 6'3 Soph Josh Shipp from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA.   Allen and Woods are the two most naturally talented, but neither showed any sign of being able to hit an outside jumper.  So we think Afflalo and Adarko both may have more upside.  Adarko, who is a 2-guard all the way, is an excellent outside shooter and a good ball handler.  Afflalo rarely looks to shot anything except a layup, but he has excellent ball handling and passing skills and, as a result, already has excellent size for a point guard.  Pruitt and Shipp are both excellent 3-point shooters, but neither seems to be living up to their early reputations.  We also liked 6'5 Soph Mike Davis from Bellflower (St. John Bosco) CA, but we're talking about an undersized power forward who may be done growing.  The best two big men in the game were 6'8 Soph Jamie Diefenbach from Newport Beach (Newport Harbor) CA and 6'8 Soph Chris Henry from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA.  Diefenbach is more active and athletic, but he isn't a strong as Henry is on the boards.  The worst game of the day was the Top 48 Junior Game, but we did like 6'0 Jr Robert Locke from Santa Monica (Crossroads) CA, who impressed us with his ball handling and passing skills, quickness of the dribble, and outside shooting.  The Blue Squad, which emerged victorious, 111-110, in double overtime of the Top 24 Junior Game, featured a number of players who play for Trigonis' Belmore Shore club team, including 6'8 Jr Trevor Ariza from Los Angeles (Westinghouse) CA, 6'9 Jr Harrison Schaen from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'3 Jr Wesley Washington from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, and 6'5 Jr Sean Marshall from Rialto (Eisenhower) CA, and 6'5 Jr Trayvon Williams from Fontana (H.S.) CA.  However, the two undersized power forwards - 6'6 Jr Scott Cutley from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA and 6'5 Jr Wendell White from Van Nuys (Montclair Prep) CA - and the two athletic guards - 6'1 Jr Marcus Williams from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA and 6'1 Jr Rayshawn Reed from Inglewood (H.S.) CA - on the Grey Squad made this the closest game of the day.  As a matter of fact, the game was still tied at the end of the first overtime.  So Trigonis announced that the second overtime would be decided in sudden death (whichever team scored first would be the winner).  This certainly helped the instensity level, but unfortunately the outcome was determined by a foul and a free throw.  There weren't many good guards In the Top 48 Senior Game, but we did like some of the inside guys, including 6'6 Wayne Chamberlain from Los Angeles (Washington) CA, 6'7 Marcellus Robertson from La Habra (H.S.) CA, 6'11 Paul Maynen from Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) CA, and 6'7 Kevin Edmunds from Fountain Valley (H.S.) CA.   The highlight of the day came several minutes into the Top 24 Senior Game when 6'9 DeAngelo Collins from Inglewood (H.S.) CA showed up.  If you will recall, Collins had been missing in action since the adidas ABCD Camp, but upon immediately being inserted into the game, he simply reinforced his #7 ranking nationally by the HOOP SCOOP.  No statistics were kept, but we do know that Collins scored six points in his first two minutes.  He also blocked numerous shots, rebounded, scored at will, and made it all look easy.  We also enjoyed talking with Collins briefly after the game.  He looked me in the eye and told me that his goal is to prove to everybody that he is the best player in the class in the McDonald's All-American Game next March.  In other words, unlike another highly touted big man from California -7'0 Tyson Chandler from Compton (Dominguez) CA, who didn't play in the McDonald's All-American Game last spring, because he didn't want to hurt the value of his stock, Collins doesn't appear to be content to rest of his previous accomplishments.  But even without Collins,  the Grey Squad, which coasted to 128-109 victory, had a major advantage in talent.  As a matter of fact, the three best players in the game - Collins, 6'7 Jamaal Walls from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, and 6'7 Bobby Jones from Long Beach (Poly) CA - were all on the same team.  So were 6'3 Keion Kindred from Compton (Dominguez) CA, 6'6 Onye Ibekwe from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA, 5'10 Jason McKinney from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, and 5'10 Carlos Rivers from Long Beach (Poly) CA.  The best player for the Blue Squad was 6'7 Brandon Bowman from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, but 6'1 Patrick Hadden from Irvine (Woodbridge) CA and 6'8 David Patten from Placentia (El Dorado) CA also played well. 

Saturday, September, 8, 2001, and Sunday, September 9, 2001

Last spring UNC-Charlotte lost 6'9 Rodney White, who entered his name into the NBA Draft after his freshman season, but now it looks like they have landed the perfect replacement in 6'7 Curtis Withers from Charlotte (West Charlotte) NC, who is ranked #30 nationally by the HOOP SCOOP.   Yes, you can write it down for the 49ers, as Withers has elected to stay home and help continue to build Charlotte into a national power.  Withers can't step out on the perimeter and shoot the 3-pointer the way White can and he's a couple of inches smaller, but he's just as mean and tough inside.  He's also a lot more athletic.   In other words, he doesn't take any prisoners and is a monster on the boards.   We've always liked Withers' game, but he was absolutely sensational when we saw him late in the summer at the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, NV.    So obviously in a day and age when good inside guys are hard to find, getting Withers is a huge feather in the cap of Bobby Lutz, who is one of the most underrated head coaches in America.  Lutz is also one of the hardest working head coaches and that hard work obviously is paying off, because the 49ers also got a verbal commitment during the month of July from 6'6 Vincent Grier from Raleigh (Bonner) NC.  So with two excellent players now in the fold, Charlotte's recruiting class moves into the top 20 on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date. 

We also have confirmed via our West Cost Editor Dinos Trigonis that 6'7 Bobby Jones will not be back this season at Compton (Dominguez) CA.  Instead, he has enrolled at Long Beach (Poly) CA.  He also is the subject of an intense recruiting battle that is being waged by New Mexico, Oregon, Connecticut, and Boston College.  We also suspect that 6'3 Keion Kindred won't be back at Compton (Dominguez) CA, but until he officially enrolls someplace else, we will continue to list him at Dominguez.  Also not returning to Dominguez is former head coach Russell Otis.  If you will recall, Otis successfully overcame all his legal problems last spring and appeared to be all set to take the head coach job at Lynwood (H.S.) CA, which is especially interesting, because Lynwood is one of Dominquez's biggest rivals.  In other words, moving from Dominguez to Lynwwod would be like Rick Pitino going to Kentucky to Louisville, Gary Williams moving from Maryland to Georgetown, or Mike Krzyzewski moving from Duke to North Carolina.   As a result, there has been a lot of resistence by certain members of the school board to hiring Otis at Lynwood and right now it is a very sticky situation.  But it still could happen, depending upon who wins the power play between the school superintendent, who backs Otis, and the board members.  As for Dominguez, they have hired Mack Calvin, who played at USC and for a number of teams in both the NBA and ABA.  He also was briefly the interim head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, plus he was the head coach at Cal State-Dominguez Hills, an assistant coach at the University of Virginia under Terry Holland, and an assistant coach for a number of NBA teams. 

College coaches can't attend due to the ridiculous new NCAA rules and this is too bad, because they miss a major opportunity to see most of the top players in Southern California playing against the best players in their age group.  However, we will be at the 2001 Fullcourt Press Fall Showcase at Long Beach (Jordan) CA tomorrow, Sunday, September 9, 2001, for six all-star games and we will provide you with all the highlights on Monday.  The first game, which will begin at 10:00 AM, is the Top 24 Freshman Game and the players event director Dinos Trigonis has on the tentative roster include 6'6 Frosh Rashad Austin from Alta Loma (H.S.) CA, 6'4 Frosh Jamaal Boykins from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, 6'0 8th Grader Andre Dunn, Jr from Los Angeles, CA, 6'0 Frosh Mike Garrity from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 5'6 Frosh Michael Gordon from Compton (Centennial) CA, 6'4 Frosh Brian Harvey from Carson (H.S.) CA, 5'10 Frosh Maurion Henderson from Los Angeles (Palisades) CA, 6'2 Frosh Frank Henry-Ala from  Los Angeles (Pacific Hills) CA, 5'4 Frosh Drew Housman from Calabasas (H.S.) CA, 6'5 Frosh Marcus Johnson from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 5'4 Frosh Shane Mahoney from Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) CA, 6'2 Kenny McClary from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'5 Frosh Jerard Moret from Pacific Hills (H.S.) CA, 6'7 Frosh Amir Mosley from Pacific Hills (H.S.) CA, 5'9 Frosh Brian McTear from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA, 6'4 Frosh Ray Reese from Carson (H.S.) CA, 5'10 Frosh Devon Smith from Torrance (H.S.) CA, 6'0 Frosh Justin Thomas form Los Angeles (Loyola) CA, 6'2 Frosh Ed White from North Hollywood (Harvard-Westlake) CA, and 5'11 Frosh Jamaal Zadan from Torrance (H.S.) CA.  The players on the tentative roster for the Top 24 Sophomore Game, which will be at 11:30 AM, include 6'2 Soph Adrian Adarko from West Hills (Chaminade) CA, 6'3 Soph Arron Affalo from Compton (Centennial) CA, 6'2 Soph Curtis Allen from Palos Verdes (Rolling Hills) CA, 5'8 Soph Aaron Bell from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, 6'9 Soph David Burgess from Irvine (Woodbridge) CA, 6'4 Soph Ben Darylrumple from Moorpark (H.S.) CA, 6'5 Soph Mike Davis from Bellflower (St. John Bosco) CA , 6'8 Soph Jamie Diefenbach from Newport Beach (Newport Harbor) CA, 5'11 Soph Patrick Fuller from Pasadena (Muir) CA, 6'7 Soph Jose Gonzalez from Fullerton (Sunny Hills) CA, 6'6 Soph Andrew Green from Perris (H.S.) CA, 6'3 Soph Sean Green from Rialto (H.S.) CA, 6'6 Soph Evan Harris from North Hollywood (Harvard-Westlake) CA, 6'8 Soph Chris Henry from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 5'9 Soph Jenero Jefferson from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, 6'5 Soph Marcel Jones from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'1 Soph Lorenzo Keeler from Escondido (H.S.) CA, 5'5 Soph Damion Massey from Long Beach (Jordan) CA, 6'1 Soph Gabriel Pruitt from Compton (Centennial) CA, 6'3 Soph Matt Sargent from Huntington Beach (Ocean View) CA, 6'3 Soph Joe Shipp from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, 6'10 Soph Robert Swift from Bakersfield (Garces) CA, 6'3 Soph Bryce Taylor from North Hollywood (Harvard-Westlake) CA, 5'8 Soph Marquis Washington from Torrance (Bishop Montgomery) CA, 6'5 Soph Travis Washington from Rancho Cucamonga (H.S.) CA, 6'2 Soph Thomas Wood from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, 6'5 Soph Nick Woodward from Corona (Centennial) CA, and 6'6 Soph Duane Wright from Lakewood (Mayfair) CA.   The players on the tentative roster for the Top 48 Junior Game, which will be at 1:00 PM, include 6'4 Jr Josh Flynn-Brown from Los Angeles (Loyola) CA, 5'9 Jr Jason Gann from Brea (Brea-Olinda) CA, 6'1 Jr Jimmy Goffredo from La Crescenta (Crescenta Valley) CA, 6'6 Jr Tony Gonzalez from Fullerton (Sunny Hills) CA, 6'8 Jr Tyler Hauck from Claremont (H.S.) CA, 6'7 Jr Chris Hemphill from Serra (Gardena) CA, 6'7 Jr Ryan Hynes from Long Beach (St. Anthony) CA, 6'6 Jr Perron Johnson from Claremont (H.S.) CA, 6'3 Jr Mark Lewis from Long Beach (Millikan) CA, 6'0 Jr Robert Locke from Santa Monica (Crossroads) CA, 6'5 Jr Christian Martin from Bakersfield (Garces) CA, 6'1 Jr  Brian McFadden from Lakewood (Mayfair) CA, 6'0 Jr Corey Miller from Villa Park (H.S.) CA, 6'0 Jr Charles Oliver from Claremont (H.S.) CA, 6'0 Jr Kurt Oliver from Rim of the World (Crestine) CA, 6'2 Jr Ryan Read from San Diego (Horizon) CA, 6'3 Jr Ricky Redic from Long Beach (St. Anthony) CA, 5'10 Jr Deon Simpson from Claremont (H.S.) CA, 6'6 Jr Marcus Slaughter from Moreno Valley (Valley View) CA, 5'9 Jr Jonathan Smith from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'3 Jr Brian Tocts from Apple Valley (Granite Hills) CA, 6'0 Jr Mikel Watson from Oceanside (El Camino) CA, 6'7 Jr Alan Wiggins from Poway (H.S.) CA, 6'3 Jr Derrick Williams from Los Angeles (Price) CA, 6'2 Jr Earl Wilson from Claremont (H.S.) CA, and 5'11 Jr Kirk Wilson, Jr from Lakewood (Artesia) CA.  The tentative roster for the Top 24 Junior Game, which will be at 2:30 PM, includes 6'8 Jr Trevor Ariza from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'6 Jr Alex Bausley from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, 5'9 Jr B.J. Bell from Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA, 6'11 Jr Jarod Boswell from Lakeside (El Capitan) CA, 6'5 Jr Richard Cobbs from Moreno Valley (Canyon Springs) CA, 6'6 Jr Scott Cutley from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'6 Jr Marcus Dove from Long Beach (Millikan) CA, 6'0 Jr Kalif Ford from Diamond Bar (H.S.) CA, 6'5 Jr Justin Hawkins from Lakewood (Mayfair) CA, 6'5 Jr Kyle Hogan from Villa Park (H.S.) CA, 6'9 Jr Ekene Ibekwe from Carson (H.S.) CA, 5'10 Jr Eric Lane from Bellflower (St. John Bosco) CA, 6'5 Jr Sean Marshall from Rialto (Eisenhower) CA, 6'1 Jr Rayshawn Reed from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, 6'9 Jr Harrison Schaen from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'2 Jr Darryl Strawberry from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'4 Jr Drew Terry from Irvine (Northwood) CA, 5'10 Jr Myron Terrell from Los Angeles (Washington) CA, 6'5 Jr Fred Washington from Torrance (Bishop Montgomery) CA, 6'3 Jr Wesley Washington from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'5 Jr Wendell White from Van Nuys (Montclair Prep) CA, 6'1 Jr Marcus Williams from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA,and  6'5 Jr Trayvon Williams from Fontana (H.S.) CA.  The tentative roster for the Top 40 Senior Game, which will be at 4:00 PM, includes 6'2 Lauren Brown from Long Beach (St. Anthony) CA, 6'6 Wayne Chamberlain from Los Angeles (Washington) CA, 6'3 Geoffrey Clayton from Los Angeles (Fremont) CA, 5'10 David Conte from Costa Mesa (H.S.) CA, 5'7 Jacob Crawley from Irvine (H.S.) CA, 6'7 Keith Edmunds from Fountain Valley (H.S.) CA, 6'6 Spencer Foster from Glendora (H.S.) CA, 6'3 Jake Franzen from Mission Viejo (Capistrano Valley) CA, 6'4 Dominic Freeman from Long Beach (Millikan) CA, 6'3 Eugene Hackett from Playa del Rey (St. Bernard) CA, 6'3 Jamaal Hall from Pasadena (Muir) CA, 6'5 Julius Keeler from Escondido (H.S.) CA, 6'3 Matt Llewellyn from North Hollywood (Campbell Hall) CA, 6'2 Matt McCraw from Lakewood (Mayfair) CA, 6'0 Larry Monroe from Glendora (H.S.) CA, 6'4 Robbie Neyland from La Canada (H.S.) CA, 6'2 David Rhoiney from Long Beach (St. Anthony) CA, 6'7 Marcellus Robertson from La Habra (H.S.) CA, 6'6 Kenny Penn from Claremont (H.S.) CA, 6'9 Bryce Prather from Villa Park (H.S.) CA, 5'10 Dominique Sims from La Habra (H.S.) CA, 6'4 Kevin Stacey from Mission Viejo (H.S.) CA, and 5'11 Chad Vakilli from Costa Mesa (H.S.) CA.  The tentative roster for the Top 24 Senior Game, which will be at 5:00 PM, includes 6'5 Shaddean Aaron from Claremont (H.S.) CA, 6'9 Ronald Allen from Lakewood (Artesia) CA, 6'7 Brandon Bowman from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'9 DeAngelo Collins from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, 6'2 Ashanti Cook from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'1 David Gale from Sherman Oaks (Buckley) CA, 6'1 Patrick Hadden from Irvine (Woodbridge) CA, 6'3 Brandon Heath from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'10 Ryan Hollins from Pasadena (Muir) CA, 6'6 Onye Ibekwe from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA, 6'7 Bobby Jones from Long Beach (Poly) CA, 6'2 Mike Mehanna from Glendora (H.S.) CA, 6'6 Tony Melum from Newport Beach (Newport Harbor) CA, 6'3 Cameron Munoz from Claremont (H.S.) CA, 6'3 Keion Kindred from Compton (Dominguez) CA, 6'10 Jason McKinney from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, 6'8 Ryan Meilleur from Lakewood (Artesia) CA, 6'8 David Patten from Placentia (El Dorado) CA, 6'3 Giovanni St. Amant from Bellflower (St. John Bosco) CA, 6'4 Mike Strawberry from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 5'10 Carlos Rivers from Long Beach (Poly) CA, and 6'7 Jamaal Walls from Inglewood (H.S.) CA.  

Friday, September 7, 2001

Our New York City Editor Ron Naclerio has the latest scoop on 6'6 Leonard Cooke from Old Tappan (H.S.) NJ.   No, he isn't going to prep school nor he has yet to make a verbal commitment to St. John's.  He also hasn't announced that he is going to put his name into the NBA draft next spring nor has he decided to play this year in the NBA's new Developmental League.  Actually we  understand that possibility has already been explored, but he's not eligible yet.   Instead, the scoop is that Cooke will remain where he is and sit out this season while attending the same high school he was at a year ago.  And hopefully he will get the necessary grades to be eligible to play as a freshman next year in college, because his weaknesses (i.e. outside shooting and being able create a shot off the dribble for himself) really got explosed during the summer.  If Cooke does go to college, Naclerio is positive that he will stay close to home.  As a matter of fact, Cooke made an unofficial visit recently to Seton Hall.  But Naclerio still thinks St. John's is the team you have to beat.  And let's say that the Red Storm does get Cooke, 6'8 Jason Fraser from Amityville (H.S.) NY, and 6'1 Elijah Ingram from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ to go along with 6'6 Tim Doye from Oyster Bay (St. Dominic) NY, who currently is the only player in their recruiting class.   Not only would that instantly make the St. John's program a national contender, but it also would move their recruiting class into a tie for #1 with Florida on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date.  But Naclerio does think Seton Hall is the leader for over Hofstra and St. John's for 6'3 Quincy Douby from Brooklyn (Grady) NY, who is one of the best 3-point shooters in the senior class nationally.  However, Douby still needs to work on his ball handling skills if he wants to be more than a good role player in the Big East.  Naclerio also reports that 6'4 Ryan Williams, who was at Troy (Redemption) NY last season, has surfaced at Howard (JC) TX and 6'7 Tremayne Singletary, who was at Milford (Academy) CT last season, has enrolled at Iowa Western (JC) IA.   And 5'11 Darryl Hill, who is another player who previously played for Naclerio at Bayside (Cardozo) NY, is has enrolled at Milford (Academy) CT.   Speaking of Hill, he is visiting West Virginia this weekend. 

We had planned to attend Five-Star's loaded Honesdale II session, which concluded after the NBA Orange-White NBA All-Star Classic and the awards ceremony on Wednesday, August 29, 2001.  But for the second consecutive year we had to cancel at the last minute due to unexpected circumstances at home.  This was unfortunate, because this session always provides a sneak preview of many of the top young players, as well as one last look at some of the top seniors, in the East.  However, today we finally caught up with Tom Konchalski, who is the Editor and Publisher of the H.S.B.I. Report, and he provides us with some of the important details.  Like the award winners for the NBA and NCAA Divisions.  The Most Outstanding Player in the NBA was 5'9 Jr Daon Merritt from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, who is "the master of open court basketball," says Konchalski.  The Most Promising Prospect at the camp was 7'4 Jr Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY.  Not only is Alleyne a legitimate 7'4 now, but he also has really improved his game, according to Konchalski.   6'5 Michael Blackshear from Philadelphia (Simon Gratz) PA, who had 18 rebounds in the NBA Orange-White All-Star Game, edged out 6'8 Jr Will Sheridan from Hockessin (Sanford) DE, who had 19 rebounds in the Orange White All-Star Game, as the Best Rebounder in camp.  Instead, Sheridan took home the Mr. Stations Award for his effort and eagerness to learn at stations all week.  In other words, as the legendary Howard Garfinkel would say, Sheridan was the camper who got the most for his money.  The MVP in the playoffs, as well as the leading scorer for the week with a 14.5 ppg average, was 6'3 Jr Arthur Bowers from Newark (St. Benedicts) NJ.  The Best Defender was 6'0 Dwayne Lee from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, the Best Playmaker was 6'0 Jason Wingate from New York (Rice) NY, and the winner of the Sportsmanship Award was 6'10 Ted Skuchas from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) NY.  In addition to the players mentioned above, the Orange-White All-Star Classic also included 6'3 John Winchester from Durham (Bonner Academy) NC, 6'4 Jr Marquis Webb from Paterson (Catholic) NJ, 6'1 Dan Oglesby from Hamden (Hamden Hall) CT, 6'9 Eric Davis from Durham (Bonner Academy) NC, 5'9 Keydren Clark from New York (Rice) NY, 6'2 Craig Benson from Hamden (Hamden Hall) CT, 6'6 Jr Sean Banks from Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ, 5'10 Jr Marlon Smith from Jamaica (Archbishop Molloy) NY, 5'11 Jr Mitchell Beauford from Middle Village (Christ the King) NY, 5'11 Elijah Ingram from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, 6'5 Elijah Clarke from Washington (Springarn) DC, 6'3 Peedy Nelson from Middle Village (Christ the King) NY, 5'10 Rashard Turner from Peekskill (H.S.) NY, 6'2 Jr Ramel Bradley from New York (Park West) NY, 5'10 Donald Copeland from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ, and 6'2 Jomo Belfor from Mt. Vernon (H.S.) NY.  The Most Outstanding Player in the Developmental League was 6'1 Soph Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY and this should come as no surprise, because Robinson is widely regarded as the #2 sophomore in New York City behind 5'11 Soph Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY and ahead of 6'1 Soph Sundiata Gaines from Briarwood (Archbishop Molloy) NY.  Speaking of Gaines, he was the leading scorer for the week in the Developmental League with a 14.1 ppg average.  Other major award winners in the Developmental League included 6'6 Frosh Terrell Biggs from Ramsey (Don Bosco Prep) NJ, who named the MVP in the Orange-White All-Star Game, and 6'3 Soph Brian Laing from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, who was the MVP in the Playoffs.  However, the highlight of the week was the two lectures given by the legendary Hubie Brown, who Konchalski calls the "Michael Jordan of hoop instruction."  Not only is Brown one of the great teachers in the history of the game, but he also brought half the campers to the first Five-Star Camp and was instrumental during the early years of making this the premier teaching camp in America.

Thursday, September 6, 2001

The Dayton Daily News and Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News, who on a local radio station in Memphis,TN yesterday, are both reporting that the University of Memphis has a verbal commitment from 6'5 Alex Carmona from Troy (H.S.) OH.  But don't write it down just yet, because Carmona, who will be in Memphis on an official visit this weekend, is not expected to make it officil for the Tigers until next week.  And if he does, this will be a supreme coup for the Tigers, because it move Memphis' recruiting class, which currently is ranked #3 on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date, into the #1 spot again.  If you will recall, Memphis finished with the #1 ranked recruiting class last spring with a class that included 6'2 Dajuan Wagner from Camden (H.S.) NJ, 6'8 Chris Massey from Oxnard (JC) CA, 6'4 Anthony Rice from North Clayton (College Park) GA, 6'2 Antonio Burks from Hiwassee (JC) TN, and 6'9 Duane Erwin from Huntsville (Lee) AL.  And right on the heels of that class they already have verbal  commitments in the current class from 6'8 Qyntel Woods from Moberly (JC) MO, 6'3 Jeremy Hunt from Memphis (Craigmont) TN, 6'8 Almamy Thiero from Durham (Mt. Zion Christian) NC, and 6'9 Amare Stoudemire from Orlando (Cypress Creek) FL, plus they will likely get Carmona next week.  So the obvious question is how are the Tigers going to sign 10 players in two years?  Remember, NCAA rules currently allow a school to only sign eight players with a maximun of five one year and three the next over a two-year period.  First, one has to remember that Stoudemire will likley go straight to the league next spring.  Second, there is a good possibility that the NCAA is going to change the Five-and-Three rule this fall.   Instead, they may allow schools to sign five-and-four, which would allow schools nine scholarships altogether over a two-year period, or they may scrap the rule entirely.   So obviously Memphis head coach John Calipari is going to take all the commitments he can get from quality players and sort it all out later.  As for Carmona, who is ranked #79 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, he is a tough hardnosed kid with a lot of versatility.  He rebounds extremely well for his size, but he also has the ball handling and passing skills necessary play out on the perimeter.  He also an excellent athlete, but he doesn't have great speed and quickness and he needs to continue to work on his outside shooting. 

I continue to get feedback about 7'0 Jonathan Oliver from Ventura (JC) CA, who verbally committed to Southern California over the weekend.   Apparently one of his people in New York City didn't agree with Ron Naclerio's assessment of Oliver earlier this week.  Remember, Greg Winslow, who is Oliver's junior college coach, told us that he has already been getting calls from NBA scouts about the kid and Naclerio, who saw Oliver in the Rucker League this summer, said he thought that was ridiculous.  Well, we quoted the coach, because he the guy on the scene, and we quoted Naclerio, because he was the only person I could find at the time who could provide a first-hand observation.  Naclerio also has no bias one way or another.  However, this guy apparently does, plus I don't know if he has any credibility.  And that's why I bring this up.  The last thing I need is somebody from New York who I don't even know calling me to politic for his own kid.  Remember, we rank players based on merit and, unlike some people in our business, we don't rank players based on what team a kid plays for and/or what college he picks.  As a matter of fact, we have a pretty good idea where most guys should be ranked long before they pick a college.  A great example is our ranking of 6'8 Sean May from Bloomington (North) IN, who currently is ranked #35 nationally in the senior class nationally by the HOOP SCOOP.  This ranking has nothing to do with where we think he's going to school and it has everything to do with what he's recently accomplished.  If you will recall, he was ranked among our top five nationally prior to the last spring, but he had a terrible spring, an awful NIKE All-American Camp, and mediocre summer.  Sure, May has both the talent and the potential to be ranked higher than #35.  But let him earn it.  And he can start by getting back into shape.  I bring this up, because an IU fan sent me an email earlier this week and accused me of  being biased against Indiana University, which, by the way, is the school from which I graduated.  He also points out that I don't have 6'2 Marshall Strickland from Sykes (South Carroll) MD, who committed to Indiana in early July, ranked among our top 100 nationally.  Obviously this is because he doesn't belong to the Members Section (we had Strickland ranked 16th in the class prior to the start of the summer) nor does he follow what we do very closely, because he doesn't know that we rank 5th year players separately. 

Our West Coast Editor Dinos Trigonis tells us that Georgetown has beaten schools like Maryland, Tenneseee, Minnesota, New Mexico, Virginia, and USC for 6'7 Brandon Bowman from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA.   Like so many other players who have verbally committed recently, we don't have Bowman ranked among our top 100 nationally, but we real like his upside, athleticism, and versatility.  Bowman is far from being a finished product, but he has good handling and passing skills for somebody his size and he's capable of developing into an excellent outside shooter, although right now he lacks consistency.  Bowman becomes the first player in this recruiting class to commit to the Hoyas, but 6'2 Jr Robert McIver from Stone Mountain (Redan) GA and 6'8 Jr Darian Townes from Alexandria (T.C. Williams) VA, both of whom committed to Georgetown last spring, already count with the Class of 2003.  We also have confirmed that UNLV has gotten a commitment from 6'8 James Peters from Butler County (JC) KS.  You remember him!  He impressed us when he was a sophomore and 6'2 Sean Dockery was a freshman at Chicago (Julian) IL in the Hoops to the Loops Tournament in Chicago, IL in December of 1998.  However, Peters later got lost in the shuffle, because it turned out he was a year older than his class and, as a result, he went the junior college route.   Peters combines athleticism with a physical presence, which allows him take care of business inside.  He's a good rebounder and he can score around the basket, but he didn't get the notoriety he deserved during the summer, because he didn't attend any of the top junior college camps.  So that left the door open for UNLV assistant coach Derek Thomas, who previously was a college assistant at St. Louis, Minnesota, and Illinois, as well as scout for the Atlanta Hawks last season, to take advantage of all his Midwest contacts and get this one done quickly.  Speaking of UNLV, 6'5 Antwain Barbour from Wabash Valley (JC) IL will be on campus for an official visit this weekend.  

We also have confirmed that 6'10 Jabbar Young from Ft. Washington (National Christian) MD, who has improved leaps and bounds over the last year, will be at West Virginia on an official visit this weekend.  In addition to the Mountaineers, Young also is considering George Washington, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Florida International, and Tulane, but the word we get is that this one is far from over.   Our Washington, DC Editor Steve Turner called to tell us that head coaching job at Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD is suddenly open.  Apparently Joe McCall couldn't withstand the loss of 6'8 Jr Omari Isreal, who recently transferred to Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, and he resigned yesterday.   Who will get the job is anybody's guess, but Brian Merritt of http://www.elitehoops.com thinks Duane Simpkins, who was is a former player at both Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD and the University of Maryland, has all the right connections.  And how about our old buddy Steve Howes, who has been missing in action since he decided not to take a position at Holy Cross two years ago?  In case you didn't know, Howes, who has taught at Good Counsel and is recognized as one of the bright young guys in the business, was a key factor in the development of George Washington's 6'2 Chris Monroe and Virginia's 6'5 Roger Mason several years ago.  Another one of our favorite guys from the DC area is Chris Chaney and Merritt tells us that the cupboard should be full for him in his first year at Laurinburg (Institute) NC.   In addition to 6'5 Steve Leven, who played for Chaney last year at Kensington (Newport School) MD, 6'8 Boubacar Coly, who tranferred to Laurinburg Institute from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, and 6'10 Deante Smith, who was at Petersburgh (H.S.) VA last year, Laurinburg will also have 6'6 Cortez Davis, who was at North Bridgton (Academy) ME last winter, and 6'4 Michael Cuffee, who originally was supposed be going to Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME, as well as 5'11 Terrance Whittier, 6'9 J.R. Bailey, 6'6 Kyle Butler, and 6'7 Jr Regis Kornova. 

Wednesday, September 5, 2001

We told you that Southern Methodist had a real shot at getting 6'1 Bryan Hopkins from Dallas (Lincoln) TX.  Remember, he has said all along that he wanted to stay close to home.  But I'm sure that a lot of people still wrote the Mustangs off completely, as the popular consensus was there is just no way a team from the Western Athletic Conference can beat high profile programs, like Texas, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, and Illinois for a player who is ranked among our top 10 in senior class nationally and was just named the HOOP SCOOP's Player of the Summer.   However, that's not what happened.  Instead, chalk one up for the good-guys, because Hopkins verbally committed to SMU earlier today.  Sure, 6'6 Jeryl Sasser and 6'6 Willie Davis, who were the heart and sole of the team the last several seasons, have graduated, but Hopkins is potentially a lot better.  He's also capable of dominating a game from the point guard spot, because he's an incredible athlete who can explode over you going to the hole or pull up and keep you honest from beyond the arc with his outside shooting.  In other words, Mustangs head coach Mike Dement, who has compiled a 96-77 record during the last six years, including a 21-9 record two years ago and an 18-12 record last winter, is about to take this program to another level.   If you will recall, last spring he landed a good class that included 6'9 Eric Castro from Oklahoma City (Mt. St. Mary's) OK, 6'8 Patrick Simpson from Denver (George Washington) CO, 6'6 Bill Pharis from Westark (JC) AR, 6'5 Justin Isham from Lancaster (H.S.) TX, and 6'5 Brian Miller from Lewisville (H.S.) TX.  And now he has the go-to guy that he needs to replace Sasser, as well as run the show and make everybody else around him that much better.   Dement also will have Hopkins' twin brother - 6'1 Ryan Hopkins from Dallas (Lincoln) TX - and we think the scholarship Ryan will receive was a small price to pay to ensure that the Mustangs don't get beat on a top 10 player in their backyard.

We've been waiting for 6'3 Bracy Wright from The Colony (H.S.) TX to make it official for Indiana since early July when his buddy - 6'2 Marshall Strickland from Sykes (South Carroll) MD - announced for the Hoosiers.  Not only does this give the Hoosiers two probable McDonald's All-American's (Wright is ranked #10 nationally in the senior class and Strickland is a 5th year player, but if he counted with this class, he'd be listed among our top 20), but it gives head coach Mike Davis what is potential one of the best backcourts in Indiana University basketball history for years to come.  And if that weren't enough, earlier this week Wright won our award as the Best 3-Point Shooter of the Summer and Strickland is a great kid and outstanding student off the court.  In other words, these are the type of players you want to build a program around.  So is 6'8 Sean May from Bloomington (North) IN and, when and if he picks the Hoosiers, their recruiting class, which now is ranked #10 on Top Recruiting Classes To-Date, would move all the way up to #4 behind Florida, Duke, and Memphis and ahead of Louisville.  Currently May is ranked #35 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, but once he gets back in shape and starts playing again the way he did during the summer prior to his junior year, he could end up back in our top five or 10 nationally.  Remember what happened when Zach Randolph finally got in shape a year and a half ago.  Speaking of Randolph, it's a pretty good comparison, because May is also extremely skilled and deceptive around the basket.  We also have confirmed via our Ohio Editor that 6'6 Doug Scott from Reynoldsburg (H.S.) OH has picked Dayton over schools like Xavier, Valparaiso, and Cincinnati.  Scott doesn't rank among our top 100 nationally, but he's close.   Not only do we like his athleticism and versatility, but this guy is a winner!   As a matter of fact, he was a big reason why the Bobby Kortsen's 7-Up Team finished in the final four in their division at the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, NV in late July.  We also have confirmed that Illinois has gotten a verbal commitment from 6'8 Kyle Wilson from Dallas (Jesuit) TX and that 6'6 Serge Angounou from Albuquerque (Rio Grande) NM has picked Arizona State. 

Tuesday, September 4, 2001

After getting a pair of transfers last spring in 6'10 Nick Vander Laan (from California) and 6'1 Todd Billet (from Rutgers), the University of Virginia only had one scholarship available for this recruiting class.  They either wanted to sign the best available player or an athletic wing player, like 6'7 Antoine Wright from Lawrence (Groton) MA, 6'6 Curtis Sumpter from Brooklyn (Bishop Loughlin) NY, 6'6 Denham Brown from Toronto (Westhill) ON, or 6'7 Derrick Byars from Memphis (Ridgeway) TN.  Well, Wright has already committed to Texas A&M, Sumpter has already committed to Villanova, and Brown appears to be leaning in another direction.   However, it appears that Cavaliers have gotten their man, because the HOOP SCOOP has learned that Byars verbally committed to Virginia earlier today.  On the court Byars is best described as a silky smooth athlete with an excellent 3-point shot and a great feel for the game.  He not only had an excellent summer, but he showed us he's a winner, as he led his team to the final four of the National AAU Tournament in Orlando, FL in early August.  Off the court Byars is a great kid and an outstanding student, as is evident by the fact that he has a 21 ACT and a 3.8 gpa.  But what we like the most about Byars, who currently is ranked #51 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, is his upside.  Once he gets bigger and stronger physically, he could be a pro.  Obviously Byars will be heir apparent to Adam Hall and Chris Williams, both of whom will graduate after next season.  Also very important is the fact that Byars' commitment will free Virginia head coach Pete Gillen and his staff to start working exclusively on juniors and sophomores.  And this is more important now than ever before, as the NCAA has made it more difficult than ever for schools that have to scramble around late to fill their needs. 

It looks like the Valparaiso coaching staff has done it again! If you will recall, their recruiting class, which included three big time players in 6'4 Antonio Falu from San Jacinto (JC) TX, 6'3 Stalin Ortiz from Twin Rivers (JC) IA, and 6'6 Ali Berdiel from Gary (Andrean) IN, finished ranked #29 nationally last spring.  And now our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson is reporting that Crusaders have gotten a commitment from 6'8 Dan Oppland from St. Louis (Whitfield) MO.  You remember Oppland.  This is guy who impressed us so much last spring at Spiece that we had him ranked #63 prior to the summer.  Not only did he put up impressive numbers as he led his team to the final four of that tournament, but he also did all the blue collar work and dominated inside on the boards, as he guided the Gateway team all the way to the final four.  However, his lack of athleticism and a lack of structure apparently hurt him when we saw him at the adidas ABCD Camp, because he like a fish out water.  As a result, he no longer is ranked among our top 100 nationally.  But that might change again if we get a chance to see him again this winter at someplace like the KMOX Shootout in St. Louis, MO.  And this appears to be one of those two for the price of one deals, because Oppland's brother - 6'7 Mike Oppland from St. Louis (Whitfield) MO - also has verbally committed to the Crusaders.  Northwestern also appears to have stolen one tonight in 6'3 Evan Seacat from Paoli (H.S.) IN.  Matt Denison, the editor and publisher of Matt's Stats INHOOPS.com, tells us that Seacat was in Evanston, IL over the weekend and apparently he liked what he saw enough to seal the deal.  Seacat, who is one of the best 3-point shooters in the class, got the Wildcats coaching staff interested at the NIKE All-American Camp, where they saw him score 15 points in one game and 17 points in another.  "It was make or break time for Seacat at NIKE," said Denison.  "But he also helped himself at the 17-Under National AAU Tournament in Orlando, FL when he led Ohio Valley to a shocking upset against Boo Williams in pool play (Boo Williams went on to lose in the championship game to the Illinois Warriors)."  So it comes as no surprise that Denison named Seacat as his Player of the Summer. in Indiana.  We also are getting unconfirmed reports that 6'8 Kyle Wilson from Dallas (Jesuit) TX has verbally committed to the University of Illinois and we suspect that another player from Texas - 6'2 Deron Williams from The Colony (H.S.) TX- won't be far behind.  Our New York Editor Ron Naclerio still thinks St. John's is the team you have to beat for 6'1 Elijah Ingram from Jersey City (St. Anthony) NJ.  But Naclerio warns us that this might be one to watch closely, because Georgia Tech is a lot stronger than most people realize with Ingram, who is currently the second highest point guard still available in the Class of 2002. 

Upon further investigation it appears that the two players - 7'0 Jonathan Oliver and 6'10 Jack Wolfinger - who verbally committed to Southern Cal over the weekend are both pretty good.  As a matter of fact, they are the two best players on a Ventura (JC) CA team that will be ranked #4 nationally among junior colleges this fall by the Street & Smith Pre-Season Yearbook, as well as the consensus pre-season #1-ranked junior college team in California.  Oliver is described as "a very skilled 7'0 lefty power forward/center" by his junior college coach, Greg Winslow.  Winslow also tells us that Oliver played one year at Indian Hills (JC) IA and red-shirted last year at Ventura.  He also says three or four NBA teams already have called to inquire about Oliver.  But our New York City Editor Ron Naclerio thinks that is a little ridiculous.   Naclerio, who saw Oliver in the Rucker League this summer, calls him a long lanky shot blocking athlete, but adds that he has a lot of work to do.   "Down the road, he may be able to make money playing the game, but right now he wouldn't even be one of the better centers in the Pac-10," says Naclerio.   "A lot will depend upon how Oliver develops physically and how hard he works."  Wolfinger, who originally is from Oregon, surfaced three years ago at a prep school in New England and, then, signed with St. John's.   At the time we thought he was a legitimate top 200 player nationally, but we questioned his toughness, size, and foot speed.  However, it appears that he's gotten a lot better with several years to work on his game and mature.  Winslow calls Wolfinger "extremely skilled out on the perimeter" and already has him penciled in at the wing forward spot.  As for the other Jonathan Oliver, the one we remembered from his prep school days at Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME, it appears that he is still at West Virginia, where he has had a successful career as a role player.  I'm sure somebody will get on our case about this mistake in identity, but it won't be the first or the last time somebody has gotten a player confused.  My favorite example occurred in the late 80's when Parade Magazine listed Lee Mayberry as a repeat player on their All-American Team.  Actually that wasn't the case at all, because the Lee Mayberry who made the team in 1988 was the 6'2 point guard who had a great career at the University of Arkansas and the Lee Mayberry who made the team in 1989 was the 6'9 inside player who signed with Wyoming and never was heard from again.  And as long as we're talking about skinny shot blocking athletes with a lot of potential, it also appears that the University of Houston has landed one.   We're talking about 7'0 Anwar Freeman from Lee (JC) TX.   Freeman is still very raw offensively, but he is a stopper at the other end, as he has an incredible wing span, which allows him to alter shots and change the game.  He also runs the floor and has excellent mobility and good athleticism, but also  just like the Oliver who went to USC, Freeman is extremely skinny (only 205 lbs.).   Freeman joins 6'4 Cedrick Hensley from Cleveland (Heritage Christian) TX, who verbally committed to the Cougars last month.  Right now Hensley is probably the better of the two players, because he's a big-time athlete and a prolific scorer and 3-point shooter, but Freeman may have more long term potential.  Remember, you can't teach somebody to be 7-feet, plus big men take longer to develop.  In other words, we're talking about two players who would rank among our 75-125 nationally, but, with good coaching and time to develop, could eventually be a lot higher. 

Monday, September 3, 2001

For the last several weeks I've been trying to find somebody other than 6'1 Bryan Hopkins from Dallas (Lincoln) TX to name as our Player of the Summer.  If you will recall, Hopkins led Team Texas to the championship in both the NIKE Peach Jam in Augusta, GA and the AAU Super Showcase in Orlando, FL, where he was the leading scorer in the tournament with a 29.7 ppg scoring average.  Hopkins also did a great job of getting his teammates involved, as was evident by the fact that 6'3 Bracy Wright from The Colony (H.S.) TX, who averaged 26.8 ppg for the week, also was nothing short of sensational.  But Hopkins did not attend either the NIKE All-American Camp or the adidas ABCD Camp and that's where our problem arises.  You see, nobody who stood out at either of the two superstar oriented camps was sensational and/or dominant later in the summer.  As a matter of fact, 6'9 Amare Stoudemire from Orlando (Cypress Creek) FL and 6'10 DeAngelo Collins from Inglewood (H.S.) CA, both of whom would have been among the leading candidates for HOOP SCOOP Player of the Summer, were missing in action after they turned in stellar performances in early July.  Remember, Stoudemire dominated the NIKE Camp, as he finished as the consensus #1 Ranked Player at the NIKE Camp.   Collins, who entered the summer ranked #27 nationally in the Class of 2002 by the HOOP SCOOP, improved the value of his stock dramatically at the adidas Camp, as we had him ranked #8 in camp and #3 at the center position.  We also penalized Stoudemire for being missing in action the rest of the summer when it came to picking the #1 player in the senior class nationally.  Actually it was too close to call for top player honors between Stoudemire and 6'7 Carmelo Anthony from Towson (Catholic) MD, but Anthony, who attended the adidas Camp only one day, earned it, as he carried the Baltimore Select Team to the Final Four at the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, NV.  However, Anthony isn't the Best Player in the Nation Regardless of Class.  That honor goes to 6'6 Jr LaBron James from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary's) OH.  James also was our #1-Ranked Player at the adidas ABCD Camp, but his team lost early in the playoffs at the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, NV.  And the same can be said about 5'11 Soph Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY, whose team lost in the second round in Vegas, but finished as the #2-ranked player at the adidas ABCD Camp, after his brilliant 29-point performance in the underclassmen all-star game.  And as a result of that effort, Telfair wins our award for Best Individual Performance of the Summer.  Telfair also remains our #1-Ranked Player in the Sophomore Class Nationally.   The Biggest Sleeper of the Summer has to go to 6'7 Antonie Wright from Groton (Lawrence Academy) MA.  If you will recall, nobody had Wright ranked among their pre-summer top 100, but now he's a legitamate top 20 player in his class nationally and he'll get my vote for the McDonald's All-American Game.   The Biggest Surprise of the Summer has to go to 6'9 Ike Diogu from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, who prior to the summer was nothing more than a name on a list, as he was ranked #121 in his class nationally by the HOOP SCOOP.   However, Diogu moved up to #40 nationally in our post summer ranking of the senior class after finishing ranked #12 overall and #4 at center at the adidas ABCD Camp.   Diogu also had a number of big time head coaches, like Texas Tech's Bob Knight, Louisville's Rick Pitino, Arizona State's Rob Evans, and Florida's Billy Donovan showing up at a lot of his games.  Speaking of Donovan, he was one of the leading candidates for Most Visible Head Coach of the Summer, but nobody worked harder than Cincinnati's Bobby Huggins in his quest for a point guard.   And apparently all that hard work has paid off, because Huggins already has his man in 6'1 Chadd Moore from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, who recently verbally commmitted to the Bearcats.   Picking the Most Visible Assistant Coach of the Summer was a little harder, but we finally settled on Florida's John Pelphrey, who was in the gym morning, noon, and night, especially when 6'10 Chris Bosh from Dallas (Lincoln) TX, who is still the Gators #1 recruiting priority, was anchoring the front line for Mitch Malone's Texas Blue Chip Team.  The Top Gun of the Summer Award should never go to a point guard, which is why 6'2 Anthony Roberson from Saginaw (H.S.) MI has dropped out of our top five nationally.   Currently Roberson is ranked #6, but he could move back up, if he ever decides that his next pass won't be his first.  The Biggest Disappointment of the Summer has to be 6'10 Shavlik Randolph from Raleigh (Broughton) NC.   Remember, several very credible people like Bob Gibbons of All-Star Sports and Dave Telep of BlueChipHoops.com, had Randolph ranked #1 in the class before the start of the summer, but Randolph finished ranked no higher than #50 at the NIKE All-American Camp, based on his performance in camp.   Randolph also failed to make the 63-man all-tournament team at the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, NV.  Randolph also was the Most Widely Debated Player of the Summer, because a lot of people rank players based on the reputation and not on their performance, regardless of how poorly a player plays.   The Most Underrated Player from the Summer is 6'11 Matt Haryasz from Page (H.S.) AZ.  We saw Haryasz get 33 points in a game at the adidas Big Time Tournament, but he didn't attend either the NIKE or the adidas Camp.  So a lot of people still don't know how good he is.  Not only are Curtis Borchardt comparisons in order, but it looks like Haryasz is going to follow in Borchardt's footsteps and sign with Stanford this fall.  Picking the Best 3-Point Shooter was a close call among 6'3 Bracy Wright from The Colony (H.S.) TX, 6'5 Rashad Anderson from Lakeland (Kathleen) FL, and 6'1 Dee Brown from Maywood (Proviso East) IL.  Wright wins this award, because he was unconscious when Team Texas was playing so well in Florida.   Instead, Brown wins our Best Playmaker Award, which is a testament to just how good a feel for the game Brown has and why we think he is the best point guard in the Windy City ahead of Duke-bound 6'1 Sean Dockery from Chicago (Julian) IL.   The Best Passer is 6'6 Jr LaBron James from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary's) OH.  As a matter of fact, that's the best part of his game.  It's also why we call James "Magic Johnson with a jump shot."  The Best Rebounder of the Summer was 6'8 Jason Fraser from Amityville (H.S.) NY.  Remember, this is the guy who had 22 rebounds in the semi-finals at the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas.   Fraser also was one of the leading candidates for the Kwame Brown-Stock Market Award, due to his inconsistency and lack of interest when it wasn't crunch time or a big game.  In contrast, Fraser's close friend and teammate 6'6 Curtis Sumpter from Brooklyn (Bishop Loughlin) NY was left off the all-star team as he was mediocre at best at the adidas ABCD Camp.  However, he played consistently well the rest of the summer, as he led the Long Island Panthers to the championship in both the Three Stripes Classic at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY and the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, NV.  As as result, Sumpter wins our award as the Best Defensive Player and the Long Island Panthers win our Award for Team of the Summer.  However, the Program of the Summer goes to Team Texas, which, in addition to winning both the NIKE Peach Jam and the AAU Super Showcase in the 17-Under Division, also won the 16-Under BCI National Championship and had three of their younger teams finish among the final four in their respective age groups in the BCI Nationals.  Team Texas' 17-Under head coach Rick Williams wins our award for Coach of the Summer and the Most Visible Family of the Summer goes to the parents and younger sister of 6'2 Marshall Strickland from Skyes (South Carroll) MD, who were at almost as many events this summer as I was.  Our Missing In Action Award goes to 6'4 Rashid Al-Kaleem from Charlestown (H.S.) MA.  Speaking of Al-Kaleem, he's verbally committed to the University of Florida and ranked among everybody's top 100 nationally, but has anybody ever seen this guy play?  The Most Competitive Player of the Summer has to be 6'7 Mario Boggan from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA.  Actually this one was a no-brainer after he played in three games, including the championship game, on the final day of the adidas Big Time Tournament, got a red-eye to Orlando, FL that night (he was on our flight), and played in the 10:00 AM game at the 2001 National 17-Under Tournament the next morning.  The winner of our Blood and Guts Award is 6'8 Greg Brunner from Charles City (H.S.) IA.  Nobody in the country plays harder and gets more out of his ability than this guy!  Our Mr. Hustle Award goes to 6'8 Francisco Garcia from Winchendon (School) MA and the Most Improved Player has to be 7'0 Julius Lamptey from Oklahoma City (Northeast) OK.  And last, but not least, is the Sportsmanship Award, which goes to 6'1 Raymond Felton from Latta (H.S.) SC, who is the best point guard in the nation today.  Ironically, he's also one of the most prolific scorer's in the nation, which was especially evident at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions on Memorial Day Weekend.  However, this summer he was slowed by injuries.  Still, he was still named the Best Defender at Five-Star's loaded Pitt III session, finished ranked #3 at the adidas ABCD Camp, and was outstanding in all the events he participated in during the summer.  He's also a winner, a great role model, and perhaps an even better person than he is a basketball player.  And that's saying a lot, because we have Felton ranked #3 in the senior class nationally.  

Saturday, September 1, 2001, and Sunday, September 2, 2001

Already over half of the top 100 seniors nationally are verbally committed, but, at the pace the top sophomores are verbally committing in the state of Indiana, there may not be anybody left by this time two years from now.  If you will recall, 6'4 Soph Robert Vaden from Indianapolis (Cathedral) IN and 5'10 Soph Desmond Gadis from Indianapolis (Cathedral) IN both verbally committed to Purdue last fall before they ever played a high school game and now Reggie Tisdale, the Editor & Publisher of Indiana Basketball News, has the scoop on 6'5 Soph J.R. Angle from Trafalgar (Indian Creek) IN, who has made an early verbal commitment to the University of Iowa.  Actually this comes as no surprise, becausee Iowa head coach Steve Alford has strong Indiana contacts.  And so does Angle's father, Larry Angle, who has been a high school coach in the state for 30 years.  Angle's father also has been a long time friend of Alford's father, Sam Alford, who as an assistant coach at Iowa has done a terrific job of helping his son quickly build the Hawkeyes into a national powerhouse.  Tisdale ranks Angle #5 in the sophomore class in Indiana, but he also calls him a "Poor Man's Larry Bird."   Angle is not overly quick, but he is a terrific outside shooter with great court vision and huge hands.  Tisdale also points out that Angle has a great feel for game and he likely will grow to 6'7 or 6'8.  Angle also averaged 24 ppg as a freshman while playing at a Class AA school last season.  In other words, the sky may be the limit.  Tisdale also makes us aware of one that slipped right past us several weeks ago when Eastern Illinois got a commitment from 6'2 Josh Gomes from Frankfort (Christian) IN.  "Gomes is the best 2-guard prospect in the state of Indiana," says Tisdale.  "He's just like Kyle Hill, who graduated from Eastern Illinois and got drafted by the Dallas Mavericks #44 in the NBA Draft last spring." 

UCLA needs to sign several big guys in this recruiting class, but it looks like USC has beaten them to punch by getting verbal commitments from a pair of junior college players this weekend.  Yes, Dinos Trigonis, who is the West Coast Editor for the HOOP SCOOP, as well as the editor of the Full Court Press web site and the head coach of the Belmont Shore Club team, tells us that the Trojans have gotten 6'11 Jonathan Oliver and 6'11 Jack Wolfinger, both from Ventura (JC) CA.   And they should provide the perfect complement to one another in the future in USC, as Oliver's game is inside and Wolfinger likes to drift out on the perimeter where he can beat you with his 3-point shooting.  Neither player was ranked that high coming out of high school, but Oliver showed a lot of promise during the 1997-98 season while playing for Max Good at Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME.  As a result, Oliver signed with West Virginia, but only averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.1 rpg as a freshman and 1.0 ppg and 1.3 rpg as sophomore for the Mountaineers during the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons.  We don't know where Oliver was a last season, but it really doesn't matter, because the clock is already running.  Remember, when you sign with a four-year school, you have five years to play four.  And this will be his fourth year, which means he will only be able to play one season at USC.  Wolfinger came out a year later when he signed at St. John's.  So this will his third year of college and, as a result, he should be able to play two years for the Trojans.  How good Oliver and Wolfinger right now is anybody's guess?  But both have Big East experience and quality big men in this class are few and far between.  Plus, USC head coach Henry Bibby has already proven that he's one of the best in the business when it comes to developing and getting the most out of his talent (i.e. USC's shocking upset against Kentucky in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last March).  Trigonis also tells us that 6'5 John Haywood from La Puente (Bishop Amat) CA has picked Loyola-Marymount over UC-Santa Barbara, UC-Irvine, St. Mary's, Portland, Pacific, and San Francisco and Tulane, Utah, Colorado, St. Mary's, Pepperdine, San Francisco, and UC-Santa Barbara are all in the hunt for 6'10 David Patten from Placentia (El Dorado) CA.  It also appears to be a three horse race among Sacramento State, Montana, UC-Riverside for 5'10 Carlos Rivers from Long Beach (Poly) CA and the three in-home visits that 6'7 Adam Zahn from Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) CA already has lined up are with Pepperdine, San Diego State, and St. Mary's.  Trigonis also reports that 6'7 Jamaal Walls from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA won't be a repeat junior at prep school someplace in the East after all.  Instead, Walls plans to attend Inglewood (H.S.) CA, where he will team up with 6'9 DeAngelo Collins to form what promises to be one of the best one-two post combinations in high school basketball nationally this season.  Inglewood also has a lot of firepower in the backcourt with 6'1 Jr Rayshawn Reed and 5'11 Jason McKinney, so it will be interesting to see how head coach Pat Roy deals with all the egos and attitudes and whether he successfully finds the right chemisty.   Apparently we have a case of mistaken identity, as the Jonathan Oliver who has committed to Southern California is a different person than the Jonathan Oliver at West Virginia.  We'll have more details as they become available. 

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