South Florida Recruiting

BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: SOUTH FLORIDA

Verbal Commitment Alert:  Shaun Noriega, 6’4 G from North Port (FL)

Projected 2008-2009 Roster:

Seniors:  Mobalaji Ajayi (BF), Jesus Verdejo (G/F),  Aris Williams (BF)

Juniors:  Chris Howard (PG), Mike Mercer (G)

Sophomores:  Dominique Jones (SG)

Freshman:  Dwan McMillan (PG), Eugene Teague (BF/C), Eladio Espinosa (F)

Early 2009 Commitment:  Shaun Noriega (G)

With a recent run of transfers leaving the South Florida program, Stan Heath and his staff still have work to do filling their roster for the 2008-2009 season, however, in the midst of their immediate needs, the Bulls Get an ’09 Commitment from 6’4 Guard (St. Pete Times) Shaun Noriega out of North Port (FL), giving USF a nice head start for their future.

Shaun Noriega decided to end his recruitment early when he made a verbal commitment to South Florida and coach Stan Heath on Wednesday afternoon, according to the St. Petersburg Times.  Noriega is a 6’4 guard out of North Port (FL)  who displayed a lethal three-point shooting touch last season, connecting on 85 shots from beyond the arc.  Butler and Washington State were two other teams following Noriega very closely as he closed the season averaging nearly 30 points a game over the last 10 games.

The Bulls are still attending to immediate needs in the class of 2008 which have been magnified with transfers of five players since the 2007-2008 season began.  Guards Dante Curry, Aaron Holmes and Solomon Bozeman, along with forwards Ade Saaka and Orane Chin have all left the Bulls program to look for opportunities elsewhere.

Scrambling to fill the holes, USF is still looking desperately for some perimeter scoring ability and size inside.  Pickings are slim this time of the year, but the Bulls are still recruiting Mott CC guard Jeremie Simmons and have recently begun to pursue Gaby Belardo of Notre Dame Prep this spring.  Heath will be in Mississippit watching Belardo in an AAU tournament this weekend.

The Bulls continue to try and add size to the roster.  The best bet seems to be IMG Academy’s Teeng Akol, a 6’11 post player that has been on the radar of several Big East schools for a few years now.  This spring, the Bulls, West Virginia and Rutgers seem to be the schools still involved, and if he can get his academics squared away, it is beleived he will choose between the Bulls and Mountaineers, with USF being the favorite.  Maurice Sutton and Frank Ben-Eze are also a pair of big men getting a lot of attention from USF.  Ben-Eze is expected to visit in April, but also is looking strongly at Davidson and Georgia Tech.

Rumors swirled that USF could be in the mix for current Arkansas guard Patrick Beverly, who earned SEC rookie of the year honors playing for Heath in the 2006-2007 season.  However, those rumors seemed of a possible transfer from Arkansas have seemed to be squashed by his mother in the Arkansas press.

It looks like, with four scholarships open, the Bulls are determined to use two of them.  This would give them five for their 2009 class, one of which looks to be taken by Noriega.  Stan Heath will have everyt opportunity to shape the USF program how he wants it over the next 12 months.  We will see how it goes…

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