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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (5/1/2008)

Recruiting updates from New York and New Jersey courtesy of Adam Zagoria who takes a closer look at the recruitment of 2009 phenom lance Stephenson and of rising 2010 top prospect Tobias Harris. Jerry Carino sheds some light on another 2010 prodigy as Isaiah Epps is getting heavy interest from local New Jersey schools as well as a couple east coast powers.

South Florida picks up another spring commitment (more info to follow) and Notre Dame has one transfer coming and could be close to welcoming another…

UConn is smiling this spring and has a HIGH preseason ranking to pound their chests about. West Virginia’s preseason standing hinges greatly on Joe Alexander’s impending decision.

Adam Zagoria has been busy catching readers of his Zagsblog up on the most pertinent recruiting stories happening around the NYC/NJ area.

Former Marquette commit and St. Anthony’s senior guard Tyshawn Taylor Commits to Kansas (zagsblog) and the Jayhawks continue to look east for their next wave of players under Bill Self as Lance ‘Born Ready’ Stephenson Plans Kansas Visit (zagsblog) this weekend. Lance Stephenson has been an AAU nomad this spring and will participate in the Jayhawk Invitational with the Atlanta Celtics travel team. Stephenson will stay an extra day to tour the campus.

The 6’5 Stephenson recently visited UCLA while in Los Angeles for an event. He has also visited Indiana, Louisville, Arkansas and Seton Hall and plans to see Memphis, North Carolina, and Georgetown, among others.

Plenty of players from the class of 2010 are already generating a lot of buzz on the recruiting trail. One such player is 6’7 forward Tobias Harris of Dix Hills (NY) Half Hollow Hills West. With a strong weekend in the King James Shooting Stars Tournament, Harris has seen increased recruiting attention from DePaul, Marquette, Ohio State, Virginia, Wake Forest and Baylor. Harris Likes Rutgers (zagsblog), who was the first to offer and he also has received offers from UConn, Maryland, Arizona, Virginia Tech and Indiana as well.

We will have additional information coming soon, but Stan Heath and South Florida have added another commitment this spring as 6’10, 230 lb Center Alejandro Rivas-Sanchez Commits to the Bulls (St. Petersburg Times). ‘Alex” averaged 8.7 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game at Pratt Community College last season/
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Another 2010 prospect getting a lot of early attention is Plainfield (NJ) High School star Isaiah Epps. Jerry Carino’s Hoops Haven blog reports that in addition to early offers from local schools such as Seton Hall and Rutgers, Maryland (offer) and Pittsburgh have also come on strong of late. Pittsburgh, Maryland and Seton Hall all stopped by Plainfield on Tuesday and Epps will be taking a trip to Maryland in the near future.
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Notre Dame has already added one major conference transfer this spring and are very much involved in another. Former Valpo High Star Scott Martin Plans to Visit Valparaiso and Butler (NWI Times) as well as Notre Dame. The former AAU teammate of Luke Harangody has decided to leave Purdue and will trip to South Bend the middle of next week, after finals are complete at Purdue.

Martin averaged over 8 PPG and nearly 4 rebounds a game as a freshman at Purdue, helping the Boilermakers make the NCAA Tournament.

Earlier this week, Ben Hansbrough announced he would transfer into Notre Dame. The rising junior Hansbrough Has No Doubts on Notre Dame (south Bend Tribune) and the younger brother of North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough will move from Mississippi State to the Big East.
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In the Big East, you can go from title contender to looking at a battle to remain in the top half of the league very easily. West Virginia is a team in question as Joe Alexander tests the NBA draft process this spring. WVU coach Bob Huggins is Unsure if Alexander Will Return (WV Metro News) and leaves Mountaineer fans waiting anxiously for word as well.
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Rivals.com has updated their 2008-2009 early preseason poll after the NBA draft declarations have been made. They have put UConn at the top at #1, followed by Pittsburgh in the #2 spot. Of course, players returning to school after testing the NBE draft will alter these selections.

One thing if for certain regarding Connecticut, with Hasheem Thabeet announcing he will return and highly touted, although relatively unknown and unseen, Ater Majok committing in the last week, the Huskies Have Plenty to Smile About (New London Day) this spring, even without an NCAA Tournament win in the last two seasons.

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