Connecticut Recruiting, Notre Dame Recruiting, Providence Recruiting, Rutgers Recruiting, St. John's Recruiting, Syracuse Recruiting, Villanova Recruiting, Zach Smart

RECRUITING NOTEBOOK: MAMADOU SAKHO, DAJUAN COLEMAN & ELI CARTER UPDATES

By Zach Smart

Mamadou Sakho, a 6-foot-3 off guard and potential St. John’s target, is headed to the Blue Ridge School (VA) for the 2009-10 campaign.

“I’m looking to take baby steps for right now,” said Sakho, a quick-strike shooter who plays above the rim.

“
I’m actually trying to go in there again as a sophomore,” the now-Class of 2012 guard explained.

Sakho, who works out religiously with widely-recognized hoop trainer Jerry Powell (Michael Gilchrist and New York Knicks Center Eddy Curry are two of his many highly-touted clients), made his presence felt at the SJU Top 100 camp back in April.

In the army of tri-state area talent that filled St. John’s University that night, Sakho’s game stood out like a white dude at The Source party.

His high-flying antics, athleticism and soft touch has drawn interest from schools such as St. John’s, Hofstra and George Mason.

Now the young gun has another year to prove his worth.

He’ll be in a disciplined environment at the all-male school in St. George, Va. Blue Ridge carries a robust academic reputation and students are required to attend chapel three times a week.

“He’ll have a chance to improve his stock and focus on basketball and academics,” said Sakho’s advisor, Mark Parisi.

“I think if he really works hard in three years, more and more Big East teams are going to be knocking on his door. Right now he’s 6-3, 180 and has hops like you wouldn’t believe.”

Parisi ’s son, Mark Parisi Jr., recently shined at the Syracuse Elite camp. The kid from Molloy HS in Queens, N.Y. (Kenny Anderson’s alma mater) scorched the nets in four games, impressing Orange assistant Gerry McNamara with his NBA, parking lot range. Former SU great John Wallace also worked the camp and coached Parisi’s team.

SU hounding elite local 2012 prospect Coleman

DaJuan Coleman, one of the elite players in the class of 2012, was dominant during his recent stay at the Syracuse camp.

The 6-foot-8+ man-child tantalized teams to the tune of workaday double-doubles this summer, playing for various AAU programs, Syracuse Select and the New England Playaz, to name a couple.

It’s hard to believe that just two years ago, Coleman was a novice who posted up with his hands in his pockets. He was a big, non-aggressive kid who was almost embarrassed about his size.

He’s emerged into a top-ranked player in the Class of 2012. He works out with Corey Parker, the former strength and conditioning coach at SU. Coleman is also drawing considerable interest from Connecticut, Villanova, Rutgers and Oklahoma.

The 260-pound big man plays for Jamesville-DeWitt, which has become a Syracuse pipeline (see Rautins, Andy or Triche, Brandon).

St. Anthony’s senior guard Eli Carter one to watch this season

Another player whose come out of the woodwork and announced his presence with his superior scoring is Elijah Carter. Carter is currently getting looks from Notre Dame, Rutgers and Providence.

“Eli is a scorer first, he’s a combo guard but I’m trying to make him into a point,” Sports University AAU coach Brian Coleman said.

Notre Dame showed major interest in Carter at first, but their recruitment of the 6-foot-2 scoring guard has tailed off recently.

Why? All-world guard Kyrie Irving, who’s widely recognized as one of the nation’s elite prospects.

“They (Notre Dame) really wanted Kyrie Irving,” explained Coleman.

“I think Kyrie and Eli are real similar players. I think that if they can’t get Kyrie, they’re going to get Eli. Kyrie was really first on their list.”

With Irving reportedly favoring Duke and Indiana, the idea of the Irish netting the St. Patrick’s star is far-fetched at this point.

Irving, whose game, smarts, and personality has quickly made him one of the nation’s most highly sought-after items on the recruiting market, plays with Sports University in the fall. Expect to see Irving rolling with the All Stars at IS8 this fall.

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