Louisville Recruiting, Pittsburgh Recruiting, Providence Recruiting, Ray Mernagh, Seton Hall Recruiting, St. John's Recruiting, Syracuse Recruiting, Villanova Recruiting

HOOP SKILLS BIG EAST RECRUITING SCUTTLEBUTT (11/3/09)

Updates from Tobias Harris, JJ Moore and a look at Devon Collier’s upcoming decision

by RAY MERNAGH/NBE Sports

Tobias Harris is one of the biggest prizes left in the recruiting class of 2010. He’s a smooth big capable of scoring in a variety of ways whether he’s in the post or taking guys off the bounce from the wing. Harris has said he’ll make his college decision on November 19th. Torrel Harris, his father, is usually quoted when it comes to his son’s situation but Tobias was kind enough to reach out and let NBE know how his recent visit to Louisville went.

Some speculate that Harris is a strong Syracuse lean, while others think he’s taking his time going through the process exactly the way a high-level recruit should (by hearing what everyone has to offer and then making a decision). Harris has all the heavyweights after him and says the trip to Louisville was well worth making, that the school offers a lot to a prospective recruit.

“The visit went very well,” says Harris, “and I got a chance to get a great feel for the school and the guys on the team. I really enjoyed it.”

Part of the trip was spent watching the Louisville team run through a few practices and observing Rick Pitino work with his team. “The guys go hard,” says Harris, “they really get after it.”

Harris said that Pitino is a “great coach who gets the best out of his guys.”
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Another Louisville target J.J. Moore was thought to be near a decision with the word on the street being he looked like a Louisville lean, but Moore reached out to us as well and said that he hasn’t made up his mind just yet.

When asked about the Louisville rumor Moore replied: “Nah, not yet, I haven’t made my decision yet.”

Moore is thought to be down to Pittsburgh, Louisville and St. John’s.

With South Kent closing for a few days to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu, Moore was reportedly planning a midweek trip to to check out one of his finalists. I asked Moore if a reported visit to Pitt for Tuesday was still on and he said “yeah, I think so.”

Moore took a trip over the weekend to see St. John’s while home for IS8 playoff action. Several NBE friends spotted Moore at Madison Square Garden with Redstorm head coach Norm Roberts Saturday evening.
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Louisville was sitting pretty last spring with three verbal commitments in the class of 2010 and was able to get a head start on their 2011 class. However, as of today, they currently have nobody committed for the 2010 class as they continue to wait anxiously for a decision from Harrris and/or Moore. Previously Jeremy Tyler opted for the professional ranks overseas and Justin Martin parted ways with the Cards. Now it looks as if Louisville is Out as Josh Langford Re-Opens Recruitment as the contact with the Cards staff has been non-existant for several weeks.

The Cards have also turned up the heat on Moore’s South Kent and NY Panthers teamate Russell Smith of late and will likely receive an official visit in the next two weeks from the NYC native.
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New Heights is fresh off a championship in the IS8 (they defeated a Panthers squad featuring Moore, Smith and others) and two of their premier talents are also on the wish list of several teams. Jayvaughn Pinkstona> is getting worked from all kinds of schools (we hear Tennessee and Villanova are doing a great job) and Devon Collier has three of his final four schools coming from the Big East.

Speculation in some corners, speculation that NBE thinks could be wrong, has Collier 50/50 between Seton Hall and St. John’s. We’re buying the fact that Gonzo and the Hall are right there in the fight, but we see the other main competition being Providence (along with Oregon State). Oregon State’s Craig Robinson has been rumored as a possible replacement for Wainwright at DePaul should that job open up like so many think it will. Collier is probably thinking twice about traveling across the country to play for a guy that might not even be there when he arrives. The smart money here says it’s probably down to a battle between Gonzo and Keno for Collier’s services.

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