April 2009

PREP SCHOOL EXIT INTERVIEW: ORIAKHI/COOMBS-MCDANIEL

AAU and prep school teammates are bound for UConn and Big East next

by Pat Stevens

Pat Stevens (PS): -Feeling when committed…

Jamal Coombs-McDaniel (JCM): It was at a tournament in Florida they offered us. I had no idea they were going to offer me. On our visit there we played a little, we went to Coach Calhoun’s office with our parents, and he said they were going to continue to recruit us if we didn’t commit. But we said we wanted to commit. My family was really excited. They knew more about the program than I did at the time.

Alex Oriakhi (AO): It got pretty hectic after we committed. Everybody found out. Coach Calhoun produces the most pros so that was a big reason I decided on UConn. Being able to go with Jamal was big. We’re best of friends and everywhere we go we help our team and I know we’re going to do that next year for Connecticut.

Read more

NBE PREP CORNER WITH PAT STEVENS (VOL. 2.1)

by Pat Stevens

Pat Stevens has been around the basketball recruiting and reporting scene for several years. Since 2004, Pat has covered the Prep School ranks, New York City AAU events, and the top All-American camps primarily for Hoopmasters.com. He launched CSTV.com’s recruiting coverage in 2006 as its Recruiting Editor and has additionally contributed to Scout, Rivals and MaxPreps. You can also see more of his recent reporting at Pat Stevens Basketball in anticipation of his launching a new national site in the coming weeks.

Pat is keeping NBE Basketball Report readers and Big East fans up to date on the happenings on the prep basketball landscape and how it will impact the Big East. Here is his latest Prep Corner column for the site…

UNDERCLASSMEN EVALUATED

There’s a good number of high-level returning prep school talent that had staffs in to see them the past few weeks during the April live period that allowed college coaches to visit schools.

Already committed are 2010 6-foot-8 PF Nate Lubick (Georgetown/St. Mark’s, MA), 2010 6-foot-9 SF Evan Smotrycz (Michigan/New Hampton, MA) and 2010 6-foot-7 SF Max Esho (UMass/Lee Academy, ME).

Read more

APRIL LOOK-BACK: REAL DEAL AT THE ROCK

by Pat Stevens

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Real Deal on the Rock is the second big national event of the spring AAU season, highlighted by bringing together some of the elite teams from all four Nike, Adidas, Reebok and Under Armour sponsors as well as a majority of the other top teams from across the country.

Here’s a look back on who’s establishing themselves as the nation’s top prospects and how the Big East is involved with many players not previously profiled on NBE…

Read more

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (4/29/2009)

First, our apologies for the technical difficulties forcing the site down for about 12 hours from last night until early this morning. With the quick growth and exploding traffic of the last couple months, we exceeded our server bandwidth limitations. We are back up and running and the news around the Big East continues to fly in from all angles…let’s see if we can catch everyone up!

———————————————————
This Week’s Featured Ticket Deals:

NHL Playoff Ticket Deals

Best NBA Playoff Ticket Deals

Best New York Yankees Ticket Deals

Best Philadelphia Phillies Ticket Deals

——————————————————

Read more

BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: VILLANOVA

Verbal Commitment Alert: Markus Kennedy, 6’9 PF/C of Living Faith Christian Academy (NJ)

Fresh off a Final Four appearance, the Villanov recruiting train keeps on rolling along with a verbal commitment from the class of 2010 in Markus Kennedy. Kennedy Makes Decision (ZagsBlog) after visiting with ‘Nova head coach Jay Wright and West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins in the last week.

Projected 2009-2010 Roster:

Seniors: Scottie Reynolds (G), Reggie Redding (G)
Juniors: Corey Stokes (G), Corey Fisher (PG), Antonio Pena (F)
Sophomores: Maurice Sutton (C/BF)*, Taylor King (WF)**
Freshmen: Maalik Wayns (PG), Isaiah Armwood (F), Mouphtau Yarou (C/BF), Dominic Cheek (SG)
2010 Commitments: James Bell (SG), Markus Kennedy (PF/C)

* Maurice Sutton is expected to redshirt in the 2008-2009 season which would place him as part of the 2009-2010 freshmen if that holds true.

** Taylor King is sitting out the 2008-2009 season as a transfer. He will have three years of eligibiity beginning with the 2009-2010 season.

For more on Kennedy’s commitment, as well as an overview on the Wildcat’s recruiting picture, please vist our Villanova Team Blog site and see the latest updates.

KEVIN PARROM RECRUITING UPDATE

2009 forward liked Pitt visit, Arizona trip up next then a decision

by Jeff Borzello

Despite the high school basketball season ending last month, Kevin Parrom is still very busy.

The 6-foot-6 swingman from South Kent (CT) was released from his letter of intent to Xavier earlier this month after Musketeers’ head coach Sean Miller accepted the job at Arizona.

Parrom visited Pittsburgh this past weekend, and is set to visit Arizona next weekend.

Read more

JUCO KAVON LYTCH SEEING BIG EAST INTEREST

Pittsburgh, Cincinnati have stepped up pursuit, others interested in NYC native

Midland College, located in Midland (TX) has a long history of a power in the NJCAA, winning the national title in 1982 and recently in 2007. This past season the Chaparrals advanced all the way to the NJCAA National Championship game before falling to Salt Lake Community College, 67-60, in Hutchinson (KS).

The Chaps finished the season with a record of 33-4 and the program that has seen NBA draft picks such as Mookie Blaylock, Spud Webb, Jerome Beasley and many others make a stop in Midland on their way to the Division 1-A ranks, has seeral prospects once again being recruited by schools in the high-major Division 1-A ranks.

One player who has picqued the interest of several Big East schools is Brooklyn (NY) native Kavon Lytch, a 6-foot-7, 241-pound forward that led the Chaps in rebounding and scoring this season.

Read more

APRIL LOOK-BACK: BOO WILLIAMS INVITATIONAL

by Pat Stevens

HAMPTON, Va. – Boo Williams’ Invitational is the annual national event that kicks off the spring AAU season. The top Nike teams from across the country play at Boo’s extraordinary one year-old sportsplex that hosted four courts of 17-Under division games going on each day throughout the weekend.

Here’s a looks back on who’s establishing themselves as the nation’s top prospects and how the Big East is involved…

Read more

BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: NOTRE DAME

Verbal Commitment ALERT: Eric Atkins, 6’1 PG from Mt. St. Joseph (MD) High School

Projected 2009-2010 Roster

Seniors: Luke Harangody* (BF), Tory Jackson (PG), Jonathan Peoples (G),
Juniors: Carlton Scott (F), Tyrone Nash (F), Tim Abromaitis (F), Ben Hansbrough* (SG)
Sophomores: Scott Martin** (SF)
Freshmen: Joey Brooks (SF), Jack Cooley (BF), Mike Broghammer (PF), Thomas Knight (PF/C)
2010 Commitment: Eric Atkins (PG)

* Harangody has declared for the 2009 NBA Draft, but has not hired an agent. He still has the option of returning to school.

A source with knowledge of the situation, has informed the NBE Basketball Report that 6-foot-1 point guard Eric Atkins committed to Notre Dame earlier this evening. Atkins is the first commitment for Irish head coach Mike Brey and staff in the class of 2010.

For more on the commitment of Atkins, as well as an overview of the recruiting efforts of the Irish, please visit our Notre Dame Team Blog site and see the latest updates.

SUNDAY PROVIDENCE JAM FEST REVIEWS

Several Big East targets shine, while Kyrie Irving shines the brightest

by Matt Whitfield

The Providence Jam Fest concluded on Sunday afternoon with the NJ Celtics, a team made up mostly of players from St. Patrick’s of Elizabeth (NJ), outlasting the Mass Rivals in the championship contest. The championship game almost seemed anti-climactic after the tournament’s signature match-up of the NJ Celtics and Boo Williams of Virginia locked horns in a semifinal game that featured many players that will be starring in the top conferences in college basketball in the future.

For this weekend, though, the court belonged to class of 2010 guard Kyrie Irving and his class of 2011 teammate Michael Gilchrist as they led their team to a 7-0 record on the weekend, including their victory over a Boo Williams team that featured UNC-commit Kendall Marshall, Duke-commit Andre Dawkins and recent Georgia Tech-commit Travis Mckie of the class of 2010.

The Mass Rivals carried the local banner behind Carson Desrosiers, Matt Brown and Evan Smotrycz to the championship game before falling to the NJ Celtics.

Below, see some more of the reviews of the top players, as well as their recruiting updates gathered through the weekend…

Read more

BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: MARQUETTE

COMMITMENT ALERT: Youssoupha Mbao, 7’2 center from Stoneridge (CA) Prep. Mbao is a native of Dakar, Senegal.

Marquette coach Buzz Williams’ search high and low for a big man in the paint took him out to California as Youssoupha Mbao is the seventh player to commit to the Golden Eagles in the 2009 class. The news that Mbao, 7’2 center, Was to Visit (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) over the weekend came as news to many, now that Mbao has committed, the chase for information on the big man has been on.

Projected 2009-2010 Roster:

Seniors: David Cubillan (G), Lazar Hayward (G/F), Maurice Acker (PG)
Juniors: Joseph Fulce (SF), Jimmy Butler (G/F), Dwight Buycks (JUCO G)
Sophomores: Chris Otule (C), Liam McMorrow (C)*, Darius Johnson-Odom** (JUCO G)
Freshmen: Erik Williams (F), Jeronne Maymon (F), Junior Cadougan (PG), Brett Roseboro (PF), Youssoupha Mbao (C)
2010 Early Commitments: Aaron Bowen (G), Monterale Clark (C-JUCO)

* sitting out 2008-2009 season per NCAA transfer rules and will have three years of eligibility beginning in 2009-2010. McMorrow is also undergoing medical tests that could keep him from playing in the future.

** played one year at JUCO level, will have three years of eligibility beginning in 2009-2010.

For more on the commitment of Mbao, as well as an overview of the Golden Eagles’ recruiting efforts, please visit our Marquette Team Blog site and see the latest updates.

SUNDAY NOTES FROM PROVIDENCE JAM FEST

Many Big East targets discuss their recruiting options this weekend

The expectation for the weekend was likely a championship game between Boo Williams and the NE Playaz, but instead, the NJ Celtics and Mass Rivals emerged in the championship contest Sunday in the Providence Jam Fest put on by the Hoop Group with the Kyrie Irving-led Celtics taking the title.

Still the action throughout the weekend was well worth a trip to the scenic Rhode Island city and below are some recruiting updates of some of the top players who were in action this weekend that Matt Whitfield was able to see during the festivities.

Read more

COUPLE PROVIDENCE JAM FEST NOTES

by Matt Whitfield

NJ Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving told NBE today that he definitely planned to take trips this summer to see Texas A&M and Indiana and would “probably” visit Notre Dame as well.

In addition to those three schools, Irving mentioned he has a top 10 list of schools and off the top of his head he also mentioned Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Duke, Pittsburgh and Maryland today.

Class of 2011 point guard Sterling Gibbs was in Providence today with the NY Panthers. Gibbs, the younger brother of Pitt freshman Ashton Gibbs, mentioned Indiana, Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Seton Hall as offers he has received and interest from Florida, Louisville, Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia thus far in recruiting.

Gibbs’ NY Panther teammate Winston Graham mentioned St. John’s and Cincinnati among the schools he is considering with the Redstorm one of his favorites.

PROVIDENCE JAM FEST: OPENING NIGHT

by Matt Whitfield

The Hoop Group saw their annual Providence Jam Fest get underway Friday night in a couple gyms on the Rhode Island College Campus and local high schools. On Saturday much of the top action will move to Providence College as well with top teams such as the NY Celtics, Albany City Rocks, NE Playaz, NY Panthers, Unique All-Stars, Team Phenom and Boo Williams in the 17-U field that are on the NBE to-do list to check out before the weekend is through.

On Friday night, the Mass Rivals were the main attraction to check out and their talented trio of Carson Desrosiers, Evan Smotrycz and Matt Brown certainly showed why they are expected to play deep into the weekend as one of the team’s to beat.

Stay tuned to the NBE Basketball Report this weekend for updates from Providence where Matt Whitfield is stationed all weekend and from Indiana, where Dough Ferguson is checking out the Nike Spring Showdown (here is his first report from there: Dority, McCall Have Big East Interest).

Read more

DORITY, MCCALL HAVE BIG EAST INTEREST

Chicao high school teammates excel on their own in AAU action

by Doug Ferguson

During the high school year Lavonte Dority and Mike McCall of Chicago-Foreman are the Windy City equivalent of Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars. The high school season, however, brings on lots of “Batman and Robin” talk and gives the two talented guards less of a chance to make a name for themselves. Now that spring has sprung and AAU season is upon us, these two get to lead their respective teams on their own which is exactly what they did in the first game of pool play Friday in the first annual Nike Spring Showdown in Merrillville, IN.

Read more

BIG EAST ROSTER UPDATE: LOUISVILLE

INCOMING TRANSFER ALERT: Chris Smith, 6’3 SG from Manhattan College

Projected 2009-2010 Roster

Seniors: Edgar Sosa (G), Jerry Smith (G), Reginald Delk (G)
Juniors: Preston Knowles (G), Chris Smith * (G)
Sophomores: Samardo Samuels (BF/C), Terrence Jennings (C), Kyle Kuric (G/F), Jared Swopshire (SF), George Goode (F)
Freshmen: Mike Marra (G), Rakeem Buckles (F), Peyton Siva (PG), Stephan Van Treese (PF)
2010 Commitments: Josh Langford (SF), Justin Martin (F)
2011 Commitments: Ryan Taylor (F), Michael Chandler (C)

* -Smith will sit out the 2009-2010 season as a transfer and have two years of eligibility remaining

Louisville has a spring roster addition as Manhattan College Guard is Coming to U of L (Louisville Courier-Journal) with the news that Chris Smith will transfer in.

For more on Smith joining the Cards, and an overview of the UL recruiting picture, please visit our Louisville Team Blog site and see the latest updates.

DAN JENNINGS WILL ADD SIZE TO WVU

6’8 Jennings is latest, and biggest, NYC-area native to join WVU

By Matt Whitfield

A year ago, West Virginia landed a top recruiting class, headlined by three recruits from the New York City area, Devin Ebanks, Darryl ‘Truck’ Bryant and Kevin Jones. The latest to continue the pipeline is not only is the biggest, but may also be a big key in Morgantown next season.

Dan Jennings is a 6-foot-8, 250-pound Center, who is a muscled man-child that could be Bob Huggins’s answer down low next season and Big East opponent’s worst nightmare.

“Honestly, I’m supposed to come in next year and be a beast down low and be that beast that they need that grabs all the boards, blocks shots, does all the dirty work around the basket and finishes around the basket,” said the 6’8 Staten Island native.

Read Rest of Article HERE!!

This week’s featured sports ticket links:

NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Tickets: Washington Capitals at New York Rangers (Game #6) April 26 2009


New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Tickets April 25 2009


New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Tickets April 26 2009

———————————————————————-

BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: SETON HALL

Commitment Alert: Ferrakohn Hall, 6’8 F from White Station HS of Memphis (TN)

Seton Hall picks up their second commitment in a week as they add a solid prospect in the spring recruiting period with Memphis White Station F Ferrakohn Hall committing. Hall to The Hall (ZagsBlog.com) comes a week after a visit to the Seton Hall campus. Hall also considered UAB, Oklahoma, Baylor and others.

2009-2010 Projected Roster

Seniors: Eugene Harvey (PG), John Garcia (C),
Juniors: Jeremy Hazell (G/F), Brandon Walters (BF/C), Keon Lawrence**** (G), Robert Mitchell (G/F), Jeff Robinson*** (F), Jamel Jackson (G)
Sophomores: Jordan Theodore (PG), Herb Pope* (PF)
Freshmen: Melvyn Oliver** (C), Ferrakohn Hall (F)

* After sitting out 2008-2009 per NCAA transfer rules, Pope has three years of eligibility left

** Oliver was ineligible to compete in the 2008-2009 season, but will have four years of eligibility beginning in 2009-2010 per the NCAA

*** Per NCAA transfer rules, Robinson must sit out until end of Fall 2009 semester. Robinson, by definition of eligibility rules, will have two years of eiligibility left unless he is granted a medical redshirt for his sophomore season as he missed a few games because of an injury before leaving Memphis

**** After sitting out the 2008-2009 season per NCAA transfer rules, Lawrence will have two years of eligibility left

For more on Hall and his commitment, as well as an overview of the Pirates’ recruiting efforts, please visit our Seton Hall Team Blog site and see the latest updates.

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (4/24/2009)

Its been quite a week around the Big East and Louisville has been the center of quite a storm of stories in the past several days. Also, stories on Dan Jennings, Brandon Triche and Jim Boeheim’s opinion on how the Syracuse fate with three players leaving early for the professional ranks. Also declaring for the draft his week, but not retaining agents, are Ater Majok of UConn and ‘Nova’s NCAA Tourney hero Scottie Reynolds.

Also, with college coaches evaluating high school prospects in open gyms, several recruiting updates are available as well as the 2009 SEC-Big East Invitational match-ups are announced, too.

Read more

CLASS OF 2010 INTRO: DENZEL BRITO

Strong play on AAU trail this spring raises stock of guard quickly

By Zach Smart

Very early in his young career, Denzel Brito showed flashes of basketball brilliance. He always seemed a bit ahead of his time on the hardwood.

Whether he was a little runt playing with the big boys or an underclassman scoring crucial buckets on the varsity, the kid stood out.

Whether he was a callow freshman reeling off a personal 8-0 run against a nucleus of older players at the Reebok Proving Ground (as he did two summers ago in Mansfield, Mass.) or operating offense for Lawrence Academy (Groton, Mass.), Brito displayed a swagger and killer instinct that seems foreign at this level.

And this kid actually looks a man in the eye when he shakes his hand!

Brito rarely gets rattled under pressure (a reputation as a hot head who tries to do too much and dominate the ball has tailed off).

He’ll surrender individual totals for team success on every day which ends in Y.

Read more

Next Page »