LaSalle Recruiting, Matt Whitfield, Pittsburgh Recruiting, St. Joseph's Recruiting, Temple Recruiting, Tennessee Recruiting

JAYLEN BOND READY TO BE RE-RECRUITED IN 2012

Former Plymouth-Whitmarsh star forward re-opening process and working on developing all-around game this summer

It has been quite a while since we checked in on Jaylen Bond. The 6-foot-7+ forward had signed a National Letter of Intent with Jamie Dixon’s Pittsburgh program last November and was expected to be a key addition to the Panther’s 2011 recruiting class. Earlier this spring, however, plans changed and Bond decided to attend prep school next fall, reclassifying into the Class of 2012 and re-open his recruitment.

“They said they still wanted to recruit him,” Jaylen’s grandfather, William Bond, told NBE’s Matt Whitfield at this past weekend’s Nike Baltimore Elite Invitational of Pittsburgh. “What’s going to happen I don’t know.”

In the meantime Jaylen Bond is hitting the summer circuit playing for Philly’s Finest AAU program and looking forward to competing in the NEPSAC next season with St. Thomas More in Oakdale, Connecticut. At St. Thomas More Bond will play for long-time head coach Jere Quinn for a program that is coming off a National Prep Championship last season. The Chancellors are led by elite Class of 2012 prospect Andre Drummond, another drawing card for Bond as he looks forward to teaming in the frontcourt with the 6-foot-10 Drummond.

“Basically I would just work off of him and feed off of how he plays and basically we’re going to be a good combination together,” Jaylen Bond said of playing with Drummond next season.

In the meantime Bond is working on his perimeter game and becoming a better all-around player. With April being predominately a dead period for the most part in recruiting, his recruitment is slowly beginning to pick back up after his late decision to re-open the process. According to his grandfather, schools are keeping tabs on him and the summer should prove very interesting in his recruitment.

“University of Tennessee has called since he got his release,” said William Bond. “Temple, La Salle and St. Joseph’s have also been involved.”

The younger Bond looks to put the extra year to good use. Still young for his grade as a senior, his development will continue this summer into the next school year.

“I know he’s going to be working hard this summer,” said William Bond to Matt Whitfield. “I think he’ll be working a lot on his premier skills and his defensive skills. That’s what he wants to continue working with. You figure another year doing that will better prepare him for the next level.”

NBE will continue to follow Jaylen Bond this summer and next season as he will likely become one of the most heavily recruited players in next season’s NEPSAC.

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