Alabama, Connecticut Recruiting, Florida State, Harvard Recruiting, Illinois Recruiting, Kansas Recruiting, Kentucky Recruiting, North Carolina State Recruiting, Rutgers Recruiting, St. John's Recruiting, Syracuse Recruiting, TCU Recruiting, Temple Recruiting, UCLA, Villanova Recruiting, Xavier Recruiting

RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (10/11/12) — COMMITMENT ROLL CONTINUES

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

by Alex Schwartz

Major commitments have continued to roll in over the past few days and there does not appear to be an end coming in the near future.

The biggest commitment to come down since Monday’s Recruiting Notebook was that of Karviar Shepherd. Not only is Shepherd a high-level prospect, but he has a chance to be somewhat a program changer at his future institution.

Shepherd, a 6-foot-9 center out of Prime Prep (TX), ended his recruitment by pledging to in-state TCU, according to ESPN.com’s Reggie Rankin. The Horned Frogs are entering their first year in a BCS conference and are also under a first year head coach. However, Trent Johnson now has himself a player to build around in the Big 12, as Shepherd is ranked No. 14 in the NBE Sports Class of 2013 Post-July Top 125.

Shepherd showed at that 2012 Adidas Invitational last July his ability to score with both hands, make great passes from the post and refined footwork that most college big men would be jealous of. Shepherd also protects the rim and rebounds both ends of the floor at an elite level. NBE’s National Recruiting Analyst also wrote that Shepherd has the potential to be a dominant low post scorer at the college level after watching him perform in Indianapolis to kick off the July evaluation periods.

In other news regarding Shepherd, he was ruled ineligible to play at Prime Prep this year, as was top-10 ranked junior Emmanuel Mudiay. The Dallas Morning News, via its writers Corbett Smith and Matt Wixon, led the way in reporting the news on the duo, both of whom transferred in from Grace Prep (TX). Interestingly, LSU-commit Jordan Mickey, who also transferred in from Grace Prep, was reportedly cleared to play at Prime Prep.

Back on the topic of commitments, Josh Hart was another ranked prospect in the class of 2013 to take his name off the board. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Sidwell Friends (DC) selected Villanova over fellow finalists Penn State and Rutgers, per multiple reports. He is ranked No. 40 in the NBE Sports 2013 Top 125 and joins fellow top-100 prospect Kris Jenkins in the Wildcats’ class.

Hart’s physicality and aggression from the wing will play well in the Big East in the future. As Brian Bosworth noted from the L:ike in AC July closing event, his constant motor and “whatever it takes to win” attitude are a perfect fit for the hardnosed conference. On the defensive side of the ball he often takes the challenge of the other team’s top scorer and has the ability to be a shut down type guy. Hart also rebounds extremely well for his position often starting the break after a defensive board.

Another player who has made his college choice was Frank Mason of Massanutten Military (VA). In a matter of months, Mason has gone from being committed to Towson in the class of 2012 to now being a member of Kansas’ 2013 class. Mason, a 6-foot point guard, reopened his recruitment upon entering his post-graduate year and has now decided to play his college ball in Lawrence, Kan, per JayhawkSlant.com.

ESPN.com’s Dave Telep had the news that Harvard went out West to land Hunter Myers. A 6-foot-7 power forward from Douglas (NV), Myers is considered to be a superb addition for the defending Ivy League champion.

From the class of 2014, twin brothers Caleb and Cody Martin made early college commitments. Both 6-foot-6 small forwards out of Davie County (NC), the twins popped to North Carolina State, according to TheWolfpacker.com. They are now easily two of the best committed players in the junior class and are significant additions for Mark Gottfried.

As for a commitment that has not quite come yet, James Young is set to announce his choice later today. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Rochester (MI) is ranked No. 9 in the NBE Sports Class of 2013 Post-July Top 125. He is expected by most to select Kentucky, and The Detroit News has reported that he is indeed headed to the Bluegrass State.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard out of Huntington Prep (WV), will make his college declaration on Saturday, per Evan Daniels of Scout.com. The No. 44 ranked player in the NBE Sports 2013 Top 125, Rathan-Mayes is down to Florida State, Illinois and Connecticut.

Vaux (PA) star Rysheed Jordan is down to a final seven. The 6-foot-3 point guard tweeted that the schools still under consideration are Alabama, Rutgers, St. John’s, Syracuse, Temple, UCLA, and Xavier. Jordan is ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the NBE Sports 2013 Top 125.

For Brian Bosworth’s break down of Jordan’s game as well as highlights from Live in AC featuring the electric scoring PG, see our report HERE.

Search By Artist or Event Name Our Suggestions NHL Playoffs NBA Basketball MLB Tickets Concert Tickets And Many More …

Be Sociable, Share!

•