Alex Schwartz, Teams

RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (2/20/2013): RECAPPING THE LATEST RECRUITING HIGHLIGHTS

While the recruiting world focused its attention on football’s National Signing Day recently, things have also been quite active on the hoops recruiting trail as well.

Rutgers landed its second commit of 2013, as JuCo prospect Craig Brown of Broward College (FL) popped to the Scarlet Knights, per Jerry Carino of NJ Hoops Haven. Brown is a 6-foot-5 class of 2013 small forward who began his college career at Lynn University, a DII school.

Travis Jorgenson of New Hampton (NH) is off the board, according to Scout.com’s Evan Daniels. A 6-foot point guard in the class of 2013, Jorgenson is a Missouri native who was originally committed to Missouri.

Soon-to-be Big East member UCF went the JuCo route for a class of 2013 big man, landing Eugene McCrory, per Brandon Helwig of UCFSports.com. McCrory is a 6-foot-8 center out of Central Florida College (FL) who is originally from Maryland.

JuCo prospect KJ Bluford of Northeast Community College (NE) committed to Iowa State, according to Chris Williams of CycloneFanatic.com. Bluford is a 6-foot-2 shooting guard in the class of 2013.

Malik Muller has committed to Virginia Tech, according to Will Gunter of The Big Spur. Gunter reports that Muller is a 6-foot-3 class of 2013 point guard out of Germany.

Cornelius Elder, a 2013 prospect from the Ensworth School (TN), tweeted his commitment to Miami. Elder pledged to and signed with the school’s football program, but according to Jerry Meyer of 247Sports, he is going to walk-on at Miami as well. Elder is a 5-foot-10 point guard on the hardwood.

Adam Finkelstein of the New England Recruiting Report had the news that Marcelo Deschamps of Lee Academy (ME) committed to Monmouth. A 6-foot-10 center, Deschamps is a class of 2013 prospect.

Chris Braley, a 6-foot-4 class of 2013 prospect, committed to Stony Brook, in news that looks to have been first reported by HoopRootz. Braley is a small forward who attends Phillips Exeter Academy (NH).

Rodney Hawkins of Mt. Zion Prep (MD) is off the board to St. Peter’s, according to Alex Kline of TheRecruitScoop.com. Hawkins is a 6-foot-7 class of 2013 power forward.

JuCo prospect Vic Adams of Dodge City Community College (KS) has taken his name off the board and he too has pledged to St. Peter’s, per Alex Kline. Adams is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard in the class of 2013.

Milos Cabarkapa of Impact Academy (FL) has pledged to Central Michigan, per Steve Schwanda of All Eyes on U Hoops. According to Schwanda, the newest Chippewa is a 6-foot-11 class of 2013 prospect originally from Serbia.

According to Zach Braziller of the New York Post, Marquise Moore of St. Thomas More (CT) has verbally committed to Hofstra. Now a class of 2013 prospect in a post-grad year, Braziller noted that Moore did not have any scholarships when he graduated from Holy Cross (NY) last year. The newest member of the Pride is a 6-foot-2 point guard.

Alex Kline first reported that Brandon Channer of Faith Baptist Christian (FL) committed to Rider. A class of 2013 prospect who is in a post-graduate year, Channer is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard.

Jaleen Smith of Brazosport (TX) took his name off the board and pledged to Southern University, per the Brazoria Ballers Twitter account. Smith is a class of 2013 6-foot-4 shooting guard.

Aram Martin of The Miller School (VA) pledged to Brown, according to Jeff Borzello of CBSSports.com. Martin, a class of 2013 recruit, is a 6-foot-9 power forward.

Class of 2013 prospect Troy Reid-Knight popped to Maine, according to Alex Kline. Reid-Knight is a 6-foot-1 point guard out of Vaughan Secondary School (CAN).

Cal State Northridge dipped into the JuCo ranks for Steve Thornton of Citrus College (CA), according to Brad Winton of JucoRecruiting.com. The class of 2013 prospect is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard.

According to Jim Hicks of RCS Sports, 6-foot-1 point guard Robert Hatter is headed to Cornell. Hatter is a class of 2013 recruit who attends Westside (TX).

Top-notch class of 2014 prospect Shaqquan Aaron popped to Louisville, according to Chris Egan of KING TV. Aaron is a 6-foot-6 small forward out of Rainier Beach (WA). Per 206hoops.net, the other schools Aaron considered where Arizona, UCLA and Washington.

Ohio State landed its third commitment in the class of 2014, as Dave Bell of Garfield Heights (OH) popped to the Buckeyes, per Scout.com’s Brian Snow. Bell is a 6-foot-8 power forward who is still a bit under the radar.

After the firing of USC coach Kevin O’Neill, Roschon Prince has decided to stick with his commitment to the Trojans, per Scout.com’s Josh Gershon. Prince is a 6-foot-5 small forward from Long Beach Poly (CA). He checks in at No. 113 in the NBE Sports Class of 2013 Post-July Top 125.

Anton Beard, a class of 2014 recruit, tweeted that he has decommitted from Missouri. Beard is a 5-foot-10 point guard from Parkview (AR). According to Future150.com’s Twitter account, Beard’s new school list includes Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Kansas, LSU, Michigan, Mississippi State, Tennessee, UConn, and UMass.

Sam Kahn, Jr. of GigEmNation reported that dual-sport star Derrick Griffin of Terry (TX) was not going to sign with Texas A&M for academic reasons. The talented class of 2013 prospect was not listed in the school’s signing day release, so it appears that was indeed the case. Griffin, who stands 6-foot-6, is a power forward on the hardwood and a tight end/wide receiver in football. He ranks No. 27 in the NBE Sports 2013 Top 125.

Andrew Wiggins, the top high school player in the nation, is down to a final four of Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina, per Evan Daniels. A 6-foot-7 small forward from Huntington Prep (WV), Wiggins is a class of 2013 recruit and would be an absolutely tremendous addition for any of those programs.

Demetrius Henry of Faith Baptist Christian (FL) tweeted that he is down to a final three of Miami, South Carolina and South Florida. Henry is a 6-foot-9 class of 2013 power forward who is in a post-grad year after graduating from Northeast (FL).

According to James Kerti of PremieBall.com, Gavin Schilling has cut his list to a final four that includes Michigan State, Minnesota, UCLA, and Villanova. Schilling, who attends Findlay Prep (NV), is a 6-foot-9 power forward in the class of 2013.

JuCo prospect Chad Frazier has trimmed his list to Marquette, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UCF, UCLA, Washington, and West Virginia, according to Brad Winton. Frazier, who goes to Gulf Coast Community College (FL), is a 6-foot-4 class of 2013 point guard.

Trey Lyles, an elite class of 2014 recruit, tweeted that he is down Butler, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, and UCLA. A one-time Indiana commit, Lyles is a 6-foot-9 power forward from Arsenal Technical (IN).

Another top-notch 2014 recruit, Jalen Lindsey, has basically trimmed his list to nine schools, per Evan Daniels. He reported that those programs are Auburn, Florida, Louisville, Mississippi State, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Providence, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. However, Daniels noted that he was told my Lindsey’s Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN) coach, Drew Maddux, that LSU, North Carolina and Kentucky are also in the mix, but have not offered. Lindsey is a 6-foot-7 small forward prospect.

Wilfredo Rodriguez of East River (FL) is reclassifying to 2014 and will attend Air Force Prep (CO) next year, per his D12 Warriors AAU coach, Carlos Morales, Jr. Rodriguez is a 6-foot-6 small forward who was originally a 2013 prospect. According to Morales, the wing has not “yet” committed to attending Air Force for college.

It looks like PremierBall was the first to report that class of 2015 star Marcus LoVett, Jr. would be leaving Providence (CA). The 6-foot point guard is going to attend Opportunities for Learning in Pasadena, per Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times. However, Sondheimer also reported that LoVett’s father said there has not been a decision where the backcourt standout will go next year.

Jason Jordan of USA Today reported that Julius Randle of Prestonwood Christian (TX) would return to action on Friday and indeed he did. The 6-foot-9 class of 2013 prospect had missed most of the season due to a foot injury.

Stephen Wiseman of The Herald-Sun looks to have been the first to report that Aaron Gordon, Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins are the finalists for the Naismith High School Player of the Year. The award is given out by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club.

Gordon is a 6-foot-8 power forward from Archbishop Mitty (CA). Parker is a 6-foot-8 small forward out of Simeon (IL) who is committed to Duke. Wiggins is a 6-foot-7 small forward from Huntington Prep (WV).

The rosters for the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic were both announced this week. The roster for the McDonald’s Game can be found Here and the one for the Jordan Classic can be found Here.

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