Alex Schwartz

NBE POST-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST TEAMS & AWARDS

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The regular season is complete and the Big East Tournament tips off Tuesday so be sure to visit our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page for the full tournament schedule and the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions.

Throughout the day the majority of NBE writers and contributors contemplated, debated and discussed our post-season awards for the Big East conference. Its been another great season with 16 teams battling it out for 18 games each through the 71 days of Big East action from December 26th through this past Saturday. After much deliberation…here are the NBE Big East 2009-2010 season awards:

NBE Big East Player of the Year: Scottie Reynolds, Villanova

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2011 BIG EAST TARGET: JARROD DAVIS

2011 G/F getting a lot of interest from SHU staff and likes up and down style of PC, MU, SJU, etc in Big East

At the recent Primetime Shootout, Lakewood High School faced the difficult task at Kean University of taking on national power St. Benedict’s of Newark (NJ). It was a long night for Lakewood, especially in the second half, when St. Ben’s shook off the rust of nine days of inactivity because of cancelations due to the weather. The Gray Bees took complete control of the game in the third quarter when they outscored their overmatched Ocean County opponents 30-7 to stretch a 38-22 halftime lead to 68-29 after three quarters on their way to an 82-38 victory.

lakewood was able to keep somewhat within striking distance over the first 16 minutes with a patient offense and a strong half by junior Jarrod Davis, who scored nine of his team-high 15 in the first half. After the game, Alex Schwartz caught up with Davis to get an update on his recruitment. Davis, a 6-foot-5 G/F, is getting plenty of attention attention from college coaches and counts four current offers from Big East programs. Davis talked about his recruitment and what he likes about the Big East schools currently recruiting him…

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MICHAEL GILCHRIST HOLDING STEADY WITH LIST OF 6

Elite 2011 prospect shines in Primetime Shootout and talks recruiting

For the past year, many have referred to Michael Gilchrist as the best current high school player, regardless of class. This weekend at the 2010 Primetime Shootout Gilchrist only enhanced that notion.

On Friday night, the 6-foot-7 forward playing with St. Patrick’s of Elizabeth (NJ) scored 28 points in a 79-78 loss to Oak Hill Academy. St. Pat’s rebounded Saturday at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton (NJ) with a 74-56 win over NYC power Rice High School. Gilchrist scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, all in the first three quarters, and earned the game’s Most Outstanding Player award. St. Pat’s led 59-37 after three periods and began going to the bench often.

Following the game, Gilchrist spoke with Alex Schwartz for NBE Basketball Report to give an update on how things are going in his recruitment…

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TYRONE JOHNSON COUNTS FIVE BIG EAST OFFERS

Plainfield (NJ) junior is a two-sport star in high demand on the hardwood by Big East

The 2010 Primetime Shootout wraps up today and tomorrow at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton (NJ). Many of the top players in the country are participating. On Friday night the action was at Kean University and Tyrone Johnson shined among the brightest on the evening that featured many future college basketball stars. Johnson scored a night’s best 31 points helping Plainfield to a 62-49 win over another New Jersey rival, St. Joseph’s.

Following his spectacular performance, Johnson chatted with Alex Schwartz for the NBE Basketball Report and gave a rundown on his recruitment, that is shaping up to be quite a Big East battle…

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DORON LAMB HAS A LIST OF FIVE

McDonald’s All-American will decide in April, no leaders at this time among his five

The marquee match-up Friday night at the Primetime Shootout at Kean University was Oak Hill Academy against St. Patrick’s of Elizabeth (NJ). Like so many of this year’s high school showcase games of the last month, this lived up to the hype.

Oak Hill Academy overcame a 28-point performance from St. Pat’s Michael Gilchrist as Doron Lamb sank a free throw to provide the winning marking in a 79-78 win. On the game, Lamb scored 18 points on six of nine shooting from the field, connecting on his lone three-pointer, and five of six from the line. The 6-foot-4 senior guard also contributed four assists and three steals.

Afterwards he talked with Alex Schwartz for NBE to get a full update on where his recruitment stands, which is a little different than previous reports…

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BIG EAST TARGETS AT SUMMER PRIMETIME SHOOTOUT

By ALEX SCHWARTZ

The Summer Prime Time Shootout always has a nice collection of regional teams, and this year was no different, with talented squads from five states. Teams such as St. Patrick’s (NJ), Plymouth-Whitemarsh (PA), Baltimore City College HS (MD) and Trenton Catholic (NJ) participated in this year’s event.

Although many of the squads that entered were shorthanded, there were still a handful of Big East caliber players on display at Allentown HS (NJ) during the three day event, primarily in the class of 2011.

Who were they? Where does their recruitment stand? What are their games like? Take a look…

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EDWIN NARROWS LIST TO TWO SCHOOLS

2010 small forward narrows choices to two in Big East

by ALEX SCHWARTZ

Fuquan Edwin, a 6-foot-5 wing from Paterson (NJ) Catholic, has cut down his college list to just two schools, according to him at this past weekend’s Rumble in the Bronx.

“I narrowed it down to Providence and Seton Hall,” said Edwin.

A big-time athlete, Edwin has already scheduled visits to his two finalists, both of whom have extended a scholarship offer. The Friars will host him on June 21st and the Pirates have him on June 25th, neither school has he seen yet.

Following these visits, a decision could follow soon after. The main coach recruiting the Garden State star from PC is Pat Skerry, while Scott Adubato has that responsibility for SHU.

Why did Providence and Seton Hall make the final cut? “Because first of all [they are in the] Big East, and I want to play against that type of competition. . . . [Also], they [are] both great schools, said Edwin.”

I also asked the future Big East baller for his thoughts on his school, and here is what he had to say:

On Providence: “I feel as though it’s a great school. I think I would come in there and be a great fit. . . . They [are ] a running team, they fast break, and that’s what I do.”

On Seton Hall: “First of all, it’s close to home and I’d be able to play with [former high school teammate] Jordan Theodore, and I like playing with him.”

One of these two schools will end up with Fuquan Edwin on its roster beginning in the 2010-2011 season, while the other will have to play against him in the Big East. The question as to which one ends up with Edwin still remains, but it could be answered in a few short weeks.

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PHILLY’S CLASS OF 2011 SHINES BRIGHT

by ALEX SCHWARTZ

Wilt Chamberlain. Kobe Bryant. Jameer Nelson. Rip Hamilton. Kyle Lowry. Eddie Griffin. Rasual Butler. Flip Murray. Gene Banks. The list of star basketball players from the Philadelphia area goes on and on. Pick a year, and odds are that a big-time baller came from the City of Brotherly Love. Yet there may not be a group in recent memory as deep as the class of 2011 when it comes to Philly hoops. Led by Rakeem Christmas of North Catholic, there are upwards of 25 Division I players in the Philly area alone in the current sophomore class. Many of them were on display Thursday night at the ninth annual Rasual Butler All-City Basketball Classic, an event featuring the best freshman, sophomores, and juniors in the Philly area.

The sophomores played in the second game of the evening, and it was easily the best, with the game actually going to overtime. Juan’Ya Green of Archbishop Carroll was the MVP for the victors, while John Johnson of Girard College was the other MVP. Aquil Younger of West Catholic took home Most Unselfish honors, and Rashawn Cunningham of Life Center Academy (NJ) was the Defensive Player honoree. Some of the other standouts included Keith Coleman of Cheltenham, Jaylen Bond of Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Devin Coleman of Friends Central, and Jerrell Wright of Dobbins. A handful of the players in participation are receiving Big East interest, and I spoke with three of them after the contest.

Juan’Ya Green’s MVP award at the game is just another accomplishment to tack on to a long list for the star of defending PIAA Class AAA state champion Archbishop Carroll. Green has been considered one of the best players in his class in Philadelphia for quite some time, and has met many of the expectations. A 6’3 guard who can do it all offensively, Green is garnering interest from Villanova (offer), Maryland (offer), Temple (offer), Pittsburgh, Syracuse, St. Joseph’s (offer), and La Salle.

Right now, he has Villanova, Maryland, Temple, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse as his leaders, with the Wildcats on top.

“I like it,” Green said of ‘Nova, a 2009 Final Four participant. “It’s close, I’m a local kid. I know the coaches and the players. I think if I go there I would have a good career. . . . [It is the] only school I [have] visited.”

Although North Carolina is his dream school, a source close to the player informed me that Green is basically “a lock” for Jay Wright and Co. That may be why Green did not have much to say about Syracuse: “I haven’t visited there yet so I don’t know much about it.”

Regarding Pittsburgh, Green stated, “I haven’t visited there yet, but the coaches come to my open gyms to see me play [and] . . . I talk to the coaches sometimes.”

In order for Juan’Ya to become a better player, he says he needs to work on his “defense and shooting.” His strongest point is something that may have to do with that Philadelphia mentality: “Being able to take over [the game] anytime I want.”

Watch for Juan’ya Green down the road, as there is a strong chance he will be playing ball in a Big East gymnasium.

The most dominant pure big man on display in the sophomore game was a baller from Cheltenham High School, 6’8 power forward Keith Coleman, who is Green’s teammate in AAU ball with Team Philly. With the look of a high-major big man already, it is no wonder he is receiving interest from a pair of Big East schools. The burly big man listed Temple (offer), Villanova, La Salle (offer), Drexel, Marquette and Nebraska (offer) as the schools recruiting him. Although he too lists UNC as his dream school, Nebraska is currently the leader in the race to land his services.

Coleman, who feels that his “jumpshot” is the strongest aspect of his game and his “inside game” is the part that needs the most work gave me his thoughts on Villanova and Marquette.

“They’re a good team. They have good shooters,” said Coleman on the Wildcats, with whom he felt he would fit in because he “rebounds a lot [and has] a nice jumpshot.”

As for Buzz Williams’ program, Keith stated, “They run the floor. I would rebound for them.”

As Coleman becomes a more well-known commodity, expect his interest to pick up, and more Big East schools to join that list.

The other potential potential Big East baller that I caught up with was Devin Coleman of Friends Central, which was one of the top teams in the Keystone State this year, and was in the National High School Invitational.

La Salle (offer), Drexel (offer), Delaware (offer), Temple (offer), Villanova and Florida State are the schools that Coleman, a sturdy 6’2 guard, says are currently on his trail.

It is at another Big East school, Connecticut, where he wants to end up though. Why is it that Jim Calhoun’s program has caught his eye?

“When I look at schools, I look at schools that produce [players] at my position. . . . I think they know how to produce guards . . . [for] the next level,” Devin said of the Huskies.

Right now, of the colleges currently tracking him, Devin does not have a favorite and is “waiting to see” what happens. He did have the following to say about Villanova: “I think it’s a great school. They produce many great guards, so I think that would be good.”

As for his game, Coleman feels that his athletic ability is his strongest point. “Probably my athleticism. I can defend a lot of positions [and do many] different things on offense and defense.”

Nonetheless, he recognizes that he is not a finished product, stating, “I [have] got to work on everything, just all-around everything.” Coleman, who runs with Team Phenom on the AAU circuit, is a player who already has a good reputation in the City of Brotherly, and it is starting to catch on elsewhere.

Phaildelphia’s class of 2011 has the potential to produce more Big East players that you can count on one hand. Thus, even if no one ends up as a big-time NBA star, the class will be special anyway. Juan’Ya Green, Keith Coleman, and Devin Coleman are just a small part of one of the deepest classes to come through the city, and their effects will be felt for a long time.

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