Doug Ferguson

MIDWEST RECRUITING NOTEBOOK: DEJUAN MARRERO RISES UP 2012 LISTS

Marrero has top programs tracking him; also update on Jacob Williams of St. Patrick’s – Chicago

by DOUG FERGUSON

With the Big East expanding to the West in recent years the conference’s recruiting reach has began to tap into the fertile grounds of the nation’s Midwest basketball hotbeds. With programs residing in Indiana (Notre Dame), Wisconsin (Marquette) and Chicago (DePaul), as well as the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio tri-state area (Cincinnati and Louisville), covering Big East recruiting efforts takes you to gyms in the nation’s heartland and largest Midwestern cities.

Gary (IN) has seen its share of hard times and exciting basketball players. While Branden Dawson is considered an elite 2011 prospect with many Big East teams knocking on his door in an effort to join the recruiting race to land him, another Gary product is ready to burst on the scene as DeJuan Marrero is enjoying an excellent sophomore campaign for Bowman Academy and is looking forward to a hopeful deep run in the the postseason with his Class A teammates.

Marrero has attracted attention from many of the top Big 10 programs and that attention has spread into the Big East and he has landed on John Calipari’s radar as well. Marrero was gracious with his time this week to update NBE Basketball on his season and his recruitment. You can sign up for NBE Premium access and SUBSCRIBE (HERE) to read on below for the latest scoop on Marrero’s recruiting situation and updates on Jacob Williams and Roosevelt Jones, two players in the class of 2011 to watch in the coming months…

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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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MACARI BROOKS: IMPRESSIVE 2011 GUARD

Macari Brooks Can Jump Over Your House

by DOUG FERGUSON

I’m not lying either, he probably can. I’ve said for a long time that Macari Brooks could challenge in the NBA Dunk Contest if the association would let him in it today. I will put it like this, Macari was on a fast break in AAU this summer. He decided to break full out into a 360. When the defender tried to stop him he just broke through the weak attempt and convert it into an and 1 highlight slam.

That’s how Macari rolls though. He says his favorite dunker is Shannon Brown and he plays a lot like him. Just a world class athlete made to play basketball. His Rich South (IL) team suffered a big blow in losing star guard Crandall Head but it has worked out alright for Brooks who has had to step up to a leadership role. South has been on fire coming out of the gate 10-1 earning themselves a No. 1 ranking in the 3A class.

Macari continues to work towards becoming a more well-rounded player. He plays summer ball with the heralded Mac Irvin Fire which will surely gain him valuable experience and exposure among college coaches.

“California, Providence, Fairfield U and U of I (Illinois),” replied Brooks when I asked him what schools were currently on his list. He also has an offer from DePaul. While there is likely a lot of time left in his recruitment, one school has started to stand out in the process.

“If California, if they offer me, that would be my number one choice,” said Brooks.

One Big East school is also making a strong impression early in the process. Macari talked of a strong relationship building with coach Davis at Providence.

“He comes down to our school a lot, while I’m in school, talks to me, watches me workout, we have a good relationship with each other,” Macari said.

Whatever school is lucky enough to land the high flying Brooks, fans should be excited as their is a chance for them to see something they have never seen before every time he steps on the floor.

2009 STATE FARM TOC RECAP

by DOUG FERGUSON

The fourth annual State Farm Tournament of Champions was a 5-day event that took place this past Thanksgiving weekend. Most of the tournament action took place at Washington Community High School in Peoria (IL) with Illinois Central College also hosting games from four separate national high school and prep school basketball challenges. The main attraction was the Team Works National Classic that featured the nation’s #1 prep powerhouse Findlay Prep. Findlay took on all comers in the four team bracket, which was rounded out with IMG Academy, Brehm Prep and Winston Salem QEA.

Below is a recap of the top 10 players who impressed NBE in the event and some recruiting tidbits as well.

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CHASSON RANDLE UPDATE

Randle Continues ‘Chasson’ the Dream

by DOUG FERGUSON

A huge summer can be a catapult for any young hoopster with dreams of a scholarship and there is nothing different in the case of Rock Island (IL) combo guard Chasson Randle.

“Chasson had a huge summer,” said AAU coach Mike Mullins of the Illinois Wolves.

Randle’s 2009 summer, which began with a stint on the gold-medal winning USA U-16 squad, catapulted him from a well-respected, but somewhat middle of the pack prospect in Illinois, to ranked as high as 2nd by some scouts in the loaded 2011 class in the state of Illinois.

The term combo guard gets thrown around a lot but Randle is a TRUE combo guard. He shows superb ball handling, foul shooting and strength in his overall game at the guard position. He is not flashy but he is extremely clutch. It took awhile for some to realize that the latter is normally better than the former, but they most certainly found out for this summer with Randle.

Most of the Big Ten has been after Randle for quite sometime. Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin have dominated most of the conversation coming through my ears. He has also taken trips to Ohio State and Purdue recently with likely trips upcoming to Illinois and Iowa State.

However, a newcomer has stepped into the race for his services as of late by the name of Notre Dame. Coach Mullins said that coach Mike Brey visited Rock Island a few weeks back and more recently extended a scholarship offer to Randle. Shortly following the reporting of the offer, speculation circled that Randle had committed to the Irish, something that is not true according to his AAU coach.

“Notre Dame has jumped in pretty late in the game here,” says Mullins.

If Chasson Randle were to choose the Irish they would be getting possibly one of the biggest sleepers in the 2011 recruiting class. Although, do not expect others to continue sleeping on this fast-rising prospect much longer.

CLASS OF 2010 INTRO: MIKE GABRIEL

Chicago-area forward shines at right time of year

by DOUG FERGUSON

Many questioned if Lincoln Park (IL) High School’s Mike Gabriel would be helped or hurt by his switch from the Rising Stars AAU program to the Mac Irvin Fire this summer. He showed everyone that he made the right decision, just as he normally does, on the basketball court.

Gabriel is a 6-foot-7 post man who is simply a grinder. He is not afraid to get in and do the dirty work (rebounding, making hard fouls, setting screens, etc.). Gabriel is not exactly a polished offensive player at the moment but he and his family ensure that he is working day and night to improve his footwork and athleticism.

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A LOOK AT MAC IRVIN FIRE CLASS OF 2011

Chicago-land class of 2011 is bursting with top-tier talent

by DOUG FERGUSON

Earlier this weekend, we profiled several of the top prospects from the Illinois Wolves 16-U Program with Big East Interest and tonight we will take a close, in-depth look at another Chicago-area AAU program, the Mac Irvin Fire, and their top prospects in the class 0f 2011.

The talent does not stop with these two programs, nor with just these players from each program. Be on the look-out for talents such as Macari Brooks, Mike Gabriel, James Siakam and others in the future as well from this deep class of 2011 in Illinois.

From my time in Chicago, Vegas, Arizona and back to Chicago this July, I saw plenty of the Mac Irvin Fire and the talented members from the class of 2011 in their program, let’s take a look at some of them…

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ILLINOIS WOLVES 16-U TEAM HAS BIG EAST TARGETS

Young talent finishes summer strong and Big East schools taking notice

The Illinois Wolves 16-U squad made quite a statement in during the last week of the July open evaluation period as the Chicago-area based AAU program took the title at the Hoop City Classic in Kansas City and following that up with a championship while playing up in the 17-U classification at the inaugural ChicagoHoops.com End of Season Showdown in Merrillville (IN). It was in Merrilville where NBE’s Doug Ferguson got a look at the Wolves and picked up some recruiting information from their talented prospects in the class of 2011.

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NOTRE DAME ADDS DRAGICEVICH TO 2010 CLASS

Chicago Star Only Has Eyes for Irish

by DOUG FERGUSON

While following Chicago-area AAU teams through Vegas, NBE came across Alex Dragicevich, who was probably the best player from the Land of Lincoln’s class of 2010 that was not in the Mac Irvin Fire program. Dragicevich’s talent was not only noticed by NBE though, as several coaches were on hand to see Full Package Elite, which is based in Chicago’s north suburbs excel through the Adidas Super 64 tournament.

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NBE ‘LIVE’ FROM DESERT DUEL MEMORIAL (3:30 PM UPDATE)

Doug Ferguson has found his way Monday to Mesquite High School in Gilbert (AZ) for the Desert Duel Memorial Basketball Tournament. This tournament was created in the memory of Tom Crawford and this year’s version has a very impressive field put together by Big Shots president Jeff Schneider.

Some of the impressive tournament performers from the recent Vegas events have made it to Mesquite High School, including I-5 Elite (Center Stage Champs), Team Detroit (Reebok Summer Championship winners), Memphis Magic (Adidas Super 64 champions), Nike Team Florida (winners of Nike Main Event), Seattle Rotary, Mac Irvin Fire and top programs such as NJ Playaz, DC Assault, Atlanta Celtics, SYF Players, Illinois Wolves, Wisconsin Playground Elite and more for this two-day event.

With many tired bodies from the action in Vegas, upsets ruled the day on Monday and the final eight is quite surprising based on the teams that were in action. Read below to find out who went 2-0 on Day One and see some video of the Team Detroit backcourt duo working together…

The tournament is just a couple of hours old and a big upset has already been orchestrated by a fast-rising 2010 point guard out of South Carolina…

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OPEN EVALUATION PERIOD MISC NEWS & NOTES

Going back through the notebooks, we have found several other items of note from the last 10 days that we have not put into previous articles. Over the next week we will have some other articles and player evaluations from the first 10-day live evaluation period. All the while, we gear up for the next 10 day period of live evaluation for college coaches to close out the month.

Here are some updates from our team thatwas on the road for the 10 days…

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NBE ‘LIVE’ AT PEACH JAM: TUESDAY (UPDATED 11:00 PM)

Jeff Borzello is back at the Riverview Park Activities Center Tuesday morning for the Nike Peach Jam as the battle for playoff spots heat up down south. Once again, the college coaches are turning out in droves to check in on the action as we begin to wind down the first leg of the July evaluation period. Throughout the day, Jeff will be provided updates from North Augusta (SC) on the latest news, notes and his observations as he scans the crowd to see what colleges are watching each game.

Also, Doug Ferguson has made his way to North Augusta as well and will be providing additional updates as well…

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NBE ‘LIVE’ AT PEACH JAM: MONDAY (UPDATED 10:25 PM)

Jeff Borzello is back at the Riverview Park Activities Center this morning for the Nike Peach Jam. Once again, the college coaches are turning out in droves to check in on the action as we begin to wind down the first leg of the July evaluation period. Throughout the day, Jeff will be provided updates from North Augusta (SC) on the latest news, notes and his observations as he scans the crowd to see what colleges are watching each game.

Also, Doug Ferguson has made his way to North Augusta as well and will be providing additional updates as well…

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FRIDAY OPEN EVALUATION PERIOD NOTEBOOK, PART II

Well it has certainly been a big, busy and interesting first five days to the 2009 July open evaluation period. We have reached the halfway mark of the first 10-day open period and have survived some bumps along the way. Hopefully everyone is enjoying our team coverage of the events with news, notes and observations from along the recruiting trail.

I know our contributors are having a lot of fun being out in the middle of the excitement and working hard at the same time to bring the readers information on what is happening from the road. Here are some additional news and notes from the second half of Friday as Matt Whitfield closed down the Reebok All-American Camp and Doug Ferguson spent the day out in Deerfield (IL) at the Chicago Classic…

Remember, you can catch Zach Smart’s news and notes from BasketBull’s First Eight HERE!!

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FRIDAY OPEN EVALUATION PERIOD NOTEBOOK, PART I

The action of the first leg of the July open evaluation period is beginning to spread out, testing the best travel coordinators of colleges around the country to get their head coaches and assistants in a gym with the targets they want to see and the commits they want to check up on.

Friday finds NBE staff members also spanning the landscape to keep college basketball fans and recruitniks on top of what is going on on the circuit. Doug Ferguson has set up shop in Deerfield (IL) at Joy of the Game, home of the Rising Stars Gold AAU program, where they are hosting, along with ChicagoHoops.com the Chicago Summer Classic. Jeff Borzello has moved from Philly back to Reading (PA) and is checking out the action at the Hoop Group Elite Team Camp today. Matt Whitfield has remained in Philadelphia for the close of the Reebok All-American Camp and Zach Smart has joined the action by travelling to Springfield (MA) for the BasketBull First Eight event.

You can follow the action at Springfield with Zach’s live updates: BasketBull’s First Eight Notes.

Let us catch you up on the rest of today’s happenings…

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ADIDAS IT TAKES 5IVE WRAP-UP

The Adidas it Takes 5ive came to a conclusion on Wednesday afternoon on the campus of the University of Cincinnati as the champions were crowned on the court. It was an exciting three days of basketball and many college coaches came through the Queen City to get an early start at looking at the talent with the start of the July evaluation period.

Even with many coaches leaving town to head to destinations such as Cleveland and Philadelphia Tuesday night, several were left tracking some of their top prospects and to make a statement of their interest in the players performing on Wednesday.

Here are a few news and notes from the final day in Cincinnati as relayed by Doug Ferguson…

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ADIDAS IT TAKES 5IVE TUESDAY EVENING (UPDATED)

The Adidas it Takes 5ive rolls on Tuesday evening as the 64-team bracket for the Platinum championship will be down to just four teams in the 17-U division when the games are finished.

Doug Ferguson is putting in his second long day in Cincinnati and has several updates for NBE readers as not all the coaches have left town just yet for destinations such as Cleveland and Philadelphia for tomorrow’s recruiting efforts.

Let’s see what Doug has for us tonight…there will also be an update when the brackets are set for tomorrow…

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NBE ‘LIVE’ EVALUATION PERIOD BLOG: DAY 2

Tuesday has kicked off day two of the live evaluation period for college coaches on the recruiting trail. NBE once again has Jeff Borzello at Albright College taking in the Hoop Group Elite Camp, Doug Ferguson on the University of Cincinnati campus watching he action at the Adidas it Takes 5ive and Ray Mernagh and Anthony Jaskulski are in Akron for the Lebron James Skills Academy.

We will have more updates throughout the day as everyone is a little more at ease in their surroundings and have found places to eat and their hotels and have settled in. Let’s take a look at what is going on today…

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NBE ‘LIVE’ AT ADIDAS IT TAKES 5IVE (EVENING UPDATE)

The college coaches have flocked to the Queen City on the Ohio River as Cincinnati is the place to be on the opening day of the July live evaluation period as the Adidas it Takes 5ive Classic has tipped off.

Since college coaches are not attending the Lebron James Skills Academy, many are getting their start in Cincinnati before heading to points such as Cleveland (King City Classic) and Philadelphia (Reebok All-American Camp) on Wednesday.

Doug Ferguson made the trip from Chicago-land area to Cincinnati this morning and will be reporting live for NBE from the scene…let’s see today’s updates…

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RISING STARS AAU PROGRAM UPDATE

Illinois-based program deep with talent for Summer of ‘09 AAU circuit

Earlier this week Doug Ferguson received a detailed update on the Rising Stars 17-U AAU team from CEO Michael Weinstein as they prepare for a busy summer season. The Deerfield (IL)-based program which operates out of the Joy of the Game center, has a record of 28-7 this spring, reaching the Final Four in both the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions and the King James Shooting Stars Classic.

Heading into the summer action, the Rising Stars will be led by Ohio State-commit Lenzelle Smith, a 6-foot-4 combo guard that is tough and physical.

An area of strength for the Rising Stars is on the wings where they have a pair of shooters who are among the best the class of 2009 has to offer.

Alex Rossi of New Trier High School in Winnetka (IL) has had an excellent spring run on the AAU circuit. Coach Weinstein refers to Rossi as a “top five shooter in the country” on the wing. Notre Dame has offered a scholarship as have Cal, Iowa, Northwestern and Davidson with school such as Stanford, Penn State, FSU, Miami Florida, Virginia, Arizona State, Boston College, Nebraska and Vanderbilt showing interest.

Mundelein (IL) High School shooting guard Ben Brust has still been rounding into form after missing much of the high school season with a broken leg. The 6-foot-2 guard is known as a shooter, but his athletic ability is very underrated. Brust has seen some Big East interest in the past, he current has scholarship offers from Iowa, Northwestern, Davidson, Butler, Bradley and Southern Illinois.

Big men are always in high demand and the Rising Stars have one of the class of 2010’s fast rising big men in Jordan Threloff. The 6-foot-10, 255-lb center has a scholarship offer from DePaul as well as from many of the top mid-major programs in the Midwest. Many in the Big 10 and Cal are also recruiting the DeKalb (IL) High School ‘true five man’ as his AAU coach referred to him as.

DePaul has also shown interest in Centennial High School of Champaign (IL) Rayvonte Rice. The brickhouse built 6′4, 230-lb guard has been coveted by many at the mid-major level and has many scholarship offers. Now schools like Penn State, Boston College, Iowa and Indiana, in addition to the Blue Demons, have been taking an interest in Rice.

Rossi’s high school teammate at New Trier, 6-foot-10 F/C Fred Heldring is another key member of the Rising Stars. Heldring is starting to see some additional high-major attention in his recruiting of late.

Expect more schools to be taking a look at the Rising Stars on the summer circuit as Michael Weinstein’s team has uncommitted players that college coaches covet: shooters and big men. Add in the toughness and production at the guard position that Rayvonte Rice offers, it is pretty clear that many college coaches will be looking in the direction of the Rising Stars this July.

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