Matt Whitfield

OBSERVATIONS FROM GEORGETOWN/RUTGERS

By Matt Whitfield

A paid attendence of 12,852 saw No. 10 Georgetown rally late to edge upset-minded Rutgers Saturday at the Verizon Center. An Eli Carter three-pointer gave the Scarlet Knights a 50-45 with 2:35 to play in the second half. The Hoyas would finish the game on a 7-0 run with freshman Otto Porter scoring the last six of those points, including two free throws with 8 seconds left to lift Georgetown to victory. Here are my observations from the game…

Rutgers distributes the ball fairly well. Players from Rutgers often continuously move the rock on the offensive side setting up many open looks or decent shots. Knocking down the shots proved difficult as RU shot just 37.7% (20-53) from the field and only four of seven from the foul line.
Read more

NATIONAL HOOPS FESTIVAL RECRUITING REPORT

On Saturday, Matt Whitfield made the trip to Hyattsville (MD) and DeMatha High School for the 2011 National Hoops Festival event. The early season event is typically one of the favorite stops for NBE on the December schedule and this year did not disappoint with several powerhouse programs headlining the event with a very solid day of action on the court. Here is the scoreboard from Saturday’s contests:

–Bullis 62, Riverdale Baptist 59
–Episcopal 44, Benedictine 38
–Paul VI 65, West Charlotte 58
–Oak Hill 68, Grace Prep 59
–DeMatha 83, Jamesville-Dewitt 57

NBE was able to catch up with players such as Kennedy Meeks, Beejay Anya, Stanford Robinson, Jordan Mickey, RJ Curington, Emmanuel Mudiay and more. See below for the latest in recruiting updates form many of the top uncommitted players participating on Saturday…

Read more

JUSTIN ANDERSON WILL MAKE IMMEDIATE IMPACT AT VIRGINIA

By Matt Whitfield

Surely the average, non-basketball fan might mistake the chiseled Justin Anderson for a sophomore or a junior in college. The baby-faced Anderson, however, is a high school basketball prodigy in his senior year at Montrose Christian in Rockville (MD). Anderson has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Grevis Vasquez and Kevin Durant as he takes his game to the ACC after playing for Stu Vetter as the biggest prize of coach Tony Bennett’s tenure at Virginia.

Before he begins to make an impact in the ACC, Anderson is looking forward to his senior season as he takes on the role of team leader this year.

“It feels good to finally become the leader of my team,” said Anderson. “I think we have potential to be really good like in the past and I can’t wait to lead my team hopefully to another national title.”
Read more

RECRUITING NOTEBOOK: ANTHONY BENNETT HOLDING LIST STEADY, CHINONSO OBOKOH TAKING VISITS & SCHOOLS WATCH YOUNG LAMONTA STONE

The big news of the college basketball recruiting world was delivered by St. Anthony’s senior guard Kyle Anderson who ended the speculation of his college destination with a simple announcement via twitter:

RT @KyleAnderson5 -Had a great family meeting. I’ve decided to be a UCLA BRUIN!!

Anderson’s announcement came on the eve of his birthday, the planned date of his college decision. Seton Hall (tickets) head coach Kevin Willard had made one last pitch to Anderson and his family with an in-home visit, but it was not enough in the end for the Pirates to land the recruiting coup of the early Fall.

While the Anderson story was unfolding, NBE was also able to get recruiting updates on ’12 forward Anthony Bennett, ’13 big man Chinonso Obokoh and ’15 point guard LaMonta Stone II.

Read more

ANDREW WHITE TALKS ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA VISIT

Bob Huggins and his West Virginia Mountaineers are getting an early start on the 2011-2012 season with an overseas trip to Italy this coming week. With the trip the team is allowed to have 10 practice sessions to prepare for their upcoming games. Bob Huggins also used the time this weekend to bring in a key target of their 2012 recruiting efforts for an unofficial visit as Andrew White came to Morgantown to see things for himself.

“I took a visit to West Virginia the past two days,” White told NBE’s Matt Whitfield this afternoon. “It went real well.”

White had a great summer on the AAU circuit with Team Loaded and quickly became a top target of many programs.
Read more

IMPRESSIVE SUMMER FOR ANDREW WHITE LEADS TO MANY BIG OFFERS

By Matt Whitfield

Thanks to his recent performances at AAU events in Myrtle Beach and Milwaukee Andrew White has become one of the most hotly contested recruits in the Mid-Atlantic.

“A lot of schools have recruited me and they were somewhat serious, but in Myrtle Beach and Milwaukee I came out real sharp and my recruitment picked up real quick. I became a high target for some schools that got a good feeling [from my game],” said White.

White listed over a dozen high majors offers when NBE caught up with him on Sunday. White also stole the show as he had a plethora of college coaches watching him including West Virginia Head Coach Bob Huggins and assistant Larry Harrison.
Read more

BIG SHOTS – DCA RECRUITING NOTEBOOK

By Matt Whitfield

On the last two days of the July live evaluation period some of the top AAU programs on the East Coast converged near the nation’s capitol for the Big Shots – DC Assault event. Many college coaches used the chance to get one last look at their top recruiting targets as well. Below are some of the recruiting updates NBE gathered during their time Sunday at the event…

Long Island Lightning forward Daniel Dingle continues to be a player many programs are keeping a close eye on. The 6-foot-6 combo forward out of St. Raymond’s in NYC also added a new scholarship offer recently.

“Right now my recruitment is going good,” Dingle said Sunday. “I just got a scholarship offer from Maryland. [As well as interest and offers from] Arizona, Temple, Dayton, Miami, Florida and Texas.

Dingle is starting to think about where he will visit in the coming month.
Read more

AMILE JEFFERSON STILL OPEN IN THE RECRUITING PROCESS AS JULY CLOSES

By Matt Whitfield

Contrary to what was reported recently Amile Jefferson stated to NBE yesterday at the DC Assault-Big Shots event that he has not narrowed his list down to eight schools and as he is taking the recruiting process very seriously.

“Ah no, not really,” responded Jefferson when asked if he’d narrowed his list down to eight schools. “I’m still pretty wide open with the recruiting process. We’re hoping to get some visits in and try and narrow this list down.”

Jefferson did mention that he’s looking to take some visits to some East Coast schools in the coming months.

Read more

JOHN WALL REMEMBERS HIS NBA JOURNEY BEGAN WITH JULY BASKETBALL AT ’07 REEBOK BREAKOUT CAMP

By Matt Whitfield

Seeing John Wall float around and interact with campers at the Reebok Breakout Challenge Camp earlier this month, one couldn’t help but think ‘man, I don’t know how many NBA player would be do something like this.’

Wall, however is not just any NBA player.

Wall is an explosive point guard who was selected by the Washington Wizards as the #1 overall pick out of Kentucky in the 2010 NBA Draft. Two years before attending Kentucky and dazzling fans, Wall was a relative unknown though, that is until he blew up at the very Reebok Camp he was hosting and became a consensus top five recruit in 2009.

“It’s a great opportunity I think for the kids to get a chance to be around NBA players or just have a great opportunity to see college coaches and have scouts talk about them. I think some of these guys have never been in the type of the environment where they got to see coaches,” said Wall.
Read more

CLASS OF 2013 NYC TRIO SEES RECRUITING REACH ‘NEW HEIGHTS’

One of the stories of the first 10-day live evaluation period recently concluded was the play of the 16U NYC New Heights team. The squad coached by Kimani Young took the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis (IN) to open the period and then were victorious in the Hoop Group’s Summer Classic in King of Prussia (PA) as well. The players have definitely cherished the opportunity they have with New Heights and their success has been noticed by many college coaches.

“The oppurtunity to travel the world and play in front of college coaches for free,” is what 6-foot-3, 198-pound (rising) junior guard Terrence Samuel told NBE over the weekend when asked what he like dmost about being part of the New Heights program.

Samuel has seen his stock soar recently. After a few good performances on the early spring AAU period word was out that he was a player coaches should keep an eye on and those that came to check him out were not disappointed with what they saw.

“Pitt, Villanova, Cincinnati, Louisville, Arizona, Iowa State, Rutgers [and] Oregon State,” said Samuel when asked about offers received, noting many came since July began. He also mentioned VCU, Virginia, Temple and St. John’s as schools expressing new interest recently.
Read more

CLASS OF 2014 INTRO: BEN BENTIL

By Matt Whitfield

Running around at the Hoop Group Elite Team Camp this past Friday afternoon, an assistant coach with an Atlantic 10 school stopped me and said ‘do you know who this is’. I said I didn’t and the coach said ‘you’re going to thank me one day for telling you about this kid.’

That ‘kid’ is 6-foot-8 rising sophomore (Class of 2014) incoming sophomore Ben Bentil, formerly of Ghana.

“A lot of colleges [have called thus far], but they said I shouldn’t talk about it because I don’t really need to worry about it right now,” said Bentil.

Bentil describes himself as a defensive player, but his coach describes him as a jack-of-all-trades on the basketball court.

“I describe myself as more of a defensive player, but my coach calls me a utility player because I do a little bit of everything,” said Bentil. “I rebound, I score, I post up, I face up, I do everything.”

Bentil listed a few schools from the Big East that have shown him interest.
Read more

HOOP GROUP ELITE TEAM CAMP FINAL RECAP & RECRUITING NOTES

By Alex Schwartz

READING, Pa. — Featuring over 60 high schools from seven different states, The Hoop Group Elite Team Camp drew numerous Division I coaches to Albright College. At least half of Big East was represented there Sunday, the second and final day of the camp.

Head coaches from both of New Jersey’s Big East programs, Rutgers and Seton Hall, were in attendance along with at least one assistant. NBE Basketball Report also spotted or was informed that assistants from Cincinnati, DePaul, Pittsburgh, St. John’s, Villanova and West Virginia were in Reading.

Amongst the attractions for the Big East schools were Kyle Anderson ’12, Nate Britt ’13, Reggie Cameron ’13, Hallice Cooke ’13, Will Ferguson ’13, Shep Garner ’14, Amile Jefferson ’12, Kris Jenkins ’13, Ja’Quan Newton ’14, Villanova-commit Daniel Ochefu ’12, Stanford Robinson ’13, Terrence Samuel ’13, Shamiek Sheppard ’13, Kavon Stewart ’13, Mike Young ’13, and more.
Read more

NATE BRITT LIKES THE BIG EAST; SEEING MORE RECRUITING INTEREST AFTER STRONG SPRING

it has been an impressive spring and early summer for Nate Britt. Either in a camp setting or on the AAU circuit with the DC Assault program, the 6-foot-1 point guard has excelled.

Seeing him earlier in the spring at the Pittsburgh Jam Fest, NBE’s Ray Mernagh noted that Britt competes, an ultimate compliment for one’s effort. With a tight handle, the left-handed Britt gets into the lane and finishes. He also competes on defense, showing the willingness to defend. Offensively he utilizes a floater, can get it going from beyond the arc as well and showed the ability to hit in the midrange with multiple pull-up J’s from 10-feet. Britt also excelled in transition either finding teammates or finishing on his own.

It was a strong NBA Top 100 camp where Britt really started a buzz. Despite being one of only a dozen or so Class of 2013 prospects invited to the camp, Britt dazzled onlookers throughout the week last month and put up a camp-best 30-point outing in one contest. Word spread quickly of his exploits leading to plenty of interest in his recruiting.

Read more

HOOP GROUP ELITE TEAM CAMP RECRUITING UPDATES: PART I

With the Hoop Group’s Elite Camp Session I concluding on Friday evening, the action continued on the campus of Albright College in Reading (PA) on Saturday with the Elite Team Camp, also hosted by Hoop Group, tipping off. A break from the norm of camps and AAU competitions, this July live period event features high school teams going head to head in front of very interested college coaches. The games certainly have a different feel than the normal summer contests and an impressive field only increased the interest of scouts, media, coaches and fans to come by the Albright campus on this beautiful summer day.

Just perusing the names of the schools in the national bracket and you knew you were in for a treat. Traditional Philadelphia powers Neumann-Goretti and Roman Catholic are in the field as well as Friends Central, Westtown and Penn Wood from the eastern half of the Keystone State. Upstate New York was represented by Jamesville-Dewitt outside of Syracuse and Rochester’s Bishop Kearney High School. The DC-area came strong with Gonzaga, St. John’s, Bishop McNamara, Largo, Paul VI, Patterson and more. New Jersey powers St. Anthony’s and Hudson Catholic came to play and New York City had Xaverian and South Shore. That is just a fraction of the teams on hand…

Matt Whitfield spent most of the day in Reading and will have plenty to report on. Below are just a few of the recruiting updates he accrued on this busy Saturday of basketball action…
Read more

HOOP GROUP ELITE CAMP: FRIDAY AFTERNOON RECRUITING NOTES

By Matt Whitfield

The Hoop Group’s Session One Elite Camp wrapped up on Friday afternoon with a series of championship games and all-star contests. The camp’s Top 20 All-Star game draws the most interest and NBE spotted staff members from South Florida, Quinnipiac, Cornell, Wagner, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Rutgers, Drexel, Rice and Villanova.

One of the Top 20 All-Star participants was Quenton DeCosey, an athletic 6-foot-5 wing from St. Joseph of Metuchen (NJ) and the Team Izod/Sports U AAU travel program. DeCosey told NBE on Friday he has offers from Rice, Seton Hall, Temple and Towson. Virginia, West Virginia, St. John’s, Georgetown, St. Joseph’s and Rider are showing interest.

DeCosey told NBE that he has taken unofficial visits to Seton Hall and Temple and plans to check out Georgetown next week on an unofficial visit.
—————————————————————–
Read more

HOOP GROUP ELITE CAMP: FRIDAY MORNING RECRUITING RECAP

By Matt Whitfield

After spending Thursday in Philadelphia for the Reebok Breakout Challenge NBE headed to Reading (PA) and the campus of Albright College to take in some action at the Hoop Group’s Elite Camp Session One. The massive camp is always entertaining and well run for players at all levels. NBE will stay in Reading through the day taking in playoff and all-star game action. Tomorrow we will remain on the Albright College campus for the Hoop Group Elite team camp which will certainly draw an impressive crowd from the college coaching community.

Rutgers head coach Mike Rice was on the scene early on Friday morning, checking out the action by 9 AM. Below are some notes from the early action this morning. More to come throughout the day….

Lennard Freeman, a 6-foot-7 forward out of St. John’s College HS in Washington (DC) seemed to have the attention of the Rutgers head coach this morning. Freeman, who plays on the AAU circuit in the Team Takeover program, mentioned DePaul, Washington, South Florida, Penn, Northwestern and Albany. He has also taken an unofficial visit to NC State.
—————————————

Transferring to Suffield Academy from Westminster Prep is Myles Marshall. The Class of 2013 prospect was a 2nd-team All-NEPSAC Class B selection last season at Westmnster. At this point he is hearing from Elon, Siena and Iowa.
————————————-

Class of 2013 shooting guard Stanford Robinson of Paul VI High School is one of the top prospects coming into the Hoop Group Elite camp and his recruitment certainly backs that up.

“I got an offer from Miami, Rutgers and UMASS,” said Robinson. “Xavier has been calling as well as Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Maryland, and a lot of ACC and Big East schools. I got some calls from Syracuse as well.”

Calls from schools in the BIG EAST and other major conferences keep Robinson pushing towards his goals and making him feel like the hard work is beginning to pay off, motivating him to keep pushing.

“The calls from Syracuse makes me feel like I’m an elite player and I need to keep working so I can have more of these schools like Syracuse keep calling.

My goal is to play at an elite [basketball] school.”

Robinson has been to NC State on an unofficial visit and will hope to take a few more trips in August.
————————————

One of the players drawing the most attention this week in Reading is Geno Thorpe of Shaler High School near Pittsburgh (PA) and the NJ Playaz AAU program. Word spread on the internet that Thorpe could be making his college decision by September, but the 2013 recruit seemingly backed off that speculation this morning and gave the picture he is unsure of what he’s going to do regarding colleges.

When asked if he was going to make his decision in September. Thorpe responded, “Yeah, but I might reopen it.”

Thorpe mentioned he considers himself open at the moment.

“I’m just kind of open with everything,” he said.

There was speculation recently that Thorpe would be moving to New Jersey for his junior season, Blair Academy and Hudson Catholic being possible destinations, however a little more of an upgrades schedule will keep him at Shaler for now.

“I’m going to Shaler next year….they kind of upgraded the schedule a little bit.”

Currently the school list for Thorpe reads Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Wisconsin, Kansas State, Baylor and Gonzaga. His relationship with the Pitt staff has been documented, but he also has a strong relationship with the Rutgers head coach, who was watching him this morning, as he has known Mike Rice for several years.

“I went to the Robert Morris Camp in 7th grade and that’s how we met up,” said Thorpe.

If a decision is to come in the near future, Pittsburgh and Rutgers look to be in very good shape.

REEBOK BREAKOUT CHALLENGE: THURSDAY RECRUITING ROUNDUP

By Matt Whitfield

The return to the summer basketball camp scene by Reebok has been well received. The competition and talent level is certainly solid at the Gallagher Athletic Center on the campus of Philadelphia University. NBE took in the action for the most part of the day Thursday and was able to touch base with many of the players to learn the latest on their recruitments. While the camp had a strong group of Mid-Major+ prospects, there was more than a fair share of players who will land at higher levels in college. Below is a rundown of who we caught up with yesterday.

Rysheed Jordan (Robert Vaux HS/Players Teaching Players)

There was a lot of hype centering Jordan entering the camp and many scouts, reporters and college coaches were anxious to get a look at him. He did not disappoint as the 6-foot-3, Class of 2013 point guard has all the look of a sure fire high major recruit. He has definitely noticed the increased attention of late.

“I think I’m blowing up,” said Jordan of the recent influx of recruiting attention. “I’m easing my way up.”
Read more

TALENTED BALTIMORE ELITE SQUAD READY TO HIT JULY RUNNING

By Matt Whitfield

Baltimore Elite produces talented players that go on to high major programs year in and year out. Players such as Carmelo Anthony, Josh Selby, Donte Greene, and Malcolm Delaney all have played for the Baltimore squad at some point. Currently Baltimore Elite features talented youngsters such as Jamel Artis, Sam Cassell Jr., Isiah Miles and Daquein McNeil. NBE recently caught up with Assistant Baltimore Elite Coach Jerard Rucker to get the latest on Artis, Casell Jr., Miles, and McNeil.

“[Jamel Artis] he’s a 6’6 PG/combo guard. He has a lot of length. He can handle the ball well for his size. He’s an extremely good playmaker for our team. He’s getting better and better… I think he has a high ceiling. He can get a lot better, but he has been playing pretty well because the last couple months his play making ability has been out of this world and he’s really been paying a lot of attention to detail on the defensive end which has really helped us because he’s been playing against some of the better perimeter shooting guards and small forwards.”

In terms of colleges Artis, who as of now will be attending IMG Academy [FL] next year, has his share of new interest and offers.
Read more

JAYLEN BOND HEADING OVERSEAS; HEARING FROM NEW SCHOOLS

Once an anticipated member of the Pittsburgh 2011 recruiting class of Panther coaches and fans, Jaylen Bond is heading into a post-graduate year at St. Thomas More and another round at the recruiting process. Since re-opening the process earlier this spring several new schools have made it known they intend to recruit the former Plymouth-Whitemarsh star forward according to his Grandfather.

“So far Jaylen is getting interest from Tennessee, Maryland, Penn State, Miami, Temple, St. Joe’s and several others,” William Bond told NBE’s Matt Whitfield via text message Thursday night.

As for the school he signed a letter of intent with last November, Mr. Bond was unsure if the Panthers would remain in the mix.

“We haven’t heard from them,” William Bond said when asked if Pittsburgh was still calling.

Bond was seen on the AAU circuit earlier this spring playing for the Philly’s Finest AAU club. As for reasons to de-commit he cited plans to use the extra year to transition more ot the wing for college by working on his perimeter game and becoming a better all-around player. College coaches are going to have to wait a little bit to see those improvements for themselves, unless they plan on taking a long road trip at the beginning of the live evaluation period next week.

“Next week he’ll be overseas in London playing in the Future Stars Tournament,” said Mr. Bond.

The tournament will run from July 7-10 with teams from England, Sweden, Slovenia, Netherlands, London United and the USA Select team that Bond will suit up for. The event is an U18 International Basketball Tournament that will allow Bond a whole new experience at seeing the world through basketball.

Once he is back in the States, expect the 6-foot-7 and athletic Jaylen Bond to draw his share of college coaches looking to check in on his progress in his development. Just turning 18 this spring, Bond is certainly a player with his best basketball still ahead of him.

’13 MIKE YOUNG PICKS UP NEW OFFER; MORE RUMBLE RECRUITING NOTES

By Matt Whitfield

Its been a good week for the Connecticut basketball program and their fans. With the addition of DeAndre Daniels for the Class of 2011 and the recent verbal commitment of Omar Calhoun, things are looking more and more definite that Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun will return next season. After winning his third national championship with the Huskies last April, the UConn coach was non-committal on a return. However the recent recruiting additions shows the coach is still going full steam ahead and now they have turned up the heat on one of the Northeast’s top prospects in the Class of 2013 with an offer to Mike Young, a 6-foot-9 power forward.

“The newest offer is UConn,” said Young said Saturday at the Rumble in the Bronx. “The rest of them are still the same though I got Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Seton Hall and Rutgers.”

With an offer from the defending national champions, Young feels very upbeat and feels others are recognizing the improvement in his game as he matures.
Read more

Next Page »