Matt Whitfield

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.”
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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.
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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.
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UCONN VISIT SEALS DEAL FOR OMAR CALHOUN

By Matt Whitfield

A little over a year from now it’ll be interesting when Jim Calhoun yells the last name Calhoun in practice. That’s because yesterday New York City’s top player Omar Calhoun, one of the top shooting guards in the Class of 2012 verbally committed to Connecticut.

“The trip to UConn went extremely well. We were able to spend some quality time with Coach Calhoun and the rest of the Coaching staff, Coach Ollie and Coach Miller,” said Omar Calhoun Sr. “And we toured the Campus. And after spending that time with Coach Calhoun we just felt like UConn would be a home run.”

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RUMBLE IN THE BRONX REPORT – PART I

By Brian Bosworth

The Rumble in the Bronx got underway Friday night with a slightly different feel than in years past. Fordham University has traditionally been the epicenter of the action for the boys tournament but this year the girls took over at Fordham and the boys tournament was spread out at different sites in the greater NYC area. The main site for the 17U bracket was Manhattan College and the action can be described in one word, hot. While the gym itself reached sauna-like conditions, the action on the floor didn’t disappoint. A host of high profile teams were in action including the Long Island Lightning, Connecticut Basketball Club, Albany City Rocks and the Metro Hawks but the New York Panthers were unquestionably a cut above the rest. In addition to being the most impressive unit on this steamy Friday night in the Bronx, the Panthers had the best individual performance of the evening as well.

Top Performer of the Day

Malik Nichols (New York Panthers 2012) – The former Hofstra commit as a member of the 2011 class confirmed after the game that he would be attending a yet to be determined prep school and re-classifying to 2012. Offensively, Nichols was literally perfect in this contest. He made all 10 shots he attempted totaling 22 points and scored every way imaginable. Nichols made 3 pointers off catch and shoot situations. He made a pull-up 16 foot jumper. He drove to the rim with both hands and finished. He finished in transition. He converted a tip-in on the offensive glass. Simply put, Nichols was unstoppable on the offensive end of the floor and led his Panthers club to a blowout victory. If he can string more performances like this together, Nichols should see his recruitment skyrocket when the July live period rolls around.

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TARIQ CAREY RECRUITMENT HOLDING STEADY

Tariq Carey, the Class of 2012 guard out of Newark (NJ) East Side High School, continues to fly under the radar as he heads into his final AAU season on the circuit. Playing for Gary Charles’ New York Panthers this summer could very well change that soon.

“I honestly feel he will finally get his just due this summer,” Troy Long told NBE’s Matt Whitfield late last week of Carey. “He has the grades and game of a Top 100 player, but everything happens for a reason. Once more people see him his stock will rise in my opinion.”

Long, an assistant coach at East Side High, handles the recruitment of Carey and other players in the Red Raiders’ program. He told NBE that Carey’s recruitment is holding steady, naming schools like Providence, Virginia, Notre Dame, UNC-Charlotte, Richmond and Rhode Island being active in the process with a few more schools from the Atlantic 10 also being involved. The previous staff at Penn State had invited Carey to their elite camp this summer and Long added that Richmond and Charlotte have also extended similar invitations.

“He just turned 17,” said Long. “He played great at Pitt[sburgh Jam Fest], he has upside and he’s proven he is on that level (Big East) and now he’s becoming more consistent…he’s excited about the upcoming live period.”

Before the live period NBE plans to get a good look at Carey at the upcoming Rumble in the Bronx. Last year at the Rumble Carey was regarded as one of the Top 10 players in the Class of 2012 NBE saw. Playing with the NJ Playaz last season, Carey showed a much-improved his all-around game as he hit several three-pointers, many of the knuckleball variety, which he struggled with in previous viewings. He also showed an ability to get into the lane and finish or distribute. Carey can score with contact at the rim. Defensively, he is very aggressive and is adept at racking up steals and starting fast breaks.

NBE looks forward to seeing Tariq Carey in action this summer. This under-the-radar recruit could be ready to plant himself firmly on the minds of high-major programs as they look for a do-everything guard in the Class of 2012.

OMAR CALHOUN AND FAMILY WORKING THROUGH RECRUITING PROCESS

Future of UConn head coach Jim Calhoun weighs on their mind as they look at potential college decision

By Matt Whitfield

Ask people with insight and access inside the UConn program and you’ll get many varying answers regarding what Jim Calhoun’s future holds. No one will know until this summer with 100% accuracy if the Hall of Fame coach will retire following last season’s National Championship or return to the Connecticut bench for a 26th season with the Huskies. While fans and players anxiously await the upcoming decision another group of people also watch the process with vested interest. Prospective recruits and their parents also are keeping a close eye on the situation, as explained by Omar Calhoun Sr., father of highly recruited Omar Calhoun Jr., a top shooting guard in the Class of 2012 who is very high on the Connecticut recruiting radar.

“It would weigh into it a little bit for his decision,” responded Omar Calhoun Sr. when asked if Jim Calhoun’s potential retirement would affect his son’s college plans. “We believe in UCONN and it’s still going to be UCONN. We still feel like Coach Calhoun is still going to have a major part still in the development in the program even if he’s not the head coach. We believe he’ll still have some type of representation on how these guys represent themselves.”

Omar Calhoun Sr. said his son plans to take a visit to Storrs in the next couple weeks, as that’ll be his only visit as the busy live period will get underway early in July.

“We’re going to try and set up a visit in the next couple weeks to UCONN.” Calhoun Sr. also added that, “for the live period that’s the only visit we’re trying to set up.”

Calhoun Sr. also mentioned that his son would likely visit Pittsburgh this summer and that Omar Jr. had no real geographic preference on where he played college hoops other than to say the Big East and ACC would likely be the conferences of choice. As of now though the younger Calhoun is working on his strength and conditioning before he gets to the next level.

“Just his strength and conditioning and his ball handling,” said Omar Sr. on what his son is working on to improve his game during this time. “Getting stronger, at the college level, that’s the biggest difference between college and high school, the strength of the players [and] the speed of the players.”

Keep tabs on the younger Omar Calhoun this summer as he’ll be playing for the NY Gauchos on the Nike EYBL, whoch rolls into Los Angeles this weekend, as well as partaking in the major camps including the NBA Top 100 and the Lebron James Skills Academy as he prepares for his senior season next year at Christ the King HS.

Are you in need of a business cash advance? These days a little extra cash flow is always welcomed.

BRANDON AUSTIN MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF OUT OF PHILLY

By Matt Whitfield

Since the program’s inception in 2004 Team Philly has produced numerous BIG EAST players including Kyle Lowery, Shane Clark, Reggie Redding, Maalik Wayns, John Johnson, Nurideen Lindsday and more Division I players at all levels of the NCAA. Top sophomore guard Brandon Austin could very easily follow this trend and be the next highly recruited star from the program.

Austin, although a slender 6-foot-6, 170 pounds, is very skilled offensively with great handle and a knack for attacking the basket. Thus, not surprisingly Austin already has a slew of colleges interested in his services.

“The schools that are recruiting me are Syracuse, Villanova, Providence, Rutgers, Temple, Pittsburgh and Drexel.“ Austin also added that, “all of them [have] offered.”

A self-described playmaker, Austin tells NBE he feels a strength of his is his versatility off the bounce with the basketball.

“As a player I’m a playmaker for other players. [I'm] versatile off the bounce and I’m a combo guard,” said Austin.

Austin mentioned recently that he is improving on his shooting and defense but the youngster has already drawn the attention of the Philadelphia’s most prominent college basketball coach.

“Jay Wright,” responded Austin when asked if he had developed any good relationships with college coaches thus far. “I’ve talked to Jay Wright a couple of times.”

His Team Philly AAU coach Kyle Sample also added that Austin has spoken with Drexel Coach Ashley Howard as well.

Still only a sophomore (Class of 2013) attending Imhotep Charter, Austin is not thinking that far ahead and is just focused on this summer with Team Philly.

“I’d like to get my team better so we can get some more wins,” said Austin.

In the coming months and years Brandon Austin is definitely one to watch. The youngster stated the BIG EAAT is his conference of preference and that he feels he will play the one or the two position at the next level. Be sure to check out Austin and Team Philly if they’re playing at an event near you.

For more on Team Philly and to see where they will be playing next, check out their brand new website HERE.

NIKE BALTIMORE ELITE INVITATIONAL RECRUITING NOTEBOOK

Last weekend many of the top teams on the AAU scene in the Mid-Atlantic region invaded Baltimore to participate in the Nike Baltimore Elite Invitational. Most of the 17U action took place at Annapolis Area Christian School and that is where NBE Basketball Report’s Matt Whitfield spent his time Friday night and much of the day on Saturday. Below are some of the key recruiting notes he was able to pick up on in his time at the event.

Mike Owona: 6-foot-9; Class of 2013; Baltimore Elite – College physique already and just finished his sophomore season at John Carroll in Bel Air (MD). The native of Cameroon has decent agility and athletic ability for a young big man, moving well for a player his size. Battles on the boards, but still has a very raw offensive game with little in low post moves to score with back to the basket. While Owona definitely needs to work on his basketball fundamentals, he definitely has a shot to play basketball at the high-major level in the future as he has only been playing the game for four years.

As for his recruiting, he told NBE he has interest from Oklahoma, Old Dominion, Virginia Tech, Xavier and Maryland.
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Kameron Williams: 6-foot-2; Class of 2013; Baltimore Elite – Williams is an exciting scorer that starred in his sophomore season for Mount St. Joseph coach Pat Clatchey. He has continued to see his stock rise early this AAU season with some high scoring outbursts this spring. Williams told NBE over the weekend he is on the radar of progrms such as Providence, Miami, George Mason, VCU, Richmond and Maryland.
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NATIONAL RUNNER-UP BUTLER IN STRONG WITH SAM CASSELL JR.

Baltimore native and son of former NBA All-Star is rising up the recruiting lists of available ’12 guards this spring

Sam Cassell Jr. is used to having the spotlight shining on him when he hits the basketball court. Being the son of a long-time NBA guard brings a lot of opportunity and a lot of scrutiny. Cassell told NBE’s Matt Whitfield last weekend at the Nike Baltimore Elite Invitational that he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s wonderful,” said Cassell. “I’ve seen a lot of things. I’ve had a lot of experiences. When I step in the gym people are always going to watch me because of my name, so that gives me an opportunity to show my talents.”

The Baltimore native is currently attending Notre Dame Prep in Massachusetts and is seeing his recruitment pick-up as a member of the Class of 2012. As he shows his talents more and more he told NBE that he now has offers from Butler, Florida State, South Florida, Clemson and UNLV. At this time he is trying to take in the process and see how things will play out.

“I’m just trying to figure out the best place for me and where I know I’m going to play as a freshman,” he said last weekend.

One school that might be moving up on his list is Butler. Brad Stevens has led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national title appearances and their success has left a strong impression on the younger Cassell. He is planning to use one of his official visits to see the Indianapolis (IN) campus up close and personal in the future.

“It’s good. I think I fit in perfect [at Butler],” said Cassell.

Sam Cassell Sr. is a former NBA 1st-round pick out of Florida State who won three NBA World Champions as a member of the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics. The elder Cassell was also honored in 2008 as one of the 20 greatest players in Milwaukee Bucks history for his success with the team. He had his best season in Milwaukee during the 2003-2004 campaign where he averaged 19.8 points a game and over 7 assists. The apple does not fall far from the tree as the younger Cassell has shown the ability to score and distribute as well on the floor, making him a very intriguing lead guard in the 2012 class.

NBE will be certain to follow Sam Cassell Jr. on the AAU trail this spring and summer with the Baltimore Elite program and keep readers updated on the latest news as it pertains to his recruitment. So stay tuned….

RECRUITING COMING UNDER FOCUS FOR KYLE ANDERSON JR.

As one of the elite prospects in the Class of 2012 the spotlight has shown brightly on Kyle Anderson for some time. The former Paterson Catholic player made the move to legendary coach Bob Hurley’s St. Anthony’s program in Jersey City (NJ) this past season and the results were sparkling. St. Anthony’s finished undefeated and in their mega-showdown against St. Patrick’s in the NJSIAA Non-Public, North B Final the Friars came out with a 62-45 win in front of over 8,000 at the RAC on the Rutgers campus. In typical Anderson fashion, the 6-foot-8 do-everything G/F tallied 11 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals in the contest. He spent much of the game matched up on the defensive end with Class of 2011 elite prospect Michael Gilchrist, who finished with just 7 points on two of 11 shooting from the field. Anderson’s early fourth-quarter block on a Gilchrist drive sparked a run-out basket by St. Anthony’s and an 8-0 run that turned the tide of the game. The Friars outscored the favored Celtics 23-5 in the final eight-minute period to claim the win.

Now that his junior high school season has ended, Anderson is on the AAU trail once again with the NJ Playaz. As one of the most heavily recruited players in the Class of 2012 the attention Anderson receives is constant from recruiting reporters and scouts. This past weekend Matt Whitfield of NBE caught up with Anderson while he was playing in the Nike Baltimore Elite Invitational to discuss the latest in his recruitment. As he said in the past, Anderson reiterated that Kevin Willard and his staff at Seton Hall continues to put in the biggest effort in his recruitment.

“Yeah, they’re definitely recruiting me the hardest and doing the best job,” Anderson said of the Pirates. “They got good recruits coming in so they’re definitely up there for me to go. I think [I could see myself] playing with the recruits that they’re bringing in and some of the players they have there [already]”

Besides Seton Hall, Anderson also mentioned Saturday that he is considering Florida, Xavier, Georgetown, St. John’s, UCLA and Arizona at this time.

“That’s it really,” he said of the list. “I told the rest of the schools I wasn’t really interested.”

Kyle Anderson is a match-up nightmare at the college level and coaches drool over his versatility. Can Seton Hall close the deal? If so, it would be quite a feather in the cap for the staff of Kevin Willard that is still trying to put the perception of the program left by the previous regime behind them. With some big time programs also in pursuit, this will be one interesting recruitment to follow as it reaches a conclusion, likely this fall.

JAYLEN BOND READY TO BE RE-RECRUITED IN 2012

Former Plymouth-Whitmarsh star forward re-opening process and working on developing all-around game this summer

It has been quite a while since we checked in on Jaylen Bond. The 6-foot-7+ forward had signed a National Letter of Intent with Jamie Dixon’s Pittsburgh program last November and was expected to be a key addition to the Panther’s 2011 recruiting class. Earlier this spring, however, plans changed and Bond decided to attend prep school next fall, reclassifying into the Class of 2012 and re-open his recruitment.

“They said they still wanted to recruit him,” Jaylen’s grandfather, William Bond, told NBE’s Matt Whitfield at this past weekend’s Nike Baltimore Elite Invitational of Pittsburgh. “What’s going to happen I don’t know.”

In the meantime Jaylen Bond is hitting the summer circuit playing for Philly’s Finest AAU program and looking forward to competing in the NEPSAC next season with St. Thomas More in Oakdale, Connecticut. At St. Thomas More Bond will play for long-time head coach Jere Quinn for a program that is coming off a National Prep Championship last season. The Chancellors are led by elite Class of 2012 prospect Andre Drummond, another drawing card for Bond as he looks forward to teaming in the frontcourt with the 6-foot-10 Drummond.

“Basically I would just work off of him and feed off of how he plays and basically we’re going to be a good combination together,” Jaylen Bond said of playing with Drummond next season.

In the meantime Bond is working on his perimeter game and becoming a better all-around player. With April being predominately a dead period for the most part in recruiting, his recruitment is slowly beginning to pick back up after his late decision to re-open the process. According to his grandfather, schools are keeping tabs on him and the summer should prove very interesting in his recruitment.

“University of Tennessee has called since he got his release,” said William Bond. “Temple, La Salle and St. Joseph’s have also been involved.”

The younger Bond looks to put the extra year to good use. Still young for his grade as a senior, his development will continue this summer into the next school year.

“I know he’s going to be working hard this summer,” said William Bond to Matt Whitfield. “I think he’ll be working a lot on his premier skills and his defensive skills. That’s what he wants to continue working with. You figure another year doing that will better prepare him for the next level.”

NBE will continue to follow Jaylen Bond this summer and next season as he will likely become one of the most heavily recruited players in next season’s NEPSAC.

BALTIMORE ELITE’S CHARLES TAPPER A HOT COMMODITY ON THE GRIDIRON

By Matt Whitfield

Watch Charles Tapper on the gridiron or the hardwood and you’ll notice that the youngster plays with fire, a tenacity that perhaps helped him become one of the one most sought after football recruits in the Mid-Atlantic. Tapper, a Class of 2012 recruit, who will be sticking to football in college told NBE Friday night at The Baltimore Elite Invitational in Severn, Maryland that West Virginia sticks out to him and is one of his top three schools, as he looks to take an official there as well as two other football powers.

“I’m probably eventually going to go to Miami, Oklahoma and West Virginia for official visits,” said Tapper.

Tapper who told NBE his natural position is defensive end agreed that he has always played with a fire.

“I just like to come out there with an explosion and just destroy my opponent,” said Tapper.

Starting immediately will be a factor for Tapper in what school he attends.

“That’s my goal. Hopefully I can start at any school I can go to.”

Although he’s not saying it West Virginia may be the favorite right now with Tapper, being that he’s already taken an unofficial there and that he wants his family to be able to see him play in most of his games.

“It probably will [weigh into where I go to school]. I want my mom and my brothers to be able to see most of my games,” said Tapper.

Another factor weighing into West Virginia’s favor is that Tapper has been mentored by Tavon Austin.

“We’re kind of close,” said Tapper of his relationship with Austin.

Tapper also added that, “West Virginia [is] in my top three.”

Will Charles Tapper fill the void when Bruce Irvin leaves after this season? West Virginia fans certainly hope so. Stay tuned to NBE for the latest on the 6’4, 240 pound man-child.

CLASS OF 2013 INTRO: NOAH VONLEH

New England sophomore is heading into NEPSAC next year and looking to reclassify; already seeing major college interest

By Matt Whitfield

Expressions Elite AAU basketball club has had some fine young talented players in recent years: Khem Birch, Ricky Ledo and now Noah Vonleh appears to be the latest. Vonleh is a 6-foot-8 forward who currently attends Haverhill High School in Massachusetts. An athletic big man, Vonleh already has several high major programs offering scholarships, a list that includes Syracuse, Kansas, Boston College and Pittsburgh. He is also receiving interest from Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida and Providence.

At 15 years old Vonleh should only continue to grow as a player. He plans to make a move to face better competition night in and night out next season with a transfer to New Hampton Prep. The move could also lead him to reclassify into the 2014 recruiting class. This past season Vonleh drew lots of double and triple teams, but he felt that help him get better as a player.

“The team wasn’t too good. But I think that the way teams threw double and triple teams at me it made me a better player,” said Vonleh.

As a player Vonleh describes himself as an active big man who can play the point-forward position.

“I’m [a] perimeter player. I can play the point forward [position]. I like to bring up the ball, grab it off the glass, and run our offense and get my teammates into the offense.”

Vonleh who is projected to be 6’10 or 6’11 likes to emulate Kevin Durant’s game because the former DC Assault member knows how to score at will for a big man.

“Kevin Durant because he’s real long and he knows how to score the basketball.“

Vonleh mentioned that the Big East was probably his college of preference and that one Big East school in New York sticks out to him.

“Syracuse,” Vonleh said. “I like them a lot. They’re one of my favorites right now.”

With up to three more full years in high school ahead of him, college is still a long way for this youngster. But as Noah Vonleh grows into his frame he should only improve as a player, and gain even more recognition nationwide.

NOTRE DAME ADDS RECRUIT ERIC KATENDA & TRANSFER GARRICK SHERMAN

After narrowing his list to Notre Dame and Wake Forest, 2011 forward Eric Katenda made his college decision Tuesday and the native of France is headed to the BIG EAST, per sources with knowledge of the recruitment.

Notre Dame will gain the services of the 6-foot-8, 210 pound athletic forward next season. Katenda, who most recently has attended Sunrise Academy in Kansas, made an official visit to South Bend last weekend and the visit made a lasting impression.

“Notre Dame really impressed me,” Katenda told NBE’s Matt Whitfield following the visit. “First of all they have a beautiful campus and beautiful facilities and a great coaching staff. And going on the visit gave me a chance to know more about the campus and ask a couple of questions, so I learned a lot from my visit.”

Katenda missed most of last summer’s AAU action after having his appendix removed and getting tendonitis in his knees. While being forced to sit out most of the key summer circuit, Katenda fell off the recruiting radar of many schools, leading him to become one of the more sought-after spring recruiting targets because of his high ceiling as a player.
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ERIC KATENDA ENJOYS NOTRE DAME VISIT; TEXAS IN MIX FOR ’11 FORWARD

By Matt Whitfield

Unsigned Class of 2011 power forward Eric Katenda enjoyed his visit to Notre Dame this past weekend as he spent time with Fighting Irish players Jerian Grant and Eric Atkins. Katenda had previously told NBE that Wake Forest was his favorite, but that is no longer the case as he states there may be a fourth school entering the mix, along with Iowa, Wake Forest and Notre Dame with Texas recently contacting the athletic forward.

“Notre Dame really impressed me,” said Katenda. “First of all they have a beautiful campus and beautiful facilities and a great coaching staff. And going on the visit gave me a chance to know more about the campus and ask a couple of questions, so I learned a lot from my visit.”

Katenda did not attend Notre Dame’s Spring Football Game this past Saturday due to the rain, but he hung with Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant throughout the visit.

“They told that if I go there…that I’d have a chance to play and start on that team as they really need that kind of player that I am. I really got along well with those two guys. I didn’t get the chance to hang with all the other guys, but I really got along with those two guys.”

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NEWEST WVU COMMMIT HAPPY TO BE A MOUNTAINEER

By Matt Whitfield

Losing several seniors from their 2010-2011 team including guards Joe Mazzulla, Casey Mitchell and Johnnie West, Bob Huggins made it a point to add perimeter help during the spring signing period next week. Earlier this week West Virginia picked up a new verbal commitment for their 2011 squad, which would be the seventh recruit in the class, when Gary Browne of Arlington Country Day near Jacksonville (FL) made his verbal pledge to the Mountaineers.

“I chose West Virginia just because they have been recruiting me and they have been doing a great job,” said Browne yesterday by phone. “They are a model program.”

Browne, a native of Puerto Rico who was named the Puerto Rican player of the year as a junior, has not taken an official visit to the Big East school, but remains firmly committed because of the comfort level he has developed with the Mountaineer staff, despite the other schools recruiting him.

“They come see me in practice and in games. I think Larry Harrison and Bob Huggins have been doing a great, great job and I’ve developed a great relationship with them,” said Browne. “I needed to be in a place that I feel with comfortable with the coaches and the staff and the city. And I think West Virginia, they have the best fans of the whole state. They love the Mountaineer players, the college, and it’s a great environment playing there and I can finish my four year degree there, so I think it’s going to be a great, great situation for me. So I’m grateful for that situation, so I committed.

A couple of colleges come see me, but I [feel comfortable with my decision and I] think West Virginia is the best choice.”
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UCONN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MAKES IMPRESSION ON OMAR CALHOUN

The saying ‘to the victor goes the spoils’ can definitely be applied to college basketball when the national champion prepares to hit the recruiting trail. This spring and summer when a staff member from Connecticut pays a visit to a high school, makes a phone call or walks into an event to evaluate and show their interest, recruits will take extra notice. The Huskies captured college basketball’s most coveted prize on Monday night and recruits have definitely taken notice as NBE learned from the father of prized 2012 shooting guard prospect Omar Calhoun Jr. this morning.

“He has great interest in UConn,” said Omar Calhoun Sr. to NBE’s Matt Whitfield in a phone interview earlier today. “Definitely with the success they’ve been having over the years. He thinks Coach Calhoun is a great coach and someone he’d love to play for.”

Connecticut is in a tough situation on the recruiting trail as well. The future of Coach Calhoun is often talked about. The Hall of Fame head coach was the oldest to capture a national title at 68 years of age and has battled several health problems in recent years, including two bouts with cancer. The continuing saga of an NCAA investigation over the Nate Miles recruitment continues to hover over the program following recent reports during the Final Four that Miles might be talking with the NCAA in the upcoming months.

Still, Omar Calhoun Sr. feels the UConn program will continue on with the success and tradition that Jim Calhoun has built and the success rate the program has in producing NBA players.
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MORE SPRING FLING RECRUITING NOTES

As usual, the Spring Fling hosted by the NJ Playaz and Jimmy Salmons was a great event, bringing in most of the top teams of the Northeast to kick off the AAU season. Here are some more of the recruiting updates Matt Whitfield collected from his time down on the New Jersey shore this weekend…

Nate Britt, a left-handed point guard who attends Gonzaga High School in DC is already a well-known name on the DC Assault for a Class of 2013 prospect. Britt rattled off a school list that includes Villanova (offer), Georgetown (offer), Texas, Arizona (offer), Seton Hall (offer), Duke, Virginia, UCLA and Virginia Tech.

Britt has made unofficial visits to Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Seton Hall.

“Definitely the Big East is my favorite conference because it’s close and that’s the best conference in the NCAA right now,” Britt told Matt Whitfield Saturday.
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Britt’s classmate at Gonzaga and DC Assault teammate Kris Jenkins is a bull inside. The 6-foot-5 power forward is a top rebounder and finisher in the paint among Class of 2013 prospects. Off the top of his head, Jenkins mentioned Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Boston College, Miami, Virginia Tech, Virginia and Georgetown as the schools recruiting him.

Jenkins has taken unofficial visits to Virginia Tech and Virginia.
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It seems as though Kyle Anderson has been with the NJ Playaz forever. The Class of 2012 G/F is starting his last AAU season and remains one of the most coveted recruits in the class. Anderson told Matt Whitfield on Saturday that Seton Hall, UCLA, Villanova, Georgetown, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Miami and Virginia Tech have offered while Duke and North Carolina have interest. On Friday night his Dad told NBE that Seton Hall is “recruiting (Kyle Jr.) the hardest.”

Expect this one to me one of the most covered recruiting stories if the year.
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Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia (PA) is home to Brandon Austin. The Class of 2013 prospect is running with Team Philly on the AAU circuit and is a player we expect to rise in profile nationally this summer. With his size (pushing 6’6) and smooth skill set, Austin can play all three perimeter positions and excels with the ball in his hands with great vision and delivery. It is no wonder that Villanova, Syracuse, Drexel, West Virginia, Rutgers and Pitt are some of the schools he could remember off the top of his head showing interest in him.
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The always productive Dom Hoffman was in action this weekend with Hoop Heavan. The 6-foot-7 junior (Class of 2012) out of Gil St. Bernards, where he eclipsed the 1,000-point mark this past January, told NBE Friday that Penn, Lafayette, Bucknell and Rider are the four schools he is considering right now. Hoffman has been to each school and would be a very good addition to any of those programs.

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