Zach Smart

AFTER BRIEF SCARE, JEROME DYSON & UCONN RIP BU

by ZACH SMART

HARTFORD–The sight was alarmingly familiar, and that’s what made it all the more frightening for the Connecticut Huskies.

Jerome Dyson, the Huskies’ best player–Jim Calhoun’s description after the Huskies’ 92-64 blowout of Boston University–landed awkwardly during the opening moments of the second half.

“I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous seeing that,” said UConn forward Gavin Edwards, who scored 12 points and ripped down nine rebounds.

Dyson stayed down for a few minutes, and it was tremendously similar to the scene that played out last February against Syracuse.

That’s when Dyson, who’s averaging over 20 points to lead the No.13-ranked Huskies, knocked knees with Syracuse’s then-forward Kristof Ongeneat.

An MRI later revealed Dyson had a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee, an injury which sidelined him for the season.

“We were just hoping ‘rome would come back,” said point guard Kemba Walker of the tense few minutes when Dyson was down on the floor.

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DYSON STEPS UP FOR CONNECTICUT

by ZACH SMART

Storrs, Conn.—William & Mary entered Gampel Pavilion with a slew of three-point snipers and quickly shed any fear of the No.14 Connecticut Huskies.

The Tribe, which lived and died beyond the arc all night, hit six three-pointers before the Huskies could hit one.

The Tribe was also active on the glass, capitalizing on putbacks and third chances. Both teams finished with 34 boards, though the Huskies were out-boarded 19-14 in the second half.

The Tribe trailed by just six points at halftime and pulled to within four points, 39-35, at the start of the second half.

That’s when William & Mary ran into a buzz saw in Jerome Dyson.

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MORE IS8 RECRUITING UPDATES FROM PLAYOFF ACTION

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Updates on some of the standout performers from last weekend’s IS8 playoff action with a Halloween theme

by ZACH SMART

Juan’ya Green, a ghastly 6-foot-3 combo guard at Archbishop Carroll (PA) HS, is receiving plenty of Big East love. He’s sifting through letters, receiving the most interest from Villanova, Georgetown, Syracuse, Providence, Maryland, St. Joe’s and Temple.

“That’s all I can think of tight now,” said the Class of 2011 guard, after rattling off his current list.

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JERMAINE SANDERS HAS BIG EAST INTEREST; MORE RECRUITING UPDATES

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Rice junior has focus on upcoming season, recruiting can wait

By Zach Smart

For Jermaine Sanders, recruiting is an afterthought right now. Talk to him at the end of the season, this probably won’t be the case.

Right now, however, the subject of the electrifying 6-foot-4 wing’s recruitment is in the shadows.

So, what’s front-and-center on the Rice HS forward’s agenda? First and foremost is the ready-to-be filled scoring void left by high-volume scoring machine Durand Scott, who was claimed by June graduation.

Scott, now a freshman at Miami, was a highly sought after recruit last season. He ended up spurning UConn and Pittsburgh, both of which hounded him throughout the recruiting process last year, for the Hurricanes.

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JABARIE HINDS WEIGHING OPTIONS; BIG EAST RECRUITING NOTES FROM IS8

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by ZACH SMART

It was during a Westchester County high school football game under the evening lights when I encountered Patrick Theodole. Beyond the Section I sports junkie pleasantries, we became immersed in conversation.

The topic? Not football.

Instead, we talked the leaps-and-bounds growth of Jabarie Hinds. Hinds, who cooked opponents to the recipe of 37 points per game down at Bob Gibbons and has evolved into more of a prolific scorer while developing a dependable jumper, has become the hunted in the world of Big East recruiting.

I rattled off a number of top-flight Division-I schools that were actively hounding the latest guard from Westchester’s richest hoops real estate. It certainly elicited a response from Theodole, who’s one of the Knights’ many assistant coaches under longtime coach Bob Cimmino.

“Oh, there’s more schools on his list than that,” Theodole said, reacting to my list of around 8-10 potential Division-I suitors for Hinds.

Theodole—who teaches at Hastings High School, my alma mater—is not wrong here.

“They all seem hungry,” said Hinds, a junior guard who was Pippen to Sherrod Wright’s Jordan, operating offense for the Knights last season.

“I got offers from Oklahoma State, UNLV, Wake Forest, Seton Hall, St. John’s, James Madison, Louisville, and a couple more.”

Hinds has no favorites, no leaders yet. He hasn’t cut any schools from a list that’s akin to a 7-year-old’s Christmas gift list in length.

You can’t write off any team yet. The blink-quick, springy guard still has two years of high school remaining.

Even James Madison, which may or may not be at the bottom of his list, has a tie to Hinds. Former Mount Vernon standout Jomo Belfor, who plays against Hinds during the Knights’ traditional open gyms, played for the Dukes a few years ago.

Hinds keeps his former teammates, many of whom Mount Vernon molded and launched to Big East careers, close to his presence. Kevin Jones (West Virginia), Mike Colburn (Rutgers) and Jonathon Mitchell ((Rutgers) remain tight with Hinds.

“I learned a lot (from the older guys). I played behind Mike Colburn when he was in high school, so I learned a lot from him. (Former Mount Vernon Knights now playing in the Big East or elsewhere) always come up to the gym, in the off-season we work out. We play open gym. They teach me a lot of stuff, and you know, I teach them stuff too.”

As the lone acclaimed player—and one of the few players who played a significant role on last year’s squad—returning, Hinds has rapidly evolved into the face of this storied program.

He knows he’s going to hold some ownership of the team this year.

“Everything is mine now,” said Hinds. “I’m the captain. I’m the only starter back right now, so everybody’s got to work for a spot and go hard in practice every day.

Is keeping a perennial power intact a heavy burden?

“Always,” said Hinds.

“The pressure is there, big time. We need to play hard, go hard every day in practice, make sure we take no plays off, and we should be alright.”

If Hinds continues to orchestrate the offense and grow as a scorer, his future hardwood home should be better than alright.

JUMP BALLS:

Jordan Allen, a 6-foot-5 junior at Bayshore HS, has emerged into a highly sought after product on the recruiting market.

While Allen hasn’t narrowed his list down to favorites, he’s received an uptick in interest from Providence, UMass, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt attended one of Allen’s practices during the last days of the contact period.

“Providence has been going pretty hard right now,” said Allen. “Coach (Pat) Skerry, I’ve been in contact with him. Notre Dame has been showing me some interest, too. That’s it for right now. Before school started, I was hearing from Seton Hall.”
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Devon Collier is currently on his visit at St. John’s. The hotly pursued 6-foot-8 forward from St. Anthony’s has also visited Oregon State—where Craig Robinson, our commander-in-chief’s brother-in-law, is loving his game—and Providence. Collier took his visit during StormFest weekend, SJU’s midnight madness.

The Johnnies look revved up to re-write the script this season, with DJ Kennedy exploding for emphatic, extravagant, and violent dunks. Newly-minted Johnnie junior Dwight Hardy, who was dominant in the Orchard Beach league this summer, was also impressive. He netted threes and showed some range.
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Corey Edwards, a New York point guard with savvy and game managing skills beyond his years, is wide open right now. The 6-foot-1 junior at Christ The King said Villanova and West Virginia are no longer the leaders. Rick Pitino and Louisville have shown interest, taking in one of his workouts during the open contact period. Coaches from Pittsburgh have also started to take notice. Edwards, who averaged 12 points and seven dimes his sophomore season is primed for a breakout campaign at Lamar Odom’s alma mater. This comes after a successful summer playing for New Heights on the AAU circuit.

Edwards, who visited Marquette over the summer, enjoying the gut-busting antics of funnyman forward Jeronne Maymon but detesting the weather, is taking his time with the recruiting process.

“No new visits yet,” Edwards said.

“George Mason coach (Jim Larranaga) wanted me to go to their midnight madness but I couldn’t make it out there. Right now, I’m wide-open. West Virginia is no longer (leading the list). They just got some guard from Cincinnati.”
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editors note – NBE has been unable to confirm the commitment for WVU that Edwards was referring to.
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Tyquan Goodlet, a 6-foot-3 combination guard at St. Anthony’s HS, is receiving the most interest from Big East schools such as Providence, St. John’s, Rutgers and Marquette. He visited Rutgers this fall, taking in the Rutgers/Pitt football game. The class of 2011 playmaker has watched his stock balloon over the summer and through the fall. A crafty guard who loves shredding up defenses and taking it to the cup on the big men, Kimani Young has Goodlet pegged as “New Heights’ favorite player to watch.”
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CATCHING UP ON ANGEL NUNEZ AT IS8

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Class of 2011 Nunez is an elite prospect in prep ranks that Big East schools have checked in on

By Zach Smart

Eric Martinez knew he had to do it.

He knew if Angel Nunez was going to pan out at that next level, his progression would need to take place in a disciplined, heavy-structure environment where much emphasis is placed on academics.

Enter, The Winchendon School (MA), a prep school and traditional hoops hotbed.

Martinez, Nunez’ advisor and a friend of NBA player Francisco Garcia—who starred at Winchendon in 2001—has close ties with coach Michael Byrnes.

So, Martinez felt it was the best decision to take a top-flight prospect and move him into a lower-density area where he’d be going up against star-spangled squads every night.

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BIG EAST RECRUITING NOTEBOOK FROM WEEKEND

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Here are several recruiting notes NBE has received over the last several days…

From Zach Smart at the opening weekend of the IS8 Fall League:

Russ Smith, 6-0 170 G South Kent Prep (CT) was in action at IS8 with the NY Panthers. Smith informed NBE he has a long list of schools offering and then included Auburn, Baylor, Arkansas, Houston, Virginia, UMass, La Salle, Temple, St. John’s, Louisville, Providence, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Stanford, George Mason and Fordham.
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Jabarie Hinds, 5-11 G Mount Vernon (NY) HS. The class of 2011 scoring point guard had one of the weekend’s top performances as he put on an offensive show. Hinds is currently looking at offers from Oklahoma State, UNLV, Wake Forest, St. John’s, Louisville, Seton Hall and James Madison.

Thus far, Hinds has taken one official visit, to St. John’s.
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Devon Collier, 6-8 Sr., St. Anthony: This versatile New Heights product can score the rock in a variety of ways. On Saturday, it was his strap-up style of defense that stood out. Collier recorded around 10 blocks and used his freakish athleticism to commit several thefts and instigate turnovers. He’s become more adept and handling the ball and passing. One area for improvement is shooting. If Collier wants to play the 3-spot in college, he needs to extend his range and shoot the three better. His jumper is starting to come along at the mid-range level, but he must be consistent as he’s got a number of schools pushing for him. St. John’s, Providence, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Oregon State and Maryland is currently Collier’s list.

“Of that group, all of them have offered,” said Berkowitz, Collier’s coach/advisor.

“You know, Maryland is the lone question mark, we’re still trying to gage how serious they are about him.”
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Jayvaughn Pinkston, 6-6 Sr., Bishop Laughlin: Residual effects of not playing as much with New Heights showed on Saturday. Pinkston was also negated as opponents trapped, pressed, and played zone on a smurf-sized court to keep Pinkston at bay. Still, the physical specimen boards up and plays with a brand of toughness that is foreign at this level. Pinkston, a versatile scorer who can float freely and go to work in the paint, has extended a feathery jumper that now ranges around 18-20 feet. Pinkston is slated for visits at Big East schools such as St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova and Marquette. Visits to Tennessee and possibly Arizona are also being considered. Kimani Young says the key for this big dripping with potential is to stay focused on academics. He’s right. More have been murked by the math midterms than by the machetes. Take it from me, a 23-year-old who still remembers his final exam grade in high school trigonometry. I’ll give you a hint, the test was out of 100 and I scored the same number that Patrick Ewing wore on his jersey!!!
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Lucious Jones, 6-4 Jr. St. Anthony’s: His identity is as a shooter. This guard can dial in from downtown and loves to give the ball to a big and have him kick it back out to him on the perimeter. Jones is also unselfish, he can pass the rock and get big men involved. The kid from Sports University All-Stars is receiving mid-level interest right now. If he continues to improve and his numbers spike at the New Jersey perennial power this season, Jones could be a solid pick-up for any of the local Big East programs.
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Jordan Allen 6-5, Jr.: Ready to step up his leadership role at Bayshore HS, where he’s the best player. Been living in the weight room and working out with Jerry Powell to up his stock. Combination wing can pass the ball, and slash to the cup with ease. Mid-range game is getting there, but consistency problems need to be rectified for next season. West Virginia, Clemson, Illinois, UMass, St. John’s, all in active pursuit. Redstorm coach Norm Roberts and assistant coach Glenn Braica are showing the most interest thus far. Former member of the Playaz Baskteball Club, Allen now plays with the Panthers under Gary Charles.
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Myles Davis, 6-1 St. Peter’s Prep: Shooter, slasher, and playmaker all rolled in one. Davis shows a propensity for shooting the ball, as he’s really been recognized as a shooter throughout his career. Still, Davis is proving that he’s more than just a one-trick pony with his increased slashing. He’s shooting less and going to the cup more.

Georgetown, Providence, Pittsburgh, George Mason, St. Joe’s, St. John’s, Wake Forest, Purdue, are all schools on his front list. Davis has offers from Fordham, Marist, Providence, Rutgers, Rice, and plenty more. Georgetown is in heavy pursuit.
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Pat Stevens has been taking a prep school tour of some of New England’s top programs. From Thursday’s visits to Winchendon (MA) and Northfield Mount Hermon (MA)…

Winchendon’s Markus Kennedy (6-9 C/Yeadon, Pa.) is supposed to come off crutches today and hopes to be back on the floor shortly. Staff from Villanova are expected in to visit him again this week.
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Winchendon’s Angel Nunez (2011/6-7 WF/Bronx, NY) made mention of Villanova, West Virginia and Rutgers all having been in to see him already. NBE will have more on Nunez from his time in NYC this past weekend for IS8 action by tomorrow.
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NMH’s Aaron Cosby (2011/6-2 CG/Louisville, Ky.) said he feels Pittsburgh, Oklahoma State and Stanford are coming at him the hardest.
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And one final update, NBE caught up with South Kent (CT) School point guard Danny Lawhorn last week. The 6-foot, 155-lb senior (class of 2010) previously played at Hartford Public High School, but decided on South Kent because “it’s not that far from home and plays a nice schedule.”

Nearly a year ago, Lawhorn committed to Boston College just before the start of his high school season. However, this past July he decided to re-open the process and de-commit from Al Skinner’s program.

“I was committed to BC until they started recruting other guards and [had] no more interest in me,” Lawhorn told NBE in an email last week.

Since he has opened his recruiting back up, Lawhorn says he has been in contact with St. John’s, St. Bonaventure, UMass, St. Peter’s, Auburn, Villanova, Texas A&M, Fordham, West Virginia, Baylor, Miami, Californa, DePaul, Houston, UAB, South Florida, Maryland, Rutgers and Kansas State.

COREY EDWARDS RECRUITING UPDATE FROM FALL IS8

Villanova, West Virginia have moved to the forefront of 2011 PG’s recruitment

By Zach Smart

Jamaica, N.Y.—Regular fall workouts have rapidly emerged into workaday madhouses for budding Christ The King point guard Corey Edwards.

A buffet-line of college coaches have been eyeing the 6-foot-1 senior, keeping tabs on his true point guard style and show-running ability.

Coaches from Pittsburgh, West Virginia, George Mason, Boston College, Virginia have all come in from out the woodwork, registering their presence as Edwards penetrates the teeth of defenses at will and makes his teammates beneficiaries of his distributions. His proclivity for drawing the defense in and kicking it to the open man has made him a tantalizing talent.

St. John’s has also been hastily chasing Edwards, who New Heights coach Adam Berkowitz describes as “a calming influence when he’s on the court.”

Edwards, who’s been outspoken about his desire to play in the guard-heavy Big East, is favoring Villanova and West Virginia.

“Nova has my top interests right now, I’d say ‘Nova and West Virginia,” explained Edwards.

“I was real surprised when Virginia came all the way down.”

Folks at the bandbox IS8 gymnasium were real surprised Saturday, when New Heights’ 6-foot-6 forward Jayvaughn Pinkston (the most highly-sought after recruit on this side of Kyrie Irving) was neutralized and Edwards stole the show.

Edwards connected on a number of timely jays, ran the floor well and peddled out assists.

“He runs the team, he runs the show,” explained Berkowitz. “Everybody knows that. When he needs to penetrate and score, he knows to do that. When he needs to distribute the ball and get the ball to our bigs, he does that.”

Berkowitz continued, “He knows what (New Heights 17U coach Kimani Young) is all about all the time, which is really setting the tone defensively. He needs to be a real stopper, and pressure guards, and get the other team out of what they want to do, for us to be successful.

All summer, Edwards, a native of South Jamaica, N.Y., talked about the need to improve his jumper and decision making.

He showed progression before the jam-packed gym Saturday, orchestrating the show.

“I want to go to a school for guards, a school with good coaching, and that’s probably going to be a Big East school anyway,” said Edwards.

If Edwards, who averaged 12 points and seven dimes as a sophomore last season, continues to produce the way he did Saturday, his words will prove prophetic.

J.J. MOORE RECRUITING UPDATE

Pittsburgh applying full court press to Moore, other involved, too
By Zach Smart

Jamaica, N.Y.—J.J. Moore had just knocked down a flurry of mid-range jays. The 6-foot-5 wing was done spearheading fast breaks (for the day).

He was done lifting his spindly but springy body in the air, floating somewhere between the bandbox IS8 gym’s hardwood and ceiling, finishing strong in transition.

In the beginning, the NY Panthers watched Russ Smith (who’s got plenty of Big East schools on his radar) roll off a resume reel. Smith, the diminutive point guard, set the nets ablaze with a relentless touch.

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PITTSBURGH SUMMER REPORT

Panthers look to re-load in 2009-2010 following Elite 8

by Zach Smart

DeJaun Blair’s rapid ascension to surefire stardom came at both the right and wrong time for Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon. While Blair posted eye-opening numbers (15.2 points, 12.3 boards per) and cooked Hasheem Thabeet to the recipe of 23 points and 22 rebounds during one of the best individual performances by a collegiate player last season, the NBA scouts lured in the homegrown product.

So, the services of the double-double machine are no longer, and that’s one piece of a vaunted triumvirate that also featured LeVance “Mr. Big Shot” Fields and Sam Young, who’s also in the league now.

Fields was an innate floor general who never wilted under pressure. Throughout his stay at Pitt, he was a composed customer who could put teams away from beyond the arc. When the intensity and pressure is ratcheted up a notch, Fields was the answer. Young, who sprouted into one of the Big East premier forwards, leaves his mark as the fourth leading scorer in program history. The kid who loves to play above the rim joins some elite company.

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JERMAINE SANDERS HAS BIG EAST OFFERS

Class of 2011 Rice guard is next hot prospect from Raiders program in NYC

by Zach Smart

Jermaine Sanders is yet to lace up his kicks for his heavily anticipated 2009-10 junior campaign at Rice High School.

He’s yet to fill the scoring void left by Miami freshman Durand Scott, the latest electrifying guard from a program that’s produced the likes of Edgar Sosa and Kemba Walker.

Still, the offers keep piling up. Sanders, an all-around scoring threat, who augmented his defensive presence while learning how to create offense and score by putting the ball on the deck this summer, has been offered by Providence, St. John’s and Villanova.

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CLASS OF 2011 INTRO: TYQUAN GOODLET

St. Anthony Guard Finally Garnering Plenty of BE Interest

By Zach Smart

What’s that saying? Summer’s not over until October, right?

With the way the weather’s been lately, that phrase has proved prophetic.

There’s not much more St. Anthony’s point guard Tyquan Goodlet can do this summer to prove he belongs in a category of elite guards.

A crafty guard who loves shredding up defenses and taking it to the cup on the big men, Kimani Young has Goodlet pegged as “New Heights’ favorite player to watch.”

“He had a terrific summer,” said New Heights 16U coach Adam Berkowitz.

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VILLANOVA SUMMER REPORT

Could a return trip to Final Four be possible for 2009-2010 Wildcats?

by Zach Smart

Scottie Reynolds is back after watching his 2009 draft stock crank up a notch. What does this mean for Villanova, which rose to the top of the guard-geared Big East with a final four berth?

They will have one of the country’s elite backcourts led by the savvy veteran Reynolds whose been making headlines since his freshman season running the show. The Wildcats will have considerable balance in this top-tier backcourt, strengthened by the arrival of blue chips Dominic Cheek and Maalik Wayns and return of junior Corey Fisher, who could be on the cusp of a breakout campaign.

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RECRUITING NOTEBOOK: MAMADOU SAKHO, DAJUAN COLEMAN & ELI CARTER UPDATES

By Zach Smart

Mamadou Sakho, a 6-foot-3 off guard and potential St. John’s target, is headed to the Blue Ridge School (VA) for the 2009-10 campaign.

“I’m looking to take baby steps for right now,” said Sakho, a quick-strike shooter who plays above the rim.

“
I’m actually trying to go in there again as a sophomore,” the now-Class of 2012 guard explained.

Sakho, who works out religiously with widely-recognized hoop trainer Jerry Powell (Michael Gilchrist and New York Knicks Center Eddy Curry are two of his many highly-touted clients), made his presence felt at the SJU Top 100 camp back in April.

In the army of tri-state area talent that filled St. John’s University that night, Sakho’s game stood out like a white dude at The Source party.

His high-flying antics, athleticism and soft touch has drawn interest from schools such as St. John’s, Hofstra and George Mason.

Now the young gun has another year to prove his worth.

He’ll be in a disciplined environment at the all-male school in St. George, Va. Blue Ridge carries a robust academic reputation and students are required to attend chapel three times a week.

“He’ll have a chance to improve his stock and focus on basketball and academics,” said Sakho’s advisor, Mark Parisi.

“I think if he really works hard in three years, more and more Big East teams are going to be knocking on his door. Right now he’s 6-3, 180 and has hops like you wouldn’t believe.”

Parisi ’s son, Mark Parisi Jr., recently shined at the Syracuse Elite camp. The kid from Molloy HS in Queens, N.Y. (Kenny Anderson’s alma mater) scorched the nets in four games, impressing Orange assistant Gerry McNamara with his NBA, parking lot range. Former SU great John Wallace also worked the camp and coached Parisi’s team.

SU hounding elite local 2012 prospect Coleman

DaJuan Coleman, one of the elite players in the class of 2012, was dominant during his recent stay at the Syracuse camp.

The 6-foot-8+ man-child tantalized teams to the tune of workaday double-doubles this summer, playing for various AAU programs, Syracuse Select and the New England Playaz, to name a couple.

It’s hard to believe that just two years ago, Coleman was a novice who posted up with his hands in his pockets. He was a big, non-aggressive kid who was almost embarrassed about his size.

He’s emerged into a top-ranked player in the Class of 2012. He works out with Corey Parker, the former strength and conditioning coach at SU. Coleman is also drawing considerable interest from Connecticut, Villanova, Rutgers and Oklahoma.

The 260-pound big man plays for Jamesville-DeWitt, which has become a Syracuse pipeline (see Rautins, Andy or Triche, Brandon).

St. Anthony’s senior guard Eli Carter one to watch this season

Another player whose come out of the woodwork and announced his presence with his superior scoring is Elijah Carter. Carter is currently getting looks from Notre Dame, Rutgers and Providence.

“Eli is a scorer first, he’s a combo guard but I’m trying to make him into a point,” Sports University AAU coach Brian Coleman said.

Notre Dame showed major interest in Carter at first, but their recruitment of the 6-foot-2 scoring guard has tailed off recently.

Why? All-world guard Kyrie Irving, who’s widely recognized as one of the nation’s elite prospects.

“They (Notre Dame) really wanted Kyrie Irving,” explained Coleman.

“I think Kyrie and Eli are real similar players. I think that if they can’t get Kyrie, they’re going to get Eli. Kyrie was really first on their list.”

With Irving reportedly favoring Duke and Indiana, the idea of the Irish netting the St. Patrick’s star is far-fetched at this point.

Irving, whose game, smarts, and personality has quickly made him one of the nation’s most highly sought-after items on the recruiting market, plays with Sports University in the fall. Expect to see Irving rolling with the All Stars at IS8 this fall.

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RECRUITING NOTEBOOK: MIKE TAYLOR & ANALI OKOLOJI UPDATES

Taylor-made for the next level

By Zach Smart

Aspects of Mike Taylor’s game and mentality have changed for the better after a long summer on the AAU circuit.

The 6-foot-3 guard from Boys And Girls HS has shed his me against the world complex.

He’s shot less and dished more, buying into the we-before-me philosophy.

The result?

A laundry-list of Division-I schools have been hounding the sharpshooter throughout the country.

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RECRUITING NOTEBOOK: SHAQ STOKES, KAMARI MURPHY UPDATES

Seton Hall “Stoked” about Shaq

by ZACH SMART

It’s early, but all signs point towards Lincoln point guard Shaq Stokes staying local.

Seton Hall, behind local presence Derm Player is very high on the high-octane point guard at Lincoln HS (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

Player, representing SHU’s interests, and the coaching staff at St. John’s have shown considerable interest, while Arizona and Auburn have also taken note of the budding 5-foot-10 junior.

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ANGEL NUNEZ RECRUITING UPDATE

Class of 2011 NYC native heads to prep school and has many college coaches following closely

By Zach Smart

Angel Nunez, a silky-smooth 6-foot-7 forward headed to the Winchendon (Mass.) School for his junior season, is watching his stock rise on the recruiting market this fall.

The spindly forward who averaged 17 points, four boards, and three dimes at Cardinal Hayes (N.Y.) last year is being actively pursued by a number of high major schools.

Connecticut, St. John’s (where he took an unofficial visit to this summer), Arizona, Louisville, Rutgers, Miami, Virginia, and Kentucky and Indiana are all expressing significant interest.

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MYLES MACK RECRUITING UPDATE; TREVOR CLEMMINGS STICKING WITH FOOTBALL

Update on a pair of NJ Playaz/Paterson Catholic star athletes

By Zach Smart

Myles Mack is a realist.

He knows this year comes with state championship aspirations. The Paterson Catholic point guard would also love to give teammate Fuquan Edwin–a senior who’s headed to Seton Hall–a memorable sendoff.

He knows Paterson Catholic is going to need every ounce of his speed and scoring ability also.

“Our style is just get the ball and run,” said Mack, a high-motor 5-foot-9 guard who averaged 14.7 points and four dimes in Paterson Catholic’s souped-up offense his sophomore season.

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CATCHING UP WITH UCONN PG KEMBA WALKER

Blazing fast UConn soph ready for a big season in Storrs

By Zach Smart

Storrs, Conn.–Kemba Walker knew it would happen. He knew he would be called upon to run the Connecticut souped-up, go-go offense.

He’s just amazed at how fast it came.

A few months short of two years ago, the high-motor guard from Rice High School (Harlem, N.Y.) was on his visit to UConn.

It was November. The Huskies had just eked out a win against Morgan State and were in the midst of a blowout of Buffalo.

Walker was treated to cheers and student-made banners designed to lure the 6-foot waterbug guard in.

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COREY EDWARDS RECRUITING UPDATE

Class of 2011 NYC guard hopes to land in the Big East for college

By Zach Smart

Corey Edwards might want to consider purchasing a new cell phone.

College assistant coaches from all over were dialing in to the junior point guard at Christ The King this summer.

“So many coaches called, I can’t even remember some of the schools that are recruiting me,” says Edwards.

While Edwards can’t recall some of the schools from down south and out west that expressed interest, one thing is certain.

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