Zach Smart

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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JAYVAUGHN PINKSTON RECRUITING UPDATE

Pinkston looking like a spring decision on his college choice

By Zach Smart

Kimani Young can’t call it. Not even close. Too many visits, too many coaches drooling like Pavlov’s dog over Jayvaughn Pinkston, a jumbo power forward from Bishop Loughlin High School in New York City.

Young, a New York native who played at Texas-El Paso, is currently a coach with the New Heights AAU program after a one-year stint as the video coordinator at St. John’s. He’s been instrumental to Pinkston’s success, having coached and evaluated him on the New Heights AAU circuit since Pinkston was 12.

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GEORGETOWN SUMMER REPORT

Hoyas hope to pass chemistry class during 2009-2010 season

By Zach Smart

After jumping out of the gates sizzling, the Hoyas faltered and stumbled, eventually teetering on the edge of aseason explosion. Needless to say, the high note the season started out soon evolved into an afterthought in a down year for the program.

Georgetown rolled out to a 10-1 start, one they capped off with a marquee 74-63 over previously untouchable UConn on the road. It was a performance that saw freshman wunderkind Greg Monroe stamp his imprint to the Big East world. Monroe dropped 16 points, including two timely treys, in a yardstick game that turned out to be an on-the-road thumping.

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RUTGERS SUMMER REPORT

Critical season ahead for Scarlet Knights basketball program in 2009-10

By Zach Smart

In a matter of days, Mike Rosario went from callow freshman to scoring savior.

Without question, Rosario’s blink-quick evolution was a major silver lining of the Scarlet Knights’ dismal 2008-2009 campaign.

The first McDonald’s All-American to pen with Rutgers, Rosario led the team in scoring and became a surefire selection for the conference’s All-Freshman team.

He’s spent this summer on Puerto Rico’s national team and his dominance hasn’t halted. He’s been lighting up the scoreboard and recently shot 18-of-29 from the field, including nine-of-13 from behind the three-point arc, to score a tournament-best 54 points in Puerto Rico’s 90-89 defeat of France at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championships earlier this summer.

Optimism might have been in the air, despite an abysmal 2-16 record in conference play and another season spent in the Big East’s lowest percentile. With a solid core coming back, headlined by a scoring cyborg in Rosario and a defensively active big man in Gregory Echenique and the addition of JUCO point guard target James Beatty, Rutgers could have potentially re-wrote the script of their losing ways under Hill.

However, just days before the fall semester began, the Rutgers’ program took a hit in personnel with the dismissal of guard Corey Chandler and a hit in perception with the ‘demotion’ of assistant Craig Carter. The local backlash has been intense and continues to keep RU in the news for the wrong reasons, making another lower-percentile finish for Hill, who is 8-41 in Big East play as a head coach, very tough to overcome under the watch of a new athletic director. Remember, Gary Waters was deemed unacceptable after winning 7 Big East games and reaching the NIT in his last season…

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WEST VIRGINIA SUMMER REPORT

Bob Huggins and Mountaineers enter 2009-2010 among favorites in Big East

By Zach Smart

You may have witnessed the “Point Guard Needed” advertisement on Craigslist.com, located under the “Labor Gigs” category.

I think Bob Huggins and the West Virginia coaching staff posted that one.

Following the arrest of Joe Mazzula and the suspension of sophomore Darryl “Truck” Bryant, Huggins has a major decision cooking on his front stove. He could have the issue resolved as early as the fall.

Mazzula was arrested on charges of domestic battery in the spring. He was excused from the team almost immediately as it was his second arrest in less than 12 months.

Bryant was issued a suspension for his role in a traffic accident during which he fled the scene. He was charged with four misdemeanors.

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MARQUETTE SUMMER REPORT

Buzz Williams tackles the rebuilding task at Marquette following graduation of guard trio

BY ZACH SMART

There’s been a mass exodus at Marquette this summer, with a bevy of veteran talent moving on to explore the next chapter in their lives.

Yes, the departure of a pro-ready triumvirate may damage the Golden Eagles’ chances next season.

Yes, Jerel McNeal, Wesley Matthews and Dominic James accounted for a staggering 62 percent of the Golden Eagles’ total offensive output in 2008-09.

Yes, they were a poised pack that led by example and manufactured offense at a torrid pace.

The loss of a high-scoring, tough and cerebral three-man wrecking crew offers a steep challenge to the Golden Eagles. Still, nobody is hitting the panic button.

Not with a young nucleus of talent that can right the ship while potentially upgrading the boat in particular categories.

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DEPAUL SUMMER REPORT

Blue Demons look to escape Big East basement in 2009-2010

by ZACH SMART

Following a humiliating 0-18 Big East campaign, left for dead DePaul developed a pulse during the all-inclusive 2009 Big East tournament.

The core of young guns, spearheaded by high-scoring forward Dar Tucker, managed to scrape the embarrassing monkey off their backs.

On the biggest stage, DePaul sent reeling Cincinnati home early and drove the final coffin in their NCAA Tournament hopes.

In the ensuing round, DePaul’s vital signs remained intact. An upset-bid of Providence ultimately fell by the wayside.

It was an interesting experience, witnessing a team who avoided its tombstone prolong a post-season power surge. They gave the surplus of black-and-white clad fans early jitters.

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ST. JOHN’S SUMMER REPORT

The Redstorm look to turn the corner under Norm Roberts in the Big East in 2009-2010

By Zach Smart

Is Norm Roberts on the hot seat this year?

If St. John’s fails to attain a winning season, that seat could be burnt to pieces.

The general knock on Norm has been has failure to lure in local talent. A paltry record the past few years has also stained Roberts’ resume, further weakening his job security in Queens.

For the upcoming season, however, optimism is in the air.

Roberts didn’t need a GPS system as much as he did a train, bus ticket, or thick-tired bicycle to find this season’s recruiting class.

Roberts scoured the big apple and the national basketball real estate, drawing highly-regarded guard Omari Lawrence.

Lawrence is a full basketball package, if he pans out. He can shoot, slash, defend, handle the rock, and become a presence in the passing lanes.

He could make an immediate impact. The return of a healthy Anthony Mason Jr. will also alter the perception of a team that finished in the Big East’s lower percentile last season.

The pieces make for a good puzzle.

Do Roberts and the Johnnies have the insatiable thirst for victory, enough to produce a winning formula in a Big Eas that, as always, is soaking with talent?

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PROVIDENCE SUMMER REPORT

Friars rebuilding process begins in earnest under Keno Davis

by Zach Smart

The chorus of boos resonated throughout the Dunkin’ Donuts Center the first game of the 2008-09 campaign, as a program striving for turnaround suffered an embarrassing four-point loss to Northeastern on their home floor. It was not the debut a new coach, still relatively wet behind the ears, was looking to have. After the exodus of Tim Welsh, Keno Davis took a veteran Providence squad and persevered some early ups and downs and did a commendable job of helping the Friars springboard back into the realm of respectability.

Though the Friars were again denied access to the NCAA Tournament, they ended up 19-14, 10-8 in Big East play. Their season was highlighted by a 81-73 victory over then-smoking, #1 ranked Pitt. The Friars won six of their first eight on the Big East slate, though their momentum rush was stymied by a crushing 33-point drubbing at the hands of UConn.

Still, Providence made significant sides in the country’s most evenly-matched, unpredictable conference. However, the graduation of five seniors leaves a rebuilding task ahead.

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