Iowa Recruiting

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (9/3/2010)

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We send readers off on the long holiday weekend with a News & Notes entry to close out a busy week. With college football gearing up this weekend it also means official visits are gettign under way. The biggest mover and shaker this weekend on the visit front is Louisville and Rick Pitino is taking advantage of the home football game with Kentucky to host a VERY impressive group of prospects. Other news includes UConn’s date to respond to the NCAA has been pushed back once again. One of their two German recruits has arrived on campus while the other is still on hold. Recruiting updates on Kyle Anderson and Steve Taylor, a pair of 2012 prospects, can also be found as well as news of a talented (now) 2013 prospect changing schools and a walk-on joining the Georgetown program.

Next week readers can look for NBE’s post-summer recruit rankings of players in the 2011 and 2012 classes as well as a listing of the 2013 players that have caught our eye this summer.

Read on below for all of the latest News & Notes around the Big East basketball conference. Sports fans should also visit StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you this spring.

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ERIC KATENDA PLANNING 2 ACC OFFICIAL VISITS

Uncommitted 2011 forward has Big East, Big 10 and others in pursuit

By Matt Whitfield

Eric Katenda showed to be one of the top remaining uncommitted forwards in the Class of 2011 this spring. However, unlike most high school players entering their senior year, Katenda didn’t spend many summer days traveling around the country playing basketball, he spent them in a bed recovering after getting his appendix removed and recovering from tendinitis.

“I was in the hospital for a month,” Katends said. “I got out around July….but now my knees feeling a lot better and I’m starting to play again and I got my weight back up to 215.”

Katenda just started working out again a week ago, but he says is feeling well and he is working out twice a day.

“I’m doing good now. I’m working every day, twice a day,” said Katenda.

Katenda had been a fairly highly regarded recruit who drew offers from several national powers and interest from several Big East programs. But, with his injury and lack of exposure this summer, Katenda has seen a lot of schools stop calling.

“A lot of schools stopped talking to me since I didn’t play this summer, so now I’m just looking at schools that want me and kept talking to me even though I didn’t play this summer.”

Still, it is an impressive list of schools that Katenda is considering.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Eric Katenda and his recruitment. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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PROVIDENCE OFFERS SHELBY MOATS; DUQUESNE SIGNS AIR JAMAICA

by RAY MERNAGH

Shelby Moats caught our attention during the King James event in Chicago during the opening July live evaluation period…and why wouldn’t he?

After all, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward who’s handling, rebounding, banging three’s and finishing with power through traffic tends to make me take notice.

Here’s some of what I wrote at the time: Moats is a 6?9, 220 pound forward with a lot of skill. He shoots the three-ball accurately (hit 4 in the game I watched), attacks the rim and finishes with power, rebounds and blocks shots.

Moats had offers at the time from a diversified mix of Big Six, Ivy and Mid-Major schools.

Moats has been on unofficial visits to Iowa and Creighton in the last few weeks and was thrilled when Butler coach Brad Stevens extended an offer and plans to visit the national runners-up in the next week or two.

Last night Moats added to his offers when Providence became the latest school to reach out to this talented kid.

Stay tuned on this recruitment — this kid is the goods and whoever gets him will be extremely fortunate.

My early pick: the Butler Bulldogs.

But who knows? Moats is a great student with offers from about 20 different schools at this point.
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By the way, we’ve confirmed that Duquesne has signed the athletic 2010 forward Joel Wright, aka Air Jamaica, earlier today.

Ron Everhart told me via text that he is very happy with the addition of such a great athlete — and rebounder — as Wright this late in the game.

Wright will play this season for the Dukes.

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TEAM TAKEOVER CANADA TAKING BASKETBALL BY STORM

A steady stream of talent is migrating from North of the Border to the US

When you think of Canada competing in sports on the International stage you immediately think of hockey. However, another winter sport is building a pretty solid reputation in recent years and the talent on the hardwood has been showing a very steady rise. This past summer the U17 Canadian National Team finished third in the FIBA World Championships and several key members are part of the Team Takeover Canada program.

Coach Mike George took the time to talk with NBE’s Ray Mernagh on Thursday to give the NBE readers the lowdown on the Team Takeover Canada AAU program as they recently completed a terrific summer on the grassroots circuit. With several very talented players being recruited at the highest levels of Division 1-A basketball, it has been a very successful summer.

“Phenomenal,” said George when asked how the summer circuit went for the program. “17’s played really well as did our 15’s and our 16’s won the [Hoop Group] event in West Virginia. I think the 16’s might have been the best group out there in their age bracket. The future for us and for Canada is great when it comes to basketball.”

The 16’s that George speaks of include some BIG players on the AAU scene, but none may be bigger than 7-foot-4 Sim Bhullar. The mountain of a young man attends the Kiski School near Pittsburgh (PA). While many people point out what Bhullar can not do and the project that he still is, George knows there is plenty of skill and time to put it all together.

“He’s 7′4 and is only 16 going on 17 so there’s a lot of time to figure it all out,” said George. “He has great hands, his IQ is very high and he makes the right play, he passes very well, he kicks it out when it’s not there and re-posts, he doesn’t force anything and he’s 7′4 so of course schools are going to be interested!”

Three schools that George mentioned with Bhullar were Cincinnati, West Virginia and Georgetown as being the most involved to this point in his recruitment. No doubt more will come along as Bhullar progresses and George definitely believes he is coming along.

“Sim is progressing very well, he needs to work on his conditioning, his strength and keeping the ball high at all times,” said George.

Delivering the ball into the post for Bhullar and Team Takeover Canada is Negus Webster-Chan, a 6-foot-7 point guard who hails from Scarborough, Ontario. This season Webster-Chan is migrating south and will attend Huntington (WV) Prep. While many debate what his long-term position will be, George knows the traits Webster-Chan displays on the basketball court makes one position the obvious choice.

“He’s a point guard,” stated George. “He can push the ball and run a set-type offense with equal effectiveness. His IQ is off the charts and that’s his greatest strength.”

While plenty of colleges have been showing interest in Webster-Chan because of his vesatile skill set with his size, George singled out Ohio State, Cincinnati, Boston College, Virginia and Iowa State among the schools showing the most interest.

While earlier on Thursday we profiled 2012 Anthony Bennett as one of Canada’s Finest in detail, George shared with us that the 6-foot-7 small forward is being recruiting by “everybody basically” including getting interest from Duke, Georgetown, West Virginia and others in the Big East and ACC.

Another member of Team Takeover Canada that coach George points out as having a tremendous summer is 6-foot-3 guard Nazareth Long. The Mississauga, Ontario native ‘Naz” attends Montrose Christian, the prep power in Rockville (MD) led by veteran coach Stu Vetter.

George, who mentioned schools such as Boston College, Virginia, Iowa and Iowa State on Long advises NBE and basketball fans to keep an eye on Long.

“He’s 6′3 and a great combo guard, takes it to the rim, finds people and also shoots it from deep,” George said.

it truly has been quite a run of late with Canadian-born and raised players making an impact at the grassroots level. More and more are entering the college ranks at the highest levels and the pipeline will likely see more reach the NBA in the coming years. For a long time Steve Nash has carried the banner for his country on the hardwood but a new breed of players are set to make their mark. Coach George thinks this is just the beginning as they see the players before them blazing a trail and the success on the International level and elite grassroots events is giving the players the confidence they can make it in basketball.

“I think it’s a few things,” George said of the influx on Candian talent. “One, we’re spending more time developing our guys but the biggest thing I think is the exposure they’ve gotten in the US and overseas has created a mentality within them that was lacking before. They’re extremely mentally tough now where that wasn’t the case before. Playing against, and having success against the ‘best’ has ingrained that in them and that to me has made the biggest difference.”

With another full year on the grassroots basketball level ahead of them, this current batch of Canadian ballers, including Sim Bhullar, Naz Long, Anthony Bennett and Negus Webster-Chan are looking to take over on the hardwood.

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MALCOLM GILBERT NARROWS LIST; DEVIN COLEMAN HAS TWO LEADERS

A couple class of 2011 prospects have begun to whittle down their college lists as the recruiting process continues toward a conclusion for many prospects. Academy of New Church big man Malcom Gilbert has narrowed his list to six schools and Friends Central guard Devin Coleman has two favorites among his list of schools.

Malcom Gilbert is one of the better big men still available in the class of 2011. The product of Bryn Athyn (PA) Academy of the New Church informed NBE this afternoon that he has narrowed hos list of schools to Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Ohio State, Wake Forest, Virginia and Clemson.

Gilbert competed on the AAU scene this summer with both East Coast Elite and City Rocks. NBE saw him in Orlando recently and Gilbert is a legitimate 6-foot-11 and is long (7′4 wingspan according to his father) with good athleticism. He alters a ton of shots defensively when he’s not blocking them. He can hit the 10-12 foot shot and scores inside using his length.

Academy of the New Church competes in the Friends school league near Philadelphia. Another league program, Friends Central, also has a high-major prospect in 6-foot-3 guard Devin Coleman, who runs with Philadelphia Team Phenom on the AAU scene.

Coleman told NBE he is currently considering offers from Rutgers, Iowa, Minnesota, Richmond, Temple, La Salle, Jacksonville and Siena with two schools currently standing out in front as his favorites.

“Leaders are currently Iowa and Rutgers“, said Coleman.

Gilbert and Coleman are just a few of the players in the class of 2011 working through the process and coming closer to making a college decision. Stay tuned at NBE for more updates on others in the rising senior class int he coming days…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (8/5/2010)

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We hit the morning running with a News & Notes edition that is heavy on catching readers up on the latest in college basketball recruiting. Darrun Hilliard is headed to the Big East…players like Cody Zeller, Brendan Dawson and others are not. Updates on what Davontay Grace and Mike Taylor have been up to this summer. Class of 2013 recruit Bronson Koening has picked up some impressive offers and big-time interest with a big summer. The Anthony Davis recruiting story is one worth reading…it is getting crazy!

Elsewhere it does not, again, look like Memphis is on the Big East agenda. The Legends Classic pairings are set for Atlantic City this November…stay tuned…we will likely be back with more updates throughout the day on the recruiting front…

Read on below for all of the latest News & Notes around the Big East basketball conference. Sports fans should also visit StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you this spring.

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MARCUS PAIGE DRAWING BIG-TIME COACHES IN ORLANDO

2012 point guard out of IA has been a must-see player this week for coaches looking for a floor general

Marcus Paige has had a great spring and summer and when NBE has seen him on the court he has been impressive. Word is essentially out on the class of 2012 point guard who hails from Maron (IA) and attends Linn Marr Community High School. Playing with the Martin Brothers AAU program, a virtual who’s who of college coaches in Orlando checked him out for themselves.

In a class many consider to be a down year for point guards during early evaluations, Page has elevated himself as one of the top floor generals in the class of juniors-to-be. Based on his play in Orlando and throughout the spring and summer, and by the top head coaches watching him here, expect the 6-foot Paige to be among the most highly sought after in the Midwest and nationally.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more about Marcus Paige and see what coaches were on hand in Orlando to watch him play. He also talks about those schools and his recruitment with NBE’s Alex Schwartz. You can also check out any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage by logging in.

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ORLANDO AAU UPDATE: PART III

The 17-U Super Showcase is down to their final eight in the Gold Bracket after Sunday night’s action. The quarterfinals tip off on Monday morning with the St. Louis Eagles taking on Long Island Lightning and Team Takeover facing Team Next (NYC) at 9:25 AM with the winners meeting in the semifinals at 3 PM. The other half of the bracket features the Georgia Blazers and Showtime Ballers in one match-up at 10:50 AM with Each 1 Teach 1 and Westchester Hawks (who did beat the SYF Players) meeting in the other quarterfinal and the winners collide at 4:30 in the other semifinal at the Milkhouse

Earlier today the 16-U Super showcase winner was crowned as Baltimore Elite edged All-Ohio Red, 58-57, in the Gold Bracket championship game. In the Sliver Bracket it was the Martin Brothers taking the title game over Each 1 Teach 1.

Alex Schwartz again checks in from Orlando and you can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more of our coverage from Orlando as we run down the impressive performances of Austin Rivers, Shane Larkin, Branden Dawson, Victor Nickerson and J-Mychal Reese and update the recruitment of Tony Parker, Elijah Macon, Dawson and Aaron Thomas, all of which is covered below in detail. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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ORLANDO AAU UPDATE: PART I

Most of the college basketball world has their eyes sent on Las Vegas and Orlando this weekend as the live recruiting period to close July is underway. The Division I college coaches are back on the road from July 22 – July 31 and these are the two top destinations for college coaches this time around.

In Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a series of events, including the AAU National Champions and Super Showcases of various age groups. While the 17-U Super Showcase and National Championship gets going a little later in the stay, some other champions were crowned today, including the CP3 All-Stars capturing the 15-U Gold Championship in that age group’s Super Showcase behind the dominating play of Rodney Purvis.

Here are some additional news and notes from the event as Alex Schwartz has kept NBE up to date on the action throughout the day…

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more of our coverage from Orlando as we take a look at Julius Randle (2013), Quinten Payne (2013), Anthony Bennett (2012), Dominique Bull (2012) and Neville Fincher (2012) and detailed recruiting updates from Payne, Braxton Obgueze and Evan Nolte. All of which is covered below in detail. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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NY2LA SPORTS SUMMER JAM WRAP-UP: NAMES TO KNOW

by RAY MERNAGH

In NBE’s article last night, NY2LA Sports Summer Jam Wrap-up we took a look at the top performers from the event you probably already know of. With head coaches like Bill Self, Ben Howland, Tom Izzo, Matt Painter, Tom Crean, Buzz Williams, Lorenzo Romar, Josh Pastner, Rick Pitino, Tony Bennet, Doc Sadler and Frank Martin, among others, being in Milwaukee for a great deal of this tournament, you know there were big names at this event and not everyone was down in Georgia.

So the first part of our wrap-up (HERE) concentrated on those big names, like Branden Dawson, Marcus Paige, De’Angelo Harrison, Perry Ellis, Angelo Chol, Nick Jacobs and Paul Jesperson and their updated recruiting situations (which have changed of late in several cases).

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more of our coverage from NY2LASports.com Summer Jam as we take a look at new names on the scene that caught the attention of the coaches in the stands, those mentioned above and others. Guys like Adam Woodbury, Tanner Williams, Bruce Barron, Austin Richie, Darnell Harris, Tyrell Robinson (and brother Tyree), RJ Hunter and more are names you should know and are covered below. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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NY2LA SPORTS SUMMER JAM WRAP-UP – PART I

by RAY MERNAGH

Everybody’s talking about the Peach Jam and their 24 team tournament that got a lot of national run because of the marketing wizardry that is Nike/ESPN — the LeBron debacle exluded of course –but just like Em said 11 years ago when he talked about people doubting Dre, it seems like folks forgot about the NY2LA Summer Jam.

Here’s all I know — Bill Self, Ben Howland, Tom Izzo, Matt Painter, Tom Crean, Buzz Williams, Lorenzo Romar, Josh Pastner, Rick Pitino, Tony Bennet, Doc Sadler and Frank Martin were in Milwaukee for a great deal of this tournament. And just like Dre came hard with “The Chronic 2001″ the kids in Milwaukee showed why this tourney is now officially a must-stop in July’s opening Live Period for any true hoop junky. The talent matched up with any other tournament out there and might have surpassed them all top to bottom.

Enough with the accolades — here’s what you’all might have missed if you were elsewhere July 12-15th. Here’s what I saw and in part I of my final wrap-up I take a look at the games and recruiting of names you probably already know, like Branden Dawson, Perry Ellis, Paul Jesperson, Marcus Paige, De’Angelo Harrison, Nick Jacobs and Angelo Chol.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more of our coverage from NY2LASports.com Summer Jam as Brendan Dawson talks about new schools in the mix, Paul Jesperson talks new offers and more from the players mentioned above. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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ELI CARTER & DURAND JOHNSON PICKING UP OFFERS

Former Jersey City St. Anthony’s guard Eli Carter is now officially back on the market. After originally signing a letter of intent with St. Bonaventure, Carter is taking an extra prep season and re-opening his recruitment. His release from the LOI is now official and Carter is allowed to be recruited once again.

“These are the schools recruiting me, in no order, Texas A&M, Cincinnati, Rutgers, St. Joseph’s, Oregon State, Iowa, Iowa State, Penn State, Virginia, Charlotte [and] Creighton,” Carter told NBE’s Matt Whitfield earlier this evening by text. “Rutgers and St. Joseph’s have offered, not sure about the other schools yet.”

Carter played for the legendary Bob Hurley at St. Anthony’s in high school and will be with another powerful program in his prep season as he will attend Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro (NH) next season.

“I want to work on pretty much every aspect of my game (be)cause all of it needs work,” said Carter when asked what he hopes to improve in his game in the extra season.
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Durand Johnson has been asking for more exposure and is looking forward to playing in front of some of the national talent evaluators this month. While Cecil Kirk has not been as prominent on the AAU scene as some of the other power programs, Johnson is hoping to finish off July with a strong showing. There will likely be plenty of interested eyes on him as he closes the first July live period at the Hoop Group’s West Virginia Jam Fest in Morgantown (WV) and then travels to Orlando in the second July live period.

NBE got a chance to see him at the Hoop Group Elite Camp in Reading (PA) and the Hoop Group Summer Classic in Neptune (NJ) last week and it was quite noticeable that college coaches were coming by to get a look at him and it looks like the liked what they saw.

“Yeah, I got an offer from Cincinnati and Providence and St. John’s,” Johnson told Matt Whitfield by text last night.

Johnson’s 9 AM game last Sunday in Neptune (NJ) brought out an impressive group of coaches as Mike Rice (Rutgers), Seton Hall assistant Dan McHale, later joined by Kevin Willard, Pat Skerry of Pitt, Ron Sanchez of Virginia and the duo of Steve Lavin and Tony Chiles of St. John’s were there to see him play.

Johnson also lists offers from Pittsburgh, Marquette, Seton Hall, DePaul, Virginia Tech, Xavier, Maryland and Rutgers with interest from schools such as Connecticut and West Virginia
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NIKE EYBL PEACH JAM: DAY TWO

BY JEFF BORZELLO

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – The finals of the inaugural NIKE Elite Youth Basketball League at the NIKE Peach Jam continued on Tuesday, as the 24 teams battled to finish in the top two spots in each group, which are the only places to advance. By the end of the day, only two teams – Team Takeover DC and the Oakland Soldiers – were undefeated, but plenty of clubs were still in contention for a playoff berth. Surprisingly, the regular-season champs, the NJ Playaz, were only 2-2 through two days and are unlikely to advance. Howard Pulley and Each One Teach One, also pool winners, are both 1-3. The heated competition to finish in the top two led to a great day two of action.

There are evals of players such as Mikael Hopkins, Amir Williams, Kyle Anderson, Anthony Davis, George Fant, AJ Hammons, Jevon Thomas and more along with recruiting updates from Trey Burke, who lists a top three, Jarnell Stokes, James Robinson, Justin Anderson, Jerami Grant, Kevin Johnson, who has two leaders, and many, many more from Day Two of the Nike EYBL championship pool play.

Related article: Nike EYBL Peach Jam: Day One

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more of our coverage from North Augusta (SC) and the Nike EYBL Peach Jam. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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FINAL KING CITY CLASSIC PLAYER EVALS & UPDATES

BY JEFF BORZELLO

CLEVELAND – After a fairly lackluster experience at the LeBron James Skills Academy – aside from the hype of having James there, of course – the 75 or so players from that camp traveled about 40 minutes north to Cleveland State University for two days of tournament-style games. The players, broken into eight teams, competed in two games each before entering the playoffs. It was far easier to evaluate the prospects in the game-setting than it was in the drills and the controlled scrimmages.

While our attention is now squarely on the finals of the Nike Elite Yough Basketball League being played at the Peach Jam in North Augusta (SC), we take our final look back at last week’s King City Classic. Previously, in our King City Classic Update (Part A) we took a look at Big East commits such as Wayne Blackshear, Tyrone Johnson, Michael Carter-Williams and James Price and their performances when we were watching. In King Citty Classic Update (Part B) NBE updated notes on mega-prospect Anthony Davis as he discussed his three finalists, talked with LaQuinton Ross about offers and visits and spent time with Myles Davis as he discusses the new offer from ‘Nova and the impact of friend Tyrone Johnson committing to the Wildcats recently. Desmond Hubert, Myles Mack and Ben McLemore also chat about their recruiting. Earlier today in Part C of our King City Classic Recap we touched base with players such as Rodney Hood, Kedren Johnson, Bernard Silluvan, Cedric McAfee, Jahii Carson, LJ Rose, J-Mychal Reese, Trey McDonald and more.

In this last edition we take a look at Rodney Purvis, DaJuan Coleman, JaKarr Sampson, Nick Faust, Jabarie Hinds, Nick Johnson, jabari Brown, Anrio Adams, Kyle Wiltjer, Deng Leek and recruiting updates from Sam Thompson, Mike Shaw, Josiah Turner, Julian Royal, Alex Poythress, Victor Nickerson, Jelon Hornbeck and many, many more…

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more of our coverage from Cleveland and the King City Classic. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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HOOP GROUP SUMMER CLASSIC RECRUITING NOTES

Matt Whitfield headed down to the Hoop Group Summer Classic on Sunday at The Hoop Group headquarters in Neptune (NJ) for some ‘live’ period basketball action. He was joined by head coaches such as Mike Rice, Kevin Willard, Steve Lavin, Fran Dunphy and many more high-profile assistant coaches checking out the action yesterday.

Below Matt runs down some of the key recruiting stories from the event, including listing coaches seen watching Durand Johnson and Cecil Kirk, Ryan Arcidiacono and the PA Playaz 2012, the NY Panthers as well as some individual updates from Jordan Allen, Davontay Grace, Savon Goodman, Jared Sina, Dom Hoffman, Blaise Mbargorba, Jabarie Hinds, Chris Martin, Jamir Hanner and more…

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more of our coverage from The Hoop Group’s Summer Classic. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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KING CITY CLASSIC EVALS & UPDATES (PART C)

by JEFF BORZELLO

CLEVELAND – After a fairly lackluster experience at the LeBron James Skills Academy – aside from the hype of having James there, of course – the 75 or so players from that camp traveled about 40 minutes north to Cleveland State University for two days of tournament-style games. The players, broken into eight teams, competed in two games each before entering the playoffs. It was far easier to evaluate the prospects in the game-setting than it was in the drills and the controlled scrimmages.

In our King City Classic Update (Part A) we took a look at Big East commits such as Wayne Blackshear, Tyrone Johnson, Michael Carter-Williams and James Price and their performances when we were watching. In King Citty Classic Update (Part B) NBE updated notes on mega-prospect Anthony Davis as he discussed his three finalists, talked with LaQuinton Ross about offers and visits and spent time with Myles Davis as he discusses the new offer from ‘Nova and the impact of friend Tyrone Johnson committing to the Wildcats recently. Desmond Hubert, Myles Mack and Ben McLemore also chat about their recruiting. Now we move into part C below and touch base with players such as Rodney Hood, Kedren Johnson, Bernard Silluvan, Cedric McAfee, Jahii Carson, LJ Rose, J-Mychal Reese, Trey McDonald and more…

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more of our coverage from Cleveland and the King City Classic. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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ADIDAS INVITATIONAL EVALUATIONS & RECRUITING UPDATES (PART A)

by RAY MERNAGH

The Adidas Invitational threatened to turn into the New Heights Invitational — that will happen when a team full of tough, NYC-area ballers takes out a juggernaut full of “high-major” prospects like New Heights did to Indiana Elite/Team Indiana in the quarterfinals early Thursday morning. New Heights then repeated the performance in the semifinals, where it fought back from a double digit deficit to defeat the New England Playaz. Alas, the run ended in the final when New Heights lost to the LeBryan Nash-led Dallas Mustangs 69-58. It was an impressive run by a New Heights squad not expected to challenge for the title this week and plenty of college coaches were here to witness it.

Earlier in our Adidas Invitational Day One Standouts article we went into (long) detail on the impressive performance of Shabazz Muhammad, who was the talk of the event Tuesday and plenty of top coaches were watching his EVERY move, as well as our thoughts and updates on Wannah Bail, Cody Zeller, Gabe York, recent UC-verbal Ge-Lawn Guyn and more that stood out on Tuesday.

Now here’s some evaluations and updates from the past two days (wed/Thurs) of action, including Winston Shepard, Lebryan Nash, Jermaine Sanders, Jeremiah Davis, Kenny Kaminsky and more…

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more of our first day coverage from Indianapolis and the Adidas Invitational. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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LEBRON JAMES SKILLS ACADEMY RECRUITING NOTES: PART II

On to Cleveland for the King City Classic, but one last recruiting update from LJSA first

AKRON, Ohio – While most of the top college coaches and AAU teams were in Indianapolis to start the July live period, 75 of the best high school players in the classes of 2011 and 2012 – and one from the class of 2013 – convened at the University of Akron for the LeBron James Skills Academy starting Monday night and running into Wednesday afternoon. It was the culmination of four separate skills academies over the past weeks: those of Deron Williams, Paul Pierce, Kevin Durant and Amar’e Stoudemire. It was a true camp setting, with dozens of drills, but there was one noticeable difference: the King himself, LeBron James, showed up to play pick-up with the players with his one-hour ESPN special to announce his free agent destination looming Thursday night. While there was not too much to analyze from the campers based on various passing and dribbling drills, there was plenty of recruiting notes and updates to pass along as Alex Schwartz caught up with players such as Amir Williams, Khem Birch, Deng Leek and Angelo Chol for detailed discussions about their current recruiting situations.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more recruiting updates below from the Lebron James Skills Academy and all of our July ‘live’ period news and notes. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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HOOP GROUP ELITE RECRUITING NOTES

The July ‘live’ evaluation period is under full swing right and college coaches are out in force hitting the recruiting trail on the first day of two 10-period live evaluation days during July. NBE is stationed at the Lebron James Skills Academy in Akron (OH) as well as the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis (IN) and many updates from both events will be coming in shortly.

With no Reebok All-American Camp this summer, the Hoop Group Elite Camp at Albright College in Reading (PA) has seen a nice influx of talent to this year’s camp roster. NBE’s Matt Whitfield is on the Albright College campus taking in the action today and tomorrow and trying to stay cool with much of the action taking place on outdoor courts during the summer’s first heat wave on the east coast.

Earlier this morning he got recruiting updates from Shaq Thomas, Vaughn Gray, Kamari Murphy, Shaq Stokes and Dashawn Suber, as well as Derrick Randall (see earlier article – Derrick Randall High on Rutgers).

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more recruiting updates below from the Hoop Group Elite Camp and upcoming July ‘live’ period news and notes. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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JUNE 28 RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (FREE PREVIEW)

Aaron Cosby commits to SHU and updates on Jarrod Davis and Michael Carey as their lists expand

BY JEFF BORZELLO

After making an immediate impact in the class of 2010, new Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard picked up his first 2011 commitment on Sunday, as Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.) guard Aaron Cosby chose the Pirates.

“They have been recruiting me the hardest over the past couple months,” Cosby said on Sunday. “My family and I had a stronger comfort level with the staff and the 2011 class will be a big class for that program, and they see me stepping in and playing right away.”

Cosby, a 6-foot-3 point guard originally from Kentucky, took a visit to the South Orange, N.J. campus this weekend and came away impressed.

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