Big 12

NBE POST-SUMMER CLASS OF 2012 TOP 50

NBE spent the spring and summer constantly on the road evaluating and reporting on all of the grassroots action. This followed up a busy high school season of coverage as well. As we finally get a chance to catch our breath, we have been compiling rankings of the players in the currently recruiting classes of 2011, 2012 and 2013. Today we release our initnial ranking of the top 50 players in the Class of 2012.

1)  Shabazz Muhammad - SF 6′5 Bishop Gorman NV (uncommitted) : Strong lefty wing who can score in a variety of ways and is tough to stop going to the rim.
2)  DaJuan Coleman - C 6′8 Jamesville-DeWitt NY (uncommitted): Beast on the low block who simply overpowers opponents with his size and strength.
3)  Andre Drummond - PF 6′10 St. Thomas More CT (uncommitted): Although he spends too much time on the perimeter, he is a match-up problem and has loads of potential.
4)  Brandon Ashley - PF 6′8 Bishop O’Dowd CA (uncommitted): Long, athletic and runs the floor with the best of them. Nice touch around the basket and good finishing ability.
5)  Isaiah Austin - C 7′0 Grace Prep TX (Baylor): Could be a match-up nightmare if he puts it all together due to his wide-ranging skill-set.
6)  Ricardo Ledo - SG 6′5 South Kent CT (uncommitted): Has the size to create match-up problems on the perimeter; can score in plenty of ways and is a good passer.
7)  Khem Birch - PF 6′9 Notre Dame Prep MA (uncommitted): Really improved over the last few months; he is an outstanding shot-blocker and rebounder.
8]  Jarnell Stokes - PF 6′8 Memphis Central TN (uncommitted): Great build and strength, plays with relentlessness on the backboards and in the paint.
9)  Amile Jefferson - SF 6′7 Friends Central PA (uncommitted): Jefferson has plenty of potential if he gains some weight and muscle. He can score inside and out.
10) Daniel Ochefu - C 6′10 Westtown School PA (uncommitted): He has flown under the radar thus far, but his potential and ability to score and defend are immediately noticeable.
11) Winston Shepard - SF 6′7 Findlay Prep NV (uncommitted): Has not had to be the main man on his high school or AAU team yet, but he is extremely athletic and can score effectively.
12) Grant Jerrett - PF 6′8 La Verne Lutheran CA (uncommitted): Not flashy, but Jerrett gets the job done. He is highly effective on the inside, and is also a good shot-blocker and rebounder.
13) J-Mychal Reese – PG 6′1 Bryan TX (uncommitted): Is starting to gain his reputation back after slipping in the rankings lately; lefty can really shoot the three.
14) Jordan Tebbutt - SF 6′5 Horizon Christian School OR (uncommitted): Terrific offensive player who has the strength to overpower most wing players; can finish with contact.
15) Hanner Perea - PF 6′8 United Faith Christian Academy NC (uncommitted): Unbelievable leaper can block shots as well as anyone, and runs the floor effectively. Rebounds well.
16) Cameron Ridley - C 6′10 Bush TX (uncommitted): Versatile scorer inside, utilizing jump hooks and face-up jumpers to get points in the paint.
17) LJ Rose - PG 6′3 Second Baptist TX (uncommitted): One of the best point guards in the class, Rose has excellent vision and good size for his position.
18) Perry Ellis - PF 6′7 Wichita Heights KS (uncommitted): Developing his perimeter game, which will only make him even more dangerous at the offensive end.
19) Kyle Anderson – SF 6′7 St. Anthony’s NJ (uncommitted): Could end up being a 6-9 point guard at the next level. Anderson has all the tools to be a major match-up problem.
20) Alex Murphy – SF 6′8 St. Mark’s MA (uncommitted): Versatile forward can handle the ball and find teammates, while also running the floor and finishing at the rim.
21) Wannah Bail - PF 6′7 Trent International School TX (uncommitted): Inside-outside scoring forward who has excellent athleticism and a terrific wingspan, making him tough to guard.
22) Justin Anderson - SF 6′5 Montrose Christian MD (uncommitted): He has a non-stop motor and gets after it on the defensive end. Awesome athlete who can really finish.
23) D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera – PG 6′3 North Central IN (uncommitted): Had to sit out the summer circuit due to injury, but the stocky point guard is powerful and savvy.
24) Archie Goodwin - SG 6′4 Sylvan Hills AR (uncommitted): Rising quickly up the rankings, Goodwin can score from the perimeter and while driving to the rim.
25) Ricardo Gathers - PF 6′7 Riverside Academy LA (uncommitted): Burly forward could just as easily have a future playing football. Runs the floor well and can finish.
26) Steven Adams – C 6′10 New Zealand (Pittsburgh): Physical big man with advanced skills for a player his size and age.
27) Anrio Adams - PG 6′3 Franklin WA (uncommitted): Has the ability to play both guard positions, and is at his best when driving by his defender to the lane.
28) Alex Poythress - PF 6′8 Clarksville Northeast TN (uncommitted) - Really athletic forward who runs the floor and is at his best playing transition basketball.
29) Rosco Allen - SF 6′7 Bishop Gorman NV (uncommitted): Excellent outside shooter who is developing his all-around offensive game, adding more off-the-dribble moves.
30) Kaleb Tarczewski - C 7′0 St. Mark’s MA (uncommitted): Legit 7-footer runs the floor very well and knows how to finish at the rim. Can rebound and block shots defensively.
31) Omar Calhoun - SG 6′3 Christ the King NY (uncommitted): The best player in New York City still counts for something; Calhoun can really fill it up at the offensive end.
32) Savon Goodman – SF 6′6 Academy of the New Church PA (uncommitted): Unbelievable finisher dunks with authority and is at his best when attacking the rim or playing in transition.
33) Rasheed Sulaimon - SG 6′3 Strake Jesuit TX (uncommitted): Sulaimon is constantly looking to attack the rim or shoot pull-up jumpers; constantly plays with energy.
34) James Robinson - PG 6′3 DeMatha MD (uncommitted): Strong, stocky point guard who is deceptively quick and is crafty at getting into the lane off of penetration.
35) Tony Parker - C 6′8 Miller Grove GA (uncommitted): Parker is a load for opponents right now because of his size, but his ability to step out and shoot jumpers make it even more difficult.
36) Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell – PG 5′10 Park Tudor School IN (uncommitted): Terrific getting into the lane off of penetration, and knows how to dish to teammates and finish in the lane with floaters and lay-ups.
37) Gary Harris - SG 6′4 Hamilton Southeastern IN (uncommitted) Strong offensive player needs to develop a perimeter jumpshot, but his mid-range jumper and attacking game are solid.
38) Landen Lucas - PF 6′8 Findlay Prep NV (uncommitted): His stock is still rising, and his transfer to Findlay Prep will only increase his recruiting attention next season.
39) Robert Carter - PF 6′7 Thomasville GA (uncommitted): Carter has a wide-ranging repertoire at the offensive end, making him very difficult to stop once he gets the ball.
40) Ryan Arcidiacono - PG 6′3 Neshaminy PA (uncommitted): Blew up at the Tournament of Champions; fearless point guard is a fantastic scorer and playmaker off penetration.
41) Jordan Goodman - PF 6′8 TBD TBD (Rutgers): Goodman has the size and skills to be a factor if he stays focused for an entire game.
42) Jeremy Hollowell - SF 6′6 Lawrence Central IN (uncommitted): Hollowell has a smooth touch from the mid-range, and is also able to get to the rim off the dribble.
43) Nino Jackson - PG 6′0 Ardmore OK (uncommitted): Needs to develop further point guard skills, but Johnson’s scoring ability and explosive first step stand out right now.
44) Montrezl Harrell - PF 6′7 North Edgecombe NC (uncommitted): Physical specimen down low does not back down from anyone, and is one of the better rebounders in the class.
45) Jerami Grant - SF 6′7 DeMatha MD (uncommitted) Could be the best of the Grant brothers when it’s all said and done; extremely versatile forward can do a variety of things.
46) JP Tokoto - SF 6′5 Menomonee Falls WI (uncommitted): His stock has dipped tremendously over the past few months, but his offensive potential is still there.
47) Xavier Johnson - SF 6′6 Mater Dei CA (uncommitted): Smooth prospect from the West Coast, Johnson can score from the wing and knows how to get to the basket off the dribble.
48) Braxton Obgueze - PG 6′0 United Faith Christian Academy NC (uncommitted): Underrated point guard is strong and quick; can knock down three-pointers and is aggressive at the defensive end.
49) Peter Jurkin - C 7′0 United Faith Christian Academy NC (Indiana): Still raw at this point, Jurkin is a great shot-blocker who can run the floor and finish off of alley-oops and offensive rebounds.
50) Marucs Paige - PG 6′0 Linn-Mar IA (uncommitted): Lefty prospect is known as a good shooter from the perimeter, but his ability to beat his defender and find teammates sets him apart.

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TARIQ CAREY LIKES ACC; HAS EARLY FAVORITE

Newark (NJ) guard in 2012 class is looking for respect as one of best in his class

by MATT WHITFIELD

Perhaps overlooked and underrated because he doesn’t play at one of Northern New Jersey’s perennial Top 25 USA Today programs, Tariq Carey feels he deserves some respect. Carey is an active guard with good athleticism and size for a rising junior. The Newark (NJ) Eastside product plays hard on both sides of the floor and has really improved his all-around. He has an ability to get into the lane and finish or distribute. Carey can score with contact at the rim and showed a much improved ability to connect from three-point range on the AAU circuit when NBE saw him with the NJ Playaz 16U team. Defensively, he is very aggressive and is adept at racking up steals and starting fast breaks.

With all that ability and an impressive list of schools involved in his recruitment, Carey is scratching his head when he looks at top 100 rankings around the internet.

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RYAN ARCIDIACONO ADDS TWO MORE OFFERS

While it has been just over three months since Ryan Arcidiacono blew up nationally with a strong spring performance on the AAU circuit with the PA Playaz, NBE has been following the class of 2012 guard out of Neshaminy (PA) for quite some time. It came as no surprise to us when Arcidiacono blew became the talk of the Bob Gibbons’ Tournament of Champions back on Memorial Day weekend with his gritty toughness and ability to raise the play of his entire team. We have been seeing him do the same time and time again since June of 2009 when we first began writing about him as one of the top prospects in this rising junior class.

Arcidiacono still might not be the household name he deserves to be, but that is definitely changing as his recruitment continues to rise toward the level of the top players in the class. Recently two more Big East offers came his way and some of the elite teams nationally are lining up to take a look at him at open gyms coming up later this month.

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 Ryan Arcidiacono and his recruitment. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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MICHAEL CAREY SEES RECRUITMENT HEAT UP OVER SUMMER

Texan guard has offers and interest from schools across the country as one of 2012’s top prospects

by JEFF BORZELLO

Michael Carey has had a pretty good two months – basketball in July and the Bahamas in August.

Not a bad way to spend a summer, especially for someone entering their junior year of high school.

“[I] just got back to Houston yesterday from the Bahamas, to visit my fam,” said Carey, a native of the Bahamas.

The 6-foot-5 point guard from Texas deserved the break, after turning heads on the AAU circuit during the spring and summer with the Franchize All-Starz where he showed his potential at some of the summer’s top events, including the Rumble in the Bronx last June. Carey is an offensive-minded player who has the dribbling ability to handle the point guard spot and the aggressiveness to play off the ball. He demonstrated the ability to get to the rim on most defenders, and used his length and athleticism to finish strong inside the lane, or dish it off to teammates when he drew the defense.

The combination and size has drawn plenty of looks from college coaches and some big-time offers already…

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 Michael Carey, his summer, his recruitment amd more. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (9/1/2010)

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Where did the summer go? Well, temperature-wise, summer is still here and brining the heat as the mercury is climbing again today in the Northeast, but we flip another page of our calendars and we welcome September! September brings us college football, on-campus official visits, coaches hitting the road for open gyms and in-home visits and we are one-month closer to the 2010-2011 college basketball season.

Of course on a day I have to head out of the country, news seemed to break every half hour or so and drained the battery on my phone early. Ray Mernagh picked up the slack reporting on the big commitments received by the new staffs at Rutgers and St. John’s yesterday with Maurice Harkless (SJU) and Kadeem Jack (RU) making their decisions public (Big Commitment for St. John’s; Rutgers Up Next).

In other recruiting news, D’Angelo Harrison is down to three school and two are in the Big East. Cincinnati picks up a commitment from a high-upside forward and more on PC’s latest commit for the 2010 season. In other news, an injury with a current Big East player saps the depth for Rutgers and a potential RU recruit, Quinn Cook, is out for an extended period of time because of injury. A couple WVU players, one who has found trouble before, are in a little hot water. Isaiah Epps is playing catch-up at Pitt in his early days on campus. UConn’s day with the NCAA is nearing, up next is their answer to the 8 charges of recruiting violations by the end of the week. Next year’s McDonald’s All-American game has a home…

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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BASKETBALL RECRUITING NOTEBOOK: FIVE-STAR CAMP NOTES

On Sunday Matt Whitfield of NBE ventured to Brewster (NY) for the invite-only Five-Star Super Session at the Brewster Sports Center. Top rising sophomores, juniors and seniors from the Northeast and a few high-level “out-of-towners” participated in the two-day camp which concluded with an Orange/White All-Star game Sunday afternoon.

In addition to games and skill instruction with Five-Star’s innovative and historic teaching stations, the mental aspect of the game and success was also covered as campers spent three-sessions with sports psychologist and performance coach Dr. Pam Brill who authored the book, The Winner’s Way. Dr. Brill covered strategies to players that will help them reduce mental clutter, frustration with teamates and coaches and how to perform under pressure.

In this recruiting notebook, players such as DeAngelo Harrsion (2011), Tyler Harris (2011), Myles Davis (2011?), Vaughn Gray (2011), Mike Young (2013), Jabarie Hinds (2011), Shaquille Thomas (2011) and Reggie Cameron (2013) talk about recruiting, offers, visits 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 the recruiting notes on all of those players. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (8/27/2010)

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Friday edition of the Big East Basketball News & Notes has some bad news for Louisville as, not one, but two Cards expected to make big impacts this season will not be with the team due to academic shortcomings. At Cincinnati, Dion Dixon looks to turn over the page from last season’s bad memory at Madison Square Garden. Also, Rutgers and Providence add new verbal commitments. Rutgers’ efforts in NYC continues as they host another highly touted player for an unoffcial visit and are getting closer to another big man commit. The transfer of jakarr Sampson has his former high school coach annoyed with an in-state college program.

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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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (8/26/2010)

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Some interesting News & Notes around the Big East today. First, bad news for ‘Nova as an incoming freshman is out indefinitely. Another incoming frosh, CJ Fair, is poised for his rookie season at Syracuse. Andy Katz goes into detail on how the Big East conference slate is determined in regards to home and home opponents. The coaches actually vote in May on how they expect the teams to finish and the leagu breaks those results into tiers. Katz examones those tiers and the home and home match-ups. Other Big East analysis includes a best case/worst case look at all 16 teams and the news that the conference tournament will keep the same format with the double-byes another season. West Virginia’s non-conference schedule is also examined.

On the recruiting front, the latest on Amir Garrett, Mike Shaw, Ryan Boatright and Chane Behanan is looked at below…

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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BASKETBALL RECRUITING NOTESBOOK (8/25/2010)

In today’s Basketball Recruiting Notebook we update the recruitment of Phil Greene, Keith Coleman and Ameen Tanksley in the class of 2011 and we give readers a brief introduction to Barnett Harris, an intriguing 2012 prospect picking up some recruiting interest of late.

Greene recently took an unofficial visit to St. John’s of the Big East and fills us in on the first two official visits he has scheduled. Coleman is an uncommitted big man drawing a wide range of college interest at this time. Tanksley is also setting up his visits for the fall and gives NBE the latest below.

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 today’s jam-packed Basketball Recruiting Notebook for August 25, 2010. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (8/24/2010)

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Some quick news and notes around the Big East Basketball conference as things have been pretty busy, especially on the recruiting front. Rutgers adds some immediate help for 2010-2011 to their thin frontcourt, former PC signee Joseph Young enrolls in another school, Cincinnati works on their offense ahead of their trip to Canada and a look at what a Big East Sports Network could possibly bring forward in revenue. On the recruiting side, updates on Kadeem Jack, Jabarie Hinds and Angelo Chol for readers to find…

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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MAURICE HARKLESS PLANS UNOFFICIALS & SETS ONE OFFICIAL VISIT

NYC forward continues to see new recruiting interest, plans three unofficials and a Pac-10 Official for Sept.

Maurice Harkless certainly picked the right time to kick his game into high gear as a strong showing on the July grassroots campaign has vaulted the 6-foot-7, 190-lb forward into a new stratosphere in recruiting as the summer comes to a close. With scouts and analysts questioning his motor and dropping him down their Class of 2011 rankings in the pre-July period, Harkless quieted the skeptics in July and closed the month with a bang, taking home the (unofficial) MVP honors of the Desert Duel as he led the NY Panthers to an impressive championship in the loaded event.

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 our update on Maurice Harkless as his commitment continues to steam forward at full speed. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (8/20/2010)

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It is a TGIF edition of Big East News & Notes. Today there are stories about Glen Miller returning to UConn in a new position, Cincinnati preparing for their trip to Canada with a head start on the 2010-2011 season. Will Rashad Bishop be part of the team? A little more background on the PC/Joseph Young LOI flap that has been ugly of late. Also, the Rutgers non-conference schedule and an outside view at the Big East for 2010-2011 in preview form. On the recruiting front, a UConn wish list is examined, Ben McLemore’s recruitment is updated, an update on Kyle Anderson and a look at two promising players that are unlikely to be with FIU this fall.

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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BASKETBALL RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (8/18/2010)

Many top prospects in the class of 2011 continue to work their way through the recruiting process towards their college decisions. One player doing so is Greg Lewis, a 6-foot-9 big man out of Baltimore. Lewis checked in with NBE earlier today and updated us on his recruitment, which includes leaders from the Big East and ACC and one official visit set for early September. We also caught up with a pair of 2012 prospects, Daniel Dingle of St. Raymond’s in New York City and James Robinson of DeMatha in Hyattsville (MD) for the latest in their recruitment as they will likely be hot commodities on the east coast for the 2012 class.

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 today’s jam-packed Basketball Recruiting Notebook for August 17, 2010. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (8/18/2010)

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Here is a quick run-through of some of the headlines around the Big East Basketball Conference for this Wednesday morning. The big news is the ongoing battle between Providence and recruit Joseph Young seems to be over with PC ‘winning’, so to speak, although it is unlikely that Young will evenr enroll at the Big East schools and his father, a staff member at the University of Houston, has some harsh words for Keno Davis. At St. John’s, Steve Lavin, armed with a boatload of scholarships for the class of 2011, is working diligently at rebuilding the image of the program and hitting the recruiting trail far and wide to add talent to his team. Indiana basketball fans will se the reintroduction of a past classic event in December of 2011 that will feature Notre Dame, Butler, Indiana and Purdue on one court. Also, Rutgers will continue to play home and home with an Ivy League rival, according to NBE contributor Richard Kent.

On the recruiting front, a local story on Durand Johnson’s decision to commit to Pitt and ZagsBlog updates the latest on Phil Greene, Tavon Sledge and Jabarie Hinds. For more on some of the latest recruiting news, see our stories from yesterday with our Basketball Recruiting Notebook for 8/17/10 as we had updates on Domonique Bull, J-Mychal Reese, Georges Niang and Jevon Thomas with notes on Chris Hill, Jeremiah Davis and Anthony Bennett. Also last night Jeff Borzello got the latest information on DC Assault guard Jerome Seagears’ Top 4 and Latest Visits from the gaurd himself. We are already working on today’s recruiting notebook, so check back later this afternoon for more…

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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BASKETBALL RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (8/17/2010)

The recruiting landscape is in full flux right now as dominos fall left and right in the class of 2011. Over the next several weeks we will try to keep a regular Recruiting Notebook to keep readers up to date on the latest news of offers, visits and other news on recruits from the classes of 2011, 2012 and 2013 as the summer AAU season is now complete and the recruiting news picks up speed. Players in the class of 2011 will be setting up official visits in the coming weeks for the fall while college coaches will hit the road to conduct in-home visits with their top targets for 2011 and hit gyms to watch workouts of players in that class as well as the younger players.

Today we hit the ground running with updates on 2012 prospects Dominique Bull who has picked up new interest after helping BABC win the 16-U AAU National Title, Bull’s AAU teammate Georges Niang also updates NBE on new offers as he is also making an unofficial visit today. One of the top players in the 2012 class is J-Mychal Reese and he has picked up a few new offers recently and we also touch base with Jevon Thomas, Chris Hill and get updates on prep school destinations of Jeremiah Davis (2011) and Anthony Bennett (2012) for this fall.

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 today’s jam-packed Basketball Recruiting Notebook for August 17, 2010. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (8/16/2010)

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Here are a few news and notes from around the Big East conference for this Monday afternoon as the dog days of August continue to drag on. Beginning September 9th, college coaches can get back on the road and conduct in-home visits and stop by at high schools across the country to watch workouts. In the meantime, we expect to see more movement on the commitment front as players take unofficial visits and look to end the process before schools gets going for most. Others will take their time and begin setting up official visits for the fall.

There are a few recruiting notes below as well as updates on UConn’s battle with the NCAA, Seton Hall and Bobby Gonzalez settle their lawsuit, Mookie Jones is looking for a big year and Austin Freeman is determined not to let diabetes slow his basketball career.

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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ELI CARTER LOOKING TO CUT LIST

Class of 2011 prep guard working on cutting down long list of suitors

Eli Carter has seen his recruitment come a long way in the last 12 months. After completing last summer as a 2010 prospect, Carter prepared for his senior season under (now) Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley at St. Anthony’s of Jersey City (NJ) as a little-recruited shooting guard. Eventually a strong senior season earned him a scholarship to St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic 10, but now Carter has decided to take a post-grad season and his recruitment has been re-opened.

“My list right now is Texas A&M, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Virginia, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Charlotte, Richmond, Creghton and Temple,” Carter told NBE’s Matt Whitfield by text Saturday night.

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 Eli Carter and his recruitment, as he talks about the impact of one former teammate on his recruitment as it puts one school in good shape to at least make the first cut. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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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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TEAM TAKEOVER POST-JULY UPDATE

Championship summer for AAU team out of DC has college recruiters buzzing about the talent in the program

It was quite a July for Team Takeover out of Washington, D.C. as they were crowned the champions of the inaugural Nike Elite Basketball League by taking home the Peach Jam championship that closed out the first leg of the July live evaluation period. They were also a final four participant in the 17-U AAU Super Showcase in Orlando at the end of July, falling to the St. Louis Eagles in a rematch of the Peach Jam finale.

The Peach Jam title, which served as the championship of Nike’s new Elite Youth Basketball League format this spring and summer, will be cherished by the Takeover program for a long time.

“It was great to win the inaugural event plus the Peach Jam has been around for 15 years and Nike teams don’t always win it,” Team Takeover President/Director Keith Stevens told Ray Mernagh this morning by phone. “Winning that title was huge for myself, the players, the families and the parents involved in our program.”

And what a program it has been. Stevens, who also serves as the coach of the champion 17-U team, started the program with a Nike sponsorship late in the summer of 2008 after moving on from the highly successful Triple Threat program. In just two years, Team Takeover has risen to the top of the AAU landscape with a program rich in talent and dedicated athletes. Counting his time with Triple Threat, Stevens and his coaching staff have been a pipeline to the Division 1-A ranks and built teams that stay together and grow through the ranks.

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KHEM BIRCH TALKS RECRUITING AFTER BIG SUMMER

6′10 native of Montreal settles in as one of the top prospects in 2012 after impressive summer season

Khem Birch has been one of the hottest names on the AAU circuit this summer. The 6-foot-9, 200-pound native on Montreal has shined throughout, playing with the Xpressions Elite AAU program and with various Canada National teams. It looks like his ascent up the 2012 class rankings is finally slowing; and that is because there is not much more room to rise.

This past weekend Birch competed in the Nike Global Challenge in Portland (OR) and led team Canada to the third place finish in the festival. For his efforts, Birch was named the International MVP of the event and his monster performance of 25 points and 20 rebounds in a thrilling, double-overtime win over the USA East squad had the event buzzing.

Birch entered the summer as a highly regarded prospect with plenty of upside that had a few schools making an aggressive move on his recruitment. He finished the summer as a target for the elite of college basketball. On Monday evening, NBE and Birch touched base on how things have changed in his recruitment as his name is now as well known as any prospect in his class.

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 Khem Birch, his recruitment and his meteoric rise up the 2012 player rankings. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers.

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