Seton Hall Recruiting

CLEVELAND MELVIN UPDATE: DUKE, OTHERS MAKE INQUIRY

After backing off verbal commitment to UConn, Notre Dame Prep forward expanding recruiting list

Baltimore native and current Notre Dame Prep forward Cleveland Melvin recently re-opened his recruitment, backing off a verbal commitment he made to Connecticut in mid-November of 2009.

The Huskies had recruited the 6-foot-8, 210-pound Melvin as a power forward and that was their long range vision for him. With the additional verbal commitment of 6-foot-7 small forward Roscoe Smith of Oak Hill Academy in the class of 2010, Melvin had second thoughts about his decision as he has been working on expanding his game this season to have the chance to play wing at the college level.

“I just wanted to reopen my recruitment process back up and have the oppurtunity to play more on the wing when I go to college,” Melvin told NBE Basketball Report this week.

Now Melvin is receiving interest from a variety of new schools, including an ACC power, and has plenty of schools on his list to give him some interesting options as a potential spring signee for one college. You can sign up for NBE Premium access and SUBSCRIBE (HERE) to read on below for the latest scoop on Melvin’s recruiting situation and more on his game and improvement while at ND Prep…

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NATIONAL PREP CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING DAY

by PAT STEVENS

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Gerard Coleman (Tilton/Providence) had the day’s high of 43 points as the fourth annual National Prep Championships are underway, this year from Albertus Magnus College.

Big East signees Isaiah Epps (Pittsburgh), CJ Fair (Syracuse) and Austin Carroll (Rutgers) all helped their teams to victories that have them slated for Wednesday’s semifinals and potential championship game.

Epps and No. 1 seed Hargrave Military Academy meet No. 5 Northfield Mount Hermon and Fair and Carroll lead No. 2 seed Brewster Academy against No. 6 St. Thomas More, with the championship set for 7:30 p.m.

Read on for more on the opening day of the National Prep Championship, including recruiting updates on Cleveland Melvin, who has plenty of Big East interest and plans a Big East visit in the near future, and Bryon Allen, who is likely to take a Big East official visit this spring. Both were previously Big East verbal commitments and still might land in the conference next season. To see the latest you can sign up for NBE Premium access and SUBSCRIBE (HERE) to read on below…

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NIA PREP ON THE RISE ON THE PREP SCHOOL SCENE

Jamir Hanner headed to Seton Hall; Kelvin Amayo & Shaquille Thomas lead next group of NIA Prep prospects

By Matt Whitfield

The New York tri-state area is a hot bed for high school basketball. With perennial powers St. Anthony’s, St. Benedict’s, St. Patrick’s, Paterson Catholic, Rice, Lincoln and others, it is no surprise a plethora of talented high school players graduate to play in college and then sometimes at the highest level. Despite being such a breeding ground for talent the area also sees many talented players leave the area for stops at prep programs in New England such as Winchendon Prep, South Kent Prep, and others, to pepare them for college on and off the court. A rising program aims to begin to change the migration of talented NYC/NJ-area players to New England and keep them in the tri-state area as Alif Muhammad’s NIA School in Newark (NJ) has put itself on the prep basketball map this season. With the addition of former Bishop Loughlin head coach Rudy King to the coaching staff at NIA School, NIA Prep is posied for bigger things in the future.

NIA Prep’s basketball program is in it’s second season on the court and in it’s first year under Coach Rudy King. The team is 29-11 as of Monday and according to school President Alif Muhammad had it’s best stretch to date in late January/early February when they beat Mack Academy and then went up to Rhode Island for the National Prep Showcase and beat Westwind Prep and Brewster, all of who were ranked high amongst the ESPN top prep school schools. The school has taken on a national schedule this season, playing a mix of traditional New England prep powers as well as the top programs in New Jersey, including Paterson Catholic and St. Anthony’s. NIA Prep owns a two-game season sweep over a loaded Brewster Academy team, which recently captured the NEPSAC Class A championship.

The team right now has several Big East caliber players with the best of those right now being Jamir Hanner, according to Muhammad.

Read on for more on NIA Prep, including recruiting updates on 2011 prospects Shaquille Thomas and Kelvin Amayo who are both highly coveted by Big East programs. To see the latest you can sign up for NBE Premium access and SUBSCRIBE (HERE) to read on below…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/4/2010)

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There was one lone Big East game on the Wednesday Night schedule and it was an important meeting in South Bend (IN) between UConn and Notre Dame. Riding Tory Jackson, the Irish picked up another resume padding late-season win while UConn is dealt a critical blow to their NCAA Tournament chances. Tonight, Pitt looks to lock down the final double bye into the 2010 Big East Tournament quarterfinals when hosting Providence and the Seton Hall/Rutgers rivalry commences for round two in nine days.

Austin Freeman returned to the practice floor for Georgetown on Wednesday, but the Hoya junior also released the news he has developed diabetes. It will not impact his long-term basketball career, but the immediate impact is still to be determined in regards to his availability on the court in upcoming Georgetown games of the next week or so.

Also, Pat Stevens updates us on some of the happenings in the NEPSAC playoffs with several Big East commits and targets looking to extend their seasons. Finally, Rutgers to the Big 10 looks like a possibility and a good fit for the Scarlet Knights if an offer is extended to them in the future.

It is now less than a week away, so be sure to visit our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page for the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big East fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Now, onto today’s News & Notes around the Big East…

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SETON HALL ADDS 2010 FORWARD TO RECRUITING CLASS

As reported earlier this week, NIA School senior forward Jamir Hanner was close to making his college decision following a weekend visit to the Prudential Center for the Seton Hall/Marquette game on Sunday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon that decision was made and Jamir Hanner is now a member of the Seton Hall 2010 recruiting class.

“Yes, around 3:00 PM [today],” replied Hanner yesterday when asked if he had committed. “I went to SHU on an unofficial visit [and] was showed around the campus by [assistant] coach Scott Adubato. Sat down, talked to him and [head] coach Bobby Gonzalez [and] got a good understanding of the role that I will play if I decided to come there and I just feel that I fit in so I made the commitment.”

Hanner is a Philadelphia native currently attending Alif Muhammad’s NIA School in Newark (NJ). Current SHU Pirate guard Keon Lawrence is a 2006 graduate of the school.

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TARIQ CAREY UPDATE; LAWHORN DECIDES, HANNER CLOSE

by JEFF BORZELLO

One of the more underrated players nationally in the class of 2012 is New Jersey product Tariq Carey.

College coaches know all about the 6-foot-1 sophomore guard, though.

Carey is getting plenty of early attention from Big East schools and he has a ‘dream school’ out of the ACC showing him interest. NBE gets the latest update from the 2012 prospect that is sure to become a well-known name in recruiting circles in the near future…

Also, Danny Lawhorn contacts NBE about his commitment and a source updates Jamir Hanner who might be closing on on his…

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UNSIGNED 2010 UPDATE: JAMIR HANNER

Senior forward of NIA Prep is seeing a variety of schools enter the picture in his recruitment

Earlier in February the National Prep Showcase offered several unsigned 2010 prospects the chance to kickstart their recruitments into high gear heading towards the spring recruiting period which culminates with the April signing period which annually runs from April 15th – May 15th. One player who took advantage of this opportunity was Philadelphia (PA) native Jamir Hanner who is currently playing for NIA Academy in New Jersey. He was voted onto the NPSI all-tournament team for his performance in Rhode Island last month.

Hanner has impressed NBE in earlier views with his athletic ability on the glass and in transition. He also showed the ability to face up and attack off the dribble. This 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward has generated some new recruiting interest in this prep season at NIA and currently has an offer from a school in the Big East and in the Big 12 with interest coming from other schools in the Big East, Big 12, Big 10, PAC 10 and more. Right now it looks like one Big East program is the team to beat and Hanner updated NBE earlier today on that and his impressions from a visit to a Big East school over the weekend…

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UNSIGNED 2010 UPDATE: MOSES ABRAHAM

Progressive Christian Academy is home to Nigerian import that has schools in hot pursuit

Sometimes plans change. And that is exactly what happened with 6-foot-9 big man Moses Abraham this winter.

After arriving in the US from Nigeria around the Thanksgiving holiday, the plan was for Abraham to enroll at Progressive Christian Academy and get acclimated to basketball and life in America. He would then spend a summer honing his skills and getting exposure on the AAU circuit, presumably with the powerful DC Assault program.

Instead, as word circulated among college coaching circles of a highly talented big man, more colleges came to get a look and suddenly Abraham was in huge demand with many of the top programs in America.

“His body is college ready [and] he is the most athletic big man in the country,” Progressive Christian head coach Taj Hawkins told NBE’s Jeff Borzello at the National Christian Academy Classic last weekend.

Jeff Borzello has more on Abraham’s game and recruitment from the NCA Classic below…

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UNSIGNED 2010 UPDATE: MAURICE WALKER

Brewster Academy big man keeping options open in Big East with Pitt’s lack of scholarship available

Every spring college basketball coaches seem to scour the nation trying to find size to add to their recruiting classes in the late signing period. This year is no exception as several big man recruits uncommitted in the class of 2010 are hot commodities among top programs across America.

Standing 6-foot-10 inches tall and weighing in around 300 pounds, Brewster (NH) Academy senior center Maurice Walker certainly has plenty of the size college coaches crave. What Walker also has that makes him more intriguing is a nice set of hands and touch around the rim and the knowledge of how to use his size to make an impact on the boards and in the paint at the highest prep level in the country with Jason Smith’s Brewster program.

It has long been assumed that the massive Canadian native would end up in the Big East playing at Pittsburgh. However, Jamie Dixon’s program does not currently have a scholarship available in their 2010 class, so Walker is keeping his options open and looking to visit a couple Big East schools in the near future.

“I’m keeping my options open and I’m staying open to recruitment,” Walker told NBE yesterday.

Right now, per Walker, those options seem to be in the Big East…read on to see what else Walker said about his recruitment as the native of Toronto (Ont.) was very gracious with his time in giving NBE a full update on his recruitment and how he is looking at things as the spring signing period is less than two months away…

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2011 BIG EAST TARGET: JARROD DAVIS

2011 G/F getting a lot of interest from SHU staff and likes up and down style of PC, MU, SJU, etc in Big East

At the recent Primetime Shootout, Lakewood High School faced the difficult task at Kean University of taking on national power St. Benedict’s of Newark (NJ). It was a long night for Lakewood, especially in the second half, when St. Ben’s shook off the rust of nine days of inactivity because of cancelations due to the weather. The Gray Bees took complete control of the game in the third quarter when they outscored their overmatched Ocean County opponents 30-7 to stretch a 38-22 halftime lead to 68-29 after three quarters on their way to an 82-38 victory.

lakewood was able to keep somewhat within striking distance over the first 16 minutes with a patient offense and a strong half by junior Jarrod Davis, who scored nine of his team-high 15 in the first half. After the game, Alex Schwartz caught up with Davis to get an update on his recruitment. Davis, a 6-foot-5 G/F, is getting plenty of attention attention from college coaches and counts four current offers from Big East programs. Davis talked about his recruitment and what he likes about the Big East schools currently recruiting him…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (2/23/2010)

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Here come’s UConn! Jim Calhoun has directed the Huskies to three straight wins just as it looked like they were headed towards missing ghe NCAA Tournament. Now last year’s Final Four participant and #1 seed is right in the mix of the bubble talk. Work is still needed, but suddenly a season left for dead just 9 days ago after an ‘embarassment’ is very much alive with a team that could be very dangerous in March.

Three games on the Big East schedule tonight with the battle of Jersey bewteen SHU and RU taking palce at the ROC. A very big game on the conference schedule features Louisville and Georgetown as the two teams have been heading in opposite directions in recent weeks, but the Hoyas are still possessing a lofty national rank and the Cards are hoping to get off the bubble, even though it is Georgetown looking up at UL in the league standings. Syracuse looks to avoid looking ahead to ‘Nova this weekend when they travel to Providence, who has been run through the wringer of the Big East schedule.

In other news, Notre Dame has to go deeper on the bench that Mike Brey might be comfortable with whil Luke Harangody has been out. Now, it looks like Harangody will be out longer than anticpated. The heat is rising against Mick Cronin as UC stumbles again down the stetch. With four years left on his contract, it has the Cincinnati athletic department in a tough spot. Of course, making a few free throws and this situation could be looking MUCH better. Buzz Williams is back to his aerodynamic hair style after growing out a little fuzz during a five-game winning streak. Mouphtau Yarous is adjusting to life on the Philly Main Line and hopes to make the impact he had hoped before this season is done.

In recruiting, Maurice Walker and Gorgui Dieng are 2010 uncomitted big men that Big East schools are actively recruiting into the spring signing period.

Also, it might still be another few weeks away, but our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page has the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big East fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Now, onto today’s News & Notes around the Big East…

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NATIONAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CLASSIC RECRUITING NOTES

BY JEFF BORZELLO

FORT WASHINGTON (MD) – With state playoffs starting around the country, there are not many inter-state tournaments left in the season. However, one under-the-radar event left to play was the NCA Classic at National Christian Academy in Maryland. The set-up was three high schools from North Carolina coming up to play three high schools in Maryland – Progressive Christian (Md.) vs. Mt. Zion Academy (N.C.), Princeton Day School (Md.) vs. Christian Faith Center Academy (N.C.) and National Christian (Md.) vs. Kestrel Heights (N.C.). Although it did not receive much attention, there were plenty of talented and highly-touted players at the event.

Players at the event gave NBE school lists that included Georgetown, Seton Hall, West Virginia, Providence, Connecticut, Pittsburgh as well as schools from the ACC, Big 12, SEC, PAC 10, Big 10 and more. Read on for scouting reports and recruiting updates from many of the top players that performed this weekend…

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PRIMETIME SHOOTOUT PLAYER & RECRUITING NOTES (PART I)

Matt Whitfield spent Saturday and Sunday of this past weekend at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton (NJ) for the 2010 Primetime Shootout. Once again the field was loaded with talented teams and some of the top high school prospects in America put their games on display.

In today’s update, NBE catches up with LaQuinton Ross and Dion Waiters of Life Center Academy as Ross updats his recruitment since his move from Mississippi to New Jersey and Waiters had his tremendous talents on display as a preview to what fans will see in the Big East. Also, Kamari Murphy and Shaquille Stokes of Lincoln HS update their recruitment and Davontay Grace discusses the status of his verbal commitment.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (2/16/2010)

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Connecticut comes up huge on Big Monday with a road win at Villanova. While the Huskies still have a lot of work left to do to find themselves in the NCAA Tournament, last night’s win gives them a puncher’s chance and shows they have the goods to make a run.

A couple games tonight, one with potential NCAA Tournament implications and Cincinnati and South Florida hope to hang on to their Big Dance chances when they meet at the Sun Dome. In the other contest, Rutgers looks to build some momentum following their win over Georgetown on Sunday when they travel to DePaul in a battle of the two teams at the bottom of the Big East standings.

In other conference news, two recent verbal commitments came in recently as USF and SHU each pick up a potential late signing period addition. Pitt got a nice lift from Travon Woodall in their win over WVU and it could benefit the long term chances of the Panthers. Also, Joe Mazzulla returns to his home state this week and Seton Hall might have to answer to some alleged recruiting violations, although Bobby Gonzalez sternly denies there is any truth to the claims made by Chris Washburn.

Also, it might be another month away, but our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page has the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big East fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Now, onto today’s News & Notes around the Big East…

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BIG EAST SCHOOLS TRAILING IN RACE FOR KADEEM JACK

Plenty of Big East schools involved with Rice HS big man, but have ground to make up

Kadeem Jack is a hot name right now in recruiting circles. Having a big season at Rice High School in the powerful CHSAA of New York City, Jack is also causing a stir because he could be a class of 2010 recruit and be a coveted signature in the late signing period this April.

This weekend, Jack and his Rice teammates participated in one of the showcase games of the 2010 Primetime Shootout when they took on St. Patrick’s (NJ) at 7:30 PM on Saturday evening at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton (NJ). Afterwards, Matt Whitfield caught up with Jack to get his thoughts on where his recruitment currently stands…

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JACOB LAWSON TAKES BIG EAST VISIT; HAS LEADER

Fast-rising 2011 power forward come north for Primetime Shootout and makes a visit

Due to the winter weather that has pounded the Mid-Atlantic states over the last week, Montrose Christian was unable to make the trip to Trenton (NJ) for the 2010 Primetime Shootout at the Sun National Bank Center. Stepping into their place for their scheduled 6:30 PM game against St. Anthony’s of Jersey City (NJ) would be Oak Ridge (NC) Military Academy, who was able to pull double duty and gain some additional exposure as they were already scheduled for a Sunday contest against Nichols School on the event’s final day.

One player for Oak Ridge Military Academy who is putting the time on the trip up north to good use is 6-foot-8, 210-lb junior power forward Jacob Lawson. The former Northern Guilford High in Greensboro (NC) star is seeing a dramatic uptick in his recruitment of late as the class of 2011 prospect is showing more signs of a well-rounded game to match the impressive motor and basketball body that has always intrigued college recruiters. Lawson is definitely a plus athlete and is showing signs of putting it all together on the court.

After Saturday’s match-up against St. Anthony’s, Lawson, who scored four points in the contest, told NBE’s Matt Whifield that the schools recruiting him include Seton Hall, Syracuse, Miami, Wake Forest, NC State, Kentucky and UNLV.

While coming to New Jersey for the Primetime Shootout, Lawson also took the opportunity to make a visit to Seton Hall for their Thursday night Big East conference contest against Notre Dame. While getting the chance to see the Pirates’ 90-87 win over the Irish, his time around the SHU program made a strong impression on him.

“[They told me] I should come, it’s fun here [and] I’ll like it a lot,” said Lawson of the visit. “They were talking about the classes [and] I’ll learn more because there’s not many people in the class.”

When asked if Seton Hall was his favorite right now, Lawson responded “yes, I like Seton Hall a lot.”

NBE will get another chance to see Lawson in action on Sunday against Nichols School at 12:30 PM. On the spring and summer AAU circuit Lawson will head out with the NC Gators and NBE will try to catch him in action with them in the coming months as well.

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See the Big East stars of today on the big stage as our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page has the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big East fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

TYRONE JOHNSON COUNTS FIVE BIG EAST OFFERS

Plainfield (NJ) junior is a two-sport star in high demand on the hardwood by Big East

The 2010 Primetime Shootout wraps up today and tomorrow at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton (NJ). Many of the top players in the country are participating. On Friday night the action was at Kean University and Tyrone Johnson shined among the brightest on the evening that featured many future college basketball stars. Johnson scored a night’s best 31 points helping Plainfield to a 62-49 win over another New Jersey rival, St. Joseph’s.

Following his spectacular performance, Johnson chatted with Alex Schwartz for the NBE Basketball Report and gave a rundown on his recruitment, that is shaping up to be quite a Big East battle…

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DANNY HURLEY TALKS RECRUITING, RUTGERS WITH NBE

Coach of national power St. Benedict’s Prep spends time discussing a few topics during Newark Invitational

St. Benedict’s Prep annually churns out some of the top prospects on the college basketball recruiting scene. Currently, some of the players that have come through the program and landed in the Big East include Samardo Samuels, Eugene Harvey, Lamar Patterson and Corey Stokes. On this year’s current team Gilvydas Biruta is committed to Rutgers on the class of 2010 and Myck Kabongo is verbally committed to Texas in the class of 2011.

While playing host to the Newark Invitational recently, an event held at the Prudential Center benefiting the Brian Doherty Scholarship Fund, the Gray Bees coach Danny Hurley took time to discuss the recruitment of several of his uncommitted players with the NBE Basketball Report as well as give some of his thoughts on Biruta and the current situation at Rutgers where head coach Fred Hill’s job status is a much-talked about topic.

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BIG SEASON BRINGS BIG INTEREST FOR JAYLEN BOND

Plymouth-Whitemarsh junior forward is starring on nationally ranked squad, picking up Big East interest

Last spring the NBE Basketball Report took notice of an athletic and powerfully built class of 2011 forward named Jaylen Bond at the IS8 Spring League in NYC. Bond made the trip with several other Philadelphia area players with a team called East Coast Elite out of Delaware. The newcomers to the IS8 action more than held their own and Bond finsihed up the spring proving ground league as a player to take notice of.

Now, with his Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School team enjoying a tremendous season, currently 21-1 and the District 1 and PIAA state title favorites, his college recruiting profile is beginning to kick into high gear. Along with some of the top local Philadelphia programs, several Big East schools are also taking notice of the 6-foot-7, 215-lb forward’s multi-faceted game and picturing him in a Big East uniform.

Bond took some time out from his busy schedule to chat with the NBE Basketball Report on the big season with P-W and to update us on his recruiting…

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GOT JACK? ANOTHER WEST COAST POWER JOINS ARIZONA, OTHERS IN PURSUIT OF KADEEM JACK

by RAY MERNAGH

Kadeem Jack has watched with a calm indifference (almost amusement) as he’s gone from a “potential/long/athletic” big with some upside to one of the must-have recruits for a number of high-majors. The kid from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago takes it all in stride, so it was probably no surprise to the big fella deal when another big-time program showed up in NYC to inquire about him in the past week.

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