USF Recruiting

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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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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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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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (2/17/2010)

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It was a damaging loss for Cincinnati last night on the road against South Florida as once again Dominique Jones makes the difference for his team in a win. Rutgers continues to be on the upswing and comes back from a large deficit on the road to beat DePaul.

Three games on the schedule tonight highlighted by Seton Hall and St. John’s at Carnesecca Arena in Queens. West Virginia will look to snap a two-game losing streak when they visit Providence and tonight’s action is rounded out with Notre Dame and Louisville doing battle in Freedom Hall where one team expects a starter to be back from injury and in the starting line-up while the other has an injured starter making a gametime decision if he will go or not.

Elsewhere, Lance Stephenson might be ‘Born Read’, but he is still a work in progress for UC. Michael haynes is getting some Big East interest as a spring signing period addition and resilient Pitt prepares for surging Marquette this week.

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 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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NPSI DAY FOUR RECAP

BY PAT STEVENS – Two of the Class of 2011’s best shined as Michael Carter-Williams of St. Andrew’s locked up the MVP award while Shabazz Napier of Lawrence Academy made a push at retaining it for the second straight year as the 12th annual National Prep School Invitational concluded on Sunday.

Big East assistant coaches on hand included Connecticut’s Pat Sellers and Providence’s Pat Skerry.

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NPSI DAY THREE RECAP

BY PAT STEVENS – J.J. Moore and Shabazz Napier were two of the top performers leading their teams to wins as the 12th annual National Prep School Invitational rolled along for a third day on Saturday at the University of Rhode Island. South Florida’s Eric Skeeters was the lone Big East assistant in attendance.

-South Kent’s J.J. Moore (6-6 WF/Pittsburgh) led all scorers on the day with 30 points in a 70-69 win over the Canarias Basketball Academy of Spain. Russ Smith (6-1 PG/Louisville) scored 11 points as the two teams’ traded baskets down the stretch with South Kent eventually pulling away.

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NPSI DAY TWO RECAP

BY PAT STEVENS – St. Mark’s Nate Lubick (Georgetown) and Alex Murphy had big days along with St. Andrew’s Michael Carter-Williams who went for 36 points on the second day of the 12th annual National Prep School Invitational.

Assistant coaches in attendance included Rodell Davis of Providence, Craig Carter of Rutgers, Scott Adubato of Seton Hall and Eric Skeeters of South Florida.

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NPSI DAY ONE RECAP

BY PAT STEVENS — A number of coaches made the trip to Rhode Island for the 12th annual National Prep School Invitational, with South Florida’s Stan Heath the lone Big East head coach and he was joined by conference assistants such as Connecticut’s Pat Sellers, Georgetown’s Mike Brennan, Louisville’s Ralph Willard, Providence’s Pat Skerry, Seton Hall’s Scott Adubato, and West Virginia’s Larry Harrison all taking in the first day of play.

The Big East-bound matchup of Waverly Austin (South Florida) of Heat Academy and David Nyarsuk (West Virginia) of Mountain State Academy went the way of the Sudan native. Nyarsuk scored 13 points and had eight rebounds with two blocks in 31 minutes. Austin had eight points, five rebounds and three blocks in 31 minutes as well. MSA went up 17 at the half, 37-20, and went on to win 75-47. PJ Lockridge, who visited Louisville last weekend, had six points and four rebounds in 28 minutes for Heat Academy.

CJ Fair (Syracuse) had 25 points and four blocks in 31 minutes as Brewster Academy ran away from Hotchkiss School in the second half, 95-64. Naadir Tharpe, who has interest from Providence and West Virginia, had 13 assists in the win. For Hotchkiss, its backcourt of Derrick Wilson (2011) had 26 points and Clyde Smith (2012) had 18 points in the loss. Both recently received Notre Dame offers according to their coach.

Ron Giplaye (Providence) scored 12 points and four rebounds in 24 minutes as Notre Dame Prep held off a comeback by the Canary Islands’ Basketball Academy, 63-51. Cleveland Melvin (Connecticut verbal) did not play but was with the team.

Calvin Newell (6-1 CG/Evelyn Mack Academy), one of the top five performers back at the National Prep Showcase in November, says he has interest from West Virginia and Connecticut to go with Baylor and Nebraska. Bob Huggins was in to see him last month and he said he hopes to visit later February. Newell scored 13 points with three assists in a 67-57 win over Progressive Christian.

Kelvin Amayo (6-4 SG/NIA Prep) is being tracked by Seton Hall and will be a 2011 prospect, according to his coach. Shaquille Thomas (6-8 WF), who has several Big East schools interested, had 25 points while Amayo scored 14 with eight rebounds to lead NIA in its second-half rout of Arizona’s Westwind Prep, 94-66.

Andre Drummond, one of the nation’s top prospects, scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds in St. Thomas More’s 88-55 win over Wilbraham & Monson of Massachusetts. The 6-foot-11 sophomore center played 25 minutes while one-time West Virginia commit Bryon Allen added four points and four assists in 17 minutes as St. Thomas More maintained its 20 point lead from before halftime.

Moses Abraham, who has interest from Georgetown and Connecticut, was not with Progressive Christian of Maryland as he plays with their high school team rather than their prep team.

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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

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

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Lots of good stuff to get to today. Big Monday action last night had two teams with much need for a win and Louisville held serve and defeated a slumping UConn, 82-69. Tonight features Villanova (against Seton Hall) and Syracuse (against Providence) in action on their home courts looking to defend their lofty national rankings. Rutgers looks to build momentum following their first Big East win of the season from over the weekend and deal a damaging blow to St. John’s season tonight at the RAC.

In other Big East news, speculation on Pitt moving to the Big 10 looks to be WAY TOO premature. Right now, the Panthers are looking to stay positive and shake themselves out of a rut that has led to three losses in four games, but things get tougher with WVU on the schedule next. Notre Dame looks to be in a slide that is very familiar to Irish followers of a year before.

In recruiting, Pitt and Providence are involved with a young Chicago prospect, Anthony Wroten Jr updates his top five schools and Justin Coleman also lists his favorites. Adam Zagoria also has a very nice story on Rice HS junior guard Jermaine Sanders and his handling of a personal tragedy from last fall.

Also, it might be another month and a half 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

Read on below for all of today’s News & Notes…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (1/22/2010)

Thursday night in the Big East saw Seton Hall keep their season alive with a chance to kickstart their expected revival into high gear as the held off Louisville in an 80-77 win. The Cards have now dropped three in a row and will begin the soul searching on how to get better defensively.

Seton Hall’s Keon Lawrence has been officially charged from his part in a Novemeber wrong-way parkway crash that injured another driver. Also, the Pirates have bad news regarding a 2010 fall recruit that signed a letter of intent and big Melvyn Oliver has yet to contribute for SHU in Big East play.

Without head coach Jim Calhoun, UConn will look to stay focused when No. 1 Texas visits Storrs this weekend. Jay Wright has built a sustainable program at ‘Nova, one that Fred Hill got a good look at when Wright was starting the process. Now Hill’s program looks to be in disarray and the price for RU to move on is a pretty penny and millions and millions more of those pretty pennies!

Lance Stephenson’s injury might have helped Mick Cronin find the right backcourt combination. Also this weekend marks the beginning of the Primetime Shootout events in Morgantown and there are recruiting updated on Quincy Miller and Durand Johnson, who will be participating. More recruiting notes on Justin Coleman, 6′10 sleeper Gorgui Dieng and Angel Nunez.

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Also, it might be nearly two months 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
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Read on below for all of today’s Big East News & Notes…

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BRANDON YOUNG LIKELY TO REOPEN RECRUITMENT

DePaul commit tells NBE this weekend a coaching change would cause him to reconsider

by RON BAILEY

January 11, 2010 – When Friendship Collegiate (DC) High School took on Potomac (MD) in District Heights, MD last week, the former was without DePaul commit Brandon Young, a 6-foot-3, 179-pound point guard capable of scoring, defending, and running a show. An ankle injury suffered recently precluded him from playing then.

As any good teammate would, Young was present, rooting Friendship on. He also consented to an interview, one in which his college choice was discussed.

Brandon choosing DePaul took many by surprise, and not just due to geography; the Blue Demons have lost over 20 straight Big East games, and hold a 7-8 record this year. Those eight 2009-2010 setbacks include defeats to American and Florida Gulf Coast.

Young loved DePaul, visiting the Chicago school with his mom, and was very impressed. Of the Windy City, he noted “It’s a big city and I love it. It’s a great place to be.” Assistant coach Billy Garrett was the lead recruiter involved.

The point guard is well aware of the shock many had regarding his decision: “The reason I caught a lot of people by surprise is that they haven’t been winning any games in the Big East, and it’s out there the coaching staff may get fired. So they were just wondering why I would go to that school”.

Of Jerry Wainwright and his staff exiting, Young shared “I thought about it, but I’m not I’m not really thinking about it too much. I’m just ready to go and play college basketball”. He did contemplate a major, stated as “either sports management or sports medicine”.

Well, according to a media report, Brandon must revisit his college choice, as Wainwright is out at DePaul (ESPN.com), with a press conference set for today at 11 am being announced. Athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto will conduct it.

Georgetown joined DePaul in offering Young a scholarship, as did Marquette, South Florida, Charlotte, Miami, Niagara and Central Florida.

A conversation with him courtside Saturday evening – he was waiting for Friendship to take on Progressive Christian in Uptown Hoop Fest action – revealed a coaching change would indeed prompt him to consider a change of heart, likely reopening his recruitment; a thoroughly understandable reaction.

Will he remain committed to DePaul? Will the school, if requested, release him from his letter of intent (likely, but you never know)? Stay tuned. NBE Basketball Report has the goods.

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (1/6/2010)

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Busy, busy night in the Big East on Wednesday with 12 of the 16 teams in action with five conference tilts and two non-conference battles on the schedule. Last night in the league it was Notre Dame holding off a late South Florida rally to pull out a road victory. Luke Harangody was virtually unstoppable against the short-handed USF squad.

Tonight’s marquee game is probably UConn and Seton Hall in Storrs at 9 PM. Georgetown and Marquette is an interesting match-up as well. Rick Pitino returns to Providence and Villanova is likely to get a bit bigger tonight when they host DePaul. West Virginia will look to rebound from their first loss when hosting Rutgers. Syracuse also looks to rebound from a loss when they host Memphis and Cincinnati looks to devour a cupcake when they host CS-Bakersfield at Fifth Third Arena.

Pittsburgh has changed their perception following a huge 57 hour period that included road wins over SU and UC. Rutgers looks for a facility upgrade and Norm Roberts’ time to turn it around is again running short in the minds of many.

Also, it might be two months 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

Read on below for all of today’s News & Notes…

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NBE BIG EAST POWER POLL (1/4/2010)

Happy New Year Big East fans!!

Winter is here with a fury on the east coast sending temperatures plunging from the deep south of the Big East to the northern most areas. The cold weather looks to have kept some of our contributors and writers inside and unable to participate in this week’s poll, but here are the weekly results (first place votes in parenthesis):

1) Villanova (3), 77 points.
2) West Virginia (2), 74 points.
3) Syracuse, 71 points.
4) Georgetown, 65 points.
5) Connecticut, 57 points.
6) Cincinnati, 56 points.
7) Pittsburgh, 53 points.
8} Notre Dame, 41 points.
9) Louisville, 38 points.
10) St. John’s, 34 points.
11) Seton Hall, 32 points.
12) Marquette, 31 points.
13) South Florida, 18 points.
14) Providence, 15 points.
15) Rutgers, 13 points.
16) DePaul, 5 points.

NBE’s Big East Player of the Week: Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh

NBE’s Big East Freshman of the Week: Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati

Also, it might be two months 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. Any Big East fan should experience the excitment that the Big East Tournament at the Garden brings. 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

HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT LOOK-BACK: CITY OF PALMS

BY PAT STEVENS — The top holiday tournament in terms of drawing the best field of teams from across the country has traditionally been the City of Palms in Fort Myers, Fla.

Current Big East standouts Lance Stephenson (Cincinnati/Lincoln, N.Y.) Maalik Wayns (Villanova/Roman Catholic, Pa.), Greg Monroe (Georgetown/Helen Cox, La.), Samardo Samuels (Louisville/St. Benedict, N.J.) and Taylor King (Villanova/Mater Dei, Calif.) all played in the event in recent years.

City of Palms alums that were recent Big East standouts and are now current pros include DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh/Schenley, Pa.), Jonny Flynn (Syracuse/Niagara Falls, N.Y.), Paul Harris (Syracuse/Niagara Falls, N.Y.) and Demetris Nichols (Syracuse/St. Andrew’s, R.I.).

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NBE PREP CORNER WITH PAT STEVENS (VOL 3.1)

BY PAT STEVENS

The early returns from the prep school ranks look to be another good season ahead with the Big East signing the most prep school players of any conference in the Fall Signing Period.

Originally there were 13 expected Big East signees for the Fall Signing Period, however that number fluctuated some during the eventful week in mid-November.

In total, 10 prep school players signed with Big East teams – Russ Smith (Louisville/South Kent), J.J. Moore (Pittsburgh/South Kent), Austin Carroll (Rutgers/Brewster Academy), CJ Fair (Syracuse/Brewster Academy), Ron Giplaye (Providence/Notre Dame Prep), Gerard Coleman (Providence/Tilton School), Markus Kennedy (Villanova/Winchendon School), Nate Lubick (Georgetown/St. Mark’s), Isaiah Epps (Pittsburgh/Hargrave Military Academy) and Waverly Austin (South Florida/Heat Academy, Va.).

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NATIONAL PREP SHOWCASE RECAP, PART II

by JEFF BORZELLO

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The highly-anticipated National Prep Showcase got off to a somewhat slow start in the first couple of days, with one-sided affairs and blowouts galore. Only two games on the first were decided by fewer than 10 points, and those were seven and nine point differences. The second day wasn’t much different, as the first three games all had margins of at least double-digits. With plenty of quality basketball left to be played, though – including a match-up between Brewster Academy and Worcester Academy – there was a chance for the games to be more competitive. Seemingly on cue, Mack Academy (N.C.) had a furious comeback against Winchendon (Mass.) – before falling late, 79-77 – to jumpstart what would be an exciting final day and a half of basketball featuring several tight contests.

The three best games of the event came during day three. In the first one, NIA Prep overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to force overtime against second-ranked Brewster Academy. In overtime, the team from New Jersey pulled off the upset, 103-99. Immediately following that, Bridgton Academy and Tilton School went down to the wire before Seton Hall-commit Dashaun Wiggins hit a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer to give Bridgton a one-point victory. In the fourth game on Sunday, South Kent Prep (Conn.) defeated Champlain St. Lambert (Can.) on a lay-up at the buzzer by Nemanja Djurisic. Here is a look at some more player evaluations from the second and third days of the Showcase, in addition to those we wrote about on Friday:

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NATIONAL PREP SHOWCASE RECAP, PART I

BY JEFF BORZELLO

New Haven, Conn: The official start to the always hotly anticipated prep basketball season is the National Prep Showcase. Held in the past at Bryant University in Rhode Island, the Showcase moved this year to Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Conn. This season, it features nine of the top 10 teams in ESPN’s Prep rankings, and several of the top players in the country. Things kicked off on Friday with six games, including a match-up between Hargrave Military Academy and Notre Dame Prep, a contest that could feature more than 20 Division-I players. Here’s a look at some of the top players in New Haven:

Bryon Allen, 2010, St. Thomas More: The former West Virginia commit was the best player on the floor for much of the game against Lee Academy. He got into the lane almost at will, using his body very well to shield defenders and get his shot off. Allen knocked down a few three-pointers and used his vision to find open teammates often. He has a good flow to his game and never seems out of control. He finished with 20 points and six assists.
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