July 31, 2007

OK, we are playing catch-up again as we missed posting yesterday. As the summer evaluation period comes to a close, we have a bunch of articles updating the recruiting of some of the top targets still available being chased by Big East schools.

Also, there is an article on a couple Rutgers walk-on hopefuls, SJU incoming frosh Justin Burrell and the prospects of Notre Dame in the 2007-2008 season. With the re-negotiated TV contract with ESPN, Providence will be allowed to stream more game video live on-line for its fans. We could see this news also coming from other teams as well.

You can read these stories and more, by clicking READ MORE below!

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the rest of the article.

Yahoo! sports has a Justin Young article on Quintrell Thomas, the 6-foot-7 power forward from St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, N.J as Thomas is Trying to Find a Fit with a school on the recruiting trail. Thomas has long been believed to be a lean to Maryland, but he also has Pitt and Rutgers high on his list and is also considering Seton Hall and West Virginia among Big East programs.
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Here are the the Latest Recruiting Blurbs from Illinois Prep Bullseye relating to the Big East:

6′8 Josh Crittle from Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago has Marquette and Indiana are the current frontrunners, with Iowa right behind them.

Northwestern, Notre Dame and Dayton were all front and center at the NIKE Peach Jam to keep a close eye on 6′8 Luke Fabrizius from Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, IL as he played on the Illinois Warriors.

6′3 Diamond Taylor from St. Joseph High School in Westchester, IL, who is undoubtedly one of the fastest-rising players in Illinois from the class of 2009, has scholarship offers from Wisconsin, Bradley, and Northern Illinois, with Illinois, Notre Dame and a host of others also in the mix.
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Adam Zagoria updated his blog with news on the play of Samardo Samuels, Tyreke Evans and Lance Goulbourne at the Nike Global Games where the USA has all four teams in the semifinals and Samuels, Evans and Goulbourne are Ruling at Nike Global Challenge. Evans, who is the event’s leading scorter at 34.5 PPG, is reportedly down to Louisville and Villanova as his college choices. If he chooses ‘Nova, he will be part of a devastating backcourt with Corey Fisher of St. Patrick and Corey Stokes of St. Benedict’s. If he opts for Louisville, he’ll partner with Samuels, who is second in the challenge with 30 PPG.

Lance Goulbourne, a 6-7 forward from The Hun School in Princeton, is also playing well, averaging 19.5 ppg and 9.0 rebounds, second-best overall. Goulbourne, a terrefic student and tennis player has had Vanderbilt at or near the top of his list for a long time, however Marquette has also pulled themselves up to the top of the list as well. Rutgers and Georgetown are also in the mix for his services.
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Here is a new name to know on the recruiting trail: Orion
Outerbridge of New Hampton Prep. Outerbridge is a 6′8+ C/BF who, according to New England Recruiting Report, runs the floor like a guard, jumps out of the gym, and is quick off of his feet. Connecticut, Kansas, Providence, and Marquette have all been frequent onlookers with Tulane being the latest school to extend a scholarship offer as Outerbridge Plays Through Pain in Orlando.
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College basketball recruiting is getting younger and younger these days and scholarship offers are being passed out before some kids even reach high school. At this point, I am waiting for my 4-yr old son to receive his first letter from his play at a recent Iddy Biddy YMCA Summer session.

Anyway, Bobby Gonzalez has struck early as Seton Hall Offers Schollies to Playaz Quartet (zagsblog) on Jimmy Salmon’s programs 15-Under team. SHU extended offers to Fuquan Edwin, a 6-5 forward who already holds an offer from Rutgers (left); Jayon James, a 6-4 guard; T.J. Clemmings, a 6-6 center; and Isaiah Epps, a 6-2 guard. Edwin, James and Clemmings compete for coach Damon Wright at Paterson Catholic, while Epps plays for Pete Vasil at Plainfield. SHU has one 2008 commitment from a Paterson Catholic player, Jordan Theodore (who plays AAU with the NY Gauchos), and will be following the PC team VERY closely this coming season.
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Speaking of Samuels, the Jaimaca Observer profiles the future Cardinal as the Prodigious Samuels sets sights on college, NBA as he talks while on a short trip home to visit his parents.
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Brian Oliver is a major Big East target in the class of 2009 and zagsblog updates his recruiting as Oliver Adds Offers with his strong summer play. Xavier, Miami and Baylor have now offered, joining Rutgers, Pitt and West Virginia.
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The Fayetteville Observer has some recaps from Vegas, here are the Big-East related items as AAU Events Kept Coaches Busy:

Chris Singleton, the MVP of the adidas tournament, hasn’t made his college decision. Singleton, an athletic combo forward from Georgia, has Tennessee, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Louisville and South Carolina in his final five, according to Prep Stars.

Tyler Zeller (No. 10) has UNC as one of his top choices. The Tar Heels still have to fight past a handful of Midwest powers closer to Zeller’s Indiana roots, including Kansas, Kentucky and home-state schools Purdue, Indiana and Notre Dame.
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St. John’s fans are looking forward to seeing Justin Burrell take the floor for the Redstorm this coming season as Burrell Prepares to Storm the Big East (NY Post). There is always an adjustment for frosh and Burrell got a bit of a sneak peak at how tough things will be as he competed in the Empire State games last week and that was proven as the New York City Open team, which featured Burrell and fellow incoming freshman Mike Cavataio (who emerged as one of the city’s top players a year ago at St. Francis Prep) as well as veterans Eugene Lawrence and Anthony Mason, Jr., failed to medal.
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Tom Noie of the South Bend Tribune offers an Notre Dame basketball analysis as the Irish May Have the Talent to Build on Last Year’s Foundation. Noie does a complete rundown of the 2007-2008 Irish roster. Coach Mike Brey will have to find a way to replace the senior leadership and scoring punch of Colin Falls and Russell Carter, but the Irish have a promising frontline with Luke Harangody and Rob Kurz and the return of Kyle McAlarney in the backcourt should solidify the position where he will team with one of the league’s most pleasant freshmen surprises of last year, Tory Jackson. The 2007-2008 Big East is a very tight group after the top two or three teams, expect the Irish to be in the thick of things and if the ‘luck of the Irish’ is on their side, they could be in line for a nice year once again.
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Here is an interesting note from the Providence Journal as PC Will Offer Streaming Video on Web Site of its games. In the past the Friars, and all Big East teams, have been restricted from broadcasting their games by the agreement that gives ESPN ownership over all Big East basketball games. The contract was renegotiated this year and now permits Big East schools to air games online that ESPN does not broadcast on any of its cable channels — including ESPN 2, ESPN Classic, ESPN Regional Television and ESPNU — or through its subscription-based Web television site, ESPN360.
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Adam Zagoria has an article up on NorthJersy.com about potential Rutgers walk-ons Charlie Rigoglioso and Thomas Askew. Walking on Not East for the Pair, but such is life as a major college walk-on. Rigoglioso, a Wayne native who was a three-sport star at Wayne Valley, and Askew, who was born in Paterson and played for Passaic County Community College, have been playing in the ‘Barn League’ this summer on the Rutgers campus and have become fast friends who will share a daunting challenge once school starts, and that is life as a major college walk-on.
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July 27, 2007

Every year when people try to begin formulating their ranking of teams in the preseason, we spend most of our time scouring over last year’s stats of returning players or reading the on-line reviews of everyone’s incoming recruiting classes. There is always one other source of production that we often over look, incoming eligible transfers.

Players like David Padgett (Louisville), Dan Fitzgerald (Marquette), Mike Cook (Pittsburgh), Kentrell Gransberry (South Florida) and Karron Clarke (DePaul) are just some of the names that have a lot expected from them this season that did not start their careers at the Division 1-A level at their current schools. This year’s transfer class is smaller than previous seasons, but all four players who will be suiting up after sitting out are year have the potential to make immediate impacts with their new teams.

The names might have been forgotten, but it is likely they will be heard from this season: Maurice Acker of Marquette, Aaron Holmes of South Florida, Mike Williams from Cincinnati and Jeff Xavier with Providence. Let’s us take a brief look at each player so Big East fans can get an idea of what to look for this season.

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the rest of the article.

Maurice Acker, Marquette:

After turning the college basketball world on its ear as a freshman, it was a pretty good bet that Dominic James was not going to be around the Marquette program for very long. The previous season Marquette fell on tough times when PG Travis Diener went down for the season with an injury and in James’ freshman season the Golden Eagles did not have a true back-up for their star. So, an obvious route to take was to add a transfer to sit out a season and learn the system as their heir to the point guard position when James inevitably took his game to the NBA. Now, it is a year later and that heir, Maurice Acker, is ready to hit the floor for the Golden Eagles, however, one part of the process did not quite go as planned, and Marquette will be better for it in 2007-2008, Dominic James is still there as well!

Tom Crean was very familiar with Acker who played his high school ball at Hillcrest High School where he teamed with good friend Jerel McNeal. The 5′8 Acker was a true point guard who excelled at creating for his teammates. He was recruited by Loyola, Southern Illinois, UC Santa Barbara, Northern Illinois, Illinois State, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wyoming, Oregon and Southwest Missouri State while at Hillcrest, but chose to attended Ball State after high school where he averaged 9.2 points, 4.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 31.7 minutes, starting all 28 games as a freshman. Acker was recruited to Ball State by former Marquette assistant Tim Buckley. To show you how crazy the game can be, Buckley rejoined the Marquette staff this spring as an assistant coach this season after being let go at BSU, reuniting him with his former point guard.

Acker will have three years of eligibility at Marquette and will be a great addition in terms of depth at the point guard position behind James. Acker is a pass-first point guard that fits in with the Marquette style of pressuring the defense with his quickness and opposing guards at the other end of the floor with some aggressive defense. The experience will only help him become stronger when it is his turn to run the team on a full time basis in the future.

Aaron Holmes, South Florida

Coming out of St. Petersburg Catholic, Aaron Holmes was known as a prolific scorer, putting up over 2,700 points as a four-year starter for SPC and coach Michael Moran. As a senior, Holmes was runner-up in the state of Florida’s Mr. Basketball voting and won the All-Suncoast Player of the Year by the St. Petersburg Times for an unprecedented third time. Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Alabama, Florida State and Miami were all after Holmes in the recruiting process and at one time he was an early commitment to North Carolina State, however, prior to his senior season, Holmes pledged to Leonard Hamilton’s Florida State program.

However, the 6′5 Holmes did not last long at FSU. The star guard from St. Petersburg Catholic is transferred to USF after just one semester at Florida State to be closer to home and his family. After sitting out the first semester this season, Holmes will have three and a half seasons of eligibility once he hits the court this December. Holmes brings good size to the Bulls backcourt under new coach Stan Heath and will likely give USF a scoring punch they desperately could use.

Mike Williams, Cincinnati

Coming out of high school, expectations were sky high for the Camden, Alabama native Mike Williams, who averaged nearly 30 points and 16 rebounds a game as a senior at Wilcox Central High School. After a senior season which saw him be selected as a McDonald’s All-America, success was easily predicted for the 6′7 forward as he was ready to take his game to the University of Texas, after turning down offers from the likes of Duke, Florida, Alabama and others. Williams was a key cog in the Texas line-up that made a deep NCAA Tournament run, compiling averages of 3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.0 minutes of action as a freshman. However, his production and numbers fell off as a sophomore at Texas, where he averaged 2.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13.6 minutes of playing time as a sophomore in 2005-06, during which he appeared in 32 contests.

A 6-7, 230-pound forward, Williams is one of at least eight new faces to hit the floor this season for Mick Cronin’s rebuilding program. The Bearcats desperately could have used his help inside last season and he will be looked to play a big role this season in the physycal Big East. Williams should make an immediate impact in his final two years of college eligibility with UC.

Jeff Xavier, Providence

One of the last times Jeff Xavier was on a basketball court in a Division 1-A game, Xavier registered a career-high 31 points in the Manhattan Jaspers’ victory at Maryland in the First Round of the NIT. A native of Pawtucket, Xavier attended St. Raphael Academy. He averaged 28 points per game as a junior and 26 points per game as a senior. He also earned two All-State honors and chose to attend Manhattan to play for Bobby Gonzalez. Xavier averaged 16.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.9 assists in 31 games for the Jaspers in 2005-06, his sophomore season, and when Gonzo left the Jaspers’ program to come to the Big East with Seton Hall, Xavier asked for his release and it was granted and he also decided to head to the Big East.

Xavier, a 6-foot, 180-pound guard, will be asked to bring depth and scoring ability to the PC backcourt in their much anticipated 2007-2008 season. With point guard Sharaud Curry and guard Weyinmi Efejuku solidly in place at the guard positions, Xavier will bring versatility to the backcourt and a scoring touch that will definitely come in handy for the Friars. Last year, when Curry or Efejuku struggled, there was quite a drop-off in consistent production off the bench, Xavier should cure that ill and provide an effective three-guard look as well.

Also since we last saw the Big East teams on the floor from last season, many have taken their games to other programs. Here is a list of the players that have opted to leave the Big East to continue their careers at other institutions:

Octavious Spann (Georgetown), Ben Eaves (UConn), Rob Garrison (UConn), Bilal Benn (Villanova), Joe Harden (Notre Dame), Jonathan Huffman (Louisville), Jamal Barney (Providence), Avery Patterson (St. John’s), Ricky Torres (St. John’s), Kashif Pratt (Seton Hall), Ollie Bailey (Rutgers), Zaronn Cann (South Florida) and Tim Crowell (Cincinnati).

July 27, 2007

For your Friday we lead off with the details on a UConn 2008 commitment that has given everyone a mystery to uncover, where has Nate Miles been attending school the last several months? Also, more news from Vegas as the NY Gauchos win the Main Event. Van Coleman has some more recruiting lists from some players competing out west. Kevin Jones had quite the who’s who of Big East coaches following him in Florida while Olu Ashaolu might be getting closer to a decision, will it be his final answer this time?

Could the Big East be facing another raid by a rival conference?

But, on a very sad note, before we get to the articles, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Skip Prosser and all those close to the Wake Forest head coach who died suddenly while jogging on the campus earlier today. You hate to hear about bad things happening to good people and good people is exactly who the entire Prosser family are. Condolences to all!

You can read these stories and more, by clicking READ MORE below!

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the rest of the article.

It has been eight months since Nate Miles verbally committed to the Connecticut basketball program. The 6-foot-7 guard/forward has been listing Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., as his home since late winter. One problem, Notre Dame Prep coach Bill Barton said Miles never enrolled at the prep school. In fact all of the Recruit’s Resume is Miles from Certainty (New Haven Register) making it an extreme longshot that Miles ends up in Storrs anytime in the near (or long term) future. The link is an interesting one…Miles has been through MANY schools, but nobody seems to know where he has been the last several months.
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As van Coleman previewed the Vegas Championship Day Match-ups (CSTV.com), he also made sure the recruitniks got their full. Here is some Big East Recruiting News & Notes from Van:

Jeremiah Kelly, 6-foot PG/SG from Mac Irvin Fire (Ill.), who has verbally committed to DePaul, finished with 17 points in a 70-48 win over Randolph Boys Club of Wisconsin. Randolph was paced by Jeremy Peprocki, a 6-foot-2 guard who countered with 14 points

Keith “Tiny” Gallon, a 6-foot-9 power forward from the Class of 2009 of Houston Hoops has USC, UCLA, Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse, Arizona, Florida and Georgetown on his list of favorite schools.

Martez Walker, a 6-foot-7 wing forward from L.A. Dream Team, says Arizona State, Minnesota, Florida State, Seton Hall and Rutgers are among his schools listed

Terence Jennings, a 6-foot-10 power man from Play Hard Play Smart, is looking at a top five that includes Memphis, UNLV, Maryland, Connecticut and Tennessee.

Kaylon Williams, a 6-foot-4 combo guard from the Iowa Barnstormers, has been hurt in Vegas but said that Minnesota, Evansville, Drake, Marquette, Northern Iowa and Iowa are his favorites.

Brennan Cougill, a 6-foot-9 260-pound post prospect from the Iowa Barnstormers, is getting interest from Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Iowa State, Marquette, Minnesota, Creighton and Kansas
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Brian Crownover of CAA Insider checks in with a summary of the action from Tuesday at the NIKE Main Event. The NY Gauchos were on display all week as the Gauchos Win Main Event (zagsblog) and next up for Jordan Theodore and Kemba Walker is in invite to Portland, Ore. for the Nike Global Challenge, July 29-31 at the University of Portland.

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Kevin Jones of the Westchester Hawks had quite a following of Big East head coaches at the Super Showcase at Disney World. Jim Boeheim, Bob Huggins, Norm Roberts and Fred Hill Track Kevin Jones (zagsblog), the Mount Vernon (N.Y.) forward. The 6-7 Jones score 21 points and grab 12 boards to lead the Westchester Hawks to a 64-48 victory over The Family from Detroit. Mookie Jones, also being recruited by RU, hit a 3-pointer to end the first half and finished with 16 points.

Zagoria also has an Update on Olu Ashaolu as a decision could be forthcoming within a week or so. The one-time Rutgers commitment has seen others schools recently jump into the fray, including UConn, West Virginia, Arizona and Georgia Tech. Most also believe Louisiana Tech is also very much in the mix.
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Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier-Journal is in Vegas and updates the recruiting story on Willie Warren as the Texas Guard Says Cards Making a Push although he still admits that Oklahoma is the favorite in the race to sign him.

Also, Batesville (Ind.) junior-to-be Colt Ryan is another player from the Hoosier State drawing a lot of college attention as the 6′4, 185-pound guard has an offer from Miami (Ohio) but is hearing from Indiana, Purdue, Xavier, Notre Dame and Michigan.

One final Big East recruiting note from Demlong is that U of L had been listed among the schools pursuing Marietta (Ga.) forward DeQuan Jones. But the 6-5 Jones said he’s down to Oregon, DePaul, Cincinnati, Miami (Fla.) and Florida State.
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Now that the Big 10 has their own television channel, the have to think more about TV markets. So, with the advent of the Big 10 Network Has Conference Thinking Expansion - Again (USA Today) and the league looks to be zeroing in on the NYC market which could lead to some overtures towards Syracuse and Rutgers. Syracuse does not seem to fit the Big 10 profile (predominately large, public land-grant Universities), but they do have a big following in the NYC area.

Anyway, would the Big 10, which has ELEVEN teams, ever change their name if they add a 12th?
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July 26, 2007

Tons of recruiting lists to see from Vegas. CAAInsider.com gives some reviews of players and Van Colemand and the Lawrence Journal-World give some recruiting scoops, as does the Louisville Courier-Journal. You will be hard-pressed to not find an update in some form on any of the schools in the Big East.

There is also a brief update on the Seton Hall assistant coach job search, IF Geoff Billet leaves the staff.

You can read these stories and more, by clicking READ MORE below!

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the rest of the article.

CAAInsider.com has made the trip out to Vegas for all the AAU action this week. Brian Crownover reports on the Reebok Summer Championship Day 1 and as well as Reebok Summer Championship Day 2. He also spent time at the Adidas event and files a report on the Adidas 64 Days 1 & 2.

There are a lot of reviews on Big East targets (and a few of the committed) as well as a note that Jim Boeheim was in the stands to see Dane Miller of Team Alberta.
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As the Tournament Action Heats up in Vegas (CSTV), Van Coleman took time out to chat with fans on-line about recruiting from Vegas. He had one question on Olu Ashaolu and the Rutgers recruiting class of 2008:

turfnerd (Phoenix): Assuming Olu Ashaolu recommits to Rutgers, how do you rank the RU haul for 2008? (Ashaolu, Mike Rosario, Christian Morris)
Van Coleman: The fact that Rosario is a guy who comes in and makes an impact right away in the back court. Olo has also been playing tremendous. That gives them two impact freshmen. He’s (Olu) like a poor man’s Caron Butler. Those kids really give a base to a change to a program. That is what Rutgers needs. The influx of talent that will allow them to climb into the top of the division and start to challenge in the NCAAs. Christian Morris gives them that anchor player on the block that can rebound. He’s not flashy, but he’s steady. He’s definitely a solid player for the Big East. Those guys will all create a lot of opportunities. It’s a great nucleus for the future.

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Here are some of Coleman’s Big East related recruiting updates from Day One in Vegas:

Justin Brownlee, a 6-foot-7 wing forward from the Smyrna Stars, says things are heating up, but that Arizona, Kansas, South Florida and Auburn have a slight advantage going into the fall.

Dennis Nolan, a 6-foot-6 2009 wing from the Dallas Mustangs, has Baylor, Georgetown, Duke, North Carolina and Indiana among his leaders and told us he “likes the Big East, Big Ten and Big 12.”

Junior Cadougan, a 6-foot-0 point from Grassroots Canada, says Louisville, Texas, Georgia, Connecticut and Louisiana Tech are his leaders.

Olu Ashaolu is wavering a little on his pledge to Rutgers and will consider West Virginia, Georgetown, Marquette and Georgia.

Clarence Trent, a 6-foot-7 combo forward from the Arkansas Hawks, says Arkansas, Kentucky, Kansas and Connecticut have edged ahead in his recruiting.

Renaldo Woolridge, a 6-foot-8 forward from Belmont Shore says he has over 20 offers from schools like Washington State, Arizona State, Portland and Boston College. He also likes “Oklahoma, Oregon State, Connecticut and Washington too.”

Sylven Landesberg from the New York Panthers lists Georgia Tech, Texas, Virginia, St. John’s and Kentucky as his current leaders.

Dwan McMillan, a 5-foot-10 point from the New York Panthers, says Cincinnati, St. John’s, Clemson and Miami are showing the most interest.
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In his news and notes from Day Two in Vegas Coleman has even more recruiting nuggets:

Shawn Williams, a 6-foot-6 2009 wing forward from Texas Select, really likes Arkansas, Baylor, Louisville, Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas and Texas.

Troy Gillenwater, a 6-foot-8 power forward, suits up for the New England Playaz and says he likes Tennessee, Memphis, Villanova and Pittsburgh. Gillenwater was returning to his old form for the New England Playaz scoring 22 points in the game we watched, knocking down a jumper on the perimeter and creating the dribble drive. It was good to see him putting out that kind of effort and production.

Philip McDonald, the 6-foot-3 shooting guard of the T-Mac All-Stars, said he’ll consider Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Cincinnati.

Joey Brooks, a 6-foot-5 2009 combo guard from the T-Mac All-Stars, says his early list is Vanderbilt, Kansas State, New Mexico, Wake Forest, Texas A&M, Kansas, Texas Tech, Purdue, Kentucky, Georgetown, Florida State and Iowa State.

Will Brown, a 6-foot-8 forward from the T-Mac All-Stars, has taken notice of UTEP, New Mexico, Georgia, Illinois, Clemson, Southern California, Georgetown, Florida and Vanderbilt…He’ll Prep at Patterson School next season.

Dagoberto Pena, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard of the Florida Rams, listed South Florida, Florida Atlantic, VCU, Ole Miss, Kansas State, Georgia and Michigan.
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Adam Zagoria blogs on Vegas Notes Part IV as well as his Vegas Notes Part III since the last time we checked in. Zags updates the Seton Hall coaching search where reports are that Bobby Gonzalez has spoken with Tony Bergeron, head coach at American Christian (Pa). High, about filling Geoff Billet’s position should Billet take the CBA job. Bergeron’s key protege currently is Tyreke Evans, the consensous top 5 2008 guard who has reportedly narrowed his choices down to Villanova and Louisville. Bergeron coached incoming SHU recruit Michael Glover last season. Zagoria also speculates that Gonzo might also want to consider former Paterson Catholic and Eastside head coach Tommie Patterson now that Patterson is out at Eastside. Patterson would give SHU the New Jersey recruiting connectioins they desperately crave.

Zags also gives us a link to a NY Daily News story on Unleash the Beast as the paper chronicles Christian Morris’ vow to make a mark at Rutgers.
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SI.com has contributions from Rise Magazine this week in Vegas and profiles the Teamsters as they call the NJ Playaz and NY Gauchos who are, respectively, heavy on players from St. Anthony’s and RIce High School. The also offer up a Top 5 List of Top Performers (including Mike Rosario, Olu Ashaolu, Jason Clark) and a Top 5 List for Under the Radar Guys (Jordan Theodore, Yancy Gates) that are heavy on Big East commitments.

Pitt commit Travon Woodall left the action with an arm injury.
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Darryl Bryant checks in with the Daily News with another Truck Stop and updates readers with his recruiting status:

“Recruiting really picked up after Peach Jam. It was crazy. All these teams starting calling and emailing right after we won. I don’t know what else I have to show the rest of the summer because all these schools are recruiting me now. Maryland, USC, West Virginia, University of South Florida, Providence, Iowa State, Baylor – they all started calling. It’s fun and annoying at the same time.”I’m out in Vegas right now at the Main Event. We had a vacation from Tuesday to Sunday. We got to check out the strip out here and hang out.

“I also got a chance to think about recruiting a lot. I’ve been thinking about West Virginia and USC and I might have an announcement soon. I’m thinking of announcing Aug. 2, but I’m not sure.”

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Another installment of Jody Demling’s Recruiting Notebook has an update on Eureka (Ill.) power forward Jordan Prosser. The 6′8 Prosser, who is playing with the Indiana Elite One 16-and-under team, said Wisconsin, Indiana, Notre Dame, Xavier, Bradley and Illinois State have offered a scholarship and he will visit Louisville before the summer is over. He is a 2009 prospect.

Also, New Orleans Holy Cross’ 6′9 Brandon Moore claims an offer from Louisville, but the 2008 recruit has not heard much from them lately.
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The Lawrence Journal-World has some recruiting updates on Kansas Targets That Will be Narrowing their Lists Soon. Let’s summarize those with Big East interest included:

J’Mison Morgan, a 6-foot-10, 275-pounder from Dallas South Oak Cliff High, on Tuesday told Rivals.com the schools after him the hardest are Kansas University, Alabama, Baylor, Georgetown, LSU, Texas and UCLA. He also has Kentucky, Texas A&M, Arizona, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Iowa State and Nebraska on his list.

Olek Czyz, 6-7, 235, from Reno (Nev.) High, has a list of KU, Nevada, UCLA, UNLV, Kentucky, Duke, Florida, Louisville, Arizona State, Washington and Washington State.

Phillip McDonald, a 6-5 senior shooting guard from Cypress Springs High in Texas, says his top four schools in no particular order are KU, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Cincinnati.

Willie Warren reiterated to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Oklahoma currently leads Texas, KU, Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette, Kentucky and Arizona. Jody Demling also has a Willie Warren Update on his blog at the Louisville Courier-Journal that Seton Hall and Connecticut, along with Baylor, now round out his list of 10 schools involved. He still says Oklahoma leads and “schools two through eight are all the same. There’s no 2 and no 8.”
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July 24, 2007

The action in Vegas continues to roll along as the Summer Evaluation Period Part II rolls on. The Providence Journal updates readers on the summer play of some of the area’s Rhode Island hoopsters, including three high school players who have Big East interest and a WVU rising sophomore who looks to excel under Bob Huggins this coming season.

Also, Jody Demling and Dick Weiss give some recruiting updates from Vegas and Adam Zagoria updates some of the news and notes going around the ‘net on the happening in ‘Sin city.’

You can read these stories and more, by clicking READ MORE below!

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the rest of the article.

Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal updates his readers on the Rhode Island Hoopsters on Fire this Summer. The one who might have raised his stock the most is West Virginia’s sophomore-to-be Joe Mazzulla, the former Hendricken star who averaged 3 PPG in less than 9 minutes a contest backing up Darris Nichols last season in 31 games for the NIT champion Mountaineers. Playing point guard in the Pittsburgh Summer Pro-Am Basketball League, Mazzulla won the league’s MVP award. After struggling personally in his freshman year under John Beilein, Mazzulla looks forward to the future with the Mountaineers and new coach Bob Huggins as Mazzulla says that Huggins’ up tempo, physical style suits his skills much better than Beilein’s patterned, guard-oriented approach. It was the faster-paced style Mazzulla enjoyed in the summer league.

“It’s a blessing in disguise,” Mazzulla said. “In this league, I was able to go up and down the court and take the ball to the basket. Our whole team, we’re a lot more athletic, Huggins-type players than people think.”

On the recruiting front, a couple Rhode Island prospects are getting high major attention, including from Big East programs. South Kingstown’s Erik Murphy, a 6-foot-8 forward who’ll be a junior at St. Mark’s School in Southboro, Mass., is nursing a sprained knee. But that hasn’t stopped coaches from BC, Marquette, Virginia, Syracuse and other high-level schools from expressing their interest.

Smithfield’s Mike Marra, a deep-shooting 6-3 guard, is leaving Smithfield High and is slated to spend two years at Northfield-Mt. Hermon School in the Berkshires. Marra has made a name for himself this spring and summer playing for the Rhode Island Hawks.

“Mike had nine 3-pointers and 40 points against the New York Panthers in New Jersey last month,” Hawks coach Jason Elliott said. “Before that he had eight threes in a game and we won a big tournament in Pittsburgh. PC and URI like Mike a lot, but Ohio State, Syracuse, Louisville and a lot of schools have seen him and like him.”

Coach Elliott will lead the Hawks into the Main Even this week in Vegas and junior center Ben Crenca of West Greenwich has been offered a scholarship by URI and is also hearing from West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Virginia, among others. Crenca stands at 6′9 and weighs in at 280 lbs.
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Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier-Journal has a Recruiting Notebook update and centers around Indianapolis Lawrence North junior Stephan VanTreese as VanTreese’s List of Suitors Grows. The 6′11 F/C has a scholarship offer from Notre Dame and is also interested in Georgetown and Louisville, among many others.
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Dick Weiss is in Vegas and updates his Hoops on Hoops Blog with the entry: Gauchos Flying High in Vegas.

Everyone around AAU basketball and recruiting knows that the Gauchos are loaded with guards and that will win you many games on the AAU circuit. It is hard to believe any other program could top their stable of five exceptional guards, if you include Kemba Walker (UConn commit), shooter deluxe Chris Fouch of Rice (every mid-major in the Metro area was there to see him play), Truck Bryant of St. Raymond’s, Jordan Theodore of Paterson Catholic (Seton Hall commit) and Rice’s Durand Scott. However, Weiss gives us some background information on the other Gaucho players that we do not hear enough about, the big men.

6′9 Dan Jennings of Bishop Loughlin (who should be a high major with prep school. UConn and Arizona have already called about him for the class of 2009); 6-9 Devin Hill of St. Luke’s (who has already been on the campus of Georgia Tech, Virginia and been offered by the Seton Hall) and 6-8 Kevin Phillip of Loughlin (UNLV, Nebraska, St. John’s, Pitt and Drexel have all inquired).

Norm Roberts was at the Playaz-Atlanta Celtics games at Cox Sunday night, presumably to watch 6-6 Nolan Johnson of the Celtics. Guard Mike Rosario (Rutgers commit) of St. Anthony’s nailed seven threes in that game, five in an earlier win over Pump and Run Elite. Rutgers is still trying to hang in with 6-7 forward Olu Ashaolu of Christian Life Academy in Humble, Texas, who verballed early but now is wavering. School to beat? We hear it’s Louisiana Tech.
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Adam Zagoria has Vegas News & Notes - Part II (zagsblog) from various internet reports. The main new piece of information is that Renaldo Woolridge, son of former NBA standout Orlando Woolridge, listed Pepperdine, Arizona State, Marquette, Boston College, Tennessee and Georgetown as his favorites. Seton Hall has also been in the picture.
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