Some news and notes as recruiting updates are available on Tristan Spurlock, Sherrod Wright, Sean Kilpatrick and a 2010 guard duo from Illinois that are picking up some local attention, as well as some expanding attention nationally.

Joe Alexander looks to be more and more ‘in’ the NBA draft. Will West Virginia try to add a late prospect to their 2008 class? One player that might get a look and has a connection to South Florida and WVU is at the pre-draft camp as well.

Bob Huggins might have performed some due diligence that the NCAA was unable to do in the Mayo case. It might have saved himself and Kansas State from a headache this spring.

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Time to hit the news and notes from around the Big East basketball conference after a long Memorial Day weekend. Exciting news for St. John’s and Marquette as each school picks up a 2009 commitment in recent days. There is a late qualifying player for the class of 2008 that Marquette is trying to get involved with. Adam Zagoria takes a look at two upstate NY prospects that could be in the Big East starting with the 2009-2010 season, one has already committed to Rutgers and the other has been considered a Syracuse commit at times, but that is not the case. Also, updates on Dashonte Riley, the latest Georgetown commit, Durand Scott, who has many in the Big East interested in his skills, Ryan Kelly, a fast progressing North Carolina big forward, and an introduction to Meyers Leonard, a virtually unknown player from Illinois that is sparking some Big East interest.

Also, we look at Van Coleman’s top 40 recruiting classes of 2008. Kentrell Gransberry and Joe Alezander continue to work the NBA draft process from different angles and we give a little love to a couple Big East assistants as they prepare to do much of the legwork this summer bringing in the new talent to the conference for the future.

Hopefully everyone got a chance to check out Alex Schwartz’s interview with Donyell Marshall: One of the NBA’s Good Guys.

Later today, Doug Ferguson will take a deeper look at the 2008 NBA draft prospects from the Big East conference.

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VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Malik Stith (PG), 5′11 from Eash Mecklenberg (NC) HS

Projected 2008-2009 Roster:

Seniors: Anthony Mason (F), Tomas Jasiulionis F/C)
Juniors: None
Sophomores: Justin Burrell (PF), Malik Boothe (PG), Rob Thomas (F), Ayodele Coker (C), Paris Horne (G), DJ Kennedy (G), Sean Evans (F)
Freshman: Quincy Roberts (G), Ty Edmondson (PG)
2009 Commitments: Malik Stith (PG)

Long Island native Malik Stith is heading back home. Stith, who completed his senior year at East Mcklenberg High School last season has verbally committed to St. John’s and will join Norm Roberts’ squad after a year at prep school. Stith to St. John’s (zagsblog) is the first commitment for the Redstorm in the class of 2009.

For more on Malik Stith and the Redstorm recruiting situation, please visit our St. John’s Team Page and see the latest update(s).

Thank you!

Brian Crownover set out from Philadelphia early Saturday morning for Long Island to check out the action of the GBOA East regional basketball tournament. Looking forward to seeing teams such as the NY Panthers, Gauchos, Team Philly, Grassroots of Canada, Juice All-Stars and others, Brian drove to Half Hollows Hills West High School in anticipation of catching the early action, however, a late scheduling change moved the tournament play to Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, but no notices were posted.

Not to waste a trip to the Big Apple, the ever resourceful Brian decided to catch the exciting action of the IS8 semifinals instead and he filled us in on the performances of some of the better 2008 Big East recruits as well as some younger talent that could fine their way to the Big East in the future…

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Around the league today…

Notre Dame awaits the decision from another potential transfer student as Scott Martin recently finished a visit to the South Bend campus. Pitt takes a shot with Mike Cook to see if the NCAA will grant a 6th year of eligibility. Cincinnati’s Mick Cronin and a 2009 recruit mutually part ways. Louisville and Cincinnati are interested in an Ohio forward out of the class of 2010. A 2009 NYC recruit that is a target of several Big East programs is in a little hot water.

Also, a nice article as CSTV.com catches up with Aaron Gray after his rookie NBA season. Also, all-tourney teams from the DC Assault AAU Tournament from last weekend can be found today.

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