CATCHING UP WITH MIKE TAYLOR
Class of 2011 shooting guard on way to being among NYC’s finest BY JEFF BORZELLO At the St. John’s Elite Camp on Wednesday (see full report HERE), nearly anyone with a chance to stake his claim as the best player in New York was in attendance. If his performance in Queens was any indication, Mike Taylor has a good chance to carry the baton for the class of 2011. [Read more.] Read More →
ST. JOHN’S ELITE CAMP REPORT
—sorry for the earlier technical difficulties, we should be good to go now— BY JEFF BORZELLO Although the idea of Elite Camps – where colleges and universities invite prospective recruits to a basketball camp and use it as basically an unofficial visit – is questioned and discussed throughout the NCAA ranks, the talent at most of them is second to none. Where else can you find Myles Mack and J.J. Moore in the same backcourt? Or Kyrie Irving and Jayvaughn Pinkston as a dynamite inside-outside tandem? That was the case at the St. John’s Elite Camp Wednesday night on its Queens,... [Read more.]
LANCE STEPHENSON SAGA MAY FINALLY BE OVER
Or maybe it is just the beginning… by ZACH SMART Several weeks ago, a friend mentioned some growing hearsay about the coaching staff at Cincinnati reaching out to Lincoln High star Lance Stephenson and his father. I scoffed at the notion of one of the country’s elite, extraterrestrial, heavily-courted and controversial ballers heading to a program stuffed in the Big East’s lower percentile. Then again, the Lance Stephenson saga and overblown recruiting process has become the watermark of atypic. [Read more.] Read More →
BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: RUTGERS
VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: James Beatty, 6′2, PG currently attending Miami-Dade (FL) College Projected 2009-2010 Roster: SENIORS: Hamady N’Diaye (C) JUNIORS: Corey Chandler (G), Mike Cobourn (PG), Jonathan Mitchell* (F), James Beatty (PG) SOPHOMORES: Mike Rosario (G), Patrick Jackson (SF), Greg Echenique (PF/C) FRESHMEN: Dane Miller (F), Austin Johnson (F), Brian Okam (C) * Sitting out 2008-2009 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Will have two years of eligibility left beginning with the 2009-2010 season. “James Beatty is going to Rutgers!” Those were the excited words typed... [Read more.]
CATCHING UP WITH JUSTIN MARTIN
Former Louisville verbal commit preparing for a busy month of July by MATT WHITFIELD Lawrence North of Indianapolis is known as one of the most prestigious high school basketball programs, not only in the state of Indiana, but nationally. Greg Oden and Mike Conley have come through these halls, as has Eric Montross and 2009 Louisville signee Stephan Van Treese. This coming year, like 2006 all over again with Oden and Conley, Lawrence North will be graduating another pair of premier basketball recruits in Dominque Ferguson and Justin Martin, not to mention underclass stars Michael Chandler and... [Read more.]
BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CINCINNATI
Commitment Alert: Lance Stephenson, 6-foot-5 G from Lincoln (NYC) High School According to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv, the Lance Stephenson recruiting saga is finally over as, according to a Source: Stephenson Picks Cincinnati and will play for Mick Cronin and the Bearcats next season. After seeing nearly every other college option back away from Stephenson, UC swooped in quickly in the last week and secured a commitment. Projected 2009-2010 Roster: Seniors: Deonta Vaughn (PG), Steven Toyloy (C/BF) Juniors: Larry Davis (SG), Rashad Bishop (G/F), Anthony McClain (C), Darnell Wilks (F) Sophomores: Yancy... [Read more.]
HOOP GROUP HBC SUMMER METRO SHOWCASE PLAYER REVIEWS
BY JEFF BORZELLO The Hoop Group Metro Showcase in late June is always a good opportunity to get a very early look at next year’s high school basketball circuit – mainly in New Jersey, but also in New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. In 2008, St. Patrick (N.J.) won the championship, a prelude to their victory in the Tournament of Champions this past spring. Unfortunately, this year will be somewhat different, as no champion was crowned in Neptune, N.J. this past weekend. A brawl near the end of a semi-final match-up between Paterson Catholic (N.J.) and Neumann-Goretti (Pa.) forced the tournament... [Read more.]
BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/29/2009)
The final days of June are slowly slipping by and the crazy month of July is staring at us from around the corner. NBE is gearing up for a huge July as we will have coverage live from the Adidas it Takes 5ive in Cincinnati, the Lebron James Skills Academy in Akron, the King City Classic in Cleveland, the Reebok All-American Camp in Philadelphia, the Hoop Group Elite Camp in Reading, the Reebok Summer Classic East, the Chicago Classic, the First Eight and the Hall of Fame Invitational in Springfield (MA), the Joe Brown Memorial Classic, Hoop Group Harley Jam in Morgantown, the Big Shots in Myrtle... [Read more.]
HOOP GROUP HBC SUMMER METRO SHOWCASE (PART II)
Jeff Borzello finished up in Neptune (NJ) at The Hoop Group headquarters on Sunday for the HBC Metro Summer Showcase where high school teams from New Jersey and some surrounding areas are competed on the court. Unfortunately, the event was called off following the semifinal round as an ugly brawl took place near the conclusion of the Paterson (NJ) Catholic and Neumann-Goretti semifinal match-up. PC and St. Patrick’s were set to play in the final, but both teams were declared co-champions and the event was ended prematurely in the aftermath of the brawl. [Read more.] Read More →
CLASS OF 2010 INTRO: JELAN KENDRICK
Big East among the many following Georgia star in class of 2010 by MATT WHITFIELD ‘Hotlanta’ is known as the capital of the ‘dirty’ South and College Park (GA) is a suburb that is having a growing reputation of producing athletic talent. College Park is the former home of the now infamous Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones. Next up is a basketball player by the name of Jelan Kendrick who is now making a name for himself at Westlake High School, the same school that ‘Pacman’ once starred in several sports at. [Read more.] Read More →
