JUCO coach calls return to Pitt ‘a done deal’, Pitt looks at JUCO Center

By Chris Dokish

One of Pittsburgh’s best recruits last season only played in informal workouts at the school before being informed by the NCAA Clearinghouse that he was ineligible. But that hasn’t stopped Darnell Dodson from his ongoing pursuit of the NBA- or his desire to play for Pitt.

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Elite Junior Still Sorting Out College Interest

By Chris Dokish

Class of 2009 top 15 prospect Dominic Cheek has another year of high school left at St. Anthony’s in Jersey City, NJ, but that doesn’t mean that eager coaches and fans aren’t clamoring to have him on their team. Unfortunately for them, however, Cheek is not yet close to a decision. In fact, he hasn’t even really concentrated much on who the major contenders would be.

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By Chris Dokish

New York City and New Jersey is known to have some of the best high school basketball players in the country, and consequently they also have some of the best AAU teams in the country. But if you go east of New York City, you’ll end up in Long Island where you find the Unique All-Stars.

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6′8 small forward nearly the full package aleady as a sophomore

By Chris Dokish

On of the top sophomores in the country is already getting major offers, and more could be heading his way soon.  Tobias Harris of Half Hollow Hills West HS in Dix Hills, NY is finishing up his sophomore year of high school, but already stands 6’8” and weighs 220 pounds, according to his father, Torrel.

The Long Island native obviously has great height for the small forward position already, but he may not be done growing yet. “We think he’s going to be 6’10”, says Mr. Harris, who coaches his son for the Unique All-Stars.

Rutgers was the first to offer, according to Mr. Harris, followed by Indiana and then Connecticut. Maryland, Marquette, Baylor, and Arizona are others that have thrown their hat in the ring. There will be more, like perhaps Memphis where former Arizona assistant John Pastner now works. Pastner offered Harris while at Arizona, a school where Tobias’ cousin, Channing Frye played. But according to Mr. Harris, any schools that are interested should get involved soon.

“I feel that if any school wants him a lot then they will get on him early and stay on him,” says Mr. Harris. “We won’t be interested in anybody jumping on the bandwagon late.”

But that doesn’t mean that a decision will be soon. “I don’t understand why kids commit so early,” says Mr. Harris. “Things change so quickly. For instance we really liked Kelvin Sampson when he was recruiting Tobias for Indiana, but if he committed there, look what happened. Sampson is gone. So we will just go around to the top contenders and see which programs he fits in best at.”

Mr. Harris, who played at Duquesne in Pittsburgh, says his son only needs to improve his speed and agility before becoming the perfect package.

“He can shoot lights out, he’s a good rebounder, a good post up player, and he work really hard,” says Mr. Harris. “He also has a 3.8 GPA. He learns very quickly. You teach him something once and he will understand it right away. He’s very smart.”

Chris Dokish is a NBE Basketball Report contributor as well as a contributing editor of the Pittsburgh Sports Report where his stories are often featured in their Keystone Recruiting newsletter series, which you can sign up for free at their website.

Pittsburgh, Rutgers, West Virginia among those offerring 6′10 big man.

By Chris Dokish

One of the more intriguing big men in the country for the 2009 class is Aaric Murray of Glen Mills School in Concordville, PA. Despite not taking up basketball until a few years ago, Murray has gone from unknown to Top 50 prospect practically overnight. The fact that he reached this level is even more incredible when you realize where he was before he found basketball.

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