By Anthony Jaskulski

Dion Waiters was recruited by Syracuse and committed to the Orange in mid-July last year without playing one minute of high school basketball. Due to academic concerns, Waiters bounced around high schools in the Philadelphia area and currently attends South Kent High School in Connecticut.

As part of the class of 2010, Waiters has played a majority of his basketball career with AAU squads and is currently a member of Team Final, along with another Big East bound player, Pitt-recruit Lamar Patterson.

Dion has great quickness, a nice touch from beyond-the-arc and with his big frame at 6’3, 195; the shooting guard has the capabilities of being an elite star. He is also a cousin of Antonio Jardine, a rising sophomore in the Syracuse basketball program

Here is what Waiters had to say in a Q&A segment:

Q. What attracted you to Syracuse?

A. I liked it when I first went to elite camp there. It’s a nice place and a perfect fit for me, especially the way they run their offense and play up-tempo.

Q. What do you think of playing for a Hall of Fame coach like Jim Boeheim?

A. I think coach (Boeheim) is a great coach and a hall of famer, and he just really knows his stuff. He made it an easy decision and really convincing for me and my family, and I can’t wait to lace up for a coach like that.

Q. What do you like most about the style Syracuse runs?

A. I like how they (Syracuse) let the guards go. I don’t like calling plays so much, but instead to just go and make it happen on the spot. I guess you can say I like winning to, and what better place to do it at.

Q. What do you think is your biggest attribute in your game?

A. I would say it’s my dishing, and getting everybody else involved. I like to pass just as much as I like to shoot myself.

Q. What is an area you think you need to improve on with your game?

A. I would say (my) jump-shot because it’s inconsistent. I can shoot, but it is not where I want it to be right now. I want to have the ability to drop shots at any point in the game and pick my team up with it.

Q. You have a big frame for a shooting guard. Would you consider yourself a big man trapped in a guards body?

A. I can play any position for real. You could say I’m like a big guy, because I go in for rebounds and defend anybody I can. Anything I can do to make a play and get my team one step closer to winning the game.

Q. What player do you think you resemble the most on the court?

A. I’m not sure but a lot of people say I play like Deron Williams (Utah Jazz). They say I have that physical play that he does and I like to hear that. I guess it means I’m in good company.

Anthony Jaskulski covers the University of Pittsburgh basketball beat as well as the Pittsburgh high school beat for the Pittsburgh Sports Report. Look for more of Anthony’s coverage this weekend from the Jam Fest here at the NBE Basketball Report.

Related Articles:
Pittsburgh Jam Fest: Day Three
Pittsburgh Jam Fest: Day Two
Pittsburgh Jam Fest: Day One

This entry was posted on Monday, April 21st, 2008 at 8:02 pm and is filed under Syracuse Recruiting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.