Jonathan Graham underwent somewhat of a transformation over the summer.

The Calvert Hall power forward added approximately 10-15 pounds of muscle to his 6’8 frame, according to Cardinals head coach John Bauersfeld. With that added strength, Graham -- now weighing in at about 220 -- has become a more confident, faster and more explosive player, Bauersfeld said. Numerous Division I coaches have taken notice.

“He’s been talked to by Villanova, West Virginia, UNLV, to name a few,” Bauersfeld said. “Pitt came down to see him, also. Pretty much the Big East schools are the main ones talking to him right now.

Bauersfeld has had some contact in the past with Maryland assistant Keith Booth regarding Graham. His father, Ernie Graham, was a standout player for the Terps in the late 70s and early 80s.

Whenever Bauersfeld has conversations with college recruiters about the younger Graham, the discussion starts with his game and often turns to his character and personality.

“They love him, they love his work ethic, love his emotion,” Bauersfeld said. “They love that he’s a good student, [so there are] no problems there. Overall, they like his skill-set and really just like all the things that he does well.”

Graham, who averaged 18 points and nine rebounds as a sophomore, is a versatile big man who will only get better, Bauersfeld said.

“He is a very skilled big man; not a big man that’s going to play with his back to basket, especially in college,” Bauersfeld said. “We move him around. I like him to go inside and outside. So he can do a lot of different things fairly well, which is rare when you’re 6’8.”

There’s been no shortage of solid college options for Graham already, but Bauersfeld feels confident that his recruitment will become much crazier sooner rather than later.

“I think we’re just getting started right now,” Bauersfeld said. “I think by his senior year, if he continues to improve the way he has, he’ll get a lot of looks from a lot of different people.”

• According to Bauersfeld, three other Cardinals players have received DI attention. “We have kid named Donya Jackson, who’s a junior. Mount St. Mary’s has been talking to him. I know St. Joseph’s talked to him over the summer. [We have] a kid named Damion Lee; Mount St. Mary’s is also talking him. Kyle Wise has had some [DI] contact. Mount St. Mary’s has been pretty active to watch our guys. Those guys, as this year moves on, I think they’ll get more interest.” All three players are juniors. Jackson and Lee are both small forward/wing prospects, while Wise is a point guard.

Photo caption: Jonathan Graham boxes out Towson Catholic's Terrell Bruce (31). Baltimore Sun photo by Lloyd Fox / March 3, 2008