Weekly recruiting roundup
Atlantic Christian (N.J.) forward Luke Piotrowski reportedly has offers from Maryland, Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon State, but the 6-foot-11 junior might not necessarily go the high-major route.
Piotrowski's older brother Mat recently committed to Boston University. Tom Piotrowski, the boys' father, told the Press of Atlantic City that Luke will also consider mid-major programs.
"Luke's got quite the following," Tom Piotrowski said. "The question for Luke is what is the most important criteria for his college selection. He has the potential to play at the highest level. But he might be a kid who says I can do what I want to do and get where I want to go at a mid-major. I get the feeling that may be the direction he goes."
• Dan Wiederer of The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer weighed in this week on Maryland's recent commitment from Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) point guard Sterling Gibbs.
Gibbs, who stands 6-1, chose the Terrapins over fellow ACC schools Wake Forest and Virginia and also over Pitt, where his older brother Ashton will be a junior next season. Gibbs is said to be a scrappy player and an accomplished scorer who can get into the lane to create. His feel for the point guard position will need to improve dramatically if he is to come anywhere close to enjoying half the success that Vasquez had at Maryland. But on the developmental curve, Williams is hoping he can bring Sterling along similarly to how Jamie Dixon has helped Ashton grow at Pitt.
• SLAM's Franklyn Calle was impressed with Terps center target Desmond Hubert at last weekend's King of New York Basketball Classic.
This 6-8 forward showed tremendous upside. The long and lanky Jersey native got some serious hops. Hubert ran the floor well and consistently was in the paint ready for tip-ins. On the defensive end, he did a good job contesting shots and playing off the ball.
• Hunter Mickelson, a onetime Maryland target and Jonesboro, Ark., native, committed to his hometown Razorbacks.
Most recruiting services rank Mickelson as a top-50 prospect. He averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds in his junior year. Mickelson makes a living both inside the paint and on the perimeter.
Football recruiting
• Boys' Latin's Marco Jones was one of the top defensive line prospects at the Nike Football Training Camp in State College, Pa., on Sunday, according to ESPN.com's Bill Kurelic.
Another rising senior defensive end, Marco Jones (Baltimore/Boys Latin School), made his presence known as well. The 6-3, 245-pound Jones is quick and agile and stays on his feet well but must continue to develop. He has scholarship offers from more than a half dozen schools, including Penn State, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Louisville.
• Martay Mattox, a dual-threat quarterback from Athens, Ga., has narrowed his choices to South Carolina and Maryland. PalmettoSports.com reports that he will make his decision between May 14-17.
Mattox has visited USC several times and but has not yet been to Maryland. "I won't visit (Maryland) before I decide," he said, "but I do feel like I know them pretty well. I talk to them a lot and know a lot about them."
• Philadelphia Northeast defensive end Deion Barnes visited Maryland late last month.
“I just came back from Maryland last week,” he said. “I was there for their spring game and I was surprised at how big it was. I didn’t expect the facilities for the football team to be so big. I didn’t really get to see the academic side of things but the football complex was nice.”
• Sterling (Va.) Dominion running back DeAndre Reaves also took a recent trip to College Park.
“I went to Maryland and West Virginia in the past two weeks,” he said. “I liked them. They were great.
Comments
Matt
The football signees show NR. Is it too early for a rating unrated OR are these all second-tier guys?? Would be nice to see a 4-star recruit pop up.
Posted by: Don I | May 7, 2010 7:25 PM
Don, it is too early if these kids haven't gone to the big camps like Nike, Reebok, UA etc. I think what is more telling is the other schools that are interested in them.
Posted by: Skin | May 8, 2010 7:44 AM
Don, it is too early for most 2011 recruits because the analysts focus heavily on the big camps such as Nike, Reebok, UA etc. The recruiting services attend these camps because they can scout dozens of high level players at the same time. I think what is more telling is the other schools that are interested in them. But these 2011 recruits are attending camps now and in the summer so they are in the process of being rated.
Posted by: Skin | May 8, 2010 7:53 AM
Don -- I think several guys haven't been evaluated yet. After the summer camp and combine circuit, the ratings will be more complete. Maryland's early commitments, however, might not necessarily feel the need to travel that circuit, so their ratings could suffer. Nigel King is probably the headliner of the class right now, but they have a couple others that could be 4-star prospects when it's all said and done.
Posted by: Matt Bracken | May 8, 2010 3:08 PM
Thank you for your feedback - was hoping NR meant as yet unrated versus being less than a 1-star player. Go Terps
Posted by: Don I | May 8, 2010 5:16 PM