Recruiting Reporttag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//1412009-11-20T20:39:48ZBaltimoresun.com's Matt Bracken on University of Maryland, local and national recruiting newsMovable Type 3.36Weekly recruiting rounduptag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2221752009-11-20T17:01:53Z2009-11-20T20:39:48ZThe fall signing period ended this week with a couple of notable Maryland-related developments. On Monday, St. Anthony (N.J.) power forward Ashton Pankey committed to the Terps, giving Maryland a four-man class which also includes Tucson (Ariz.) Santa Rita point...Matt Bracken
Ashton Pankey committed to the Terps, giving Maryland a four-man class which also includes Tucson (Ariz.) Santa Rita point guard Terrell Stoglin, Montrose Christian shooting guard Terrence Ross and Miller School (Va.) small forward Mychal Parker.
Then on Thursday night, Maryland target Tobias Harris committed to Tennessee.
So how does Maryland's 2010 recruiting class stack up nationally?
• Rivals.com has UM at No. 17 -- without including Pankey's pledge.
• Scout.com lists Maryland at No. 19 overall.
• ESPN.com also pegs Maryland as having the 19th-best class.
• And MaxPreps.com -- also without including Pankey's commitment -- ranks the Terps as the No. 10 class in the country.
Analysis: Ross and Stoglin should develop into a nice 1-2 punch at the guard spots for Gary Williams.]]>
Pankey's commitment.
"He went from not being very physical inside to doing a good job on the glass and playing with some intensity," Telep said. "The thing with him is he's always been a guy who's had talent and ability; he just hadn't gone out and done it with any kind of intensity or consistency, and I felt toward the end of the summer he was starting to do that, which is a really good sign. My evaluation on him won't be complete until I see him during his senior year, but I think he's got a chance to be a guy who makes a living underneath the basket as a rebounder and an impact-type player. I haven't seen a whole lot of offense out of him outside of that, but he looks like a guy who's pretty good right around the basket."
• Ross will wait until the spring to sign his letter of intent to Maryland, according to The Washington Post.
"He's going to wait until the spring," Montrose Christian Coach Stu Vetter said, adding that Ross remains committed to Maryland and that academically he could have signed this week had he chosen.
• Former Maryland small forward target Justin Coleman transferred to Huntington (W.Va.) Prep this week.
Coleman's list of potential suitors includes Marquette, Arkansas, Xavier, Kansas, Kentucky and Providence, according to Fulford.
• The Maryland women's basketball program signed the No. 2-ranked class in the country this week. Click here for the official release.
Football recruiting
• Bishop McNamara wide receiver Brandon Coleman told Rivals.com that he has narrowed his list of schools to three.
“It’s between Rutgers, Maryland and Syracuse,” he said. “I might try to do an official to Syracuse in January. I like the same things about them as the other schools. I visited there over the summer and they were interesting.”
• Norcross, Ga., offensive lineman Max Garcia told Palmetto Sports that he will likely choose between Maryland, Clemson and Vanderbilt before the end of the year.
"They all have their pros and cons," said Garcia. "In the end, I have to go where my heart is telling me to go. I just want to go somewhere I am comfortable. Somewhere I can get along with the players and coaches and somewhere with a good journalism school."
• Phil Kornblut reports that Clemson running backs coach Andre Powell plans on checking out two Maryland commitments at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy.
Powell also will see LB David Mackall (6-3 245), a native of Baltimore, and LB Lorne Goree (6-1 210), a native of Silver Spring, MD.
• Matt Robinson's Atholton squad takes on River Hill tonight for the Class 3A regional championship. The Raiders hope to avenge a 35-14 loss to the Hawks in the regular season.
That said, Atholton scored twice on touchdowns of 90 and 80 yards from Kalvin Seamonson to Matt Robinson in that game. Something tells me that the River Hill secondary has been working especially hard this week on making sure that doesn’t happen again. Hawks coach Brian Van Deusen does expect them to try, however.
“I’m sure they’re going to come out and try that again, when you’ve got a kid like Matt Robinson you’ve got to,” he said.
• Terps commitments Titus Till and Rahsaan Moore lead Wise against C.H. Flowers on Saturday in the Class 4A South regional championship. The Pumas fell to the Jaguars 14-12 just two weeks ago.
"That was a humbling loss," Moore said. "We learned a lot from that game. They came out and made the plays. We had the lead twice and they still beat us. Their offensive line is excellent and their running backs are really good. We have to find a way to stop them. We're definitely going to be ready for them this time. We're going to walk off the field with a win this time."
• Terps quarterback commitment Tyler Smith will battle for a playoff victory and a Pennsylvania state record tonight.
Lancaster Catholic's Kyle Smith and Wilson Area's Tyler Smith are not related, but they are second and fourth, respectively, on Pennsylvania's career passing chart. Both are taking aim at Downingtown East graduate Pat Devlin's record of 8,162. Kyle Smith has 7,771 going into tonight's District 3-Class AA semifinal against Middletown. Tyler Smith has 7,721 yards - just 41 yards shy of No. 3 and former Wilson Area standout D.J. Lenehan - going into tonight's District 11-Class AA semifinal at Allentown Central Catholic.
• The Washington Post profiled DeMatha offensive lineman Arie Kouandjio and his younger brother Cyrus this week. Both are Maryland targets.
Arie is not focusing on recruiting until next week, but it is believed that Alabama and California rank near the top of the several dozen schools to offer him a scholarship, with Maryland, Miami, Tennessee, Notre Dame and New Mexico among those still in consideration. ]]>
Calvert Hall's Lee headed to Towsontag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2221352009-11-20T06:44:25Z2009-11-20T06:55:00ZCalvert Hall small forward Damion Lee will play college basketball just a few miles down the road from his high school. The 6-foot-6, 195-pound small forward signed with Towson on Wednesday, picking the Tigers over Quinnipiac. “It’s a great feeling,”...Matt Bracken
Damion Lee will play college basketball just a few miles down the road from his high school.
The 6-foot-6, 195-pound small forward signed with Towson on Wednesday, picking the Tigers over Quinnipiac.
“It’s a great feeling,” Lee said. “I was thinking about waiting until the spring time, but then the opportunity arose after the visit and I just felt it was a good decision for me to make.”
Lee, a Baltimore Sun All-Baltimore County selection who averaged 11 points and seven rebounds as a junior, took an official visit to Towson last weekend. While he initially gave some thought to leaving the area for college, seeing the Tigers’ 82-71 win over Miami of Ohio helped make his decision easier.
“I liked the fan support,” Lee said. “Their student section was pretty rowdy. I just think next year, we’re definitely going to build on that and keep the energy up and just hopefully turn Towson into an NCAA tournament team.”
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Braxton Dupree (Calvert Hall), Troy Franklin (Mount Carmel), Isaiah Philmore (John Carroll) and Danny Smith (Archbishop Spalding).
Calvert Hall coach John Bauersfeld thinks Lee will fit in well with the Tigers’ up-tempo style of play. Bauersfeld said Towson’s staff was impressed by his skills “and his heart.”
“I think Towson does a really nice job of letting their wings have a lot of freedom,” Bauersfeld said. “I think Damion really feeds well off that and he has very good basketball IQ. He can really score, put the ball on the floor and do a lot of different things. And he liked what he saw when he watched Towson play. ... He’s great on the offensive boards and they really like the little things that he does, and also his personality. He’s a great person and he’s very coachable. And I think that stuck out to them.”
Lee, who plans on studying either business or communications, moved with his mother to Maryland from New York before his freshman year. At the time, staying in the area for college wasn’t his highest priority. But now that living close to home for the next four years is official, Lee couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.
“The atmosphere is great,” Lee said, “and I can’t wait to play there next year.”
Baltimore Sun photo of Damion Lee by Gene Sweeney Jr. / Jan. 23, 2009]]>
Tobias Harris picks Tennesseetag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2221122009-11-19T23:23:32Z2009-11-19T23:29:49ZTobias Harris, the five-star forward from Dix Hills, N.Y., has made his decision. “I’m going to be playing my college basketball at the University of Tennessee,” said Harris, who announced his decision live on ESPNU Thursday night. Harris picked the...Matt Bracken
Tobias Harris, the five-star forward from Dix Hills, N.Y., has made his decision.
“I’m going to be playing my college basketball at the University of Tennessee,” said Harris, who announced his decision live on ESPNU Thursday night.
Harris picked the Volunteers over Maryland, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Syracuse and West Virginia.
“I really had a great relationship with Coach [Bruce] Pearl and Coach [Tony] Jones,” Harris said. “It’s just a family atmosphere down there. I got along with the players real well and it’s just a great opportunity and fit for me.”]]>
Cleveland Melvin makes decisiontag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2220622009-11-19T19:09:24Z2009-11-19T20:39:31ZFormer Lake Clifton standout Cleveland Melvin is headed to the Big East. Melvin, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward, committed to UConn today, picking the Huskies over DePaul, Memphis, Seton Hall and South Florida. “It was kind of hard to choose because...Matt Bracken
Cleveland Melvin is headed to the Big East.
Melvin, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward, committed to UConn today, picking the Huskies over DePaul, Memphis, Seton Hall and South Florida.
“It was kind of hard to choose because a lot of colleges were recruiting me heavy,” Melvin said. “But at the end, I chose UConn because it’s ... just a great staff and has great coaches. They support me, they just love me and have so much respect for me. I think I can improve my game there next year.”
Melvin's commitment comes one day after the end of the fall signing period. Even though that means he will wait until spring to sign his letter of intent, Melvin was ready to end his recruitment early.
“He visited UConn for Midnight Madness,” said Anthony Lewis, Melvin’s AAU coach with Cecil Kirk. “Then he went back on an official visit last weekend. He had two more visits scheduled on his docket -- Seton Hall and Memphis. The question for him became whether he wanted to extend this thing to the spring or whether he was going to make the decision now. He decided he was just going to be done with it and commit.”
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Baltimore Sun first-team All-Metro selection last spring, averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks per game as a senior, helping the undefeated Lakers to the Class 3A state championship. Melvin is now doing a post-grad year at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., where he has teamed up again with former Lake Clifton point guard and Cecil Kirk alumnus Antonio Barton. Melvin’s summer on the circuit ensured his status as a legitimate high-major prospect.
“His summer was huge,” Lewis said. “He had the opportunity to [showcase his game] on the major stage, a major platform. That’s not anything against Lake Clifton -- that’s all of high school. You’re limited by where you can travel because of the rules and the number of games they can play because of the rules. So just having the ability to be seen at that [AAU] level was huge.”
Melvin agreed with his coach's assessment, noting that Lewis told him after his high school season that he would earn those scholarship offers playing for Cecil Kirk.
“When I went on the circuit for the summer, we had a really good team and I think I proved [myself],” Melvin said. “It was a great summer for me because I had gotten a lot more colleges looking at me, so it was great. Coach Anthony Lewis, he’s a great coach. He helped me get through everything. He’s just a great coach.”
Lewis, who also coached former UConn standout and current Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay, thinks Melvin is the perfect fit for the Huskies’ system.
“I think his style of play [fits well at UConn],” Lewis said. “He has almost freakish athleticism. He just has really, really good athleticism. And you couple that with the ability to get to the bucket, put it on the floor and knock down the mid-range shot, and he’s just a natural fit for an up-tempo type of team. He’s also long and can guard the perimeter, so he gets out. I see him as a 3-man, maybe a 3/4 in that set. He just has that ability. He’s worked very hard to expand his game beyond the mid-range. So I see him doing very well [at UConn].”
Melvin said he's enjoying his time at Notre Dame Prep. The Crusaders are 8-1 and he's one of the leading scorers thus far. He'll finish school in the spring and move to Storrs, Conn., in the summer.
“It’s kind of weird [being away from Baltimore] but I’ve got to get used to it,” Melvin said. “When I go to school next year, it’s going to be exciting. ... Jim Calhoun is a great coach. He’s put a lot of NBA players into the league. Rudy Gay, Ben Gordon, Josh Boone, all of them had great impacts on their teams. ... I’ll be coming in playing with Kemba Walker, a great point guard, and [hopefully getting] a lot of playing time.”
Baltimore Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam / Feb. 23, 2009]]>
Two Poly prospects will wait to signtag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2218162009-11-18T15:02:39Z2009-11-18T16:14:02ZPoly coach Renard Lewis isn’t afraid to admit that the Engineers' success this season will depend largely upon the effectiveness of two seniors -- forward Montray Clemons and combo guard Jeffrey Joynes. “Definitely it’s pivotal,” Lewis said. “They are my...Matt Bracken
Renard Lewis isn’t afraid to admit that the Engineers' success this season will depend largely upon the effectiveness of two seniors -- forward Montray Clemons and combo guard Jeffrey Joynes.
“Definitely it’s pivotal,” Lewis said. “They are my two seniors I’m really going to be relying upon. I think they’re going to be up to the challenge. They’ve definitely been putting in a lot of work in the weight room and their games individually on their own. They’re just really focusing on winning this season and putting us in a position that we can get down to Comcast Center, which is a goal we set for ourselves. Our team is going to go as far as they take us.”
Clemons, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound small forward, is “at minimum, a mid-major Division I player” in Lewis’ opinion. Clemons played for Cecil Kirk this summer but tore a ligament in his knee in July. Although his AAU season was cut short, Lewis said many schools have expressed interest.
“He’s gotten some interest from the University of New Orleans, Quinnipiac, Mount St. Mary’s, Lehigh, UNLV, Texas A&M and Miami,” Lewis said. “I think they really want to see how he progresses because [of his injury].”
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Lewis said Clemons, who averaged about 15 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior, is completely recovered from his injury and looks better than ever on the court.
“I mean he’s more than back to normal,” Lewis said. “... He’s actually on the floor and putting on a show. This is probably the best that I’ve seen him look [in awhile]. I can really see the progression in terms of strength, the things he’s able to do on the floor and him being able to finish. At 6-7, he’s dunking all over the place and I really expect him to have a monster year.”
Joynes, 6-2, 205 pounds, is a “big, strong kid” that is a little more under the radar. Lewis thinks that could change this season.
“He’s starting to get some recognition,” Lewis said. “He played with Baltimore Assault for awhile and then just started working on his game [individually]. He’s starting to get some Division II inquiries. Everything is going to be predicated on our season and how productive he is. But at 6-2, with the ability that he has, he’s definitely a Division I player. I’d say low- to mid-major Division I.”
Joynes averaged around 13 points, six rebounds and four assists per game as a junior. He played mostly at the 2-guard spot last season, so Lewis’ goal for this year is developing Joynes’ point guard skills.
“We’re working with him on his ball-handling responsibilities at point guard this year,” Lewis said. “But he’s a kid that can flat-out shoot the ball. When he puts it on the floor going to the rack, nobody’s going to stop him because he’s such a strong guard. ... Offensively, we’d like to see him improve his ball-handling skills a little more and his point guard mentality. Those are the things we’ll work on. I call him a bully guard, though. He can post you up from the guard position and he’s going to cause trouble. You really can’t deal with him because he’s too strong.”
Meet Ashton Pankeytag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2217122009-11-17T18:43:02Z2009-11-17T19:33:19ZBy the time he was 12, Ashton Pankey had a pretty good idea that he would play college basketball. The 6-foot seventh-grader was a good student who wasn’t enamored with the game just yet, but that changed in hurry, especially...Matt Bracken
Ashton Pankey had a pretty good idea that he would play college basketball.
The 6-foot seventh-grader was a good student who wasn’t enamored with the game just yet, but that changed in hurry, especially after throwing down his first dunk that year.
“From seventh to eighth grade I grew from 6 feet to 6-6,” Pankey said. “That’s when I had my previous growth spurt. ... At seventh grade, I wasn’t as serious about basketball. During high school, I became more serious.”
The Maryland-bound power forward has made that abundantly clear the past three years, first while starring for Archbishop Molloy in Queens, N.Y., and then as a junior with the legendary St. Anthony High program in Jersey City.
Pankey’s seventh-grade predictions about playing college basketball came into focus during those earlier high school years. He knew he wanted to leave the New York area, essentially eliminating St. John’s and Seton Hall from contention. When Maryland came calling this summer, Pankey found what he was looking for athletically and academically.
“I’ve always wanted to play at the highest level of basketball, and one thing I dream of is being a pro,” Pankey said. “I work my hardest and do what I need to do, and I think Maryland is going to give me the best chance [of realizing that dream]. And it’s not just basketball. Maryland’s one of the best schools in the country in terms of academics, too.”
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Name: Ashton Pankey
Birthdate: May 16, 1992
Birthplace: Bronx, N.Y.
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
Nickname: None
Height: 6-9
Weight: 230
Position: Power forward
High School: St. Anthony (N.J.)
Junior statistics: “About 10 points, two to three blocks per game."
Rankings:Rivals.com -- Three stars. Scout.com -- Three stars, No. 36 power forward. ESPN.com -- 91 rating, No. 40 power forward.
Other schools considered: Drexel, Hofstra, Houston, Rice
Favorite pro basketball player: Amare Stoudemire and LeBron James
Favorite pro basketball team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Favorite all-time Terp: Steve Francis
Favorite music: Lil Wayne, Drake, Kanye West, Jay-Z
Favorite book:The Miracle of St. Anthony by Adrian Wojnarowski
Favorite movie:Coach CarterFavorite TV show:SpongeBob SquarePantsFavorite food: “I like everything.”
Favorite high school class: Math
Favorite thing about College Park: “The atmosphere. It’s a friendly atmosphere around there.”
Hobbies: “Going out to the movies, chilling with friends. I don’t have a lot of down time for myself during the season. Besides basketball, I don’t really do much.”
Intended major: “Probably business.”
Something that not many people know about you: “I’m friendly. A lot of people think I’m conceited, [but I’m not]. So if you see me outside one day, come and talk to me. I won’t bite.”
Best basketball moment: “When I caught my first dunk. It was great.”
Role model: “Michael Jordan [because] he’s the best basketball player ever.”
Why Maryland? “I’ve always wanted to play at the highest level of basketball, and one thing I dream of is being a pro. I work my hardest and do what I need to do, and I think Maryland is going to give me the best chance [of realizing that dream]. And it’s not just basketball. Maryland’s one of the best schools in the country in terms of academics, too.” ]]>
Ashton Pankey commits to Marylandtag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2215682009-11-16T21:28:40Z2009-11-16T22:20:22ZSt. Anthony (N.J.) power forward Ashton Pankey committed to Maryland today, giving the Terps their fourth commitment of the 2010 recruiting class. Pankey, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound senior, chose the Terps over offers from Houston, Rice, Drexel and Hofstra. He joins...Matt Bracken
Ashton Pankey committed to Maryland today, giving the Terps their fourth commitment of the 2010 recruiting class.
Pankey, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound senior, chose the Terps over offers from Houston, Rice, Drexel and Hofstra. He joins Tucson (Ariz.) Santa Rita point guard Terrell Stoglin, Montrose Christian shooting guard Terrence Ross and Miller School (Va.) small forward Mychal Parker in Maryland's class.
“I think it’s a win-win situation,” said Jeff Rivera, one of Pankey’s AAU coaches with the New York-based New Heights program. “I think it’s a great fit for both Ashton and the University of Maryland. Obviously, Coach [Gary] Williams has seen him and Coach [Chuck] Driesell was following him around this summer and has been to a number of his workouts at St. Anthony's. I think it’ll be good for his potential. Hopefully everything will work itself out.”
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Kimani Young, New Heights’ athletic director and a former standout player at UTEP, cited Pankey’s athleticism, rebounding and shot-blocking prowess, and ability to step out and hit the 15-foot jumper, as strengths in his game. Maryland is the right place for Pankey to tap into that potential, Young said.
“Absolutely I think they got a steal,” Young said. “But I think in some regard, he got a steal, too. He’s going to a great program with a great coach and great tradition. ... [Maryland] saw him and identified that the potential is there. And you can do that when you have two or three big guys that are young and getting better at the same time. He’ll fit right in with that mix.”
Pankey took an official visit to College Park on Halloween and followed that up with a trip to Houston last weekend. But ever since Maryland started recruiting Pankey last summer, Rivera had a feeling that would be his destination.
“His mother didn’t want him to just go to school for basketball,” Rivera said. “She wanted him to go to a good school where he could get a good education. When Maryland was getting involved, I knew that would satisfy for him what he wanted in a school. He wants to compete at the highest level and challenge himself playing in the ACC, so I thought it was a great fit.”
Check back with Recruiting Report later this week for more on Pankey’s decision.
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<![CDATA[Weekend wrap — Moore, Till lead Wise]]>tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2214922009-11-16T16:09:47Z2009-11-16T16:29:40ZTwo Maryland commitments were instrumental in Wise’s 6-0 win over Eleanor Roosevelt in the Class 4A South Region semifinals Saturday. Titus Till intercepted a pass inside Wise’s 5-yard line in the second quarter and Rahsaan Moore rushed for a 1-yard...Matt Bracken
Titus Till intercepted a pass inside Wise’s 5-yard line in the second quarter and Rahsaan Moore rushed for a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for the game’s only points.
"I was just looking for a hole on that right side," Moore told The Gazette. "I wanted to follow a block from the fullback [Quentin Gartrell] and find a hole. I found one on that side and we scored. It was a tough fight. It was frustrating in the first half because we had some good drives and we had too many penalties. Then we were on defense almost the whole third quarter. We rely on our defense a lot. They came up with a big stop in the fourth quarter."
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Devin Burns made the play of the game for Carver in its 28-21 win over Burke County in the first round of the Georgia Class AAA playoffs.
With the score tied at 21 late in the fourth quarter, Carver coach Dell McGee decided to run a play on fourth down rather than punt from the Carver 28. There was a foot to go for the first down. Burns took the snap, stepped quickly to his right and raced 72 yards for what proved to the winning touchdown in a 28-21 Carver victory in the first round of the Class AAA state playoffs.
• Maryland athlete recruit Matt Robinson found the end zone once in Atholton’s 14-13 win over Wilde Lake in the Class 3A East regional semifinals.
Wilde Lake scored first Friday night on a 5-yard run by [E.J.] Gilman with six minutes left in the first half. Atholton answered on its first drive of the second half with a 17-play, 70-yard, nearly eight-minute drive, capped by a 4-yard pass from Kalvin Seamonson to Matt Robinson in the corner of the end zone.
Robinson also contributed seven tackles and two sacks on defense.
• Terps quarterback pledge Tyler Smith threw for three touchdowns in Wilson Area High’s 44-19 win over Pottsville in the Pennsylvania District 11-AAA semifinals.
Smith completed 15-of-27 passes for 197 yards, pushing his season total to 2,850 yards and his career total to 7,720, third-highest in state history.
• UM defensive end recruit Ian Evans helped Hammonton to a 30-0 win over Winslow Township in the South Jersey Group 3 quarterfinals.
Hammonton, led by Maryland-bound defensive end Ian Evans, did a great job limiting [Winslow Township quarterback Bill] Belton on long runs.
• The high school career of UM tight end commitment Nermin Delic ended Friday with Northwest Whitfield’s 40-3 loss to Southwest DeKalb in the first round of the Georgia Class 4A playoffs.
“We worked hard all season long,” Delic said. “We had to work through a lot of adversity to finish the season strong and nobody even gave us a chance to make the playoffs. I felt like we did all we could to compete against this team, they’re one of the best in the state of Georgia.”Basketball recruiting
• Adam Zagoria spoke with Tobias Harris’ father, Torrel, after the five-star prospect’s weekend trip to College Park.
“I don’t think Coach Williams gets enough credit for his success as others coaches around the country. I consider him a future Hall of Famer. I went with my sons, T.J. and Terry, and the coaches to watch the football game while Tobias, Tyler and the Maryland players went to the movies.
• St. Anthony (N.J.) power forward Ashton Pankey will announce his college choice today. Maryland and Houston are his finalists.
• The Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer checked in this weekend with five-star forward C.J. Leslie, who will wait until spring to sign.
The only visit he's taken is to Kentucky, but he said N.C. State is still on the list, along with Florida, Oregon, Georgia and Connecticut, and there is no leader.
• Tony Mitchell, a five-star small forward who was briefly a Maryland target, has committed to Missouri.
He is expected to complete signing papers by Wednesday, thus joining what is now a four-player recruiting class for Missouri that should rank among the top 20 classes in the country.
• Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) point guard Sterling Gibbs, a 2011 prospect, updated NBE Basketball Report on his recruitment.
“St. John’s, Maryland, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Virginia, Pitt, Indiana, Tennesse and Providence,” responded Gibbs when NBE asked which schools are actively recruiting him.]]>
Weekly recruiting rounduptag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2212522009-11-13T15:37:32Z2009-11-13T16:03:42ZAfter this weekend, the Maryland men's basketball program could have another addition to its 2010 recruiting class. St. Anthony (N.J.) forward Ashton Pankey, who took an official visit to College Park last weekend, was scheduled to visit Houston this weekend....Matt Bracken
Ashton Pankey, who took an official visit to College Park last weekend, was scheduled to visit Houston this weekend. After that trip, the three-star prospect will make his decision.
“He really liked Maryland and I know he wants to be able to compare Maryland to another school,” [St. Anthony coach Bob] Hurley said.
According to ESPN.com's Christopher Lawlor, Maryland has a very good chance of landing Pankey.
Several sources feel Pankey, a Bronx, N.Y., resident, is a lock for the Terrapins, but it's the policy of coach Bob Hurley that players visit at least two schools, developing a point of reference and allowing comparison of programs. ]]>
Tobias Harris are on tap for this weekend, according to ESPN.com. Harris will likely wait until the spring period to sign his letter of intent.
Maryland has been recruiting ESPNU 100 PF Tobias Harris (Brookville, N.Y./Half Hollow) for some time and he has been to College Park on numerous occasions. According to InsideMDSports.com, he'll arrive in Maryland Friday, spend the weekend there and then fly to Georgia Tech on Sunday for his final official. He'll then spend a day or two considering his options before announcing his decision next Wednesday on ESPNU.
• Tucson (Ariz.) Santa Rita point guard Terrell Stoglin signed his letter of intent to Maryland on Thursday, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
"There was a lot of pressure from the hometown people, but I had to do what was best for me and my family," said Stoglin, referring to the constant questions of whether he would change his mind and stay in Tucson.
• The Diamondback spoke with Rivals.com recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer about Maryland's three commitments.
“[Terrence Ross] is a really athletic wing who can shoot, maybe not as good a playmaker off the dribble as some other guards at his position,” Rivals.com national college basketball recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer said. “But nonetheless, he can shoot the ball a lot better than a lot of guards at his position.” Football recruiting
• Maryland quarterback commitment Devin Burns is scheduled to visit Georgia this weekend, but the three-star prospect told Rivals.com that Terps fans shouldn’t be concerned.
[Burns] says he is set with the Terrapins.
“Oh yea. I am real excited about going there. I talk with the Maryland coaches every week. Coach (Ralph) Friedgen is the real deal and very down to earth. He’s a father figure and someone you can talk too [sic].”
• Pittsburgh Penn Hills wide receiver Brandon Ifill has set a date for his decision, Rivals.com reports.
“I haven’t taken any visits lately, but I’ve actually set up two official visits for December,” he explained. “I’m going to Pitt for the weekend of December 11, and I’ll be at Maryland for the weekend of December 18. Once I’m done with those I’ll make my decision on December 21.”
• Norcross (Ga.) offensive lineman Max Garcia will decide between Maryland, Vanderbilt and Clemson, which he visited last weekend.
“I like Clemson because it’s close to home,” Garcia said last week. “They have a need at left tackle and some other positions, so it’s a place I think I could impact the program in the first couple of years.”
• Forestville wide receiver Antonio Belt told Rivals.com that he’s more focused on his team’s playoff game against Dunbar on Saturday than recruiting.
Belt claims three scholarships at this time from Maryland, Rhode Island and Temple.
“I haven’t been thinking about recruiting,” he said. “My coach told me other schools are interested, but I’m just thinking about the playoffs right now.”
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Digital Harbor's Usher ready to signtag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2212062009-11-12T23:17:03Z2009-11-12T23:28:18ZWhen Texas A&M-Corpus Christi opens its season Friday against Oregon State in Lubbock, the Islanders will have one assistant coach from Baltimore on the sideline (Kevin Norris, Lake Clifton) and two local players on the court (Kevin Palmer, Parkville and...Matt Bracken
Kevin Norris, Lake Clifton) and two local players on the court (Kevin Palmer, Parkville and Terence Jones, Lake Clifton).
Dunbar senior Derrell Edwards, a Texas A&M-Corpus Christi commitment, will likely be paying attention to the game from afar, as will Digital Harbor’s Davon Usher, who pledged to the Islanders last week. He plans to sign his letter of intent during the fall period.
Usher, a 6-foot-5, 183-pound shooting guard, visited the campus over Halloween weekend and liked what he saw, calling Corpus Christi “a smaller version of Miami.” Knowing so many people affiliated with the program from his hometown didn’t hurt matters either.
“I think that’s what drove me to want to go to the school even more,” Usher said. “Basically, it’s like a Baltimore family down there. I already knew guys from Baltimore who went to the school and the coach [from Baltimore] who’s there. Me and Derrell basically grew up together. Now we’re just going down there together and getting work done. He committed and he really wanted me to commit. We came to a good decision, somewhere we were going to play together, have fun and win.”]]>
Johnnie Grimes said George Mason and UMBC were also looking at Usher, thanks in part to his strong summer on the AAU circuit. Grimes said he thinks Usher will fit in well with Norris as one of his coaches and Jones and Edwards as teammates.
“Coach Norris, he knows the style of basketball that Baltimore guys have and [Davon] has that same type of quality that Kevin Palmer has,” Grimes said. “He’s long and ... he’s a very, very good knockdown shooter. He passes the ball very well at 6-5 and he dribbles well. I think the key for him [in college] is going to be the way he shoots the ball. ... It probably was the perfect fit. With Kevin being down there and Terence coming in, it’ll be perfect.”
While Corpus Christi is nearly 1,670 miles away from Baltimore, Usher said the distance didn’t bother him. Granted, the city’s Miami-like atmosphere was a definite attraction. But having a home away from home certainly had its appeal as well.
“I was kind of thinking that it’s real far,” Usher said, “but [now it seems like] more people from Baltimore are going there than people from Texas. But it’s just good. It’s nice that you have a chance to go somewhere like that, especially being from Baltimore. A lot of people from Baltimore don’t even get a chance to get out of the city, so it’s a blessing and a good opportunity to go across the country and play basketball.”
Baltimore Sun photo of Davon Usher by Gene Sweeney Jr. / March 13, 2009]]>
Meet Whitney Baystag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2210962009-11-12T16:05:29Z2009-11-12T16:13:38ZWhitney Bays remembers July 9th like it was yesterday. The Maryland forward commitment was playing with the West Virginia Thunder in an AAU tournament in Lexington, Ky., when she tore her ACL. She had surgery on July 16 and has...Matt Bracken
Whitney Bays remembers July 9th like it was yesterday.
The Maryland forward commitment was playing with the West Virginia Thunder in an AAU tournament in Lexington, Ky., when she tore her ACL. She had surgery on July 16 and has been rehabbing ever since.
“When it happened, of course it was devastating,” Bays said. “But I’ve come to realize through it that everything happens for a reason. I’ve definitely become a better basketball player and person because of it. I just try to put everything in perspective, because it’s just the little things we take for granted, like walking and jumping. I told my mom I’ll never complain about running again in my life. It was like an eye-opener in that it showed me how much I love basketball.”
Bays, who will miss her senior season, has found other positives in her situation. She and classmate Laurin Mincy, who also tore her ACL and will miss her final year of high school basketball, have bonded over their respective rehabs. Like Mincy, Bays will spend time helping her high school program, while also focusing on her future in College Park.
“My physical therapist is having me do running and getting my body in shape and getting ready for what college is going to be like,” Bays said. “In high school, I wasn’t necessarily doing that. So I’m really excited to play at a big Division I school. It’s an opportunity that a lot of people don’t get and I’m glad that I’m blessed to be in this position and have this opportunity.”
Bays was the fifth and final senior to commit to Maryland for the 2010 class, which is ranked No. 1 in the country by some recruiting analysts. Bays said she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join.
“I knew they were getting a great recruiting class when I was trying to make the decision, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” Bays said. “The coaches are great and I think all five of us all felt the same way and saw the same things. It was just right for all of us.”
Here’s an introduction to Bays.]]>
Name: Whitney Bays
Birthdate: June 6, 1992
Birthplace: Huntington, W.Va.
Hometown: Huntington, W.Va.
Nickname: None
Height: 6’2
Position: Forward
High School: Huntington High
Rankings: ESPN Hoop Gurlz -- No. 13 player in the country.
Junior statistics: 25 points, 12 rebounds
Other schools considered: Georgia, Virginia Tech, Florida State
Favorite pro basketball player: Candace Parker
Favorite pro basketball team: Boston Celtics
Favorite all-time Terp: Len Bias
Favorite music: “Lil Wayne, Dixie Chicks. I like all kinds of music.”
Favorite movie: Love and BasketballFavorite TV show: Fresh Prince of Bel AirFavorite book: “I read magazines more than books. I like Sports Illustrated and Cosmopolitan.Favorite food: Ice cream
Favorite high school class: Gym
Favorite thing about College Park: “That’s a hard one. I like a lot of stuff. Probably the team and the staff.”
Hobbies: “I used to play volleyball and I like hanging out with my friends. I love playing pickup -- basically any sports. I like playing football with a bunch of guys, [and] I’ll play baseball and home run derby.”
Intended major: Undecided
Something that not many people know about you: “Probably that I actually like listening to country music. And I’m really close with my sister. A lot of people get us confused as twins. She’s 19.”
Best basketball moment: “Probably right now, signing with Maryland.”
Role model: “One is my sister because she always knows how to handle everything. She approaches everything the right way. If it‘s a bad situation, she always looks at it as a positive. [Another role model is] my mom, just because she‘s always there for me. When I have kids, I want to become that type of mom. And God [is also a role model]. I’m very religious, so I have to add that in there.”
Why Maryland? “It just felt right. You hear everyone say that and when some people told me that, I didn’t know what they meant. [I thought], ‘What are they talking about?’ But everything just felt right. Everything clicked. I could see myself playing there. The team was great and just everything went good. There wasn’t anything I could point out that was wrong with it.”]]>
Reports: Tsafack picks Memphistag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2210272009-11-12T03:19:18Z2009-11-12T03:43:17ZThe Memphis Commercial Appeal and Scout.com reported earlier today that Miller School (Va.) center Hippolyte Tsafack committed to Memphis and is expected to sign during the fall period. Tsafack, a powerfully-built forward with a developing skill set, is a three-star...Matt Bracken
The Memphis Commercial Appeal and Scout.com reported earlier today that Miller School (Va.) center Hippolyte Tsafack committed to Memphis and is expected to sign during the fall period.
Tsafack, a powerfully-built forward with a developing skill set, is a three-star prospect according to both Rivals and Scout. National Hoops Report ranked Tsafack as the No. 5 “sleeper” of the July recruiting period. He visited Memphis and Maryland in October before making his decision.
Maryland's focus remains on St. Anthony (N.J.) forward Ashton Pankey, who will make his decision after visiting Houston this weekend.]]>
Mount St. Joseph's Beaumont makes decisiontag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2209392009-11-11T17:04:32Z2009-11-11T18:07:15ZThanks to a little southern hospitality, Ryley Beaumont’s college decision was easier to make than expected. The 6-foot-6, 195-pound forward from Mount St. Joseph was weighing offers from Elon, Fairfield, Longwood, Loyola and Quinnipiac. Visits to Elon, N.C., however, stood...Matt Bracken
Ryley Beaumont’s college decision was easier to make than expected.
The 6-foot-6, 195-pound forward from Mount St. Joseph was weighing offers from Elon, Fairfield, Longwood, Loyola and Quinnipiac. Visits to Elon, N.C., however, stood apart from the rest.
“It was great weather both times actually. I love it down south,” Beaumont said. “A lot of people down there are welcoming. They don’t just walk by and snub you or give you the cold shoulder. I think it goes to the coaching staff as well. They’re all examples of [southern hospitality]. They’re all really nice people.”
Beaumont, a Baltimore Catholic League second-team selection who averaged 19 points per game as a junior, committed to the Phoenix over the weekend.
]]>
Matt Matheny, a North Carolina native, spent 16 seasons as an assistant at Davidson before taking the head coaching job at Elon last March. Beaumont said he’s excited to join a program that’s embarking on a new era.
“[Matheny] was [at Davidson] with Steph Curry and their Elite Eight run,” Beaumont said. “I know he’s a great coach and the whole staff is very warm and welcoming. They’re just generally good people. It’s nice to be surrounded by those kinds of people.”
Pat Clatchey, who has coached seven current Division I players at Mount St. Joseph, said Elon is a perfect fit for Beaumont from a basketball and academic standpoint.
“I just think he’s really developing into a very good all-around player,” Clatchey said. “I think [Elon] really likes his versatility as a player. He can score in a variety of ways. He can shoot, he can move well without the ball and he has a nice mid-range pull-up. I think they really like him because he’s very committed to becoming the best player he can be. He’s willing to put in the work, both in the weight room and the gym. I think he’ll be a successful player at the next level.”
Beaumont, Gaels point guard Eric Atkins (Notre Dame) and shooting guard Matt Miller (Seton Hill) will all sign their letters of intent this week. Beaumont said he’s excited that he and his teammates have finished the recruiting process.
“It’s just nice to get the decision done with before the season,” Beaumont said. “Now I can get with my teammates, focus on the season and hopefully get to that championship.”
Baltimore Sun photo of Ryley Beaumont by Gene Sweeney Jr. / Feb. 13, 2009]]>
Darius Kilgo talks Terps commitmenttag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2207592009-11-10T16:36:28Z2009-11-10T16:40:53ZA sense of hopelessness came over Darius Kilgo on Saturday. The Maryland defensive tackle commitment sat in front of his computer, following the Terps’ every move as they took on North Carolina State. Kilgo said monitoring Maryland’s 38-31 loss “wasn’t...Matt Bracken
Darius Kilgo on Saturday.
The Maryland defensive tackle commitment sat in front of his computer, following the Terps’ every move as they took on North Carolina State.
Kilgo said monitoring Maryland’s 38-31 loss “wasn’t that frustrating” -- other than the fact that he wasn’t there to help.
“Absolutely [I wanted to be there] because they’re a young team and I feel like I can contribute,” Kilgo said.]]>
Dave] Sollazzo have been talking a lot. We’re starting to build a relationship,” Kilgo said. “He’s just a great coach. He’s always fired up and I like that about him. He always has energy.”
Kilgo will continue following the Terps from afar, while readying for the stretch run of his high school career. When he arrives in College Park, Kilgo will be ready to hit the ground running.
“I’m not going to let Maryland down,” Kilgo said. “I’m going to work my hardest and try to contribute as much as I can.”
]]>
<![CDATA[Weekend wrap — Six scores for Burns]]>tag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2009:/sports/college/recruiting//141.2205852009-11-09T15:51:39Z2009-11-09T15:59:51ZDevin Burns saved one of his best offensive performances of the year for Carver (Ga.) High’s regular-season finale. The Maryland quarterback commitment threw for five touchdown passes and rushed for a three-yard score in the Tigers’ 48-15 win over Northside....Matt Bracken
Devin Burns saved one of his best offensive performances of the year for Carver (Ga.) High’s regular-season finale.
The Maryland quarterback commitment threw for five touchdown passes and rushed for a three-yard score in the Tigers’ 48-15 win over Northside.
Burns, who sat out the second quarter as Tiger reserves played, came back with pinpoint passing as he hit three different receivers for scores in the second half and ran for another.]]>
Nermin Delic made big plays on offense and defense in Northwest Whitfield’s 43-33 win over Paulding County (Ga.).
The Bruins seemed to be in control when Delic blocked a punt midway through the second quarter, setting up his own 21-yard touchdown catch from Chad Keeter two plays later for a 22-12 lead with 4:09 left in the half — but as it turned out, they still had plenty of work to do.
• Terps fullback commitment Rahsaan Moore found the end zone once in Wise’s 14-12 loss to C.H. Flowers.
Down 12-6 after a fumbled snap on a punt set up Wise's Rahsaan Moore for a three-yard touchdown run, C.H. Flowers embarked on a 17-play drive that began with just more than three minutes remaining in the third quarter and ended with Jaguars senior Reginald Woods scampering into the end zone with 6 1/2 minutes remaining.
• Maryland athlete pledge Matt Robinson caught one pass for five yards and led Atholton with seven tackles as the Raiders beat Glenelg, 14-13.
After a short pass play to midfield, [Glenelg quarterback Gage] Trawick spiked the ball and then tossed a pass intended for Shane Kellaher at the goal line that was broken up by Matt Robinson as the clock expired.
• Terps defensive end recruit Ian Evans’ Hammonton (N.J.) squad fell to undefeated Egg Harbor, 23-19.
Hammonton needed a big play, and after it took over on its 15, [Nick] Crescenzo hit Ian Evans for a 31-yard gain. Eight plays later, Josh Baez went 1 yard for a touchdown with 10:33 left in the game. The extra point sailed wide left, and Hammonton trailed, 23-19.
• UM quarterback commitment Tyler Smith threw for three touchdown passes in the first half of Wilson Area (Pa.) High’s 41-0 rout of Notre Dame-Green Pond.
Basketball recruiting
• A decision from Miller School (Va.) center Hippolyte Tsafackcould come soon.
Memphis should hear something this week regarding 6-8 forward Hippolyte Tsafack, who visited Memphis last month and is deciding between the Tigers and Maryland.
• Testudo Times took a look at the Twitter page of Ashton Pankey, the St. Anthony (N.J.) power forward who visited College Park over the weekend.
• Visits to Maryland and Georgia Tech are next on Tobias Harris’ itinerary after the five-star prospect checked out West Virginia this weekend.
“They’re losing Da’Sean Butler and they might lose Devin Ebanks so [Bob Huggins] wants me to come in and play the roles they’re playing. It sounds good,” Harris said.
• C.J. Leslie’s mother told Adam Zagoria that her son “probably won’t sign until the spring.”Leslie had in-home visits with Kentucky, Maryland, Seton Hall, Arizona State, Georgetown, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Florida International and Oregon.
]]>
The 6-foot-6, 195-pound small forward signed with Towson on Wednesday, picking the Tigers over Quinnipiac.
“It’s a great feeling,” Lee said. “I was thinking about waiting until the spring time, but then the opportunity arose after the visit and I just felt it was a good decision for me to make.”
Lee, a Baltimore Sun All-Baltimore County selection who averaged 11 points and seven rebounds as a junior, took an official visit to Towson last weekend. While he initially gave some thought to leaving the area for college, seeing the Tigers’ 82-71 win over Miami of Ohio helped make his decision easier.
“I liked the fan support,” Lee said. “Their student section was pretty rowdy. I just think next year, we’re definitely going to build on that and keep the energy up and just hopefully turn Towson into an NCAA tournament team.”
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Braxton Dupree (Calvert Hall), Troy Franklin (Mount Carmel), Isaiah Philmore (John Carroll) and Danny Smith (Archbishop Spalding).
Calvert Hall coach John Bauersfeld thinks Lee will fit in well with the Tigers’ up-tempo style of play. Bauersfeld said Towson’s staff was impressed by his skills “and his heart.”
“I think Towson does a really nice job of letting their wings have a lot of freedom,” Bauersfeld said. “I think Damion really feeds well off that and he has very good basketball IQ. He can really score, put the ball on the floor and do a lot of different things. And he liked what he saw when he watched Towson play. ... He’s great on the offensive boards and they really like the little things that he does, and also his personality. He’s a great person and he’s very coachable. And I think that stuck out to them.”
Lee, who plans on studying either business or communications, moved with his mother to Maryland from New York before his freshman year. At the time, staying in the area for college wasn’t his highest priority. But now that living close to home for the next four years is official, Lee couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.
“The atmosphere is great,” Lee said, “and I can’t wait to play there next year.”
Baltimore Sun photo of Damion Lee by Gene Sweeney Jr. / Jan. 23, 2009]]>
Melvin, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward, committed to UConn today, picking the Huskies over DePaul, Memphis, Seton Hall and South Florida.
“It was kind of hard to choose because a lot of colleges were recruiting me heavy,” Melvin said. “But at the end, I chose UConn because it’s ... just a great staff and has great coaches. They support me, they just love me and have so much respect for me. I think I can improve my game there next year.”
Melvin's commitment comes one day after the end of the fall signing period. Even though that means he will wait until spring to sign his letter of intent, Melvin was ready to end his recruitment early.
“He visited UConn for Midnight Madness,” said Anthony Lewis, Melvin’s AAU coach with Cecil Kirk. “Then he went back on an official visit last weekend. He had two more visits scheduled on his docket -- Seton Hall and Memphis. The question for him became whether he wanted to extend this thing to the spring or whether he was going to make the decision now. He decided he was just going to be done with it and commit.”
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Baltimore Sun first-team All-Metro selection last spring, averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks per game as a senior, helping the undefeated Lakers to the Class 3A state championship. Melvin is now doing a post-grad year at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., where he has teamed up again with former Lake Clifton point guard and Cecil Kirk alumnus Antonio Barton. Melvin’s summer on the circuit ensured his status as a legitimate high-major prospect.
“His summer was huge,” Lewis said. “He had the opportunity to [showcase his game] on the major stage, a major platform. That’s not anything against Lake Clifton -- that’s all of high school. You’re limited by where you can travel because of the rules and the number of games they can play because of the rules. So just having the ability to be seen at that [AAU] level was huge.”
Melvin agreed with his coach's assessment, noting that Lewis told him after his high school season that he would earn those scholarship offers playing for Cecil Kirk.
“When I went on the circuit for the summer, we had a really good team and I think I proved [myself],” Melvin said. “It was a great summer for me because I had gotten a lot more colleges looking at me, so it was great. Coach Anthony Lewis, he’s a great coach. He helped me get through everything. He’s just a great coach.”
Lewis, who also coached former UConn standout and current Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay, thinks Melvin is the perfect fit for the Huskies’ system.
“I think his style of play [fits well at UConn],” Lewis said. “He has almost freakish athleticism. He just has really, really good athleticism. And you couple that with the ability to get to the bucket, put it on the floor and knock down the mid-range shot, and he’s just a natural fit for an up-tempo type of team. He’s also long and can guard the perimeter, so he gets out. I see him as a 3-man, maybe a 3/4 in that set. He just has that ability. He’s worked very hard to expand his game beyond the mid-range. So I see him doing very well [at UConn].”
Melvin said he's enjoying his time at Notre Dame Prep. The Crusaders are 8-1 and he's one of the leading scorers thus far. He'll finish school in the spring and move to Storrs, Conn., in the summer.
“It’s kind of weird [being away from Baltimore] but I’ve got to get used to it,” Melvin said. “When I go to school next year, it’s going to be exciting. ... Jim Calhoun is a great coach. He’s put a lot of NBA players into the league. Rudy Gay, Ben Gordon, Josh Boone, all of them had great impacts on their teams. ... I’ll be coming in playing with Kemba Walker, a great point guard, and [hopefully getting] a lot of playing time.”
Baltimore Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam / Feb. 23, 2009]]>
Dunbar senior Derrell Edwards, a Texas A&M-Corpus Christi commitment, will likely be paying attention to the game from afar, as will Digital Harbor’s Davon Usher, who pledged to the Islanders last week. He plans to sign his letter of intent during the fall period.
Usher, a 6-foot-5, 183-pound shooting guard, visited the campus over Halloween weekend and liked what he saw, calling Corpus Christi “a smaller version of Miami.” Knowing so many people affiliated with the program from his hometown didn’t hurt matters either.
“I think that’s what drove me to want to go to the school even more,” Usher said. “Basically, it’s like a Baltimore family down there. I already knew guys from Baltimore who went to the school and the coach [from Baltimore] who’s there. Me and Derrell basically grew up together. Now we’re just going down there together and getting work done. He committed and he really wanted me to commit. We came to a good decision, somewhere we were going to play together, have fun and win.”]]>
Johnnie Grimes said George Mason and UMBC were also looking at Usher, thanks in part to his strong summer on the AAU circuit. Grimes said he thinks Usher will fit in well with Norris as one of his coaches and Jones and Edwards as teammates.
“Coach Norris, he knows the style of basketball that Baltimore guys have and [Davon] has that same type of quality that Kevin Palmer has,” Grimes said. “He’s long and ... he’s a very, very good knockdown shooter. He passes the ball very well at 6-5 and he dribbles well. I think the key for him [in college] is going to be the way he shoots the ball. ... It probably was the perfect fit. With Kevin being down there and Terence coming in, it’ll be perfect.”
While Corpus Christi is nearly 1,670 miles away from Baltimore, Usher said the distance didn’t bother him. Granted, the city’s Miami-like atmosphere was a definite attraction. But having a home away from home certainly had its appeal as well.
“I was kind of thinking that it’s real far,” Usher said, “but [now it seems like] more people from Baltimore are going there than people from Texas. But it’s just good. It’s nice that you have a chance to go somewhere like that, especially being from Baltimore. A lot of people from Baltimore don’t even get a chance to get out of the city, so it’s a blessing and a good opportunity to go across the country and play basketball.”
Baltimore Sun photo of Davon Usher by Gene Sweeney Jr. / March 13, 2009]]>
college decision was easier to make than expected.
The 6-foot-6, 195-pound forward from Mount St. Joseph was weighing offers from Elon, Fairfield, Longwood, Loyola and Quinnipiac. Visits to Elon, N.C., however, stood apart from the rest.
“It was great weather both times actually. I love it down south,” Beaumont said. “A lot of people down there are welcoming. They don’t just walk by and snub you or give you the cold shoulder. I think it goes to the coaching staff as well. They’re all examples of [southern hospitality]. They’re all really nice people.”
Beaumont, a Baltimore Catholic League second-team selection who averaged 19 points per game as a junior, committed to the Phoenix over the weekend.
]]>
Matt Matheny, a North Carolina native, spent 16 seasons as an assistant at Davidson before taking the head coaching job at Elon last March. Beaumont said he’s excited to join a program that’s embarking on a new era.
“[Matheny] was [at Davidson] with Steph Curry and their Elite Eight run,” Beaumont said. “I know he’s a great coach and the whole staff is very warm and welcoming. They’re just generally good people. It’s nice to be surrounded by those kinds of people.”
Pat Clatchey, who has coached seven current Division I players at Mount St. Joseph, said Elon is a perfect fit for Beaumont from a basketball and academic standpoint.
“I just think he’s really developing into a very good all-around player,” Clatchey said. “I think [Elon] really likes his versatility as a player. He can score in a variety of ways. He can shoot, he can move well without the ball and he has a nice mid-range pull-up. I think they really like him because he’s very committed to becoming the best player he can be. He’s willing to put in the work, both in the weight room and the gym. I think he’ll be a successful player at the next level.”
Beaumont, Gaels point guard Eric Atkins (Notre Dame) and shooting guard Matt Miller (Seton Hill) will all sign their letters of intent this week. Beaumont said he’s excited that he and his teammates have finished the recruiting process.
“It’s just nice to get the decision done with before the season,” Beaumont said. “Now I can get with my teammates, focus on the season and hopefully get to that championship.”
Baltimore Sun photo of Ryley Beaumont by Gene Sweeney Jr. / Feb. 13, 2009]]>