2012 basketball prospects

[Triple B]

**** you Greenberg, VaTech is recruiting similar players. I'd love to stick it to ole Greenie, especially in light of how he ran with Zabian Dowdell when he got hired in Blacksburg.

You don't understand ... Zabian grew up dreaming of being a Hokie ... he just didn't know it.

[Mama_Bull]

WillGunter247 William Gunter

2012 forward Willie Clayton (Thomasville, Ga) has top 3 of USF, Charlotte and Mercer. In homes w/USF (tom) and Charlotte (Wed).

2 hours ago

[Vega]

Melvin Johnson to Visit Miami, Enjoyed his visit to USF(Despite no LOCAL coverage about it)

Given the revelations about the Miami athletic department in recent weeks, some recruits opted to shy away from the Hurricanes.

DeMatha Catholic guard James Robinson, for one, removed Miami from his list of four because the school is being investigated by the NCAA for the relationship rogue booster Nevin Shapiro had with Miami football players. Robinson ultimately pledged to Pittsburgh.

But St. Benedict’s Prep guard Melvin Johnson is still considering Miami among his final four, and will take an official visit there this coming weekend for Saturday’s football game against Ohio State.

“They explained what happened to them and what’s their consequences or whatever,†the 6-foot-3, 188-pound Johnson told SNY.tv. Tuesday during an open gym St. Benedict’s Prep. “It’s not too big of a deal on a basketball standpoint, just a past thing. And it’s a new coaching staff.â€

First-year Miami coach Jim Larranaga was at the school Monday.

Miami has also offered Johnson’s teammates, 6-2 2013 point guard Tyler Ennis and 6-8, 215-pound 2013 forward Isaiah Watkins.

Johnson is also considering Virginia Tech, the College of Charleston and South Florida.

He took an official to Virginia Tech Sept. 2 for the football team’s 66-13 blowout of Appalachian State, and said he liked “the atmosphere, coaching staff and players.â€

He also visited South Florida a week ago Monday.

“USF was great,†he said. “I also felt real welcomed by the coaching staff and players, and plus the area and facilities are beautiful.â€

Johnson came to St. Ben’s from Rice High School after the latter closed down and he’s now part of a team loaded with future Division 1 players, including Ennis, Watkins, 2015 guard Isaiah Briscoe and 2013 forward Denzell Taylor.

“It’s easier,†Johnson said. “Just not having to work as hard on the offensive end. Just getting it done on the defensive end and you’re good.â€

Asked to compare it to Rice, he said, “It’s a different experience, it’s a different experience.â€

Though he’s excited about playing defense at St. Ben’s, he’s being recruited as a scorer.

“He can really shoot,†said one Division 1 head coach. “I mean, he can really, really shoot.â€

Johnson plans to visit Miami and then make a decision “around October, early October.â€

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/09/13/melvin-johnson-to-visit-miami/

[Vega]

Top JC prospect Musa Abdul-Aleem has a top 2 of Memphis and South Florida

A devout Muslim who prays five times per day and this week celebrated the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, Abdul-Aleem wasn't a well known commodity as a high schooler. He was home-schooled and didn't participate in AAU ball in the summers, focusing instead on his faith.

After high school, Abdul-Aleem quit playing basketball and made a pilgrimage to Mecca to further study his Muslim faith.

"He's a high-character young man," Dennis said. "He just played really well this summer, and when (coaches) started talking to him, they started taking a liking to him."

After his visit to Memphis, Abdul-Aleem plans to make an official visit to South Florida on Sept. 16-17.

He said other schools interested in his services are Florida State, Maryland, West Virginia, Baylor, Gonzaga, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Marshall, Nebraska, Rhode Island and South Carolina.

Btw Abdul'Aleem has already visited Memphis

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/01/tigers-to-host-first-12-recruit/

[Mama_Bull]

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

Big man Austin to visit USF next weekend

One of the bigger targets in Stan Heath's 2012 recruiting efforts -- literally and figuratively -- is 7-foot center Waverly Austin, who signed with USF out of prep school in 2009 and is now a coveted big man in the junior college ranks. He has USF as one of seven schools he's still considering, and said Thursday that he'll be visiting USF's campus next weekend.

Ordinarily, a campus visit wouldn't be a big deal for a player who has been to USF and signed with the Bulls before. But that was before USF built its new Muma Center practice facility, and before the school started a $35-million renovation of the Sun Dome, now underway -- two major upgrades from a recruiting standpoint. USF has some tough competition for Austin -- he listed Kansas, Baylor, Miami, Florida, Maryland and Missouri with USF when asked for his schools Thursday.

The Bulls will lose seniors Ron Anderson and Augustus Gilchrist after this season, and while they'll have 7-foot-3 freshman center Jordan Omogbehin, who is redshirting this season, there's plenty of playing time available for the 2012-13 season. Heath has the benefit of having convinced Austin to choose the Bulls once before, and the challenge now is pull off the same against top-tier competition. ...

.

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bulls/content/big-man-austin-visit-usf-next-weekend#comments

[Paisa el Toro]

A devout Muslim who prays five times per day and this week celebrated the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, Abdul-Aleem wasn't a well known commodity as a high schooler. He was home-schooled and didn't participate in AAU ball in the summers, focusing instead on his faith.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/01/tigers-to-host-first-12-recruit/

Plenty of Halal eats around the campus, and there are lots of students of Muslim faith at USF. The kid will feel at home at USF, and if his recruiter were on point, he'd take him to one of the local coffee/hookah lounges where the students hang out.

[Mama_Bull]

This is a 2013 basketball prospect, but didn't want to start another thread.

TheRecruitScoop Alex Kline

Steven Haney, a 2013 wing from St. Thomas Aquinas (FL), is taking an unofficial visit to USF this weekend.

15 minutes ago

[Vega]

6-foot-9 Nature Coast center Tyler Bergantino  has committed to the University of Massachusetts according to Sharks head coach Dave Pisarcik.

Bergantino held offers from USF, Virginia Tech, Ohio University, Buffalo and Georgia Southern. He is a two-time winner of the St. Petersburg Times' all-North Suncoast player of the year award. Last year as a junior, Bergantino averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks to help the Sharks reach the Class 4A region finals for the second year in a row.

Bergantino also averaged a double-double during his sophomore campaign, putting up 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks a game.

UMass was one of the latest schools to show interest in Bergantino, extending him an offer in July. The Minutemen play in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

[Vega]

6-foot-9 Nature Coast center Tyler Bergantino  has committed to the University of Massachusetts according to Sharks head coach Dave Pisarcik.

Bergantino held offers from USF, Virginia Tech, Ohio University, Buffalo and Georgia Southern. He is a two-time winner of the St. Petersburg Times' all-North Suncoast player of the year award. Last year as a junior, Bergantino averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks to help the Sharks reach the Class 4A region finals for the second year in a row.

Bergantino also averaged a double-double during his sophomore campaign, putting up 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks a game.

UMass was one of the latest schools to show interest in Bergantino, extending him an offer in July. The Minutemen play in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Forgot to credit the article so here's the link

http://www.tampabay.com/hometeam/blog/nature-coast-c-tyler-bergantino-commits-umass/10733/

[Vega]

WillGunter247 William Gunter

2012 forward Willie Clayton (Thomasville, Ga) has top 3 of USF, Charlotte and Mercer. In homes w/USF (tom) and Charlotte (Wed).

2 hours ago

Looks like Clayton has eliminated USF from his top 3 and now has a top 2 of Mercer and Charlotte. Kinda tough to be booted from that impressive list of schools :