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| Tuesday, February 26 Class of 2003 getting plenty of attention By David Benezra and Mark Mayemura Special to ESPN.com |
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Although things are popping of late in regards to top junior college talent committing, which we'll get to later in this column, and the high school season is drawing near a close, we are taking a brief respite here to talk about a few juniors who are showing some strong early interest in schools, or, are the object of interest from some of the nation's top programs. Besides having the nation's No. 1 recruiting class and perhaps the nation's No. 1 team, Duke may have the best head start on its competition for class of 2003 gems. Finishing early with their recruiting of the Class of 2002 meant Duke can focus all of their attention on the top juniors. First stop? New Jersey. Duke is the strong, strong leader for 6-foot-8 Luol Deng (Blair Academy/Blairstown, N.J.) -- definitely one of the top prospects in the class. Next stop? Texas. Besides frequent flyer miles, Duke also wants to pick up 6-9 Ndudi Ebi (Westbury Christian/Houston). Here, Duke is in a more uncertain position, as they are jockeying with Arizona -- who figures to compete very well for Ebi, as well as North Carolina, Texas, Louisville, Kansas and others. The Blue Devils also wouldn't mind swinging by Michigan on their way back home for 6-5 Olumuyiwa Famutimi (Northwestern/Flint, Mich.). Of course, Famutimi is a "Flintstone", which means Michigan State will provide very stiff competition. Michigan, Missouri, Florida, Cincinnati, Duke, North Carolina, Louisville and Kentucky are just some of the other high fliers that would like Famutimi. And, we have been informed that 6-7 powermeister Leon Powe (Oakland Tech H.S./Oakland, Calif.) likes North Carolina, Louisville, California, Kansas and Florida very much. We were also informed that Duke has always been his "dream" school, and that Duke has been recruiting him. However, like all the top recruits, Powe wants to play sooner rather than later and he is aware of all those fresh, big bodies coming into Duke next September. Speaking of things Duke, a famous Duke alum, Tommy Amaker, needs to start making some serious in-state recruiting inroads if he wants to make Michigan the top in-state program over Tom Izzo's Spartans. Amaker did manage to persuade 6-6 Lester Abram (Northern H.S./Pontiac, Mich.) to maintain his commitment to Michigan when he took over the program, but you are only as good as your last recruit and thus, Amaker's first big in-state recruit may be 6-4 Dion Harris (Redford HS/Detroit, Mich.). Stanford may also be looking at another strong class, as the Cardinal is doing very well in the "early reporting" regarding interested juniors. The 6-11 David Padgett (Reno H.S./Reno, Nev.) will look at North Carolina, Kansas and Arizona, in addition to Stanford. Padgett is one of the top-rated junior big men in America and is coached by his father, Pete Padgett. It is believed that Padgett will not stray too far from home, making Stanford a slight favorite over Arizona, with Kansas looming as a strong darkhorse. North Carolina appears to be in the trail position at this time. Stanford is also doing very well with 6-3 Omar Wilkes (Loyola H.S./Los Angeles), whose father Jamaal Wilkes starred for John Wooden at UCLA and went on to a very successful NBA career. And ad 6-9 Harrison Schaen (Mater Dei H.S./Santa Ana, Calif.), who has always been highly rated but has up to now not been deserving of the hype, to the Cardinal's short list. Schaen has started to play harder and be more competitive on a game by game basis and is starting to make some strides towards being a player now instead of potentially being a player. Schaen has always liked Stanford and Stanford may like him a lot more of late. Unlike the high school season, which has an ending, the rumor season operates 24/7 non-stop. A rumor on the West Coast has 6-2 Marcus Williams (Crenshaw H.S./Los Angeles) and 6-8 Trevor Ariza (Westchester H.S./Los Angeles contemplating a move to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., for their senior years. Williams, an outstanding shooter, is arguably UCLA's number one recruit at the point guard position in the class of 2003. As for the Williams family, rumor has it that Arizona is their current favorite. We don't see Williams leaving Crenshaw for Oak Hill, but the rumor is out there. The rumors about Ariza have been swirling longer and stronger. Ariza has taken several unofficial visits to schools such as St. John's, North Carolina and Duke, and is also being recruited by the locals, UCLA and Southern California, among other powerhouses. Ariza has not seemed happy with his role on a very successful but perimeter-oriented Westchester team. However, Ariza would be the main man for a Westchester team that is losing several seniors.
Junior College Scene A well-hyped star out of the South Carolina high school ranks, Harper's commitment gives the Cyclones one of the best junior college recruiting hauls in the country. Prior to Harper's commitment, Iowa State head coach Larry Eustachy had secured commitments from 7-1 center Chris Alexander, Harper's teammate at Indian Hills; 6-10 power forward Jackson Vroman (Snow College/Ephraim, Utah) and one of the nation's top point guards in 6-foot Tim Barnes (Southeastern Illinois Junior College/Harrisburg, Ill.).
A young man who attended several different high schools in New Jersey and Florida, DeGroot has his high school transcripts currently going through the NCAA Clearinghouse. There is a strong possibility that he was a full-qualifier out of high school, which means he could transfer at the end of this freshman season and have three years of playing eligibility at a four-year school. DeGroot is averaging 13 points per game and 7 assists, while shooting 40 percent on 3-pointers. Among the many schools showing recent interest include UNLV, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Mexico, Iowa State, UTEP, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Colorado State and Washington State. "He's a big, strong, fast and unselfish point guard," said Reggie Franklin, the head coach at NMMI. "He can shoot the ball, loves to dunk and he's a good defender. He's got an exceptional vertical; just about every tool you need. "I'm not pushing him either way. If he is a qualifier and wants to leave this year, that's fine, I'll wish him the best," disclosed Franklin. "He's maturing with every game, which is why he's getting so much attention. It's not physical with him, it's mental. He can score or pass, whenever he wants to. He's the best guard I've had in 10 years at NMMI. "And, potentially, he's among the best guards I've ever had play for me. Remember, I was an assistant before at Midland (junior college, Midland, Texas) and I recruited Mookie Blaylock, Spud Webb and Ricky Grace. He's pretty good."
Weatherspoon is averaging over 25 points per game, while shooting over 50 percent from behind the 3-point line. He's already scored more than 28 points in a game, on more than 10 occasions. He's an explosive athlete, who can shoot it from deep, but he's equally dangerous putting the ball on the floor and riding it to the basket. Weatherspoon selected Oklahoma State over the efforts of Mississippi State, Iowa State, Florida State, UTEP, New Mexico, George Washington and West Virginia. A native of Dover, Del., (Caesar Rodney H.S.), Weatherspoon, who averaged 14.5 points last season as a true freshman, is expected to make his official visit to Oklahoma State after the conclusion of the season.
High School Scene
David Benezra and Mark Mayemura cover the national college basketball recruiting scene at their Recruiting USA (www.recruitingusa.com) website. E-mail at: hoopsusa@mindspring.com or call (818) 783-2244 or (818) 783-2212 for subscription information. |
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