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Date Posted: 10:22:26 10/10/02 Thu
Author: bearcatattack
Subject: HoopPoop ramblings
In reply to: bearcatattack 's message, "Reggie Harwell commits to Bowling Green" on 10:21:39 10/10/02 Thu

Our New York City Editor Ron Naclerio tells us that it's official - 5'10 Daon Merritt from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, who is
ranked #42 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, has verbally committed to the University of Richmond. This
comes as no surprise for several reasons. First, Merritt's former high school coach Gary DeCesare is now an assistant coach for
the Spiders. Second, DeCesare has always been Merritt's biggest fan. This was especially evident in the month of July when
DeCesare gave all the scouting service people a hard time for not having Merritt ranked higher, especially after Merritt led the
adidas ABCD Camp in assists and led his team to the championship at the adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, NV.
Third, Merritt is ideally suited for the Atlantic-10 due to his lack of height. In other words, Merritt has a chance to become a star
in this league, plus he won't have to worry about getting recruited over, like he might, if he'd opted for certain schools in the Big
East. Merritt joins 6'4 Andres Sandoval from Winchendon (School) MA, who picked the Spiders about 10 days ago, and, as a
result, Richmond's recruiting class moves into a tie at #36, along with Utah, on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date
for the Class of 2003. Naclerio also tells us that 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY is supposed to visit the
University of Kentucky this weekend for Midnight Madness, but Naclerio is hearing that Pepperdine and Rutgers are the leaders
for Alleyne's services. And, if this is true, the Scarlet Knights could end up with a pair of twin towers. Remember, ever since
Rutgers got 6'4 Marquis Webb from Paterson (Catholic) NJ a month ago, we've been predicting that it was only a matter of time
before the Scarlet Knights also got 6'11 Darryl Watkins from Paterson (Catholic) NJ. If you will recall, Webb and Watkins are
best friends. Speaking of Webb's commitment, the word we get is that 6'3 Quincy Douby from Oakdale (St. Thomas More) CT
was a little pissed off when Webb verbally committed to Rutgers. Apparently Rutgers had promised him that they would only
recruit one guard in this recruiting class and, as a result, there is talk that he may be interested in looking elsewhere. Perhaps
Douby should reconsider going to Hoftstra. Remember, a year ago Douby signed with the Flying Dutchmen, but, after the value
of his stock went through the roof last winter, he reneged and went the prep school route. And this is ironic, because last spring
Douby decided it was better to be a small fish in a big pound versus being a big fish in a small pound. Florida State and
Tennessee are both out for 6'9 Wesley Green from Eustis (H.S.) FL, who is ranked #201 nationally in the senior class by the
HOOP SCOOP, and that leaves Marquette, Indiana, DePaul, and South Florida battling for his services. Our guess is that Green,
who is far from a finished product, but has vast potential, will elect to stay close to home, which would be a great move, because
Bulls head coach Seth Greenburg is one of the best there is at developing players. We also suspect the South Florida will steal
6'8 Renaldo Balkman from Bradenton (Pendleton School) FL, who is ranked #22 on our 5th year list, but, who has a tremendous
amount of natural talent and potential.

Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson tells us that Northwestern has gotten 6'9 Vincent Scott from Phoenix (Greenway) AZ and
Bowling Green has landed 6'11 Matt Lefeld from Coldwater (H.S.) OH and 6'7 Reggie Harwell from Cleveland (Shaw) OH Scott,
who is ranked #270 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, needs to get bigger and stronger, but he impressed us at
the NIKE All-American Camp, where he finished ranked #20 in camp by the HOOP SCOOP. We're talking about a key with
great hands, an excellent shooting touch, and good perimeter skills. In other words, this is the prototypical overachieving big
white kid that Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody made a living off of during his days at Princeton and, as a result, he
should in perfectly at Northwestern. Lefeld is ranked #275 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, but we think he
is an absolute steal for Falcons head coach Dan Dakich. Not only is Lefeld a big old tough farm boy, but he has a huge frame,
runs the court well for his size, has good hands, and is a warrior on the boards. Harwell, who is ranked #219 nationally in the
senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, is an undersized slasher/athlete/4-man and, as a result, should provide the perfect
complement to Lefeld and all the good perimeter players that Dakich signed a year ago - 6'4 Ronald Lewis, 6'4 Raheem Moss, and
6'3 Steve Wright. Brick Oettinger of the Recruiter's Handbook informs us that James Madison beaten George Mason for 6'9
Eddie Green from Winston-Salem (R.J. Reynolds) NC. Green didn't play much when we saw him at the 17-Under National AAU
Tournament in Orlando, FL at the end of July, but you have to like his size, athleticism, and tremendous potential. Green
becomes the fourth player in James Madison's recruiting class, which already includes 6'7 Chris Cathlin from New Market
(Shenandoah Valley) VA, 6'8 Gordon Johnson from Middleburg (Lee) VA, and 6'10 Ryan Brmley from Northfield (Northfield-Mt.
Herman) MA and is tied with Northern Iowa at #34 on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date for the Class of 2003.
Cathlin needs to get bigger and stronger, but we're talking about a big time athlete with skills and plenty of firepower from
beyond the arc. Johnson is a silky-smooth combo forward who runs the court, defends, and shoots the three. Brmley, who is
very skilled and effective around the basket, provides the big body that James Madison head coach Sherman Dillard will need
when all his top inside guys graduate after this season. So with Wes Miller and Chris Williams both sharing time at the point
guard spot for the next two years, all Dillard needs now is an outstanding 2-guard. How about 6'3 Kelvin Davis from Waterbury
(Sacred Heart) CT, who is ranked #83 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP? Remember, our New England Editor
Wayne Simone tells us that the serious contenders for Davis are West Virginia, Richmond, Hofstra, and James Madison and, if
the Dukes can pull this off, their recruiting class would move up another 13 spots. Oettinger also tells us that American
Univerity appears to have stolen one in 5'11 Linas Lekavicius from Charlotteville (Miller School) VA and Johnson informs us
that Akron has gotten 6'6 Jeremiah Wood from Akron (Central-Hower) OH. And, if that weren't enough, Johnson has the
scoop on 6'4 Demetrius Johnson from Warrensville Heights (H.S.) OH, who is expected to announce his decision on Friday.
Johnson is ranked #207 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, which means he'd be a steal for any of the four
schools (Kent State, St. Bonaventure, Ohio University, or Marshall) left on his list. Johnson's two older brothers both play for
Ohio University, but Johnson thinks Kent State is the school you have to beat. We also are waiting to see what happens with
6'7 Michael Pilgram from Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) NH, who is ranked #14 on our list of the top 5th year players.
Currently Virginia, Boston College, and Seton Hall are the leaders, but we also understand that Memphis, Purdue, and
Connecticut are making a strong push for this explosive athlete who is expected to be one of the biggest surprises in the prep
school ranks this winter.

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Replies:

  • I don't understand why we're not recruiting Mike Pilgrim harder.......seems like a good fit. We need a solid SF (we're not getting Bass).......and he could fit the bill. (NT) -- Chatter, 12:22:08 10/10/02 Thu
  • Possible -- bearcatattack, 12:30:44 10/10/02 Thu
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