Notre Dame
Coach Mike Brey may have found a diamond in 5-10 point man Tory Jackson
of Saginaw, Mich. Notre Dame lost several close games last season and
Jackson helped his H.S. pull out several close games by taking them over
down the stretch. He is a Top 15 point guard and turned down offers
from Florida, Michigan, and Michigan State. He could be joined in the
backcourt at times by 6-3 Jonathan Peoples of Bellwood, Ill, who
averaged 15.2 ppg and 4 rpg in his senior year. Peoples shot 51% from
the floor and 42% from the arc last season.
Joe Harden of Acampco, Ca. is a 6-7,
210-pound swing guard who averaged a double-double (17/10) and was the
co-player of the year named by The Stockton (Ca.) Record. He led St.
Mary's H.S. in Stockton to a 31-4 record and its first Sac-Joaquin title
since 1989. ND's fourth recruit, Luke Harangody is a power forward who
will add a presence to the inside for Brey at 6-8, 250 lbs.
Pitt's
Jamie Dixon is set for the 06-07 ledger
as he added a pair of recruits in 6-6, 190-pound Gilbert Brown of South
Kent Prep. in Conn. and 6-9 center Austin Wallace from LaSalle Academy
in the Bronx. Dixon also adds impact recruit Mike Cook from East
Carolina. The Panthers are deep and talented along the front line as
both of their recruits will have to work extremely hard for many
minutes. Brown is a Top 100 player who could player at a 3-guard or
power forward position.
Providence
could be a recruiting sleeper in the Big East as Tim Welsh and the
Friars inked five players who could see time immediately. Recruits
Jamal Barney of Baltimore and Ray Hall of Denver, Colo., are already on
campus and attending classes. At 6-10, 260, Hall is one of the largest
friars in recent years and could make an immediate impact. He led
Mullen H.S. to the 5-A title in Colorado as he averaged 18 ppg. and 9.5
rpg. last season.
5-10 Brian Rudolph of New Bedford,
Mass. averaged 23.9 ppg and 10.1 apg. He is the only player in the
history of the New Bedford H.S. program to score 1,200 points and record
600 assists and 200 steals in his career. Welsh also signed Newton,
Mass. guard Cory Lowe and Xaverian H.S. shooter Brian McKenzie of
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Hamady N'diaye, a 6-11, 235-pound
center, should come into the Rutgers program and be a force for
new coach Fred Hill, Jr. on both ends of the floor. He is an athletic
big man with shot blocking skills. He joins 6-4 guard Justin Sofman as
the only two additions to the Scarlet Knights' roster.
The Big East school to watch in the off
season for the next few seasons could be Seton Hall as recruiting
wizard Bobby Gonzalez takes over the floundering Pirates program.
Gonzalez, recently of Manhattan, gained his recruiting reputation under
coach Pete Gillen at Providence and Virginia. He left UVA only one year
into Gillen's tenure to be the bench boss of the Jaspers.
Gonzalez signed St. Benedict's Prep
guard Eugene Harvey, who averaged 16 ppg and 8 apg last year. Harvey
led his squad to a 30-2 mark this past season and will join 6-4 Kashif
Pratt in the backcourt. Pratt was Gonzalez's first signee and averaged
15 ppg, and 6rpg for the heralded Brother Rice program in NYC.
Gonzalez's plan is to try to recruit players from winning programs and
Pratt will fill that bill. He is a very good defensive player who can
match up on the perimeter in the Big East.
South Florida
has a long way to go to be a major player in this league and Arkansas
prep standout Solomon Bozeman could be Robert McCallum's first major
find. Bozeman, a 6-1, 175-pound guard, averaged 28.5 ppg, 3.3 apg, and
3.0 apg in leading Magnolia H.S. to the state championship game in
Arkansas. Bozeman will be joined by 6-4, 175-pound guard Donte Curry of
Kissimmee Poinciana H.S. He is an explosive, skilled guard who can play
both positions.
Post Amu Saaka will add some
athleticism inside as he helped Columbia High School in Decatur, Ga. to
a 32-1 record and a 4-A championship this season. The 6-6, 190-pound
power forward averaged 15 ppg, 7 rpg and 4 apg this past season.
Transfers Kentrell Gransberry from LSU and Jesus Verdejo from Arizona
will be eligible in mid-December and should see plenty of time for
McCallum.
Part III: Connecticut, Louisville, Villanova, West
Virginia
Part II: Marquette,
Georgetown, DePaul, Cincinnati, St John's, Syracuse
Part I: Notre Dame,
Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers, Seton Hall, South Florida
