Official Signings

Tennessee Signs Top 5 Forward Tobias Harris

Press Release — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:01:55 -0500

Tennessee added its third basketball signee of the early signing period recently when Tobias Harris signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UT and play for the Volunteers starting with the 2010-11 season. The 6-8, 220-pound forward from New York made his decision public Thursday during a live announcement at the ESPN Zone in Manhattan's Times Square that was televised live on ESPNU.

Harris is rated by Rivals.com as the nation's best forward in the class of 2010 and the country's No. 5 overall prospect. And on the ESPNU Top-100 list, Harris is ranked as the nation's third-best power forward nationally.

"I really had a great relationship with (UT head coach Bruce) Pearl and (associate head coach Tony) Jones," Harris said during his nationally televised announcement. "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."

With the signing of Harris, Tennessee's 2010 recruiting class is now ranked fourth nationally by Rivals.com.

"(This is) huge for our program to get not only a quality player like Tobias, but also a quality young man," Pearl said, "He's a great kid from a great family. He's the kind of guy that's going to help your program on and off the court. On the floor not only can he be a dominant player, but he also makes everyone around him better.

"My coaching staff did a tremendous job. Tony Jones was really outstanding with his recruitment of Tobias from start to finish."

Like fellow early-period Tennessee signees Jordan McRae and Trae Golden--both guards from Georgia--Harris plans to enroll at UT next summer.

"(Tobias) was really impressed with the Sports management program," Pearl said. "That was a big factor for him. He loved that major and could really see himself being successful academically at Tennessee."

As a junior last season at Long Island Lutheran High School, Harris averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds per game while leading the Crusaders to the New York state Class A championship.

He is currently a senior at Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills, N.Y., where he is coached by Bill Mitaritonna.

Already a high-profile prospect, Harris garnered even more national praise this past summer when he turned in outstanding performances at the LeBron James Skills Academy and the NBA Players Association Top 100 camp.

"He liked our style of play, he liked our campus, the things that we do, but I think our kids were a big factor for Tobias," Pearl said. "I think it makes a statement about our players. Tobias wanted to come and play here in large part because of the teammates he was going to have. We have good character kids and that was important to Tobias."

Harris' father, Torrel, played collegiately at Duquesne and Murray State. And Tobias' older sister, Tesia, plays basketball at the University of Delaware. He also is a cousin of Phoenix Suns center Channing Frye.

-- http://www.utsports.com

St. John's Signs Ronald Roberts

Press Release — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:30:26 -0500

QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's head men's basketball coach Norm Roberts announced the signing of Jersey City, N.J., forward Ronald Roberts to a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to join the Red Storm basketball program for the 2010-11 season.

"Ronald will be a great addition to our program. He is an outstanding young man who will give us versatility at the power forward and small forward positions," said Norm Roberts, now in his sixth year at the helm of the Red Storm. "Ron has a great upside, and he comes from a terrific basketball family."

"I can't wait to get to St. John's," said Ronald Roberts. "When I visited the campus, I loved the coaches, the players, the atmosphere and the facilities on campus. I also really liked that St. John's is in the best conference in the country, the BIG EAST."

Ronald Roberts is a 6-7, 210-pound forward from Saint Peter's Prep in Jersey City. He led the Marauders in scoring (17.4 points per game), rebounding (11.0) and blocked shots (3.0) as a junior last season. He was selected as a first team all-county and all-league performer in 2008-09 for a Saint Peter's squad that finished 23-3 as county champions and ranked seventh in the state.

Ronald Roberts is a tremendous athlete with a great motor and an already-polished face-up game. The small forward/power forward has also shown the ability to play with his back to the basket as he enters his second year with the Marauders.

Ronald Roberts has an incredible basketball pedigree, as both of his parents played at a high level on the hardwood. His father, Ron Roberts Sr., was a standout in the mid-1980s for Billy Tubbs' Oklahoma Sooners. His mother, Dania Santos Roberts, played for the Dominican Republic national team.

"St. John's is getting a guy that just began his journey to becoming a very, very good basketball player," said St. Peter's Prep coach Mike Kelly. "He has played one year of high school basketball, so he is a guy that has been under the radar. This will be a situation that turns out great for all involved."

-- http://www.redstormsports.com

Marquette Signs PG Reggie Smith

Press Release — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:44:35 -0500

Milwaukee – The Marquette University men’s basketball program has signed prep point guard Reggie Smith (Harvey, IL/Thornton Township HS) to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Buzz Williams announced Thursday afternoon.

Smith, a 6-0, 175-pounder, will arrive on campus this summer and have four years of eligibility with the Golden Eagles.

“We are excited to add Reggie to our 2010 recruiting class,” Williams said. “He is another player that addresses our needs on the perimeter. His athleticism and toughness will contribute to our current class and also help replace what we lose with the departure of our seniors.”

He is ranked 105^th overall and 26^th among point guards in the 2010 class by Rivals.com, 121^st by HoopScoopOnline.com and is tabbed the 35^th-best point guard in the class by Scout.com.

Smith helped Thorntown Township HS, under the direction of head coach Troy Jackson, to a third-place finish in the state tournament in 2008-09. The Wildcats finished the campaign 29-1 overall, only falling to eventual state champion Whitney Young (Chicago) in the tourney semifinals. Smith concluded the year contributing 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

The Wildcats claimed the regional and sectional titles in 2008-09 en route to their state tournament run and Smith was tabbed to the all-conference squad. He has been nominated as a McDonald’s All-American entering his senior year.

A two-time team most valuable player, Smith has been a member of the varsity squad since his sophomore campaign. He averaged 11.0 points per game in 2007-08 and helped the Wildcats to an overall record of 21-7.

On the AAU circuit, Smith competes for the highly respected and very successful Mac Irvin Fire program. Led by head coach Nick Irvin, the team is annually among the top rosters in the nation.

“He plays for one of the best high school and AAU programs in the Midwest and he has won at a very high level every step along the way,” Williams said. “He has been on campus multiple times over the last couple of years and is completely familiar with our players and staff and the culture we function in.”

Northwestern Signs JerShon Cobb

Press Release — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:48:42 -0500

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern head men's basketball coach Bill Carmody announced the signing of JerShon Cobb (Decatur, Ga./Columbia) to a National Letter of Intent.

"JerShon will be a welcome addition to our program," Carmody said. "With his versatility and ability to score, I think JerShon is capable of stepping in and helping us right away. He is a highly ranked recruit who comes from a region that produces some of the top basketball talent in the country."

Cobb was a first-team Class AAA all-state selection in the state of Georgia after averaging 17.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game last season as a junior. He is ranked as a four-start recruit and the No. 90 collegiate prospect in his class by Rivals.com.

JerShon Cobb
6-5 • 175
Guard
Decatur, Ga./Columbia

High School: Rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 90 national collegiate prospect by Rivals.com ... First-team all-state selection of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Georgia Sportswriters Association and also Georgia Hoops as a junior ... Averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2 steals per game during junior season ... Team MVP ... Scored 35 points against nationally ranked Pinewood Prep (S.C.) ... Named to Kingdom of the Sun all-tournament team ... Member of Class AAAA state championship team as a sophomore ... Has helped Columbia High to a 105-6 record through first three prep seasons ... Team captain ... Three-year letterwinner ... Honor roll student ... Member of BETA Club .... Played AAU ball for the Atlanta Express ... High school coach is Phil McCary.

Personal: Born JerShon Keion Cobb on 11/30/91 ... Son of Jerran and Kesia Cobb ... Columbia High alums include Chris Tucker (actor) and Gail Devers (track and field athlete) ... Chose Northwestern over Cincinnati, Mississippi, Clemson, Marshall, Alabama and Florida.

Poll: Who Locked Up the Best 2010 Recruiting Class?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:16:34 -0500

Auburn Finalizes Impressive 6-Man Class

Press Release — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:46:37 -0500

AUBURN - Shawn Kemp, a 6-foot-10, 215-pound center from Canton, Ga.; Heath Houston, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward from Powder Springs, Ga.; Jalen Steele, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard from Knoxville, Tenn.; Anthony Salter, a 5-foot-11 point guard from Tallahassee, Fla.; Allen Payne, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward from Cincinnati, Ohio; and Adrian Forbes, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound power forward from Spanish Town, Jamaica; have signed national letters of intent to attend Auburn University and play basketball in 2010-11, head coach Jeff Lebo announced Wednesday.

"I think we really helped ourselves in some areas," said Lebo, whose class has been ranked fifth nationally by HoopScoop magazine. "Obviously, we lose a lot of players so this is going to be a big class for us. We lose guys who played a lot for us so we are looking for some immediate impact from this class.

"We feel really good about our class. They come from winning programs and are used to winning. They are tough kids, and you hope that they come in and contribute right away. That is why you recruit them. This is a big class for us. There is no doubt about it."

Kemp attends Hargrave Military Academy where he scored 21 points, making 9-of-12 shots from the field in a recent scrimmage against prep school power Oak Hill Academy. Playing his high school basketball at Cherokee County High in Powder Springs, Ga., he is the son of former NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp. He averaged 12 points and eight rebounds and had 78 blocks as a senior for Cherokee County in 2008-09.

"Shawn Kemp has tremendous upside," said Lebo. "He is 6-foot-10, can shoot the ball from the perimeter and has a legitimate low post game. Shawn is a kid who has really unlimited potential to go certainly to the next level with his play. He can block shots. He can run. He has size. He is already 6-foot-10 and long at Hargrave this year and can really, really run the floor. He is just on the first step of becoming a very good basketball player. He will bring tremendous inside help to us."

Victoryland

Houston is a four-year starter at Hillview High and is a face-up power forward with 20-foot range. He plans to major in aerospace engineering.

"Heath Houston is a very strong inside player," said Lebo. "He is kind of an undersized player who can play the four and the three for us. He is big, strong, has a tremendous upside and is explosive around the basket area."

Steele averaged 21 points, seven rebounds and almost five assists per game as a junior last year in leading Knoxville Fulton High to back-to-back state championships as he was named the Class 2A State Tournament MVP in 2009. Steele, who made 100 three-pointers last season, has led Fulton to a 58-8 record the last two seasons.

"Jalen Steele is a kid who is a winner,* said Lebo. *He has won two state championships already. He is one of the top perimeter shooters in the country. He will be a guy with the loss of Tay Waller, who is going to be able to come in and shoot the ball from the perimeter for us. He has been very well coached in high school and will be able to make the transition to college very well."

Salter is ranked as the No. 3 overall junior college player in the country by Rivals' JUCO Junction on Nov. 12. He was an All-Region selection last year as a freshman at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he averaged 15.4 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 48 percent from the field. He was a Class 4A All-State selection at Tallahassee (Fla.) Rickards High after averaging 19 points, six assists and four rebounds per game as a senior in 2007-08.

"Anthony Salter may be the top junior college point guard in the country," said Lebo. *He is very good in transition. He is very quick, can score, can shoot the three and is very good at the mid-range stop and pop area. He played at Iowa Western, which is one of the top junior college programs in the country. He is from Tallahassee (Fla.) so he is excited about coming back close to home.*

Payne averaged 15 points and eight rebounds at Cincinnati*s Winton Woods High School as a junior last season.

"Allen Payne is a small forward, and he has a very good upside," said Lebo. "He's trying to make the transition from a post guy in high school to a perimeter-type player in college. He has good athleticism on the wing and can run and play inside and out."

Forbes, who is ranked as the No. 10 overall junior college player in the country by Rivals* JUCO Junction on Nov. 12, averaged 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds last season as a freshman at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. He also played for the Jamaican National Team over the summer.

"Adrian Forbes is a big junior college player who has a lot of potential and has played for a very good junior college program," said Lebo. "He is big and strong at 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds to help us inside."

-- http://auburntigers.cstv.com

Stanford Finalizes Deep 5-Man Class

Press Release — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:18:54 -0500

STANFORD, Calif.- Stanford men's basketball head coach Johnny Dawkins has announced the signing of five incoming student-athletes to national letters of intent. The group will join the Cardinal for the 2010-11 campaign.

The class is recognized as one of the best in the country, currently ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation by Rivals.com and No. 13 by Scout.com. According to Rivals.com, Stanford's recruiting class ranks as the best in the Pac-10.

The class includes: Aaron Bright, a 5-11, 175-pound guard from Bellevue, Wash., (Bellevue HS), Anthony Brown, a 6-7, 190-pound guard/forward from Huntington Beach, Calif. (Ocean View HS), John Gage, a 6-10, 210-pound forward/center from Vashon Island, Wash. (Vashon Island HS), Josh Huestis, a 6-8, 210-pound forward from Great Falls, Mont. (C.M. Russell HS) and Dwight Powell, a 6-10, 215-pound forward from Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academy).

"We are excited about these five individuals and their families joining our basketball family and the Stanford community," said second-year head coach Johnny Dawkins. "During the recruiting process, we built great relationships with this group as players, but even more importantly as people. They will represent Stanford University in a first-class manner both on and off the court. They all have an amazing support system. This class will certainly provide a strong foundation and become an integral part of our program's success."

Bright is currently ranked as the No. 135 player overall by Rivals.com and offers the Cardinal a true floor general. A four-year letterwinner, he guided Bellevue High School to a third-place state finish as a junior, earning first team all-state and league MVP honors. Bright was also named team MVP last year, averaging 18.0 points and 7.0 assists per game. He was tabbed a first-team all-league selection and all-state honoree as a sophomore, following up a second-team all-league freshman campaign.

"Aaron is the type of point guard that everyone would love to have the fortune to play with and call him a teammate," said Dawkins. "He has a magnetic personality and makes everybody around him better. Aaron is also a very good long range shooter who has the ability to stretch a defense."

"The chance to play for Coach Dawkins attracted me to Stanford," said Bright. "I felt that the coaching staff would help take my game to the next level. And at the end of the day, I would have the opportunity to earn a Stanford degree."

Brown checks in as the No. 7-ranked small forward, No. 41 player overall and a four-start recruit by Scout.com. A three-year letterwinner, Brown was named CIF Southern Section Player of the Year and a first-team all-state pick as a junior. In 2008-09, he guided the Seahawks to a CIF Southern Section championship and state runner-up finish. Brown averaged 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last year, while being named league MVP. A first team all-league recipient as a sophomore, he led Ocean View High School to a quarterfinal finish.

"Anthony is a versatile perimeter player who we believe fits perfectly with our style of play," said Dawkins. "With Anthony's size and skill set, he can contribute at all three perimeter positions. We are really looking forward to working with Anthony and his continued development."

"I expect to work hard, on and off the court," said Brown. "I am excited to be part of this great class. It's a dream to play Pac-10 basketball at Stanford."

The third member of the 2010 class, Gage is ranked No. 17 among centers by Scout.com and will add depth to the Stanford frontcourt. A three-year letterwinner, Gage led Vashon Island High School to a state championship as a junior, averaging 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Along the way, he garnered league MVP and team MVP honors while being named a First-Team All-1A State selection. One year earlier as a sophomore, Gage was honored as the league MVP.

"John has great potential and is actually a year young for his class," said Dawkins. "He has a weapon in that he is a tremendous shooter, especially for his size. John hasn't played nationally to the extent of a lot of other high school players, and we believe him to be a big sleeper as a result."

"The opportunity to receive a first-class education and be a part of this great recruiting class attracted me to Stanford," said Gage. "I am excited to be a part of next year's team."

Listed as the No. 21-ranked small forward by Scout.com, Huestis is another impressive post player who is expected to contribute at either the 3 or 4 positions. As a junior, Huestis averaged 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game to lead C.M. Russell High School to a 21-2 record and the Class AA state title. Named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Montana and tabbed the state tournament MVP, Huestis also earned AA All-State and Great Falls Tribune Super State honors. During his sophomore season, he earned first team all-conference, all-AA tournament and second team East All-State honors.

"We started recruiting Josh later in the process, but he has been somewhat of a late bloomer and flew under the radar nationally," said Dawkins. "He is very athletic, and we believe his best basketball is ahead of him. Josh is developing into more of a perimeter player, and we look forward to helping him make that transition."

"Stanford was the perfect fit for me," said Huestis. "It presents the perfect blend of academics and athletics, and both are very important to me. I am proud to be a part of this class, and look forward to playing with such great players."

The impressive class is rounded out by Powell, ranked by Rivals.com as No. 7 among power forwards, No. 23 overall and rated as a five-star prospect. Originally from Toronto, Powell made the move from Canada to Bradenton, Fla., where he has prepped at IMG Academy the past three years. This past summer, Powell was one of two high school players invited to train with the Canadian National Team.

"Dwight is a very versatile forward that we also believe fits perfectly with our style of play," Dawkins said. "With his ability to play all over the court, he can be a constant matchup problem for opposing teams. Dwight reminds me of some of the most versatile players I have been able to coach, and we are excited to utilize and enhance his talents."

"Everything about this decision felt right, so I knew Stanford was the perfect fit for me," said Powell. "The combination of world-class athletics and academics was too hard to pass up. I liked the environment and felt comfortable with the coaching staff."

UCLA Signs Pair of Top 50 Recruits

Press Release — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:16:13 -0500

UCLA head coach Ben Howland announced today the signing of Tyler Lamb and Josh Smith to National Letters of Intent to attend UCLA in the fall of 2010.

The Bruins’ early signing class consists of Lamb, a 6-foot-4-inch, 195-pound guard out of Santa Ana, Calif., and Mater Dei High School and Smith, a 6-foot-10-inch, 280-pound center from Kent, Wash., and Kentwood High School.

Lamb helped the Monarchs to a 31-2 overall record as a junior in 2008-09 for head coach Gary McKnight. Mater Dei won the Trinity League with a 10-0 mark and finished the year ranked No. 3 in the state and No. 12 in the nation.

”I’m really excited about Tyler Lamb joining our basketball program and family,” Howland said. “He’s very athletic and is going to be an outstanding player that can play multiple positions. He is a very good defensive player and has been a part of one of the best high school programs in the country. He has received excellent coaching, which will help to prepare him in making the transition to high major college basketball. He has an excellent work ethic, comes from a great family, and I think he’ll have a great career here at UCLA.”

Lamb averaged 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.3 steals (led the team) and 1.1 blocks per game (led the team) last year. He was a two-year starter at Colony High School (Ontario, Calif.) where he averaged 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.3 steals and 4.8 assists per game as a sophomore. He is rated as the No. 10 shooting guard and the No. 38 overall recruit in the country by ESPN. He was rated the No. 1 shooting guard in the state, the No. 8 shooting guard in the country and the No. 41 overall recruit by Rivals.com. Lamb was also rated the No. 14 shooting guard and No. 60 overall recruit by Scout.com and finished third in the voting for the Press-Telegram’s 31st Best in the West.

Smith averaged 26.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game (school record) last year at Kentwood High School, leading the Conquerors to a 19-7 record in each of the past two seasons for head coach Michael Angelidis. In 2008-09, Kentwood won the tough SPSL North League Championship.

“I’m absolutely elated to have Josh Smith attending UCLA,” Howland said. “He is one of the best big men in the country. This was a three-year process recruiting him and we got to know Josh and his family very well. He’s a great player and a great person. He has outstanding hands and catches everything. He is one of the few players that is very effective and comfortable with his back to the basket. He is an outstanding athlete and has good leaping ability and quick feet for his size. He has a very bright future ahead of him and he’ll make an immediate impact at UCLA.”

Smith also averaged 21.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game as a sophomore while shooting a school-record 74.0 percent from the field. He also averaged 14.4 points per game as a freshman at Kentwood High. He is rated the No. 1 center and No. 10 overall recruit in the country by ESPN. He is also rated the No. 3 center in the country and the No. 19 overall recruit by Rivals.com. Scout.com rated Smith as the No. 4 center and No. 13 overall recruit in the country and he finished second in the voting for the Press-Telegram’s 31st Best in the West.

Boston College Adds Heslip, Noreen, and Samba Ndao

Press Release — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:21:55 -0500

Three student-athletes - 6-foot-2-inch guard Brady Heslip, 6-foot-10-inch forward Kevin Noreen and 6-foot-9-inch forward Papa Samba Ndao - have signed national letters of intent to play basketball at Boston College, according to an announcement by Boston College head coach Al Skinner. All three players will begin play during the 2010-11 season.

Heslip averaged 28 points and four assists per game at Burlington, Ontario's Nelson High School in 2008-09. He led the Lords to the AAA/AAAA district championship game, where he tallied 26 points. This past summer, Heslip gained greater notoriety while playing with Grassroots Canada. The 6-foot-2-inch guard is currently playing at the New Hampton (N.H.) School.

Noreen averaged 32.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 4.8 assists per game during the 2008-09 season at the Minnesota Transitions Charter School. He shot 66 percent from the field for the Wolves. He also made a name for himself in the Minnesota Pump N Run program.

Samba Ndao averaged 8.3 points per game as a junior at Montverde (Fla.) Academy. A two-year team captain, he shot 80 percent from free-throw line. This past summer, he played at the Nike Hoops Challenge. From there he was selected for the Senegal team in the Nike Global Challenge. His effort earned him an invitation to play with Senegal in the U-18 African Championships last month. Samba Ndao also played on the AAU circuit with the Dallas Heroes.

Boston College (2-0) returns to action on Friday, Nov. 20 against Saint Joseph's in the Paradise Jam. Game time is 7 p.m. in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Houston Inks 7-3 Marial Dahl

Press Release — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:44:02 -0500

HOUSTON - Center Marial Dahl became the newest member of the University of Houston men's basketball team with his signing of a National Letter of Intent, head coach Tom Penders recently announced.

At 7-foot, 3-inches tall, Dahl will be the tallest player in the history of the program. He also will become the eighth 7-footer and only the third African to wear the scarlet and white in the history of the program.

Dahl, who competes as a sophomore at Hillsborough Community College in 2009-10, is one of the leading shot blockers in the nation, averaging eight blocks and eight rebounds per game. He sat out as a redshirt during his freshman campaign and played for the last two seasons there.

A native of Kampala, Uganda and a product of Our Savior New America School outside of New York, Dahl chose Houston over LSU, Florida, USF and Nevada. He will compete as a junior at Houston during the 2010-11 season.

With the addition of Dahl, the Cougars will boast in 2010-11 of having the tallest player in school history and one who ties as the shortest (5-8 sophomore point guard Desmond Wade).

-- http://www.uhcougars.com