Recruiting Update: PC staff involved with big names
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The first "Live Recruiting Period" took place this past weekend as Division I college coaches were allowed to watch AAU games in person for the first time this season. The weekend took on added importance this year as the NCAA ruled this will be the only live recruiting period for Division I colleges until July. The Providence College staff was out in full force with Andre LaFleur (Nike EYBL in Sacramento), Bob Simon (Adidas Uprising in Dallas), and Brian Blaney (Pitt Jamfest) representing the Friars at the three biggest AAU tournaments. Below are some notes on how some of the Friar recruits looked in various tournaments. In addition there is an update on how the 2014 recruiting is progressing.
Donovan Mitchell (The City) - Donovan had a very solid weekend at the Pitt Jamfest averaging 19 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over four games as his team finished with a 2-2 record. His last game was the most impressive one with Donovan scoring 30 points and going a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line. What is more impressive is that in the four games Mitchell made 10 three pointers while shooting 40% from beyond the arc.
Ryan Fazekas (Mean Streets) - Ryan had an average tournament at the Nike EYBL with the future Friar averaging 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds as his Mean Streets team went 1-3 for the weekend. What you have to remember, however, is that Mean Streets is loaded and Ryan only played about 15 minutes a game. I expect Ryan's stats to improve as the AAU season continues this summer.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBraxton Blackwell (Atlanta Celtics) - Blackwell had a really solid tournament at the Addidas Uprising averaging 12 points and 4.8 rebounds as his Atlanta Celtics team went 5-0 for the weekend. The class of 2016 small forward was most impressive in his second game scoring 20 points and grabbing five rebounds in only seven minutes of action.
Jalen Adams (Mass Rivals) - Jalen had a big time tournament over the weekend leading his Mass Rivals team to a 5-0 record at the Adidas Uprising while averaging 14.2 points and 5.2 assists per game. The 6'2 point guard's biggest game was against MBA Hoops when he scored 21 points and 10 assists.
Curtis Cobb (Mass Rivals) - Jalen's teammate on the Rivals also had a very solid tournament and should have opened some eyes nationally as he averaged 12.6 points and 3.2 rebounds over five games. Cobb's best game was against MBA Hoops where he had 18 points and four rebounds. For the tournament Curtis shot an impressive 8-15 from the three point line.
Montaque Gill-Caesar (CIA Bounce) - Gill-Caesar had a very good tournament at the Nike EYBL in Sacramento averaging 11 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as his CIA Bounce team from Canada went 3-1 on the weekend. The class of 2015 shooting guard's best game was against Team Final when he had 16 points in 25 minutes of action.
Cheick Diallo (Team Scan) - Diallo showed why he is one of the very best big men in the 2015 class at the Nike EYBL averaging 17.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game over four games as his Team Scan team went 2-2. He is practically unstoppable when he gets the ball down low and takes it to the basket.
Jarred Reuter (New England Playaz) - Jarred had a very solid Pitt Jamfest and received attention from several new major programs. He was particularly effective in the Playaz final game against Sports U where he finished with 27 points and seven rebounds. Expect the recruiting on Jarred to take off this summer.
Other Names of Interest:
Aaron Falzon, Expressions Elite (Nike EYBL), 15.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg 4 games
Jared Wilson-Frame, Expressions Elite (Nike EYBL), 14.2 ppg. 5.5 rpg. 2.0 apg. 4 games
Donovan Love, Expressions Elite (Nike EYBL), 2.8 ppg. 2.5 rpg. 3.5 apg. 4 games
Tyus Battle, Team Scan (Nike EYBL), 7.5 ppg. 3.0 rpg. 4 games
Qunicy McKnight, Team Scan (Nike EYBL), 4.2 ppg. 2.0 apg. 4 games
Ernest Afiakpui, WE R 1 (Pitt Jamfest), 10.0 ppg. 6.3 rpg. 4 games
Bruce Brown, BABC (Nike EYBL), 11.0 ppg. 6.2 rpg. 2.5 apg. 4 games
Josh Sharma, Mass Rivals (Adidas Uprising), 8.6 ppg. 5.5 rpg. 2.4 bpg. 5 games
Eric Davis, The Family (Nike EYBL), 10.2 ppg. 3.8 rpg. 2.8 apg. 4 games
Miles Bridges, The Family (Nike EYBL), 9.8 ppt. 6.0 rpg. 2.8 apg. 4 games
D. J. Williams, Mean Streets (Nike EYBL), 11.2 ppg. 5.8 rpg. 4 games
Charles Matthews, Mean Streets (Nike EYBL), 12.0 ppg. 8.0 rpg. 4 games
Joseph Toye, Mean Streets (Nike EYBL), 7.0 ppg. 2.8 rpg 4 games
Isaiah Briscoe, New Jersey Playaz (Nike EYBL), 13.8 ppg. 5.2 rpg. 3.2 apg. 4 games
Dupree McBrayer, New Heights (Pitt Jamfest) 14.0 ppg. 4.8 apg. 6 games
2014 Recruiting
Coach Ed Cooley has said he is still looking to add at least one more guard to the Friars' 2014 recruiting class. Probably the three best guards in the country that are still available are all considering Providence. All three players have recently been released from Letters of Intent with the original schools where they signed.
Devonte Graham recently completed an official visit to Virginia and is considering PC, Virginia Tech, Kansas, NC State and Virginia. The good news is that he did not commit while on his visit to the Cavaliers. If the Friars can get him on campus in the next week or two they may have a real shot at landing him. Graham would have an immediate impact as he is the rare type of point guard who excels at both handling the ball and shooting from the outside. He is currently ranked 36th in the country by Rivals.
Jared Terrell received his release last week from Oklahoma State, stating that he needed to play closer to home for personal family reasons. Terrell originally chose Okaloma State over URI and PC. If he does indeed stay local look for him to wind up at either PC, Boston College, or URI. Terrell, who was Devonte Graham's teammate last year at Brewster Academy, is a rugged shooting guard who is at his best when driving to the basket. Jared is currently ranked 79th in the country by ESPN.
Larry Austin Jr. received his release from Tennessee after head coach Cuonzo Martin left the Volunteers for the University of California. A very solid point guard Austin has expressed an interest in the Friars and is friends with future Friar Jalen Lindsey. Austin would be a great point guard option if Providence does not wind up with Graham.
Email Craig: [email protected]
Twitter: @Craigl78
Related Articles
- PC Recruiting: Lindsey’s journey has already begun
- Recruiting Insider: 9 Local Basketball Players to Watch
- Recruiting Update: Chukwu’s game getting offensive
