N.C. State releases recruit from scholarship

N.C. State basketball recruit Joseph Uchebo, a 6-foot-9 forward at Raleigh Word of God, has requested a release from his scholarship offer.

Uchebo could not be reached for comment today, but N.C. State spokesperson Annabelle Myers confirmed that Uchebo had made the request of new coach Mark Gottfried and the Wolfpack program. N.C. State has granted Uchebo's request, Myers said.

"The staff wishes him the very best wherever he wishes to go," Gottfried said in a statement released by Myers.

-- Lorenzo Perez

N.C. State gets commitment from QB

Greensboro Page quarterback James Summers has committed to N.C. State, according to Pack Pride website (full story requires a subscription).

Here is Summers' profile from scout.com.

No commitment for Duke yet from Daniels

Kyrie Irving probably spoke a bit prematurely regarding IMG Academy Class of 2011 forward DeAndre Daniels and Duke.

IMG Academy director of basketball Andy Borman said this morning that Daniels is considering the Blue Devils and will visit for Duke’s banquet on April 15.

But Borman said Daniels hasn’t committed to Duke and hasn’t even been offered a scholarship, although that might change when Daniels visits Durham.

During a teleconference with reporters Thursday to discuss Irving’s decision to enter the NBA draft after one season as a Blue Devils guard, Irving said he thought Duke had five freshmen entering the program next season with the addition of Daniels.

Borman – who played for Duke from 1999 to 2004 - said he isn’t sure what Daniels said to Irving. Borman characterized Daniels as “extremely interested” in Duke, but not committed.

“As of now, DeAndre has not committed, nor has he offered,” Borman said.

Daniels, a 6-foot-8 forward rated the No. 35 player in the Class of 2011 by scout.com, has rescinded a commitment to Texas, but still is considering the Longhorns along with Duke, Kansas, Florida and other schools.

In the fall, Duke signed guards Austin Rivers and Quinn Cook, forward Michael Gbinije and center Marshall Plumlee in the Class of 2011. Irving’s departure opens up an extra scholarship for the Blue Devils; they have 11 of their 13 scholarship slots filled for 2011-12.

Ken Tysiac

If Irving is right, Daniels may soon be a Devil

If Kyrie Irving’s comments during a telephone conference with reporters this afternoon are any indication, Class of 2011 forward DeAndre Daniels may soon be committed to the Blue Devils.

During a conference scheduled to discuss Irving’s decision to enter the NBA draft, Irving was asked if he had given thought to how good Duke might have been next season if he had decided to return.

“That’s something I’ve thought about considerably because of the talent that we’ll have next year,” Irving said. “I think this year’s team was really special and I think next year’s team would be really special if I were to return.

“I think we have about five recruits coming in with the addition of DeAndre Daniels. That’s five recruits. So it would be really special, so that would give me a chance to lead the team. . . .If I were to return, it would be a really special team.”

Daniels, a 6-foot-8 forward rated No. 35 in the nation by scout.com, has not announced a commitment. He has opened up his recruiting after rescinding an earlier commitment to Texas.

If Daniels does choose Duke, it wouldn’t be a surprise. Andy Borman, the basketball director at IMG in Bradenton, Fla., played for Duke from 1999 to 2004.

IMG basketball operations director Greg Spatola is the brother of Duke director of basketball operations Chris Spatola, who is married to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s daughter, Jamie.

Efforts to reach Borman for comment on whether Daniels has committed to Duke were not immediately successful.

Duke already has signed Austin Rivers, Marshall Plumlee, Michael Gbinije and Quinn Cook in the Class of 2011.

Ken Tysiac

VIDEO: Tar Heel commitment J.P. Tokoto

Wisconsin high school player J.P. Tokoto committed to play college basketball at North Carolina late Thursday night. Here's a video with highlights of Tokoto from an AAU tournament last summer:

Wisconsin wing Tokoto picks Tar Heels

North Carolina added a highly regarded wing player to its 2012 recruiting class late Thursday night when J.P. Tokoto of Menomonee Falls, Wisc., announced that he is committing to the Tar Heels.

Ritchie Davis, Tokoto’s club coach with the Wisconsin Playground Warriors, confirmed that Tokoto had spoken to North Carolina coach Roy Williams on the telephone and informed him that he had chosen the Tar Heels.

Tokoto is a 6-foot-6, 190-pound wing who’s rated the 32^nd-best player in the nation by ESPN.

He joins point guard Marcus Paige of Marion, Iowa, in the Class of 2012 for North Carolina.

Ken Tysiac

Juco LB Desir has signed with UNC

Junior college linebacker Fabby Desir signed with North Carolina on Monday and has overnighted his scholarship papers to the school, his coach confirmed today in an e-mail.

Lackawanna (Pa.) College coach Mark Duda calls Desir a "high-motor kid" who is going with excellent speed as a converted running back and safety at 6-foot and 230 pounds.

Desir joins a class that was ranked No. 17 in the nation by scout.com by on signing day last month.

He visited North Carolina last week and also considered Cincinnati and Ball State, and was being recruited by Alabama as well, Duda said.

Ken Tysiac