Shooting guard Raymond signs with N.C. State

Statesboro (Ga.) shooting guard Jaqawn Raymond followed through Wednesday on a commitment he had made to N.C. State under its previous coaching staff when he signed with the Wolfpack and new coach Mark Gottfried.

Lee Hill, Raymond's coach at Statesboro High, confirmed the signing. Raymond had committed to former N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe, but Hill said Raymond felt comfortable with the new staff after they visited him.

Raymond, who's 6-foot-4, averaged 21.3 points per game and shot 79 percent from the free throw line last season. He also carries a 3.5 grade-point average, Hill said.

"They're getting a very high-IQ basketball player. . .a very good outside shooter, athletic-type kid that's going to be smart in the classroom also," Hill said.

Ken Tysiac

Recruit Murphy to enroll a year early at Duke

Highly rated basketball recruit Alex Murphy will graduate from high school a year early and enroll at Duke in 2011 rather than 2012, his father confirmed Tuesday night.

Jay Murphy, who played four seasons in the NBA in the mid- to late 1980s, referred to a quote his son gave Fox Sports columnist Jeff Goodman, saying Alex considered this a difficult decision but one that’s best for him.

“We’re excited about the opportunity for Alex,” Jay Murphy said. “We know it’s a great program, and we know he’s going to have to work harder than he ever did before.”

Alex Murphy is a 6-foot-8, 180-pound forward at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Mass., who was rated the No. 11 player overall in the Class of 2012 by scout.com. He should have an opportunity to contribute right away because Duke is losing a player with similar size and skills, forward Kyle Singler, who was a senior in 2010-11.

Murphy will be the fifth member of Duke’s 2011 recruiting class. He joins guards Quinn Cook and Austin Rivers, forward Michael Gbinije and center Marshall Plumlee in the class.

Duke has one more scholarship left to give for 2011.

Ken Tysiac

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