Kannapolis A.L. Brown athlete Damien Washington wasn't fazed by the turmoil surrounding the University of North Carolina football program and has given a commitment to the Tar Heels.
Washington plays slot receiver and running back for A.L. Brown and is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. First-year A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome said Washington obviously is aware of the changes and uncertainty at North Carolina after coach Butch Davis' firing July 27, but was ready to commit quickly after receiving a scholarship offer.
Newsome said Washington has always wanted to play at North Carolina. He is the first player to known to have given a new commitment (as opposed to re-affirming an existing commitment) to the Tar Heels and interim coach Everett Withers since Davis was fired.
"Kids are resilient," Newsome said. "They don’t always look at the probation stuff and all that. That’s where the kid wanted to go."
Although Washington didn't have any other Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offers, Newsome suspects that he would have received at least one more offer later in the recruiting calendar.
He said Washington's versatility is his strength; he's a natural receiver or running back who can play several positions.
"He’s a lot of different things," Newsome said. "He also can play defense. I think Carolina thinks he can come in and play corner or safety for them because he’s so athletic."
Ken Tysiac
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Timing of Duke scholarship offer questioned
Duke released a statement Friday after reports that basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski may have violated an NCAA recruiting rule by offering a scholarship to a recruit during a summer club tournament.
“In all rules matters brought to our attention, the Duke compliance department exercises due diligence in determining the relevant facts of a given situation,” Duke associate director of athletics for media relations and public affairs Jon Jackson said in the statement. “Proper adherence to NCAA bylaws has always been, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of Duke Athletics.”
CBSSports.com reported that Krzyzewski offered a scholarship to Class of 2012 standout Alex Poythress, a 6-foot-7 forward from Clarksville, Tenn., on Tuesday. But the scholarship offer reportedly came before Poythress’ Georgia Stars team completed play in the Super Showcase tournament in Orlando, Fla.
NCAA Rule 13.1.6.2 prohibits coaches from contacting athletes until they are finished playing in a tournament.
Jackson declined further comment; NCAA rules that prevent staff members from talking about recruits that have not signed scholarship agreements.
Ken Tysiac
“In all rules matters brought to our attention, the Duke compliance department exercises due diligence in determining the relevant facts of a given situation,” Duke associate director of athletics for media relations and public affairs Jon Jackson said in the statement. “Proper adherence to NCAA bylaws has always been, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of Duke Athletics.”
CBSSports.com reported that Krzyzewski offered a scholarship to Class of 2012 standout Alex Poythress, a 6-foot-7 forward from Clarksville, Tenn., on Tuesday. But the scholarship offer reportedly came before Poythress’ Georgia Stars team completed play in the Super Showcase tournament in Orlando, Fla.
NCAA Rule 13.1.6.2 prohibits coaches from contacting athletes until they are finished playing in a tournament.
Jackson declined further comment; NCAA rules that prevent staff members from talking about recruits that have not signed scholarship agreements.
Ken Tysiac
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wolfpack adds a tight end, too
Newark (Del.) High football coach Butch Simpson said you don't hear the ball hit David Grinnage's hands when Grinnage catches a pass.
"He has incredibly soft hands," Simpson said. "Catching the ball is probably the best thing that he does."
The 6-foot-5, 243-pound senior committed to N.C. State on Tuesday.
"I think that N.C. State is looking at him as a tight end, but we run a spread and he was more of a slot back, an H-back for us," Simpson said. "We had four good receivers ahead of him at the start of last season, but he kept getting better and better and started catching passes and scoring touchdowns."
Newark finished 6-4 in 2010, but averaged 37 points per game.
Grinnage is a great athlete, Simpson said. Grinnage was a wrestler and hit clean up for the Newark baseball team.
-- Tim Stevens
"He has incredibly soft hands," Simpson said. "Catching the ball is probably the best thing that he does."
The 6-foot-5, 243-pound senior committed to N.C. State on Tuesday.
"I think that N.C. State is looking at him as a tight end, but we run a spread and he was more of a slot back, an H-back for us," Simpson said. "We had four good receivers ahead of him at the start of last season, but he kept getting better and better and started catching passes and scoring touchdowns."
Newark finished 6-4 in 2010, but averaged 37 points per game.
Grinnage is a great athlete, Simpson said. Grinnage was a wrestler and hit clean up for the Newark baseball team.
-- Tim Stevens
N.C. State gets commitment from OG (with video)
Eddie Gordon, a 6-foot-2, 315-pound offensive guard, announced Tuesday that he will accept a football scholarship to N.C. State.
Gordon made his commitment on his 17th birthday.
"I knew I wanted to go to N.C. State and I decided to announce on my birthday," he said.
Boiling Springs (S.C.) High coach Bruce Clark said Gordon had made himself into an outstanding prospect.
"He is an exceptional blocker," Clark said. "He has tremendous feet, changes direction well and is excellent blocking downfield. He has great movement as a pass blocker."
Clark said Gordon was a year younger than many of his classmates.
"Eddie is going to continue to get better," Clark said. "He is still growing and maturing. If he had two more years of high school instead of just one, he'd be a monster."
Gordon also had offers from East Carolina and Furman.
"N.C. State was the first school to show interest in me. It invited me to its camp after my freshman year," Gordon said. "And State was the first school to offer me a scholarship, too.
"After I visited there, I really liked Coach [Tom] O'Brien and his staff, the players and the players that are coming in. The facilities are fantastic and I really like the school. I knew it was the place for me."
-- Tim Stevens
Gordon made his commitment on his 17th birthday.
"I knew I wanted to go to N.C. State and I decided to announce on my birthday," he said.
Boiling Springs (S.C.) High coach Bruce Clark said Gordon had made himself into an outstanding prospect.
"He is an exceptional blocker," Clark said. "He has tremendous feet, changes direction well and is excellent blocking downfield. He has great movement as a pass blocker."
Clark said Gordon was a year younger than many of his classmates.
"Eddie is going to continue to get better," Clark said. "He is still growing and maturing. If he had two more years of high school instead of just one, he'd be a monster."
Gordon also had offers from East Carolina and Furman.
"N.C. State was the first school to show interest in me. It invited me to its camp after my freshman year," Gordon said. "And State was the first school to offer me a scholarship, too.
"After I visited there, I really liked Coach [Tom] O'Brien and his staff, the players and the players that are coming in. The facilities are fantastic and I really like the school. I knew it was the place for me."
-- Tim Stevens
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tar Heels land QB prospect
North Carolina has received a commitment from quarterback Patton Robinette of Maryville (Tenn.) High School, according to Inside Carolina's website.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tar Heels add football commitment
Justin Meredith, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end at Anderson (S.C.) Hanna, turned down more than 30 other scholarship offers to commit to the University of North Carolina.
Meredith already has accepted a spot in the UnderArmour All-America football game next spring. Clemson, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Tennessee and LSU were among the offers he most seriously considered.
“He is your prototype tight end,” said Hanna coach Kenya Fouch. “He is a big kid with long arms who is quick and strong. He makes good grades and has good character. He is exactly what college coaches are looking for.”
Meredith was on the Hanna varsity as a freshman. The school has a strong football tradition and currently has graduated players on the rosters of Wake Forest, N.C. State, Kentucky and South Carolina.
Hanna was 7-6 in 2010 but lost three games to teams that advanced to the state championship game in their classification.
-- Tim Stevens
Meredith already has accepted a spot in the UnderArmour All-America football game next spring. Clemson, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Tennessee and LSU were among the offers he most seriously considered.
“He is your prototype tight end,” said Hanna coach Kenya Fouch. “He is a big kid with long arms who is quick and strong. He makes good grades and has good character. He is exactly what college coaches are looking for.”
Meredith was on the Hanna varsity as a freshman. The school has a strong football tradition and currently has graduated players on the rosters of Wake Forest, N.C. State, Kentucky and South Carolina.
Hanna was 7-6 in 2010 but lost three games to teams that advanced to the state championship game in their classification.
-- Tim Stevens
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Gill beats buzzer for big TOC win
RALEIGH – In his home gym Sunday, Ravenscroft junior-to-be Anton Gill provided a spectacular finish to the 16-and-under division of the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions.
Gill’s Garner Road team got the ball with a two-point deficit after the Long Island Lightning scored on a tip-in with four seconds remaining in the 16-and-under championship game.
Taking the ball in the backcourt, Gill crossed the halfcourt line, pulled up from 28 feet and rattled in a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded for a 58-57 win.
“I just wanted to get the best look possible,” Gill said. “I looked up, and I didn’t see anybody and I was open. So I got to a good spot and I just let it go and it went in.”
Gill scored 13 points to lead Garner Road in the championship game and was named 16-and-under most valuable player. The honor added to his reputation as a big-time recruit – he’s rated the No. 23 player in the nation in the Class of 2013 by scout.com.
He said that at this point, he is not overly concerned with the recruiting process. His ACC scholarship offers thus far have come from N.C. State and Wake Forest.
“I’ve got a lot of offers, a lot of Division I looks, but I don’t think I’m ready yet to make a decision where I want to go to college,” Gill said. “I just have to keep working hard and working on my game and I know when it comes time to make a decision I’ll make the right one.”
Gill’s game-winning buzzer beater was his second in the Ravenscroft gym. On Feb. 2, he made a 3-pointer from the corner to defeat Middle Creek 59-57.
Sunday’s winning basket had him waxing nostalgic about attending the Tournament of Champions in past years and watching players such as John Wall (now of the Washington Wizards) and C.J. Leslie (N.C. State).
“There’s been so many great players in this tournament,” Gill said, “and I was definitely one of the guys up in the stands jumping up and down when shots like this happened.”
Garner Road’s successful overall weekend also included a championship in the consolation bracket of the 17-and-under division.
T.J. Warren scored 39 points in the title game win over Belmont Shore. Garner Road failed to make the championship bracket after a Saturday loss to Team Loaded when N.C. State commitment Tyler Lewis scored 47 points to outduel Warren, who scored 41.
“It was a tough loss, but we got over it,” said Warren, the MVP of the consolation bracket.
In the 17-and-under championship bracket, the Southern Phenoms defeated the South Florida Panthers 59-53.
Ken Tysiac
Gill’s Garner Road team got the ball with a two-point deficit after the Long Island Lightning scored on a tip-in with four seconds remaining in the 16-and-under championship game.
Taking the ball in the backcourt, Gill crossed the halfcourt line, pulled up from 28 feet and rattled in a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded for a 58-57 win.
“I just wanted to get the best look possible,” Gill said. “I looked up, and I didn’t see anybody and I was open. So I got to a good spot and I just let it go and it went in.”
Gill scored 13 points to lead Garner Road in the championship game and was named 16-and-under most valuable player. The honor added to his reputation as a big-time recruit – he’s rated the No. 23 player in the nation in the Class of 2013 by scout.com.
He said that at this point, he is not overly concerned with the recruiting process. His ACC scholarship offers thus far have come from N.C. State and Wake Forest.
“I’ve got a lot of offers, a lot of Division I looks, but I don’t think I’m ready yet to make a decision where I want to go to college,” Gill said. “I just have to keep working hard and working on my game and I know when it comes time to make a decision I’ll make the right one.”
Gill’s game-winning buzzer beater was his second in the Ravenscroft gym. On Feb. 2, he made a 3-pointer from the corner to defeat Middle Creek 59-57.
Sunday’s winning basket had him waxing nostalgic about attending the Tournament of Champions in past years and watching players such as John Wall (now of the Washington Wizards) and C.J. Leslie (N.C. State).
“There’s been so many great players in this tournament,” Gill said, “and I was definitely one of the guys up in the stands jumping up and down when shots like this happened.”
Garner Road’s successful overall weekend also included a championship in the consolation bracket of the 17-and-under division.
T.J. Warren scored 39 points in the title game win over Belmont Shore. Garner Road failed to make the championship bracket after a Saturday loss to Team Loaded when N.C. State commitment Tyler Lewis scored 47 points to outduel Warren, who scored 41.
“It was a tough loss, but we got over it,” said Warren, the MVP of the consolation bracket.
In the 17-and-under championship bracket, the Southern Phenoms defeated the South Florida Panthers 59-53.
Ken Tysiac
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tokoto opens TOC with a slam
RALEIGH - On one of the first possessions of tonight's game, future University of North Carolina wing J.P. Tokoto stole a pass on the wing and glided downcourt for a two-handed dunk.
Tokoto, who's committed to the Tar Heels for the Class of 2012, got off to a decent start tonight at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions at Ravenscroft School. Tokoto, who's 6-foot-6, scored a team-high 19 points as his Wisconsin Playground Warriors summer club team defeated the North Carolina Gaters 57-51 in their tournament opener.
Still, he didn't sound satisfied.
"Everybody was a little bit sluggish from the start," Tokoto said. "Everybody is coming back from two weeks ago we came back from a good tournament win in the adidas May Classic. Everybody was a little sluggish the first game, but we’ll look better by tomorrow."
Ken Tysiac
Tokoto, who's committed to the Tar Heels for the Class of 2012, got off to a decent start tonight at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions at Ravenscroft School. Tokoto, who's 6-foot-6, scored a team-high 19 points as his Wisconsin Playground Warriors summer club team defeated the North Carolina Gaters 57-51 in their tournament opener.
Still, he didn't sound satisfied.
"Everybody was a little bit sluggish from the start," Tokoto said. "Everybody is coming back from two weeks ago we came back from a good tournament win in the adidas May Classic. Everybody was a little sluggish the first game, but we’ll look better by tomorrow."
Ken Tysiac
Monday, May 23, 2011
UNC gets two linebacker commitments for 2012
Two players who committed to North Carolina in the past few days will help shore up the Tar Heels' linebacking corps beginning in 2012.
Durham Jordan's Phillip Williamson and Holy Spirit High (Absecon, N.J.) defender Dan Mastromatteo have decided to join the Tar Heels.
Williamson plays strong safety at Jordan but has grown to 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds and is likely to help the Tar Heels at outside linebacker, according to Jordan coach Mike Briggs. Williamson had scholarship offers from North Carolina and Duke, and had several other schools showing interest.
Briggs said Williamson has natural size and strength, and displays an intense desire to improve.
"It's hard to outwork him," Briggs said. "He works hard in the weight room and works hard on the field."
Mastromatteo is about 6-2 and 215 pounds.
Ken Tysiac
Durham Jordan's Phillip Williamson and Holy Spirit High (Absecon, N.J.) defender Dan Mastromatteo have decided to join the Tar Heels.
Williamson plays strong safety at Jordan but has grown to 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds and is likely to help the Tar Heels at outside linebacker, according to Jordan coach Mike Briggs. Williamson had scholarship offers from North Carolina and Duke, and had several other schools showing interest.
Briggs said Williamson has natural size and strength, and displays an intense desire to improve.
"It's hard to outwork him," Briggs said. "He works hard in the weight room and works hard on the field."
Mastromatteo is about 6-2 and 215 pounds.
Ken Tysiac
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Murphy formally signs with Duke
Duke has received a national letter of intent from forward Alex Murphy, who recently decided to forgo his senior season at St. Mark's School in Southborough, Mass., and enroll in 2011 to play for the Blue Devils.
Murphy averaged 21.0 points per game as a junior while leading St. Mark's to a 27-3 record. He had started high school at the Prout School in Rhode Island before transferring to St. Mark's, where he repeated his freshman year and reclassified to the Class of 2012.
His family has strong ties to basketball. His father, Jay, played for Boston College and in the NBA in the 1980s, and his mother, Paivi played for the Finnish national team. Murphy's brother, Erik, plays at Florida.
ESPN.com ranks Murphy as the No. 40 player overall in the Class of 2011. Murphy joins guards Austin Rivers and Quinn Cook, forward Michael Gbinije and center Marshall Plumlee in a Duke Class of 2011 group that will be rated as one of the top classes in the nation.
Ken Tysiac
Murphy averaged 21.0 points per game as a junior while leading St. Mark's to a 27-3 record. He had started high school at the Prout School in Rhode Island before transferring to St. Mark's, where he repeated his freshman year and reclassified to the Class of 2012.
His family has strong ties to basketball. His father, Jay, played for Boston College and in the NBA in the 1980s, and his mother, Paivi played for the Finnish national team. Murphy's brother, Erik, plays at Florida.
ESPN.com ranks Murphy as the No. 40 player overall in the Class of 2011. Murphy joins guards Austin Rivers and Quinn Cook, forward Michael Gbinije and center Marshall Plumlee in a Duke Class of 2011 group that will be rated as one of the top classes in the nation.
Ken Tysiac
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
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
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
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
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
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
Friday, April 15, 2011
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
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
Thursday, April 14, 2011
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.
Here is Summers' profile from scout.com.
Friday, April 8, 2011
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
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
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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
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
Friday, March 4, 2011
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:
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wisconsin wing Tokoto picks Tar Heels
Ritchie Davis, Tokoto’s club coach with the Wisconsin Playground Warriors, confirmed that Tokoto had spoken to North Carolina
Tokoto is a 6-foot-6, 190-pound wing who’s rated the 32nd-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
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
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