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Oct. 10 Washington, DC Brewster Academy (NH) Scouts Grade: 93 ESPN100 Rank: 54 Position Rank: 18 | Jayhawks snare Thomas Robinson ESPNU Top 100 player Thomas Robinson of Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) has chosen Kansas over the Memphis Tigers. Robinson is listed No. 54 overall and No. 18 power forward in Class 2009. He averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks last season. The 6-foot-8 prospect, originally from Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.), also holds offers from Miami-Florida, Southern California and Texas. Robinson is the first commitment for Kansas in Class 2009. |  |
Oct. 10 Compton, CA Dominguez H.S. Scouts Grade: 99 ESPN100 Rank: 8 Position Rank: 1 | Horns snare Jordan Hamilton ESPNU 100 standout Jordan Hamilton of Dominguez (Compton, Calif.), considered No. 8 overall and No. 1 small forward in Class 2009, has given a commitment to Texas. Picking the Horns before a national audience on ESPNU, Hamilton also considered UConn, Southern California, California, Kansas and Syracuse. The 6-foot-7 prospect averaged 27.6 points and 11 rebounds during his junior season. Hamilton is the third ESPNU 100 verbal in Class 2009 for the Longhorns, joining guard Avery Bradley of Findley College Prep, Nev., and forward Shawn Williams of Duncanville, Texas. ESPN.com spoke with Hamilton following his announcement. "I'd like to thank all the schools that recruited me, Kansas, Syracuse, USC and UConn," Hamilton said. "But at the end of the day I picked the school that I felt fit me the best. (Assistant coach) Russ Springman and I formed a bond when we first met. Also, I believe in (head coach) Rick Barnes as a coach and as a person." ESPN.com's National Recruiting Director Paul Biancardi talks about this huge score for the Longhorns. "Jordan is a dynamic small forward who is a big time scorer," Biancardi said. "He is versatile enough to beat you with the three point shot, the middle game and in the post." Hamilton reminds Biancardi of an NBA superstar and fellow L.A. product. "He is reminiscent of Paul Pierce," Biancardi said. "Jordan is a good - not great - athlete who can score in so many different ways. He is also quite adept at making plays with the shot clock running down." "This is a big time recruit for the Longhorns who add Jordan to a terrific 2009 class," Biancardi continued. "With the signing of Hamilton they have made themselves a force to be reckoned with on the perimeter. Once he earns the right in practice and in games, he will then have Kevin Durant-like freedom in Austin and will be a go-to guy in Rick Barnes' offense." |  |
Oct. 10 Raleigh, NC Ravenscroft School Scouts Grade: 98 ESPN100 Rank: 12 Position Rank: 5 | Touted Ryan Kelly choses Duke ESPNU 100 prospect Ryan Kelly, rated No. 12 overall and No. 5 among power forwards in Class 2009, has announced for Duke over Notre Dame and Wake Forest. From Ravenscroft School (Raleigh, N.C.), the 6-foot-9 Kelly also considered North Carolina, Georgetown and Vanderbilt. He averaged 24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks during his junior season. "With strong confidence I look forward to playing for Duke next year," Kelly told a national TV audience on ESPNU. Kelly is Duke's second Class 2009 recruit, joining ESPNU 100 Mason Plumlee of Christ School (Arden, N.C.), ranked No. 9 overall and No. 4 among power forwards, on the frontline. Kelly is one of the best at his position in the 2009 class, according to ESPN.com's National Recruiting Director Paul Biancardi. "Ryan is a high-post, face the basket four man with great size, exceptional shooting ability and a very high basketball I.Q.," Biancardi said. "A high percentage of his points come from facing the basket. He can knock down three's and also has an excellent middle game. He is also clever and skilled enough to put the ball on the floor and beat his defender." Rebounding is the one area where Kelly should improve at the next level. "If there is one aspect of Ryan's game that he needs to work on it is rebounding," Biancardi said. "With a Division I strength program he should be able to put on the necessary muscle to grab balls in and out of his area." Duke is getting a high quality student-athlete next season. "Ryan is a great student and a young man with high character who should fit in extremely well at Duke," Biancardi said. "(Head coach) Mike Kryzewski is getting a gem of a recruit. I believe Kelly is the top pick 'n pop power forward in this class." "Kelly will be a great fit for Coach K's motion offense," Biancardi continued. "With the spacing the Blue Devils use he will be very effective in a pick 'n pop set or in a high-low operation." |  |
Oct. 10 Concord, CA De La Salle H.S. Scouts Grade: 75 Position Rank: 73 | Brandon Smith to Golden Bears Brandon Smith, a 5-8 senior out of De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), committed to Cal-Berkeley after receiving considerable interest from St. Mary's and Colorado. Smith, who is expected to redshirt his 2009-2010 freshman season, also had offers from UCSB, San Diego State, San Francisco, UC-Davis, Pacific, Portland and Denver. ESPN.com's Joel Francisco has the goods on Smith. "Smith is an undersized point guard for the Division I level, but his toughness and savvy make up for his lack of size," Francisco said. "He comes from an outstanding program and his play exemplifies it. He has a vast understanding of how the game should be played and he is equally effective in a half-court set as well as in transition. He is an excellent passer who knows when to get his teammates the ball." Smith will need to work on his jumper before he arrives at Berkeley, according to Francisco. "His jump shot is a work in progress and he'll need to extend his range," he said. "He is pretty effective in the mid-range area, but his shot becomes very flat when he gets beyond the stripe." "Defensively he slides his feet very well and he has very quick hands," continued Francisco. "However, he can become a liability if bigger guards post him up in the half-court set." "Overall, Smith is an intriguing pick-up for the Bears and he may need a couple of years to adjust to the Pac-Ten, but he has a lot of moxy and savvy for the 'one' position," said Francisco. |    |
Oct. 10 Plainfield, IN Plainfield H.S. Scouts Grade: 40 | Big-man Blake Metcalf to Great Danes Albany has a Class 2009 pledge from 6-foot-9, 250-pound center Blake Metcalf. Metcalf averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds during his junior season. |  |
Oct. 10 South Kent , CT South Kent School Scouts Grade: 40 | Canes raid South Kent Prep Miami-Florida has a commitment from guard Lisandro Ruiz-Moreno of South Kent Prep School (South Kent, Conn.). Ruiz-Moreno, a 5-foot-11 native of Argentina, becomes the Canes' third commitment for Class 2009, joining two ESPNU Top 100 prospects in guard Garrius Adams of Middlecreek (Apex, N.C.) and forward Donnavan Kirk of Detroit Country Day (Detroit, Mich.). |  |
Oct. 10 Detroit, MI Community H.S. Scouts Grade: 89 Position Rank: 22 | James Still to the Friars Providence has landed center James Still of Detroit Community (Detroit, Mich.). The 6-foot-8 prospect was also looking at Detroit and Duquesne. Still joins forwards Kadeem Batts and Kyle Wright, plus guards Antoine Allen and Duke Mondy in the Friars' 2009 recruiting class. ESPN.com's National Recruiting Director Paul Biancardi describes Still as a versatile post player who is still refining his game. "James is a long and athletic combo-post who can play either the four or the five positions," Biancardi said. "He is a little raw offensively as he scores mostly off of putbacks and dump offs but James is developing a face up game that will include a 15 foot jumper as well as low post moves." Defensively, Still is a leaper in the post who can alter shots. "He is thin and needs strength but he is very bouncy," Biancardi said. "James is solid on defense and is a good shotblocker. Once he gets stronger he will be able to hold his position on the block and really round out his defensive game. Biancardi says Still's best basketball is ahead of him. "James will fit in very nicely at Providence because he runs the floor well and can finish on the break," he said. "He is exactly the type of player (head coach) Keno Davis recruits. Still will compliment Davis' pressing style of play because he is quick and can cover alot of area with his length and athleticism. He will anchor the lane defensively especially after he hits the weight room. Overall James is an excellent get for Davis and his staff." |    |
Oct. 9 Kokomo, IN Highland Community College (IL) Scouts Grade: 40 | Valpo picks up JUCO Brandon Wood A native of Kokomo, Ind., guard Brandon Wood of Highland CC, Ill., has committed to play for Valparaiso in Class 2009. Wood was also being recruited by Detroit, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and American. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound combo guard averaged 3.7 points in six games with Southern Illinois last season as a freshman before a stress fracture forced him to take a medical redshirt. He transferred to Highland in the offseason. Wood joins a 2009 recruiting class for Valparaiso that includes guard Matt Kenney, guard Tommy Kurth and forward Chris Halvorsen. |  |
Oct. 9 Fresno, CA Clovis West H.S. Scouts Grade: 75 Position Rank: 92 | UC-Davis pledges DeAndre Medlock Six-foot-9 DeAndre Medlock of Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.) has given a Class 2009 commitment to UC-Davis. | |
Oct. 9 Ames, IA Ames H.S. Scouts Grade: 74 Position Rank: 95 | Yale draws Jesse Pritchard From Senior (Ames, Iowa), guard Jesse Pritchard has given a Class 2009 commitment to Yale of the Ivy League. The 6-foot-4 prospect also considered Cornell , William & Mary and South Dakota. As a junior, Pritchard averaged 11 points and three rebounds for the Little Cyclones. |  |
Oct. 9 Powder Springs, GA Whitefield Academy Scouts Grade: 79 Position Rank: 72 | Brandon Reed set for Arkansas State From Whitefield Academy (Powder Springs, Ga.), guard Brandon Reed has pledged to the Indians of the Sun Belt Conference. |  |
Oct. 9 Livonia, MI Clarenceville H.S. Scouts Grade: 40 | Jamie Stewart back on the board Class 2009 guard Jamie Stewart of Clarenceville (Livonia, Mich.), once headed to Eastern Michigan, has reopened his recruitment. He is still considering the Eagles. |  |
Oct. 8 Sault St. Marie, ONT, CAN Salt Lake Community College (UT) | D.J. Wright back to Louisiana Tech Forward D.J. Wright, who was once set for LSU before a coaching change, has recommitted to Louisiana Tech. Wright gained a release from the Tigers after assistant Nikita Johnson moved on to Louisiana Tech. The prospect then signed with the Bulldogs, but did not qualify and enrolled at Salt Lake CC, Utah. |  |
Oct. 8 Bradenton, FL The Pendleton School Scouts Grade: 75 Position Rank: 92 | Toarlyn Fitzpatrick to Georgia Southern Georgia Southern has secured a huge commitment from Toarlyn Fitzpatrick of King (Tampa, Fla.). The 6-foot-8 forward also had offers from Mercer, Hofstra, Florida State, Miami-Florida, Tulane, East Tennessee State, Alabama, Mississippi, Central Florida, Morehead State, East Carolina and Eastern Illinois. Fitzpatrick averaged 15.5 points and 9 rebounds for King as a junior. |  |
Oct. 8 Jersey City, NJ St. Anthony H.S. Scouts Grade: 40 | St. Anthony's Jamee Jackson decides Quinnipaic has landed 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward Jamee Jackson of St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) for Class 2009. |  |
Oct. 8 Charlotte, NC Hopewell H.S. Scouts Grade: 40 | Brandyn Curry to Ivy League Head coach Tommy Amaker and his staff at Harvard have a commitment from Brandyn Curry of Hopewell (Charlotte, N.C.). The 6-foot-1 guard also considered Stanford and William & Mary. |  |
Oct. 8 Cadillac, MI Cadillac H.S. Scouts Grade: 40 | Ben Simons lands at Drake Six-foot-7 forward Ben Simons of Senior (Cadillac, Mich.) has given a Class 2009 pledge to Drake of the Missouri Valley Conference. Simons picked the Bulldogs over Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Providence. |  |
Oct. 8 Canton, GA Cherokee H.S. Scouts Grade: 88 Position Rank: 31 | Tide pledges Shawn Kemp, Jr. Six-foot-9 center/power forward Shawn Kemp, Jr., the son of former NBA star Shawn Kemp, is headed to Alabama over Washington and Nevada. Ranked No. 31 among centers in Class 2009, Shawn Jr. was also offered by Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi and Marquette. The prospect joins guard Cully Payne of Schaumburg, Ill., in the Tide's recruiting class. "Coach Mark Gottfried and his Alabama Crimson Tide landed an outstanding big man prospect with virtually unlimited potential in the 6-11 Kemp," ESPN.com's Recruiting Director Bob Gibbons said. "The once talent-filled state of Georgia is getting close to being drained of the Top 2009 players." Gibbons has kept an eye on Kemp for the past year and has seen this big man's development. "Kemp showed at the NBPA Top 100 Camp last June, and at the Reebok All-American Camp in July, that with added strength and physical development, he can become a very effective low post player at the collegiate level." Kemp's genes should serve him well at the next level. "The son of former NBA player Shawn Kemp, the younger Kemp does not have the high scoring abilities, physical dominance or the multi-dimensional talents that his father possessed as a high school senior," Gibbons said. "However, Shawn, Jr., has an excellent work ethic, and the determination to take his game to a higher level. He showed much progress playing for the Worldwide Renegades travel team last spring and summer." According to Kemp, distance was a big factor in his decision. "Alabama is about a three hour drive from my home," he told ESPN.com. "It's not too far and not too close, and I think it is a great opportunity for me. Coach Gottfried has shown interest in me for a long time, and he has outlined my future role in his program. I just feel that Alabama is the perfect school for me, and that Coach Gottfried can help me the most to develop as a player." |  |
Oct. 8 Jamestown, NC Ragsdale H.S. Scouts Grade: 70 Position Rank: 35 | High Point lands junior Jay Canty Jay Canty, a 6-foot-5 guard from Ragsdale (Jamestown, N.C.), has given a Class 2010 commitment to High Point of the Big South Conference. Others recruiting Canty were Appalachian State and UNC-Greensboro. |  |
Oct. 8 Solon, IA Solon H.S. Scouts Grade: 40 | Matt Morrison headed to Northern Iowa The UNI Panthers have a Class 2009 commitment from guard Matt Morrison of Solon, Iowa. Morrison, who averaged 16.4 points as a junior, drew interest from Evansville, Missouri State, North Dakota and Northern Arizona. He was also offered a walk-on position by Iowa State. |  |
Oct. 8 Oak Park, IL Fenwick H.S. Scouts Grade: 40 | Fenwick guard Mike Black heads south North Florida has a Class 2009 pledge from Mike Black, a guard from Fenwick (Oak Park, Ill.). | |
Oct. 8 Pflugerville, TX Pflugerville H.S. Scouts Grade: 40 | Lamar gains Jonathan Garza From Plugerville, Texas, guard Jonathan Garza has pledged to sign a Class 2009 scholarship to Lamar. |  |
Oct. 8 Missouri City, TX Hightower H.S. Scouts Grade: 40 | Joshua Wesley set on Lamar Six-foot-5, 240-pound forward Joshua Wesley of Fort Bend Hightowner (Missouri City, Texas) has chosen Lamar over Long Island and Wagner. | |
Oct. 8 Oak Park, MI Detroit Central H.S. Scouts Grade: 40 | Kallante Miller to Chippewas A 6-foot-4 guard, Kallante Miller of Oak Park, Mich., has chosen Central Michigan. Miller chose the Chippewas over DePaul, Detroit, Cleveland State, St. Bonaventure and Western Michigan. Central Michigan's 2009 class includes Miller and Tyler Brown, a forward from North (Eau Claire, Wis.). |  |
Oct. 8 Southborough, MA St. Mark's School Scouts Grade: 98 ESPN100 Rank: 21 Position Rank: 5 | 2010 Nate Lubick to Georgetown ESPNU Super 60 Nate Lubick of St. Mark's School (Southborough, Mass.), rated No. 5 among Class 2010 power forwards, has decided to attend Georgetown. The 6-foot-8 standout also considered Michigan, UCLA, Notre Dame and Virginia. Lubick, who plays for his father Dave at St. Mark's, averaged 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds during his sophomore season as the Lions won the New England Prep Class C title. |  |
