Kasey Hill Announces for Florida

Kasey Hill (Montverde Academy, FL), a 2013 point guard, ended his recruitment today with a commitment to the Florida Gators and Billy Donavan.

Hill sent out a tweet saying, "I am a GATOR!!!" while many reported he was on an unofficial visit to take in the Florida game against Yale.

It must've went well because it was enough to secure a commitment from one of the top guards in the country, regardless of class.

Hill held other offers from many schools around the country but had a top three of Florida, Louisville and Kentucky. The guard would have fit in either of the systems perfectly but elected to stay home and play for the legendary Billy Donavan.

Hill is the first commitment in the 2013 class for the Gators and certainly not the last.

Hill is one of the more explosive guards in his class that is deadly off his first step. With the success of guards coming through Florida, it will more than likely turn out to be a great fit for both parties.

Troy Williams Down to Five

Troy Williams (Phoebus, VA), a 2013 small forward, has whistled his list down to a manageable five schools. After picking up a North Carolina, it was destined for the Tar Heels to make his top five.

North Carolina, along with Kentucky, Georgetown, Virginia Tech and Villanova made his top five.

A surprise to some, Louisville was not mentioned as a school still in the mix. DePaul, Florida, South Florida, Alabama and Texas, to name a few, were some of the others that missed out on his top five.

Louisville received a visit and nothing indicated that it didn't go well. He is still taking in the Kentucky-Louisville game this New Years day, however.

Williams, a top 10 player by ESPN, has a college ready game and it's easy to see by the school's tracking him.

"They're school's that fit my style of play," Williams told Jeff Borzello. "They're also not that far away for my family."

Mario Onoh Recruitment Picking Up

Mario Onoh is a unknown name in recruiting circles but not unknown in coaching circles.

Onoh, a 6-2 guard, from Jamaica Queens, New York, is now prepping at Hebron Academy in Maine before spending four years at Lewisville High School in Texas.

So far he's been a coaches best friend. He's a great student in the classroom that has a good GPA and also a good person off the court.

"I was TABC [Texas Association of Basketball Coaches] academic all-state last year," he said. He's continued that level of success in the classroom and that is why so many prestigious universities are give him a look right now.

Onoh listed interest from American, Colgate, Columbia, Cornell, Cal Poly, Hartford, Manhattan, Mount St. Mary, NJIT, Richmond, St. Francis (NY) and UCSB.

He also recently visited Hartford last weekend and NJIT earlier this week.

This is what many athletes find attractive about prep school. Not only can you go up one class, but you can also have that extra time to develop your game. Onoh realized that and that was one of the many reasons why he chose to go prep.

"A lot of schools wanted me because I went prep," he said. "In Texas, I had a defensive role and I always guarded the other teams best player. I had to sacrifice a lot of my offense but I had no problem with that because we won a lot of games."

Playing in that role helped him out a lot. His energy dictates his game and once he gets energized, he a good defender. But since going prep, it's been more energy on both ends. Just this past week, Onoh was named Athlete of the Week in Maine after averaging 22 points and nine rebounds per game.

The kid certainly has talent and is a player deserving of a look.

Shabazz Trims His List

The nations top player, Shabazz Muhammad (Bishop Gorman HS, NV) has trimmed his list again.

Duke, Kansas, UCLA, Kentucky, Arizona and UNLV are the school's he mentioned. But according to other reports, Muhammad's father also reiterating that USC still has a shot at landing the No. 1 overall player in high school basketball.

"I narrowed my list down to like six," Muhammad told FiveStarBasketball.com. "I think it was a good thing for me to narrow it down because a lot of schools were calling that I wasn't really interested in."

Each of the schools that are still in the mix are more than likely going to send a full out blitz to get the nations top ranked senior. There are rumors that Kentucky leads and UCLA is right there but Muhammad never confirms that.

He has committed to signing late and continuously said that he doesn't have any favorites.

Anton Gill to Louisville
Gill, a 2013 6-2 combo-guard, ended his recruitment with a verbal commitment to Louisville. Gill is the No. 43 player in his class according to Rivals.com and No. 48 according to ESPN.

Gill is a nice pickup for the 'Cards and should make an impact immediately. He's a great scorer from the backcourt but has the ability to play the one if he chooses. He gives the 'Cards a solid backcourt presence that they thought they were getting from Rodney Purvis before he decommitted and went on to NC State.

The Ravenscroft school guard pick Louisville over offers from Charlotte, East Carolina, North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina State, South Carolina and Wake Forest. He is the first commit in Louisville's 2013 class.

Khem Birch Leaving Pitt

The speculation is over. Khem Birch is transferring from Pittsburgh.

The news came as no surprise as many sources have indicated that the 6-8 forward was thinking about transferring for sometime now.

"I enjoyed my time at Pittsburgh," Birch told CBSSports.com. "I love coach [Jamie] Dixon, had no problem with the staff and the players. It just wasn't the right fit for me."

In 10 games this season, Birch averaged 4.4 points and five rebounds per game along with 1.9 blocks in 15 minutes of action per game.

Before making his decision to go to Pittsburgh, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Ohio State, Providence, Texas, St. John's and West Virginia were all in the picture for the 6-9 Canadian big.

It's unclear where Birch will transfer to next but many rumors have already started that he could be Kentucky bound. We'll have to wait and see.

Jabari Brown to Visit Georgia Tech

In two games at Oregon, Jabari Brown saw the starting lineup as well as getting around 25 minutes per game. He averaged just six points, two rebounds and 5.5 turnovers per game.

It was then when Brown decided to say no to the Ducks and transfer elsewhere.

There were rumors out there that Brown to San Diego State seemed like a sure thing but then some believed that the Aztecs denied his transfer.

Then came Missouri. Missouri already has an impressive list of newcomers, including Pepperdine transfer Keion Bell and Auburn's Ernest Ross. Adding another talented wing in Brown would be ideal for the Tigers. He visited last weekend but walked away uncommitted.

He then has another visit scheduled. This time with Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets will welcome in a three-man class that features some of the top in-state talent and adding another guard to the backcourt with sharpshooter Chris Bolden could be what Brian Gregory is trying to do with Brown.

Andrew White to Kansas

Andrew White (Miller School, VA) finally made his college decision. Before his game, the 6-6 wing decided to commit to the Kansas Jayhawks over the likes of North Carolina State.

"I think it was a huge opportunity to play there and I have a good relationship with their staff," he told Richmond WWBT.

White is the fifth commitment for Kansas joining five-star recruit Perry Ellis and three-star recruits Landen Lucas, Anrio Adams, and Zach Peters.

This is a great feeling for Kansas fans who haven't seen a class this talented since 2009, where they pulled in Xavier Henry, Thomas Robinson and Elijah Johnson, all four and five-star rated recruits by Rivals.com.

They'll definitely need the extra boost after losing both Tyshawn Taylor to graduation and possibly Thomas Robinson to the NBA draft following the season.

Solomon Poole Hasn't Narrowed His List Down

Solomon Poole, (Terry Parker HS, FL) the younger brother of Kentucky transfer Stacey Poole and five-star guard in 2013, has not narrowed down his list.

There were reports that surfaced and reported that the Florida native had settled his list down to five schools with Georgia, Louisville, Memphis, Oklahoma State and UCLA.

However, it has been later established that Poole is not down to five schools and is wide open. "I have no idea where that is coming from," Poole told J. Capers (@TheCapersEffect) on Twitter.

This is great news for schools such as Miami, Kentucky, Oklahoma State and South Carolina, who all spent a good deal of time recruiting the top ranked point guard.

Nate Britt Announces for North Carolina

North Carolina got some good news this evening when point guard Nate Britt of Gonzaga High School in Washington, DC, announced his verbal commitment to the program.

"At the end of the day, North Carolina felt like home to me," Britt told FiveStarBasketball.com.

Britt becomes the second recruit to commit to North Carolina joining 6-8 forward Isaiah Hicks of J.F. Webb in Oxford, North Carolina.

Britt is considered the No. 11 player in his class by Yahoo! Rivals and No. 2 point guard in 2013 by ESPN.

Top Unsigned Power Forwards/Centers

Anthony Bennett - Bennett, a 6-8 beast on the low block, narrowed his list down to nine and since then his recruitment has been quiet for the most part. His current nine is Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, UNLV, Washington and West Virginia.

Zena Edosomwan - It was a bit of a surprise to see an undecided Edosomwan during the early signing period. His took official visits to his five finalist-Cal, Harvard, Texas, USC and Washington-and could have made a decision then.

Amile Jefferson - The versatile four man has a big difficult decision to make. He four star big, according to Rivals, will sign late and decide between Connecticut, Kentucky, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Stanford, Temple and Villanova according to Zagsblog.

Tony Parker - The recruitment of four star big man, according to Rivals, has been quiet since the release of his top list. Kansas and in-state schools Georgia and Georgia Tech seem to be the darkhorse with Duke, Memphis, UCLA and Ohio State creating the most noise in his recruiting circle.

Chris Obekpa - There is plenty of upside in Obekpa. At 6-9, he does many things great like running in transition, rebounding, defending and most importantly, Obekpa plays with a non-stop motor. He is being tracked by many high-majors and a specific list of schools he's considering has not been made.

Jarnell Stokes - Stokes is already physically able to compete on the next level. He's a tough kid that thrives off finishing with contact. He's considering offers from Arkansas, Memphis, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Ricardo Gathers - Gathers is just one of St. John's former commitments on this list but unlike the others, I believe the Johnnies have the best chance of reuniting with the 6-7 forward. He recently tripped to the St. John's game against UMBC and hasn't showed much interest in other programs.

Jakarr Sampson - Sampson, was the headliner of St. John's 2011 class but after being denied eligibility, the 6-8 forward went prep and opened his recruitment. Although St. John's has stepped it up as of late, Baylor among others such as Kansas, Pitt, Louisville and Providence have all been going strong at the former Johnnies commit.

Norvel Pelle - Pelle is the latest St. John's commit that decided to re-think his initial commitment. It's unclear what schools are interested in the 6-10 big, but Washington, St. John's and San Diego State are all possibilities  but that's just speculation.

Top Unsigned Small Forwards

Shabazz Muhammad - No surprise, he's going to wait until the Spring to sign and beyond speculation, there is no UCLA for the 6-6 wing. Muhammad has stuck with the same list of schools that features UCLA, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas and Texas A&M among others. His most recent visit was to UNLV to take in their opener.

William Howard - Howard, a french wing, has high major game. DraftExpress compares his game to Oklahoma City Thunder's Thabo Sefolosha. He's hearing from Providence, Rhode Island and Washington per NBEBasketball.com and could expand his list once he qualifies academically.

Dyshawn Pierre - There is no other way to describe his game without using the word playmaker. Pierre scores, rebounds, and gets his teammates involved. The Canadian has acquired triple-doubles on the international scene and has also made a mark in the US on the AAU circuit. He's a very underrated prospect that could be a impact player at the college level.

Savon Goodman - The former Villanova commit is making strides towards becoming a wing. Since decomitting, schools such as Arizona, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Texas, UCLA, USC and Xavier have shown interest and are all in play for the 6-6 forward.

Winston Shepard - Shepard is an athletic wing with an interesting game. He's a pleasure to have in transition and an advantage on the wing. He  recently trimmed his list to Georgia, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, UNLV and UTEP.

Devonta Pollard - Out in transition, Pollard is your guy. The 6-7 athletic forward from Kemper County High will be a major addition to a college program. There are reports that Alabama, Mississippi State, Texas and Marquette, are trailing Kentucky right now for his services.

Aaron Ross - 6-6 Ross failed to qualify at Arkansas in the fall and took his talents to prep school and reclassified to the class of 2012. He planned to re-sign with Arkansas but however, according to CBS Sports, Arkansas has had limited contact and many other schools are stepping up. Dayton, Missouri, Nebraska and Washington are all interested.

Billydee Williams - A great outside shooter and also a good slasher. Williams provides an excellent threat on the wing that can hurt you in many ways. He plans to sign late and currently holds offers from Florida Gulf Coast, James Madison, Louisiana Tech, Murray State, North Florida, Oklahoma State, Richmond, Towson and UTEP. Auburn, Kansas State and Miami are also interested.

Top Unsigned Shooting Guards

Torian Graham - Since decommitting from North Carolina State, Graham to Maryland seemed to be a likely decision for the 6-4 off-guard. However, now Maryland is out the picture. Baylor, Florida State, Memphis and Texas are all involved.

Jarvis Haywood - Haywood, a former Winthrop commit is a 6-4 wing, that can play multiple positions because of versatility. He has a knack for scoring the basketball and fill it up easily. He has offers from Appalachian State, Charleston, Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, High Point and Winthrop.

Andrew White - I was really surprised to see White not sign during the early signing period. There are reports that he has made his decision and hasn't decided to go public, but many other sources conflict those reports. However, that could be a good sign for Georgetown fans. Georgetown is making a late push at White after missing out on TJ Warren. The Hoyas will have to beat out Kansas, Louisville, Texas and West Virginia.

Sekou Wiggs - Wiggs is a combo-guard but looks more comfortable playing at the two than the one. He currently holds offers from Cal Poly, Idaho, Portland State and San Francisco, but looks to be wide-open with the recruitment process.

Anrio Adams - Adams notified me that he was not going to sign early. He flirted with jumping classes but ultimately decided to go to college during 2012-13. Many programs are after the 6-3 shooting guard that possesses one of the better offensive games in the country.

Jerron Wilbut - There were once questions about his academics but according to sources, his grades have cleaned up and he is on pace to qualify academically. Great news for himself and the colleges that are pursuing him. Wilbut is an athletic guard that plays with a great deal of energy. He prides himself on outworking his opponents and he does that more often than not.

Darren Montgomery - 6-2 combo-guard Montgomery had early interest from high-major schools such as Louisville and Purdue but never seemed to keep in consistent contact. Now, after a long silence in his recruitment, Montgomery is back on the scene and is better than before. He's a really good shooter and has developed his shot a lot. Florida International, Southern Illinois and Western Illinois are all interested.

Top Unsigned Point Guards

A look at some of the top remaining floor generals in the 2012 class.

Nino Jackson - Jackson, a 6-2 point guard from Ardmore High School (OK.), is one of the top options for programs looking for a point guard in the class of 2012. He's a very capable of playing both positions on the floor and would be a great addition for an up-tempo team that likes to run. His athleticism is off-the-charts and his ability to finish around the rim is solid. A lot of programs are after him but as far as who is still unknown. His recruitment has been very quiet for months now.

Ray Lee - At 6-3, Lee is a capable point that flirted with committing to Rhode Island weeks ago. However, he didn't and that could prove to work in his favor. As one of the only good point guards left in the 2012 class it'll be hard to see programs not try to play their hand with the athletic one. He's quick, can finish at the rim and has a solid jumper. He'll definitely show what he's work so hard to prove and that is that he can play the one at the college level.

Sam Cassell Jr - Cassell is a nice floor general with a good understanding of the game. His offensive game is solid and he can score in many ways, while his long frame allows him to come up with a lot of defensive plays against smaller guards. Maryland has emerged as the leader for his services after his recent visit to their Midnight Madness festivities. However, he is also exercising other Division-I offers as well.

Jonathan Milligan - Milligan, a 6-2 guard, could easily be the top uncommitted point guard in the country. He had a huge summer and broke out of the scene. He has a unique game that features elite athleticism and quickness. He doesn't have any offers but that will easily change as more teams continue to see his improvement. Right now, North Carolina State is the only high-major interested. Creighton, Fresno State, Jacksonville State and Townson are all interested as well.

Derrick Randolph - Randolph is a solid 5-7 but that doesn't take high-majors eyes off him. Arizona, California, DePaul, Michigan State and Villanova, have all taken a good look at the guard and with the Blue Demons need for a point guard, Randolph could be there guy. He doesn't have any offers but after transferring from Whitney Young to Hyde Park, he'll have the ability to show just why he deserves one.

Madison Jones - Jones is a great playmaker with good handle. He stands 6-0 and because of his play this summer alongside five-star guard Rodney Purvis, many look at him as a two. However, he has shown the ability to play the one and is very capable at the position. He has offers from Charlotte, Drake, Georgia Southern, Marshall, Richmond, Seton Hall and Tulsa, along with interest from NC State, Virginia and Western Kentucky. He's very wide open.

Jaquez Motley - Motley, a 6-0 point guard from Faith Baptist Christian Academy, is a developing point guard who only continues to get better. Right now, he's considering offers from Chattanooga and Western Kentucky, both schools that are in need of point guards. More schools are starting to show interest and his recruitment will definitely go down to the wire.

Tariq Carey - I think if Carey got a little more attention, more schools would be after him. He definitely has improved a ton on his point guard skills and his basketball IQ as well. His passing skills are great and once he decides to focus on his jump shot, he'll be a threat on the next level. La Salle, TCU and Virginia are really interested with more school playing their hand daily.

Alex Poythress to Kentucky

When decision day came for 6-8 combo-forward Alex Poythress (Northeast, TN) the 2012 prospect started to field calls and eliminate schools.

He reportedly field calls to his four finalist but only one got good news from the five-star forward. Poythress decided to add himself to the already nice 2012 recruiting class of Kentucky.

He joins shooting guard Archie Goodwin and center Willie Cauley.

Poythress is a forward that is ranked highly by just about every scouting service. His athletic ability is off the charts and coach Calipari is getting an athlete that can get it done at two positions.

UK's top class streak may not be in jeopardy after all. Coach Calipari is in on many other recruits such as Shabazz Muhammad, Anthony Bennett, Jarnell Stokes and Amile Jefferson.

Junior Lomomba Talks Decision

Before Junior Lomomba (Memorial, WI) announced his decision many already speculated who was the front-runner. His five finalist were Cincinnati, Cleveland State, New Mexico State, UCLA and Washington State.

Lomomba has high-major game and its easy to understand that distinction if you take a look at his final list.

Out of his five finalist, Lomomba decided it was best to take his high-major game to the mid-major level. "Yes sir," he said of if he committed to Cleveland State. "I signed [my National Letter of Intent] today as well."

Cleveland State gets a huge steal in Lomomba. He had interest from all over the country and blossomed on the national stage. He is very known for his performance this summer where he locked down top-20 prospect and Providence commit Ricardo Ledo, who is widely regarded as one of the most explosive scorers in the country.

Along with great defense is a slashing guard-forward that is undeniable at the rim. His jump shot is still developing and once he starts hitting the three with consistency he can be really scary.

So what actually attracted Lomomba to Cleveland State? "[It was] a good fit and good situation to come into," he said. "They've done good in the past few years and just needed a little boost forward. I think the recruiting class coming in can give that extra boost."

Lomomba joins a four man class that includes forwards Malik London and Gary Akbar of Ohio along with Michigan guard Bryn Forbes.

Shaq Goodwin is Memphis Bound

A simple tweet that contained only one hashtagged word sent shockwaves through recruiting circles and ultimately made a program better today.

Shaquille Goodwin (Southwest Dekalb, GA) made his decision known that he was Memphis bound in the early hours of the day.

Many expected Goodwin to announce for UCLA. However, that wasn't the case. He chose Memphis over UCLA, Georgia, Florida and Arizona.

Goodwin becomes the second pledge to coach Josh Pastner's 2012 recruiting class joining four-star small forward, according to Rivals, Damien Wilson.

He is a great addition to this young Memphis program. He will fit right into Pastner's system, as he is a big that loves to run the floor. He also has the ability to face up, shoot to jumper or drive the lane and attack. He should be an instant impact player for Memphis once he arrives on campus.

Alex Poythress Decision Looming

Alex Poythress (Northeast HS, TN) has already made his college decision and plans on making it public this Thursday at 1pm.

Poythress is down to Vanderbilt, Memphis, Florida and Kentucky. many have speculated that it could be a race between Memphis and Kentucky for the five-star forward.

However, recent speculation has placed Vanderbilt in the driver seat, which is telling that his decision is up in the air and no one actually knows where he is headed.

Wherever he does decide to go he'll provide a instant impact. Poythress is an versatile 6-8 forward, who can really hurt you from inside-or-out. His ability to attack the rim is beautiful and the tough forward is a definite impact player.

It'll be interesting to see where he ends up.

New Recruiting Model for College Basketball

The NCAA has finally addressed some of the hot topic issues facing college athletics today. The NCAA approved the option for conferences to allow $2,000 of spending money as a part of an athletic scholarship.

A conferences has the right to either approve or disapprove this extra money.

In an attempt to put a bandage over the recruiting fiasco, the NCAA "revamps" the Men's Basketball recruiting model.

Coaches are now allowed to contact recruits whenever, wherever, at any time under the new recruiting model listed today. Coaches are still not allowed to comment publically about a recruit on social media due to the rule about publicizing recruiting efforts as noted in the report.

The NCAA also restored two weekends in April for recruiting evaluations. That is what many coaches and media members argued for and that will certainly give them extra time to see kids and make better judgments while evaluating.

More changes by the NCAA:

• July will be trimmed to three four day periods instead of the previous two 10 day periods.
• Juniors in High School are allowed to take official visit after January 1st with the travel expenses being covered by the institution.
• Permitting some contact at a prospect's high school during the junior year with an evaluation with some restrictions and requirements
• On campus evaluations while on official visits.

The new recruiting rules will be in effect by August 1, 2012. In April 2012, coaches will be permitted to evaluate kids on two weekends other than the Final Four, Standardized Test weekends or Easter weekend. Coaches will also see a change in the July calendar starting July 2012.

I have to say that I agree with where the NCAA is headed with the new rules and regulations. The college game had seen many transfers over the past few years and it was a great time for the new regulations to be put intact. 

This will help college coaches properly evaluate a prospective student-athlete thoroughly before and during the summer circuit.  

Here's some of what my Twitter followers had to say about the recent changes:

@TheDanMyers said: $38.46 per week won't end the dirty behind the scenes business. Just my thoughts...

@Collin_OConnor said: Like it, definitely a step in the right direction, but still isn't really going to solve anything, IMO.

@Lackey9133 said: Most players get free room, board & education anyway. So what is the 2K really for?

@SaltLakeMetro said: April opening is good. Unlimited texting is bad. Restricted July leans towards bad. Official visits Jr. year great.

Now, as I stand to agree with most, I feel like this is going in a great direction but it doesn't help much. Back in the day, athletes were granted $15 dollars a week. Now it's just a shade under $40. That still isn't going to stop "runners" and "street agents" from getting their hands on potential prospects.

However, I think the biggest help came from the unlimited contact rule. Before, there were very strict contact rules that were enforced by the NCAA. Coaches weren't always allowed to contact recruits whenever they wanted and they were forced to exercise alternative options.

Most coaches started to gain relationships with many other people in direct contact with the respective athlete. Now that the unlimited contact rule is intact, coaches will now be allowed to skip the middle man and speak with the recruit himself.

In all, I feel like the new model of college basketball recruiting helps more than it hurts. We lost days in July but added pivotal weekends in April. Also added the unlimited contact rule, which could erase the middle man.

More importantly, allowing recruits to take official visits during their junior year. It will certainly allow them a chance to get a better feel for campus life, build relationships with coaches, and ultimately, prevent a recruit from changing his mind consistently on which school he wants to attend.

DaJuan Coleman to 'Cuse

DaJuan Coleman (Jamesville-Dewitt, NY) made it official today at his press conference that he's headed to Syracuse to play for Jim Boehim and the Syracuse Orange.

Coleman, who many considered, one of the best frontier players available, is ranked top-20 nationally by many accounts and top-5 player at his position.

During his press conference, with three hats sitting in front of him, Coleman said, "The school I will be attending this coming fall will be Syracuse."

The 6-10, 280-pound frontier player will be an instant impact at in-state school Syracuse. The long five man is versatile enough to play both ends of the floor and he spoke a little bit about how coach Boehim expects to use him next year.

Coleman joins 6-8 Jerami Grant (DeMatha, MD) in Syracuse's 2012 recruiting class, giving coach Boehim another great frontcourt combo to build upon.

Brice Johnson Announcing Soon

Brice Johnson, (Edisto, NC) a 2012 forward, is closing in on his final decision. According to a tweet by ESPN's Dave Telep, Johnson will announce his college decision Wednesday.

6-9 Johnson is torn between four schools with Clemson, Florida, North Carolina and North Carolina State as the only schools in the mix.

North Carolina seems to be the team to beat in his sweepstakes. Many will speculate Florida is also another possible destination but during his most recent visit, nothing changed in his recruitment.

However, after going to Chapel Hill in September, he went away saying the Tar Heels were in his top three.

It will be interesting to see who ends up with Johnson. He had thought about visiting Clemson after visiting Florida but didn't and opted to make an early decision instead.

Josh James Has High Major Game

Standing at 6-1, from Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York is point guard Josh James. James, who recently took a trip to Manhattan for their Midnight Madness festivities, was among the top guards in attendance.

He commented on the event, saying, "It was okay."

James has yet to scheduled any other visits and has started to focus on the upcoming basketball season.

James is a developing talent with a lot of potential. He continues to work hard to become threat out of the backcourt. "I'm working on my jump shot," he said. "I'm also working on my ball handling and becoming more aggressive."

As he prepares for his junior year in high school, more schools are starting to notice the guard and his school list is starting to grow.

He holds offers from Albany, Canisius, Iona, Manhttan, Quinnipiac, St. Peter's and Stony Brook. He also mentioned Albany, Quinnipiac and Stony Brook as teams that he likes.

He also has interest coming in from Harvard, Marshall, Siena and St. Bonaventure.

With heavy recruiting interest expected, James has decided to keep his recruitment open and listen to all schools. "Yes, I am [wide open]," he said. "I'm not really considering any school right now."

With recruiting interest coming in, James has certain guidelines for deciding which schools will better suit his talents.

"A nice atmosphere and somewhere I feel comfortable," he said. "I want good people around me, who want to see me succeed and a place where I can come and play right from the jump."

While basketball is a huge part of what college he'll decide, another aspect seems to overhaul that. "it is very important," he said of academics. "My parents first and for most, expect me to get a degree."

James saw his recruitment take off this summer playing with the New York Gauchos on the AAU circuit. He was apart of many successful wings and showcased his ability to lead a team.

He has plans to continue that momentum into the upcoming season and hopefully consistently improve before he gets to college.

Ruston Hayward Opens It Up

A big blow was dealt to the Mississippi Valley State 2012 recruiting class as Ruston Hayward, (Phillis Wheatley, TX) a 2012 guard-forward, decided to decommit and re-open his recruitment.

The 6-4 slasher was a huge get for the Delta Devils and had the potential to be SWAC All-Conference all four years in college.

That is something he realized but he turned down that opportunity to pursue a better one. "I decommitted from Mississippi Valley State," he said. "[I decommitted] because I have a lot of colleges coming at me right now."

After decommitting, Hayward becomes one of the top wings to keep an eye on in the class of 2012.

He's a big time energy guy that can defend and finish at the rim. He's versatile enough to play the two in the backcourt as well. He's improved his shot and is now hitting the three with consistency.

He can defend both positions and could excel at either one.

Since the decommitment came today, Hayward has yet to hear from schools just yet but Texas Southern, Colorado State and Nebraska are programs that he's hoping to hear from.

Despite decommitting, Hayward doesn't rule out the possibility of returning as the lone member of the Mississippi Valley State's 2012 recruiting class. "Yes," he said when asked if he was still considering the Delta Devils. "I just opened it up for other colleges."

Hayward is emerging as a high major prospect. The kid can flat out play and should see a boost in his recruitment do to his decommitment. He has all the intangibles you want in a slashing playmaker off the ball.

"A lot of [colleges] will come," he said of what colleges were interested and I believe it.

DePaul Offers Three In-State Prospects

The state of Illinois is jam packed with talent and DePaul is wasting no time in it's recruiting approach.

Coach Oliver Purnell has already successful sold the program to one recruit and received a verbal pledge from 6-3 point guard Billy Garrett Jr. Garrett Jr is considered one of the best lead guards in the country.

Purnell has a great floor general, now its all about surrounding him with talent.

DePaul has it easy with nearly all of the top talent in the nation being from the state of Illinois or very close to Chicago.

The Blue Demons know who they want to target and isn't keeping the word in. Coach Purnell and his staff decided to offer three in-state guards.

2014 guards Darius Austin, Darreon Reddick and Paul Turner all picked up offers last night after attending DePaul's Midnight Madness.

Each recruit walked away from the festivities that night and was impressed. The same word was reiterated from everyone who attended the event and that "crazy."

Austin, a 6-6 wing, has high major game and is a great swingman. He's at his best when he's getting to the rim and finishing through contact. He has a physical game, great handle and finish at the rim with both hands.

His jump shot is developing and should be another asset as it continues to improve.

Reddick, a 6-3 guard, is a versatile threat out the backcourt. He has the ability to get his teammates involved but his scoring ability has gotten many thinking he could play the two at the college level.

Similar to Austin, Reddick has consistently shown that his jump shot was No. 1 priority in the gym. Improving his stroke will only improve his stock.

Turner, a 6-4 shooting guard, also has shows flashes of versatility in the backcourt. I feel his destine postion in college will be the two but he's proven that he can play the one. On the circuit, Turner tore it up in the mid range and proved that he was way ahead of his peers.

Smith-Rivera to Georgetown

It's official, D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (Oak Hill Academy, VA) is headed to Georgetown. The 6-3 former pledge of Xavier decided to chose the Hoyas over Louisville, Memphis and North Carolina State.

Smith-Rivera is the second pledge in Georgetown's 2012 class and should make a instant impact.

ESPN describes his game, "Smith-Rivera is an excellent basketball player that has a full offensive package. He will definetly be an elite level recruit and college basketball player.

"He is skilled and talented enough to be a great college player and a possible pro...time will tell."

He joins Brandon Bolden (Quality Education Academy, NC), a 2012 power forward, who should also be a great addition to the Hoyas.

Jordan Neff Talks Recruiting

Jordan Neff, (North Cobb, GA) a 6-7 forward, has a developing game that should attract high majors. His game use to be mostly in the post, however, Neff is starting to develop his perimeter skills and has made his way towards the wing.

"The main things are outside shooting and dribbling," he said of what he's working on. "[I'm] just becoming an all around better perimeter player."

Neff certainly has the skills to become a very skilled wing with his ability to defend and knock down jumpers outside of 18-feet. He's a long 6-7 and in two years, should be a high-major talent.

As of now, he has no shortlist and doesn't plan on making one anytime soon.

"I'm keeping all my options open," he said. "I haven't narrowed down my list any yet."

Many schools have shown interest in Neff, including high-majors who are currently tracking his progress. He currently holds offers from Florida Gulf Coast, Georgia Southern, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, North Florida and Wright State.

He also has a great idea of what he's looking for in colleges during the recruiting process. "I want to go to a school where I get along with and like the coaching staff a lot," he said. "Also, where I can play with players I get along with and getting to play the style of play I like is important too."

A player like Neff would strive in a up-tempo system. He's a forward that can really get out on the break, run and finish explosively at the rim. He showcased that ability a lot during the On The Radar Hoops Showcase in Georgia.

As the high school season continues to approach, Neff is looking to get some visits in before the season starts. "I've been on visits to Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State," he said.  "I will be going on another unofficial to Tennessee sometime soon."

This weekend, however, it's a different story. He's expecting to take unofficials to two programs this weekend while in Tallahassee, FL. "I'm going to North Florida and Jacksonville this weekend," he said. "They both have offered."

Despite keeping his options open, Neff wants to make his decision as quickly as possible. "I would love to make it as soon as possible," Neff said of his college decision. "But, I'm not going to rush anything. I'm keeping my options open right now. Hopefully by the summer, I will have a decision. That's my goal."

Neff is an interesting prospect to keep your eye on. He is a very explosive player that has great upside. As he continues to develop his handle and quickness, more schools will take interest.

Darren Montgomery has new interest

Combo guard Darren Montgomery (Arlington, IN) has added new interest from Chicago-area schools. Florida International, Southern Illinois and Western Illinois have all recently shown interest in Montgomery.

The 6-2 guard is looking to become more of a point guard this upcoming season and so are the colleges that are showing interest. "[They're] waiting until the middle of season to see how I have progressed," he said. "They want to see me run the point, be creative in the clutch and defend."

Butler, Louisville, Purdue and Toledo are also programs that have shown interest in the combo threat out of the backcourt. It'll be interesting to see just how many more schools get involved as his high school season progresses.

IU Self Reports Recruiting Violation

Indiana University issued a statement Tuesday that Tom Crean committed a NCAA violation while recruiting an un-named athlete in Indianapolis last week.

That un-named athlete was, 6-4 shooting guard Gary Harris (Hamilton Southeastern, IN). In the report, the school acknowledges that coach Crean traveled to see Harris after the contact period came to it's conclusion on October 6th.

An assistant realized the calender error and contacted the Indiana compliance office, which contacted the NCAA.

"Coach [Tom] Crean immediately reported an inadvertent recruiting contact violation to our complainace office," the school said in a statement. "We are following our normal procedures."

The Hoosier have docked Crean and his staff two recruiting days for the violation.

Harris, who's visiting Indiana this weekend, is also considering Kentucky, Michigan State and Purdue.

Rodney Purvis Stays In-State

Rodney Purvis (Upper Room Academy, NC) is the latest NC State commitment choosing the Wolfpack over scholarship offers from Memphis, UConn and VCU.

Since his decommitted from Louisville, most speculated that he could join his close friend Tyrek Coger and assistant Tim Fuller, who recruited him to Louisville.

That was all put to rest once he dropped Missouri from his finalist and chose to stay in-state and attend the school his grandmother favored for sometime.

He joins current commit Tyler Lewis in the backcourt and as the only two members of the Wolfpacks 2012 recruiting class.

NC State is still in play for small forward TJ Warren who is visiting this weekend along with Stanford Robinson and Josh Hart. Purvis will also join the group and could do some recruiting of his own.

NC State's class with just Lewis and Purvis is a great one. Head coach Mark Gottfried has done a fabulous job of recruiting thus far and is putting together a special class in his first year at the helm.

Dalante Dunklin Announces for UCSB

When the recruitment of 2012 point guard Dalante Dunklin (Francis Parker, CA) started to wind down, five schools had a realistic shot at his services.

Cal Poly, Denver, Portland State, San Diego and UCSB were his five finalist. When it came down to a final decision, Dunklin left four programs to look elsewhere for a point guard.

Dunklin, decided to end his recruitment with a commitment to UCSB. "Yes, I did commit to UCSB two days ago," he said. "I didn't announce it to everybody but yes I am committed."

After taking an official visit this past weekend, Dunklin just couldn't pass up any opportunity to stay close to home and play for a program that he felt comfortable with.

He was shown around by freshman TJ Taylor and was very impressed with what the school had to offer.

"The coaching staff is amazing and I was able to build a great bond with each of them," he said. "Along with that, the players were all great people."

There is every reason for head coach Bob Williams to smile after Dunklin elected to stay in-state and play for the Gauchos.

"The program is making strides," he said. "I, along with the freshman, feel we can be the Butler or VCU of the West."

That's pretty big shoes to fill but no mistake, Dunklin to UCSB will be a major boost in the backcourt as he has continued to improve that his hardwork pays off. He's a consistent scoring threat and could become a pure point in-time.

The location also played a huge part in Dunklin committing to UCSB because there won't be a problem for his family to see him play.

"The location is far enough from home but easy to get back and forth," he said. "My family will be able to see me since the majority of the teams are in Southern California."

Dunklin is the first commitment for UCSB in the 2012 class. He had nothing but good things to say about the program and should be an All-Big West player when it's all said and done.

"The school atmosphere was phenomenal," he said. "[UCSB] is just a beautiful place."

Jonathan Severe Likes Five Schools

One of the more talented players in the New York area is guard Jonathan Severe.

Severe, at 6-3, has been out of the limelight for sometime due to an injury sustained last year to his wrist, but is as ready as can be for the upcoming season.

Right now, most would agree that Severe is an interesting off-guard. He can score with ease towards the rim and he's continue to develop his jump shot and it looks better than ever but it's still something he's improving.

"[I'm working on] my handle, shot and defense," he said. "I'm also trying to get my wrist back to 100-percent. Right now, it's about 90-percent."

The injury to his wrist is continuously improving but it tends to bother him sometimes. He did iterate that he's never felt the same since the injury occurred.

On the recruiting end, the injury hasn't hurt him as much as it usually would. Florida assistant Norm Roberts was at his open gym this week and has told him before that he likes what he brings to the table.

Severe wasted no time by responding that Florida was his 'dream school' and also said because of that distinction, the Gators have a huge edge in his recruitment.

The Gators have showed continued interest and is the lone school that sticks out that shows the most interest.

Despite not having an offer, just yet, it could come in the future as Florida gets a better look at what kind of progress he's made since the injury sidelined his last year.

Despite the obvious love for Florida, Severe is also considering Ohio State, Texas, Miami and his hometown school of St. John's.

But also made sure to remind me that these are not his final five. He's certainly open to more schools.

"These are the [programs] I like," he said. "I'm open to who wants me more, but I just like them five colleges."

Coming off injury, Severe is likely to see more schools get involved as he heads towards his third season at Christ the King.

Playing with highly touted players like Isaiah Lewis, Omar Calhoun and Jordan Fuchs and many other D-1 talent, Severe has a chance to make a huge impression with many college coaches gazing on at the amount of talent at Christ the King.

After just getting back into the recruiting motion, Severe is unsure when he will start to think about what school will better suit his services. However, he didn't discount staying home to play for an in-state school by saying, "It doesn't matter."

Kendrick Nunn Decommits from A&M

Kendrick Nunn, (Simeon HS, IL) a 2013 point guard, shocked the recruiting world with a commitment to Texas A&M a few days after the Aggies added more talent in 2012.

It sent shockwaves through College Station and energized the fan base.

The only bad part was that his decision to commit was shortlived. A few months after committing, the 6-2 guard, decided to open it back up and explore his options.

"As of today, I will be opening my recruiting process," he said. "I feel like I rushed my decision and I still have a strong two years left to make the right one."

Nunn, one of the more electrifying players in a loaded 2013 class, is a must get for a lot of programs.

He's quick, can create and has the ability to finish consistently around the rim. More impressively is his jump shot. Nunn can knock down jumpers from anywhere with ease.

The Aggies held one to the talented combo guard for sometime but is still conceived the team to beat even after the decommitment.

"There is no dislike of the Texas A&M or the basketball staff," he said. "This was just a decision that I truly felt was best for me at the time."

Before committing, Nunn held offers from Arizona, DePaul, Florida State, Memphis, Missouri, North Carolina State, Ohio, Providence and Xavier with interest coming in from just about everywhere.

With the opening of his commitment, I'd be surprised if he didn't hear from just about every school that previously offered and some other big named schools that are looking for a point guard in the class of 2013.

Most notable, the North Carolina Tarheels. The 'Heels missed out of Bronson Koenig and Nate Britt is rumored to have a strong Maryland lean.

Nunn fits the description of a North Carolina guard and Roy Williams was one that had shown interest before he committed as well.

Right now, this is all just speculation but I have a hard time believing this talented guard will not hear from major programs. He sent shockwaves when he committed but thunder when he decided to re-open his recruitment.

Andre Yates to the MVC

Andre Yates (Dunbar HS, OH) became the second commitment for the Creighton Bluejays in the 2012 recruiting class joining Isaiah Zierdan (Benilde St. Margaret, MN) , the sharpshooter from Golden Valley, Minnesota.

Yates, a 5-11 point guard, had offers from Cleveland State, Dayton, Morehead State and Nebraska but ultimately chose the Blue Jays after spending the weekend on campus.

"The atmoshphere is crazy," he said. "The community supports Creighton 100-percent. The Quest Center is amazing and after my visit, I wanted to go right back."

The quick, smooth lefty guard has continued to add to his game and should be a great asset to the Blue Jays. He has continued to develop a point guard feel rather than just being a scoring threat at the one.

I'm not ready to call this a huge steal for Creighton but it sure will look that way if he's able to clean up his decision making at the point.

Swopshire Lands His First Offer

Jordan Swopshire, (SportsQuest Academy, VA) a 6-6 small forward, has to be one of the most underrated prospects in the class of 2013.

The athletic, lean, sharpshooter has yet to reel in any high major offers but has continued to prove himself as one of the best wings in a stacked recruiting class.

Not only was Swopshire named to the USA Developmental National Team but was also selected to the USA Basketball Boys 3-on-3 Youth World Championship Team in Italy.

The most recent trip to Italy didn't end as planned but he still walked away a better player.

"Yes definitely," he said of leaving a better player. "I was the distributor, which is a role I never played before. So it was good"

The USA team that also featured Shaqquan Aaron, Rondae Jefferson and Malik Price-Martin, finished eighth in the tournament with a 7-5 record.

"It was great other than the fact that we lost," he said. "[It was] the best experience of my life."

Swopshire's recruitment should be on the rise after his high school season is over, and as he heads into his final year of AAU basketball.

So far, he's had interest from Arizona, Florida, Georgetown, Illinois, Louisville, Miami (FL) and Tennessee. Memphis and VCU are still on him the hardest, despite the fact that neither one has decided to offer yet.

The lone school that stands as his only offer is Kent State, who is new to his recruitment. East Carolina is also a new name in his circle and could offer as well.

After returning from Italy, Swopshire mains focus has been on improving and getting ready for basketball season. A few coaches are expected to make their rounds out to Virginia to see the 6-6 swingman.

"Only one has come," he said of coaches coming to his open gyms. But also added, "Tennessee, Memphis and East Carolina are coming in within these next two weeks."

He said that he wanted to visit VCU after he returned back from Italy and hasn't done so yet but still plans on it.

"No, not yet," he said of visiting VCU. "I will before the season though."

With the recent improvements to his game and continued development of his frame, Swopshire will soon be a hot commodity. He already has a great jump shot but coaches are looking forward to him developing his handle to become more of a slashing threat. As he continues to improve on that, his offer list will only grow.

Anthony Clemmons Commits to Iowa

Point guard Anthony Clemmons (Sexton HS, MI) decided to end his recruitment with a commitment to Iowa while on his official visit this weekend.

He chose the Hawkeyes over Detroit, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.

"I liked the new practice gym," he said. "I connected with the coaches and players really well. I felt like they were going to make me a better person and player.

And I wanted to challenge myself to play at the highest level."

Clemmons joins Mike Gessell, Patrick Ingram, Kyle Meyer and Adam Woodbury in Iowa's stacked 2012 recruiting class. Despite already having two other guards, Clemmons is certain that going to Iowa will work.

"I think I will fit in real good," Clemmons said. " I actually seen all of them play before this summer. I feel we all can get after it on defense and stop a lot of people from scoring.

I think it's going to be no problem. We should build a strong bond."

Clemmons, a former Eastern Michigan commit, is a solid verbal to Iowa and ready to embark on a new career in Iowa City. He already has big plans for Iowa fans despite having to wait another year before beginning his career as a Hawkeye.

"I look to helping Iowa turn into a winning program and bring a lot of excitement to the table along with the rest of my teammates," he said.

Fran McCaffery has done a great job of recruiting and thanks to his success with the 2012 class, Hawkeye fans have to believe that a turnaround is in the near future.

Buddy Hield Commits to Oklahoma

From the start, Lon Kruger and his staff at Oklahoma, knew Buddy Hield (Sunrise Christian Academy, KS) was a must get in the class of 2012.

Hield blew up on the summer circuit playing with Kansas commit Perry Ellis. As he continued to blow up, his scholarship list did as well but after two months of soaking in the college interest, Hield finally made his decision.

Kruger and his staff beat out the rumored favorite Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska for Hield's services.

His familiarity with the staff played a big part and also the fact that the Sooners were the first high-major to offer. "[I picked Oklahoma] because I like the coaching staff and the style of play," Hield said.

Hield is the lone commit in Oklahoma's 2012 recruiting class but it's certainly a great start for the new staff.

Hield had a monster summer and could be an instant impact player for the Sooners. Kruger pulled in his first big-time recruit and should continue his recruiting success.

Stephen Clark Lands New Offers

Marquette put itself in good position after being the first school to officially offer 5-11 point guard Stephen Clark (Douglas HS, OK) and it didn't take long before other teams followed suit.

San Francisco and Vanderbilt both recently offered, which pushed his scholarship total to double-digits, and many schools are continuing to show interest.

He now holds offers from Baylor, Iowa, Marquette, Mississippi State, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, San Francisco, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.

His mother is expecting her son to make a verbal commitment early, and get the recruiting process out of the way. Right now, two factors are being taken as to what schools are realistic targets.

"It's all about style of play," his mother said. "[As well as] the relationship with the coaches."

During a phone interview, his mother continued to praise Marquette as a program that stood out. She also praised Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford, UConn assistant Kevin Ollie and Vanderbilt assistant David Cason.

Clark is waiting to hear from a certain three schools. "He is waiting to see if Duke, Kentucky or West Virginia will call," she said. "We would love to get this out of the way early."

Clark has also received interest from Arkansas, Clemson, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri and UConn. Despite no official offer, the Huskies have been in contact regularly with his mother.

Clark, is conceived one of the best scoring point guards in his class. He has great range on his jump shot and is tough to contain when he starts connecting. 

Many schools have continued to show interest in Clark and as he continues to learn what it takes to run a basketball team, more programs will get involved.

Buddy Hield Focusing on Four

Kansas shooting guard Buddy Hield (Sunrise Christian Academy) has whistled his list down to four schools and is setting up official visits.

Hield opened many eyes this year with his explosive scoring and sharpshooting ability. As he continues to get stronger and work on his handle, he'll only get better.

After a successful ending to his AAU career, many schools offered Hield a scholarship including big names like DePaul, Memphis, Missouri and Texas A&M to name a few.

His scholarship total is in the double-digits but according to his coach, he's kept true to his word and narrowed it down to four.

Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma all made the cut. He's already taken an official visit to Colorado this past weekend and according to reports, enjoyed it.

He also took an unofficial to Nebraska earlier this month but is going a second time around for an official.

Hield is expected to visit the Sooners this weekend, Nebraska on October 8th and Kansas for Late Night in the Phog.

Perry Ellis commits to KU

Perry Ellis (Wichita Heights, KS) didn't disappoint and opted to commit to Kansas over Kansas State, Kentucky and Wichita State. The 6-8 forward, will be used as a dual forward and even possibly in the backcourt.

Ellis joins Zach Peters in the Jayhawks 2012 class. Nino Jackson and Kaleb Tarczewski are also realistic targets to add to a developing class.

Archie Goodwin Commits to Kentucky

A few days removed from his decision to drop Kansas and UConn from his final list, comes his final decision.

6-4 shooting guard Archie Goodwin (Sylvan Hills, AR) decided to commit to Kentucky rather than Arkansas or Memphis.

He joins former North Carolina State point guard Ryan Harrow as the only newcomers to commit to Kentucky in the 2012 class. He won't be alone for very long.

The Wildcats are in very good shape with many highly-touted recruits including Perry Ellis, who is expected to announce tomorrow.

Goodwin, is an instant playmaker out of the backcourt, with a knack for getting the ball to the rim and finishing with ease. He's still a developing outside shooter but as he continues to expand his range, he'll only get better.

Kentucky head coach John Calipari got a good one in Goodwin. He'll be an instant impact player for the Wildcats and should blossom under coach Calipari.

Kyle Anderson Commits to UCLA

Kyle Anderson (St. Anthony, NJ) said a while back that he'd know his decision on September 19 and he didn't go back on his word. The 6-7 point-forward opted to select UCLA, over hometown favorite Seton Hall, Georgetown, St. Johns and Florida.

Anderson joins a three man class that features top-100 players Jordan Adams and Dominic Artis.

He has always been a point guard despite his lengthy frame and will have the chance to play in the backcourt with the Bruins despite already having one of the best point guards in the class headed to UCLA.

"Coach Howland said that I will be fighting for the point guard spot," he told Alex Kline of the Recruit Scoop. "As long as I'm on the court, I'll be good."

The Bruins aren't done with their 2012 class. UCLA is still in good standing with Shabazz Muhammad, the No. 1 recruit in the nation, who everyone believes has a UCLA lean.

If Howland is able to acquire Muhammad, the Bruins will undoubtedly, have the best class in the nation.

Wichita State Still in the Mix for Ellis

Perry Ellis (Wichita Heights, KS) a five-star power forward, has a final four of Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky and Wichita State. After today (9/16), he will have finished all of his in-home visits and started talking about his recruitment with his closest family and coaches.

Wichita State, who everyone conceives to be a darkhorse in his recruitment, has made a strong push throughout his middle school and high school career. They've even done enough to beat out schools like Duke, Minnesota and Oklahoma.

But after adding two JUCO big men in Earl Watson and Cleanthony Early, many would speculate that the Shockers chances of landing the in-state talent were slim.

However, according to the Ellis family, that isn't the case.

"I don't think that's an issue at all," his mother said. "Perry is not a big for [Wichita State]. He will be a wing."

The versatile forward has received big time compliments from all the coaches saying he could be another, three position threat. For the most part, Ellis has played in the frontcourt, but after recent improvement to his shot and ball handling, he has the ability to play on the wing and some coaches even believe he could be a college two.

Malcolm Hill Commits to Illinois

Back in June, Malcolm Hill (Belleville East, IL) took an unofficial visit to Illinois and walked away without committing. Months later, he takes another unofficial visit but this time around gave a verbal commitment to the Fighting Illini.

Hill, a 6-5 shooting guard, held offers from Kansas State, Missouri, Southern Illinois and Xavier.

Hill was also receiving interest from powerhouse schools such as Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State and UCLA just to name a few.

He is considered a top-50 athlete in a loaded class and is a huge addition to the 2013 class of Illinois that also features point guard Jalen James.

With a talented backcourt duo already, you have to believe the Illini will go big or on the wing in 2013.

Bronson Koenig Down to Two

Start naming some of the elite point guards regardless of class and Bronson Koenig's (Aquinas, WI) name is sure to surface.

Koenig, a Wisconsin native, really made his mark as one of the best guards in the country with his play this summer.

He currently holds high-major offers from Duke, Kansas, Marquette, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington State and Wisconsin. He has also received serious interest from Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State and Minnesota.

But according to reports, Koenig is nearing a decision and two teams are currently in the lead for his services.

Koenig is reportedly down to North Carolina and Wisconsin, with the Badgers being the favorite for his services according to multiple reports.

Both programs could benefit from a point guard like Koenig. He's smart enough to be a floor general but versatile enough to play both positions in the backcourt.

As his recruitment continues to wind down, he could be announcing his decision soon.

Jarmal Reid Commits to Oregon State

Oregon State picked up one of the most underrated recruits in the 2012 class.

6-7 wing Jarmal Reid (Columbia HS, GA) took an official visit to campus this weekend and decided that Oregon State was the place where he'd call home.

Reid held offers from Alabama, Auburn, Charlotte, Florida, Nebraska, Wake Forest and West Virginia.

Oregon State gets a versatile wing that will compete for a starting position right away. He's a long, physical three-man with the ability to finish strong in the post.

He's a solid rebounder and could potentially be All-Pac 12 when it's all said-and-done.

He has great upside and his game continues to develop. He joins Maika Ostling in Oregon State's 2012 recruiting class.

Travis Jorgenson Commits to Mizzou

Travis Jorgenson (Rock Bridge HS, MO) has made his college decision and will stay in-state and play College Basketball for the Missouri Tigers.

Jorgenson held offers from Boston College, Central Michigan, Colorado State, Creighton, Missouri State, Oklahoma State, Rice, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Virginia.

He had plenty of high-major suitors, including Arkansas, Kansas, Kansas State and North Carolina interested, just to name a few. But in the end, Jorgenson gave the Tigers the nod.

"I met the coaching staff yesterday and talked for a very long time," he said. "I talked to coach Alden and don't feel confused. Coach [Frank] Haith will be there when I play and the Miami situation will be resolved."

Jorgenson joins center Tyrek Coger in Missouri's 2013 class. He's a great floor general and should make an easy transition to the college game under Frank Haith.

The Tigers class is shaping up to be a great one in 2013 and Haith is far from done. Many other recruits are seriously considering Mizzou and when it's all said-and-done this 2013 class to could be at the top of the rankings.

Jordan Loveridge Commits to Utah

Utah just picked up its first commitment for the 2012 class and it's a big one. Combo forward Jordan Loveridge (West Jordan, UT) committed to Utah today over Arizona, BYU and Weber State.

"I wanted to make a final decision early on," he said in a press release by Utah Pump n Run. "Before the start of the high school basketball season, so I could focus all of my attention on helping coach Briggs and my teammates at West Jordan High school prepare for the season."

Loveridge, a double-double machine, had many scholarship offers and really made a name for himself in both of the past two summers.

He gained recent offers from schools such as Colorado, Hawaii, Santa Clara and more. But ultimately, after narrowing down his list, he opted to commit earlier rather than wait.

"When it came down to it, choosing the University of Utah just felt like the right fit for me," Loveridge said. "I'm looking forward to helping Coach K and his staff reinstate the winning team tradition that Utah basketball fans expect."

The 6-7 combo-forward has really excelled his game and continued to get better. He's made tremendous progress to slim down and can play much of a 3-4 role on the court.

He has the ability to stretch the floor and also bang inside with the frontier players. Utah is the best possible destination for him as he will have the ability to play in the prestigious Pac-12, that's guaranteed hype and also shine on the biggest stage.

It's a very close destination to home and he will fit in Larry Krystkowiak's system perfectly.

Frank Haith Tied to Miami NCAA Allegations

Current Missouri head coach Frank Haith, who was hired this year to replace Arkansas' Mike Anderson, is being investigated by the NCAA over allegations that recently surfaced in a report by Yahoo! Sports.

Nevin Shapiro, who is incarcerated for his role in a $930 Million Ponzi Scheme, told investigators that he supplied $10,000 to secure the commitment of then-high school phenom DeQuan Jones.

In 2008, Jones was considered one of the best wings in his class. He was ranked highly by many scouting services and held multiple scholarship offers from programs nationwide.

He was mostly known for his explosive scoring and ability to finish strong around the rim.

Jones took an unofficial to Miami in 2007 and committed the next day after, according to Yahoo! Rivals.

Shapiro alleged that the transaction was orchestrated by former assistant Jake Morton and went on to say that Haith was aware of the payment.

When notified of the allegations, Frank Haith released a statement saying, "I can confirm that the NCAA has asked to speak with me regarding he time I spent at the University of Miami. I am more than happy to cooperate with the national office on this issue and look forward to a quick resolution."

He continued by saying, "The NCAA has instructed me not to comment further at this time in order to protect the integrity of their review, so I can appreciate your understanding in this matter. The reports questioning my personal interactions with Mr. Shapiro are not an accurate portrayal of my character and per the above I am unable to comment further."

Haith, in his seven seasons at Miami, was never contacted by the NCAA over allegations of breaking NCAA rules. He's always had a reputation for running a clean program.

The University also issued a statement regarding reports on Haith saying, "We are aware of today's Yahoo! Sports story and the University of Missouri acknowledges that the NCAA has requested to speak with Coach Haith regarding his time at the University of Miami.

"As a member of the NCAA and the Big 12 conference, the University of Missouri will cooperate fully throughout this process. per the NCAA's request and guiding bylaws, we are unable to comment further in order to protect the integrity of their review."

Goodluck Okonoboh Still Wide Open

Versatility and defense is just a few reasons frontier force Goodluck Okonoboh (Tilton School, MA) has been able to see his scholarship list continuously grow.

Okonoboh, the first cousin of UConn's Alex Oriahki, claims offers from Gonzaga, Minnesota, Missouri, NC Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Providence, Syracuse and Towson.

That list will only continue to grow as he continues to pick up interest after performing very well during the summer circuit.

"Not yet," he said when asked about if he's made a timeline for his decision. But he did say that he is starting to take some unofficial visits.

"[I'm visiting] Syracuse this weekend," he said. "Then a couple of others."

Florida, Gonzaga, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Penn, Providence, Syracuse, Texas, UConn.

"Probably, Michigan, Missouri, Pitt, Providence, Syracuse and UConn," he said of the schools recruiting him the hardest. But did add, "everyone is coming pretty hard."

With it being so early in the process, Okonoboh has decided to keep his options open and hear from schools. He has yet to trim his list or name any favorites for that matter.

Darrick Wood trims list to 7

Darrick Wood, (Nia Prep, DC) a 6-3 shooting guard has not made a final decision yet but does have a much smaller list to work from. Yesterday, Wood said that he was down to seven schools. Oklahoma State, Penn State, St. John's, Seton Hall, USC, USF and Virginia Tech are the schools of consideration right now.

Shane Larkin commits to Miami

After being granted a medical release from DePaul, for point guard Shane Larkin it was only a matter of time before gave Miami (FL) the heads up.

After visiting, it didn't take long for Larkin to say yes to the scholarship offer and transfer into the program. Although, since he's already taken summer classes at the University of DePaul he would atomically be deemed ineligible and have to sit out one year due to transfer rules.

However, according to reports, Miami and newly acquired coach Jim Larranaga may look to appeal that distinction in hopes to have him eligible this season. Larkin and current point guard Durand Scott could turn out to be a dominant duo in the backcourt, if eligible right away.

Wally Ellenson Commits to Minnesota

The Minnesota Gophers received their first commitment in the class of 2012 when they landed Wally Ellenson (Rice Lake, WI) earlier today.

Ellenson, a 6-4 wing, held offers from five high-major offers with many mid-majors offering as well.

He had previously taken an unofficial to Minnesota before but after returning from the previous visit he decided to end his recruitment.

"Tubby Smith is a great coach, with a great program and it's close to home" Ellenson said.

"It's close to home, so all my family and friends can come to my games."

Ellenson had planned on taking an unofficial to West Virginia on the 3rd of September and even had a visit planned with the Jayhawks.

Colorado, Nebraska and Oregon State were the latest programs to try to get in the mix with the talented wing.

Danuel House trims list to 10 

Things for Danuel House (Hightower, TX) are becoming a little clearer these days. The five-star small forward recently narrowed down his list to 10 schools.

Arizona, Baylor, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Houston, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas are the teams still in the mix.

He hasn't scheduled any visits as of yet but according to a source, his first in-home visit will be with the University of Missouri.

Perry Ellis Cuts List to Four; Schedules Visits

Perry Ellis (Wichita Heights, KS) has trimmed his list once again.

Back in December of 2010, Ellis cut his list to six with Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Memphis, Oklahoma and Wichita State in the mix.

Later on in his recruitment, Ellis decided to add Duke to the mix after former Sooners coach Jeff Capel joined the Duke Blue Devils coaching staff.

There were even reports that stated the recruitment of Ellis could come down to an arms race between Duke, Kansas and Kentucky.

Despite the reports, Ellis cut his list to four with Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky and Wichita State still in the mix.

Surprisingly, even after being present at most of his games and make a tough recruiting pitch, the 6-8 combo-forward opted to cut Duke from the list. Oklahoma and Memphis is also absent from the shorten list and the race for the talented big is really starting to heat up.

Kansas and Kansas State coaches both flocked to every single game Ellis played this summer. If it wasn't the head coach, an assistant was always there for both schools. Kentucky's John Calipari wasn't absent this summer either. He visited Ellis often and made his presence felt.

Ellis, has scheduled two in-home visits with both Kansas and Kansas State on September 9th. Wichita State and Kentucky visits haven't been scheduled yet but they could happen in the near future.

Katin Reinhardt Commits to UNLV

UNLV's head coach Dave Rice has been getting it done on the recruiting trail. Not only did Rice pick up talented four-man Christian Wood (Findlay Prep, NV) in the class of 2013, but also picked up another big-time athlete today.

Katin Reinhardt (Mater Dei, CA) said in May that he was no longer committed to USC and reopened his recruitment.

It was soon after the summer ended when he made his decision for the second time and committed to UNLV.

Reinhardt is considered one of the top shooters in his class, whether it's from three or mid-range. He's a very athletic off-guard and has the potential to be an all-conference player.

Reinhardt will join point guard DaQuan Cook (Digital Harbor, MD) in the class of 2012.