College Basketball tipped off their practices to a flurry of fans over the weekend and a host of verbal commitments joined the party as talented shooting guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes of Huntington Prep led the parade with a commitment to Florida State.  We look at that an more in today’s news and notes…

COMMITMENTS
2013 SG Xavier Rathan-Mayes of Huntington Prep (WV) verbally committed to Florida State on Saturday.  He played with the CIA Bounce program during the grassroots travel season. 

South Florida struck on the trail Saturday as 2013 SF Byron Zeigler of Community High School (MI) verbally committed to them.  Zeigler played with the Michigan Hurricanes during the grassroots travel season.

Minnesota joined the recruiting party on Saturday as 2013 PF Alex Foster of Seton Academy (IL) verbally committed to the Gophers.  Foster played with the Meanstreets program during the grassroots travel season.

The Seminoles struck twice over the weekend as 2013 PF Jarquez Smith of Jones County (GA) verbally committed to Florida State on Sunday.  Smith played with the Georgia Stars during the grassroots travel season.

Washington landed a verbal commitment from 2013 SG Darin Johnson of Sheldon H.S. (CA) on Sunday.  He played with the Play Hard Play Smart program during the grassroots travel season.

2013 C Dwight Coleby of Piney Woods (MS) came off the board as the talented interior prospect verbally committed to Mississippi on Sunday.  He played with the Arkansas Wings during the grassroots travel season.

2013 SG Marcus Jackson of Pacific Hills (CA) verbally committed to Rice on Friday.  He is the third member of Rice’s 2013 recruiting class.

2013 F/C Dave Winfield Jr. of Harvard-Westlake (CA) verbally committed to Penn on Friday.  He is the son of former Major League Baseball star David Winfield.

2013 PF Walter Foster of Fishburne Military Academy (VA) verbally committed to Towson over the weekend.  2013 G Daniel Dixon verbally committed to William & Mary this weekend as well.  He also attends Fishburne Military Academy (VA).

2013 G D’Erryl Williams of Sheldon H.S. (CA) verbally committed to San Diego State on Saturday.  He played with the Play Hard Play Smart program during the grassroots travel season.

2013 G Carlin Dupree of Milwaukee Bay View (WI) verbally committed to North Dakota State this weekend.  Dupree played with the Sherman Park Express and DTA Spartans during the grassroots travel season.

2013 SG Ben Emelogu of South Grand Prairie (TX) verbally committed to Virginia Tech on Saturday.  He played with the Dallas Mustangs this summer.

Virginia Tech struck on Thursday night as well as 2013 F/C Maurice Kirby of Basha (AZ) verbally committed to the Hokies.  He played with the I-Can All-Stars during the grassroots travel season.

Speaking of Thursday, TCU struck again on the trail late last week as 2013 PG Michael Williams of Ronald Reagan H.S. (TX) verbally committed to the Horned Frogs.  Williams played with the South Texas Irish this summer.

A couple other commitments from late last week were 2013 PG K.C. Goodwin of Melrose (TN) who verbally committed to Southern Illinois – Carbondale and 2013 PF Kentrall Brooks of St. Anthony (NJ) who verbally committed to Marist.  Both came off the board on Thursday.

UPCOMING EVENTS
GENERATION NEXT TIP-OFF - #GNTIPOFF2K12
The annual middle school hoops spectacular returns for its third installment November 17-18, 2012 and it is open to boys 3rd/9U – 8th/14U teams once again.  It will feature a three game guarantee with 1st and 2nd place teams receiving customized individual trophies/medals and t-shirts once again.  The tournament will be covered online at NY2LASPORTS.COM as well as our middle school affiliate at GENERATIONNEXTBASKETBALL.COM and our Wisconsin affiliate at 414HOOPS.COM.  It will also have video highlights and recaps at NY2LAHOOPS.TV.  This tournament will also serve as a Qualifying tournament as part of the Generation Next Invitational Championships next summer and it offers multi-team discounts.  For more information including registration forms CLICK HERE

NY2LA SPORTS CLASSIC - #NY2LACLASSIC2K12
The annual high school hoops gala returns on December 15, 2012 with an explosive lineup of some of the premiere teams and prospects in the state of Wisconsin headlined by powerful matchups between Milwaukee Vincent (WI)/Dominican (WI) and Milwaukee Hamilton (WI)/Onalaska (WI).  Also joining the field this year is Homestead, Marquette University High School, Brookfield Central, Oconomowoc, Wauwatosa East, Milwaukee Washington, Little Chute, West Allis Central, Wisconsin Lutheran, Brookfield Academy, Nicolet, and St. Johns NW Military Academy.  For more information included a complete schedule and game times CLICK HERE

HOLIDAY HOOPFEST - #HOLIDAYHOOPFEST2K13
The annual middle school hoops spectacular returns for its third installment January 5-6, 2013 and it is open to boys 3rd/9U – 8th/14U teams once again.  It will feature a three game guarantee with 1st and 2nd place teams receiving customized individual trophies/medals and t-shirts once again.  The tournament will be covered online at NY2LASPORTS.COM as well as our middle school affiliate at GENERATIONNEXTBASKETBALL.COM and our Wisconsin affiliate at 414HOOPS.COM.  It will also have video highlights and recaps at NY2LAHOOPS.TV.  This tournament will also serve as a Qualifying tournament as part of the Generation Next Invitational Championships next summer and it offers multi-team discounts.  For more information including registration forms CLICK HERE

Stay tuned to NY2LASPORTS.COM for the latest in grassroots basketball coverage...