While fans around the country continue to wait for some of the most highly anticipated decisions from a few program-changing, or perhaps program defining, prospects, recruiting excitement keeps building every week. Big-time ballers like Javon Bess and Joe Burton chose their future schools early in the week and then others like Miles Reynolds, Khadeem Lattin and Zylan Cheatham helped fill out another busy week of commitments. Check out a rundown of the various commitments throughout the past week, and then check out what is happening around NY2LASPORTS.COM in this week’s News & Notes...
COMMITMENTS
The Spartans reeled one of its future wings in 2014 SF Javon Bess of Gahanna Lincoln H.S. (OH) when he verbally committed to Michigan State on Monday. Bess played with the national grassroots power All Ohio Red program during the travel season.
Powerful Four-Star 2014 SF Joseph Burton of Atasocita H.S. (TX) gave a verbal commitment to Oklahoma State on Monday, October 21st. Burton played with the Houston Defenders grassroots program during the travel season.
2014 PG Zach Johnson of Miami Norland H.S. (FL) decided Monday to commit verbally to last year’s tourney sensation Florida Gulf Coast. He played for Team Breakdown during the travel season.
Saint Louis’ first pickup this week came in the form of 2014 PF Brett Jolly of Blair Academy (NJ) who verballed on Monday. Jolly played with the LBA Seawolves program on the grassroots circuit.
Yale gets on the board this week when 2015 SF Eli Lininger of South Eugene H.S. (OR) stopped his recruitment and verbally committed there Monday. Lininger played for Nike Team Fast during the grassroots travel season.
2014 PF Tavrion Dawson of Junipero Serra H.S. (CA) verbally committed on Tuesday to play his college basketball in his home-state of California, choosing to join Cal State-Northridge. Dawson competed with the Earl Watson Pangos Elite program during the grassroots travel season.
Point Pleasant Beach H.S. (NJ) 2014 PG Matt Farrell is headed to Boston College next year with his verbal commitment on Tuesday, October 22nd. Farrell competed for the Raritan Ballers program during the grassroots season.
2014 G Daeshon Francis of Lawrence North H.S. (IN) verbally committed to UW-Green Bay on Tuesday. Francis played for the Spiece Indy Heat-Thompson program on the grassroots circuit.
Fellow Junipero Serra H.S. (CA) wing, 2014 F Ron Freeman will also stay closer to home and verbally committed Wednesday to Cal State-Fullerton. Freeman competed for the Superior Athletes program during the grassroots season.
2015 SF Anthony Lawrence of Lakewood H.S. (FL) has closed his recruitment a little early and verbally committed on Wednesday to play at Central Florida (UCF). He played for E1T1 Elite during the grassroots travel season.
St. Louis landed itself another solid guard prospect with the verbal commitment from 2014 SG Miles Reynolds of Whitney Young H.S. (IL) on Wednesday. Reynolds played for Mac Irvin Fire on the grassroots circuit.
2014 SF Harold Givens of Faith Baptist Christian (FL) will stay in-state for college, verbally committing Thursday to play for Florida International. Givens played with the YMCA Kings during the travel season.
On Thurday, 2014 G Francis Kiapway of St. Thomas More H.S. (CT) verbally committed to Ball State. Kiapway played with the U-Play program during the grassroots season.
Oklahoma was surely pleased with Redemption Christian Academy’s 2014 C Khadeem Lattin of Houston (TX) when he verbally committed to the Sooners on Thursday. Lattin was a key piece to the Houston Hoops squad during the travel season.
2014 PF Ryan Luther of Hampton H.S. (PA) chose to verbally commit to perennial contender Pittsburgh on Thursday. He competed with Maryland 3D on the grassroots circuit.
2014 SF Chivarsky Corbett of Tampa Catholic H.S. (FL) verbally committed to attend Delaware on Friday.
The Minnesota Gophers may have their future floor general after getting a verbal commitment on Friday from 2014 PG Nate Mason of Arlington Country Day (FL). Mason went grassroots with CP3 All-Stars during the travel season.
While not a huge surprise, 2014 PF Ray Kasongo ended a lot of speculation Friday by reaffirming his college decision and verbally committing to favored Oregon. Kasongo played with Grassroots Canada during the travel season.
San Diego State is building one tough and balanced 2014 class, receiving a verbal commitment Saturday from Four-Star 2014 PF prospect, Zylan Cheatham of South Mountain H.S. (AZ). Cheatham played with the highly touted Cal Supreme program during the grassroots travel season.
On Saturday, 2014 SF Derrick Clayton of Elev8 Sports Academy (FL) committed verbally to play at Western Kentucky next year. Clayton played with during the grassroots travel season. He competed with the Oakland Rebels during the travel season.
The Hoyas score big for the future with the verbal commitment Saturday from 2015 PF Marcus Derrickson of Paul VI H.S. (VA). Derrickson played for Team Takeover on the grassroots circuit.
2014 G Tre Harris of Fishburne Military (VA) verbally committed to Kansas State on Sunday, October 27th.
Wilbraham & Monson (MA)’s 2014 PF Max Hoetzel decided Sunday to verbally commit to play in the Big Ten for the Indiana Hoosiers.
COVERAGE
The second week of action for the NY2LA Sports Breakfast of Champions Fall Basketball League hit the hardwood this past weekend and 2015 F Jaylen Key delivered a monster performance as did the likes of 2014 SF D'Angelo Jackson, 2014 PG Lamonte Bearden, etc. Too see the top performances from the Platinum Division which features the 2014 and 2015 prospects in attendance CLICK HERE.
UPCOMING EVENTS
GENERATION NEXT TIP-OFF – NOVEMBER 16-17, 2013
BOYS 3RD-8TH GRADE TEAMS
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
The annual middle school tournament will enter its 4th year and will once again feature some of the top middle school teams in the Midwest. The tournament offers a 3 game guarantee while using a pool play and single elimination playoff format. There are multi-team discounts available for programs and the tournament is covered online by NY2LASPORTS.COM and GENERATIONNEXTBASKETBALL.COM. For additional details and registration information on the 2013 Generation Next Tip-Off CLICK HERE
HOLIDAY HOOPFEST - JANUARY 4-5, 2013
BOYS 3RD-8TH GRADE TEAMS
MILWAUKEE, WI
The annual middle school tournament will enter its 4th year and will once again feature some of the top middle school teams in the Midwest. The tournament offers a 3 game guarantee while using a pool play and single elimination playoff format. There are multi-team discounts available for programs and the tournament is covered online by NY2LASPORTS.COM and GENERATIONNEXTBASKETBALL.COM. For additional details and registration information on the 2014 Holiday Hoopfest CLICK HERE
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