Update on . . . Austin Rivers

It seems that I got to Austin Rivers at just the right time. The rising sophomore from Winter Park (FL) pulled the trigger on his recruitment recently. The 6'3.5 guard, the son of the Boston Celtics' Head Coach Doc Rivers, has committed to Florida. I spoke with Austin today to discuss his decision. "I felt real comfortable with the coaches [and it's a] . . . beautiful campus," said the up-and-coming class of 2011 stud. Rivers is one of the few committed players in his class, with superstar Aaron Ross (Arkansas) being another. I inquired of the young Rivers whether he was always planning on committing so early, and he told me this: "I really didn't know at first. . . . I knew I should look at some other schools, . . . [but there is] no way a college could be any better." Picking a school at such an early age will make it so that Rivers won't be able to fully enjoy the recruiting process. I asked if if he wishes that he would have had the opportunity to do so, and he told me this: "No, I . . . think it'll be a lot easier doing what I'm doing. . . . [It feels like a] weight has been lifted from my shoulders." I found it interesting that Austin committed to UF, as he had told me that he planned on visiting Memphis, as well as some other prestigious basketball schools. I asked Rivers what he story was on this, and he told me that he "ended up not doing it' because "when it comes down to it, it's going to be the same," adding that he "didn't need to look at the other places in [his] mind." To give you an idea of how great it felt for the young guard to commit, he informed me that "it was more exciting" than when his dad won the NBA Championship with the Celtics. His reasoning was that his "dad won," and not him, whereas he was the one who committed. Austin Rivers is a player to watch down the road, and I'll make sure you can keep track of him right here on Northstar Basketball.

Update on . . . Lance Stephenson

If you recall, I recently posted an interview with the father of 6'6 swingman Lance Stephenson '09. In the talk, Mr. Stehenson mentioned Memphis, Kansas, St. John's, UCLA, and USC as his son's finalists. The Lincoln (NY) star apparently has another school on his mind, though. Adam Zagoria of http://www.zagsblog.net/ has an article on his site, in which he reports that the younger Lance said that Kansas, Memphis, and Tennessee are his favorites. Making it in more interesting is that Mr. Stephenson informed me that UCLA is his current favorite, yet the Bruins are not in Lance's top three. Stephenson is a player to keep in an eye on, and I'll do just this for you.

Note- This is the link to the article on ZagsBlog.net with Stephenson's school list: http://www.zagsblog.net/2008/07/03/usa-u18-cuts-to-14-players/

Update on . . . DeAndre Liggins and Michael Peck

I spoke to Findlay College Prep (NV) Head Coach Michael Peck within the hour and received some good information regarding the up-and-coming prep power as a whole, and one of its top outgoing players. Coach Peck told me that he is looking into a player from Puerto Rico who thinks "may be a good fit for the program," but that the transfer is not finalized. The graduating player that I discussed with Coach Peck is 6'6 guard DeAndre Liggins '08, a Kentucky-signee. Liggins' eligibility for next year is up in the air, so I inquired of Coach Peck whether or not his star senior had qualified, to which he told me: "We're still waiting to hear." Findlay's head man does not know when he will find out about the outcome of DeAndre's situation. The top-notch guard did receive his test scores and all the information is in the hands of the NCAA. I will keep you updated on Liggins' status.

Update on . . . Lance Stephenson- A Father's Perspective

Lance Stephenson has been the talk of America in the high school basketball world for quite some time. The class of 2009 6'6 superstar swingman at Lincoln (NY) has been talked about in New York City for much longer though. Yet even before the NYC circle began to discuss Stephenson, his father saw something in him. Lance Stephenson, Sr. has seen his son progress from a youngster all the way to one of the best players in America. I spoke with Mr. Stephenson at the Steve Nash Skills Academy, where he was taking in the action.

NB: What schools [are] Lance really considering?
LS: UCLA, Kansas, USC, and St. John’s . . . [and] Memphis.

NB: What do you think Lance needs to work on the most?
LS: A little bit of everything. He has an all-around game, . . . so he’s got to keep brushing up on everything, all his tools. . . . It’s not that one thing that I can say he needs to work on, just everything, just keep getting better.

NB: What do you see as the strongest point in his game?
LS: His strength, his agility, he’s real quick, he [has] got good lateral movement, he’s explosive, he’s got the complete package right now.

NB: What do you think helped him get to where he is right now? Other than just having the natural ability.
LS: Just working out, [a] lot of push-ups. . . . It’s a little bit of a mix of everything, natural ability, a lot of hard work, push-ups, pull-ups, dips, . . . a whole lot of advice, information, so he [has] known how to make the right plays from an early age.

NB: When Lance was young, did you see him having the potential to be such a talented player?
LS: Yes, yeah, from day one, I knew that he was going to be a real talented player, just like my other son.

NB: Other than you two, who’s going to be involved in the decision process for college?
LS: My wife, that’s about it. . . . His high school coach [Dwayne “Tiny” Morton of Lincoln (NY)] has a little bit on influence as well.

NB: Is Lance going to eventually make the final decision, or is it just going to be a group choice?
LS: I would say he [is] going to make the final decision. We [are] just going to give him all the information and let him decide what he wants to do.

NB: Is there a school . . . that you favor, that you think Lance should go to right now?
LS: Right now my favorite school is UCLA.

NB: What makes the Bruins standout to you?
LS: Well, the tradition, the conference, the style of play, they let the guards play pretty free.

NB: If not for the NBA age limit, would Lance be going pro next year?
LS: I think if you asked me that question . . . when that times [I would have a better idea], but an educated guess, I would say ‘yeah,’ he’s definitely got all the skills, and after looking at [Thursday’s NBA] Draft, all of those kids, all of the freshman that went, he’s playing against or with before, so we pretty much know some of the good players.

NB: You mentioned all the freshmen. Do you think Lance is a lock to be a one-and-done [player in college]?
LS: No, nothing is a lock, . . . he got to play the games. I wouldn’t say he’s a lock, he still has a lot of work to do.

NB: With all the attention that he’s been receiving since eighth grade, do you ever see it getting to him, kind of . . . bringing him down a little bit, having all that focus on him?
LS: No, nothing [is] bringing him down, he’s still rising. Heading into his senior year he has a lot . . . of accomplishments that he’s already done, wining three [New York] City [championships], two state [championships]. He’s still rising, next year I think will be the icing on the cake.

NB: What are you most proud of Lance for?
LS: Just staying with it, and really not folding, he’s kept the same . . . demeanor all the way through . . . high school. He’s kept the same demeanor, he hasn’t let the media change his game, he still has his attitude, he still has his . . . aggressiveness, and that’s really what I’m most proud of him [for]. He designed his game, and he’s sticking with it.

NB: What [are you most proud of him for] . . . outside of basketball?
LS: What am I most proud of him . . . [for] outside of basketball? I’m proud that he’s my son. I’m proud that he’s healthy. I’m proud that he’s [a] pretty good student in school.

NB: What are Lance’s plans for July during the evaluation period?
LS: He’ll be trying out for the USA . . . 18 and Under team.

The younger Lance Stephenson was by far the most impressive player at the Steve Nash Skills Academy. His play in the five-on-five scrimmage to end the event was fantastic. Lance's father certainly knows of the talent and potential that his son possesses. He definitely is proud of Lance's game, and he should be, as Lance is one of the best player in the United States. I'll make sure that I keep you updated on how things are moving along for the younger Lance Stephenson.

Scouting Report on Stephenson:

Lance Stephenson may well be the best player in America. He has a fantastic all-around game. The Lincoln (NY) stud is even talented enough that his teammates deferred to him at the Steve Nash Skills Academy to run the point in the scrimmage, despite being the only non-point guard on his team. Stephenson '09, a 6'6 swingman, can shoot the rock, with range that extends out to the three-point line. Lance can also get to the hole and has a solid handle. He is a spectacular athlete with great hops, and well-chiseled frame. The NYC phenom seems to have a good work ethic, as he chose to shoot around during the water break in the scrimmage at the Nash Academy. At times, Stephenson can be a bit too flashy. As well, his attitude is something that he needs to work on. He gets frustrated with lesser teammates when they make mistakes and is a bit cocky. Yet, that may well be from being "the man" in the Big Apple for so long. A change of scenery for college may be quite helpful for the gifted ballplayer. Attitude aside, Lance might have the most complete game of anyone in America, including graduating seniors from the class of 2008. Lance Stephenson is the real deal.

Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/

MAJOR BREAKING NEWS!!! Update on . . . Isaiah Armwood

A source close to the Villanova program has informed me that 6'8 forward Isaiah Armwood of Montrose Christian (MD) has committed to the Wildcats. Northstar Basketball is the FIRST site to report this commitment. Again, Isaiah Armwood has committed to Villanova. He will pair with Maalik Wayns of Roman Catholic (PA) in what is looking like an amazing recruiting class. It will be interesting to see if the top-notch Big East programs can keep the commitments rolling in. I just got off the phone with Armwood. He told me that he officially committed "yesterday," and that “the past week . . . [he] wanted to get it done.” The Montrose Christian star told me this regarding the commitment: “Basically it’s one of the biggest decisions I’m ever going to make.” I asked Isaiah why he chose the Wildcats, to which he responded by saying that he reached his decision by “looking at how it was going to affect [him] in the long run and set [him] up for the future.” Armwood and Wayns already have a close relationship, so the two may well have great chemistry at the college level . "[We are] kind of like brothers. . . . [We] talk to each other all the time. We really have a good relationship because we talk so much,” is what Isaiah said about his relationship with Wayns. “Yeah, it’s possible, I don’t see why not. . . . I’m going to try to talk to them and see if I can have an impact on . . . [their] decision,” was what Armwood told me regarding whether he would try to convince players such as Montrose teammates Tristan Spurlock '09 and Terrell Vinson '09 to commit to Villanova. It seems that Vinson might be a good option for Armwood, as he told “I know Terrell a lot, we’ve played together all our lives,” though he did say, "I don’t think I can totally convince nobody." Regarding the timing of the commitment, I inquired of the stud forward whether he was always planning on committing the summer after his junior year, or if the timing just felt right this week: “I always told myself I was going to commit sometime during the summer, . . . [but I] didn’t know it would be this early.” Isaiah Armwood is a fine talent, and Jay Wright and Co. must be quite happy to have him headed their way.

Update on . . . Khalid Lewis El

Class of 2011 swingman Khalid Lewis El just finished up a big weekend in San Diego, California. The 6'3 star from Trenton Catholic (NJ) was at the adidas Phenom 150 event in the Golden State. He had a big-time weekend and busted out in a major way. Khalid was ranked by http://www.hoopscooponline.com/ as the number three player at the camp, which had around 360 kids in the rising 10th graders division. Lewis El was the top ranked wing forward, and the highest finisher of all players from the New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania basketball powerhouse area. I'll keep you posted on how things are coming along for the TCA soon-to-be sophomore.

Update on . . . Markese Tucker, Wayne Newsom, Dondre Whitmore, and Frantz Massenat

The offers are continuing to pour in for Dondre Whitmore, Frantz Massenat, Wayne Newsom, and Markese Tucker. All four of them were offered by Iona today, with official offers coming within the past few hours. Tucker, Massenat, and Whitmore all play for the Trenton Catholic Iron Mikes (NJ), while Newsom is a member of the Piscataway Chiefs (NJ). All four are in the class of 2010, and their lists should continue to grow over the summer. Massenat is currently leading the bunch with five offers.

Update on . . . Markese Tucker, Wayne Newsom, Dondre Whitmore, and Frantz Massenat

The Team New Jersey ABC U-16 AAU squad just had a big week offer-wise. Four of the team's main 10 players received a scholarship offer last week. Markese Tucker, a 6'5 forward in the class of 2010 at Trenton Catholic (NJ), got his first offer, and it was from one of the top teams in the NEC, Robert Morris. The Colonials also gave 6'7 forward Wayne Newsom '10 of Piscataway (NJ) his first scholarship offer. In addition, the team offered Dondre Whitmore '10, a 5'9 point guard from Trenton Catholic, as did Fordham, an A-10 school that has been aggressively recruiting New Jersey players. The ligtining-quick point guard has been previously offered by Rider, so his total stands at three right now. Another player who already has an offer from Rider is class of 2010 6'4 guard Frantz Massenat of Trenton Catholic. Recently, Massenat has picked up offered from both Fordham and Robert Morris, in addition to another A-10 school, LaSalle, so he has four offers as of now. I've spoken with Wayne and Frantz, and both of them are quite happy about the recent developments in their recruitment. I'll definitely keep you posted on how the recruiting process is coming along for these four quality players.

Update on . . . Justin Crosgile

If you will recall, back on April 28th, I first featured Justin in article entitled "Justin Crosgile- Soon to be St. Joe's Hawk?" It appears that I was right, as I first read on http://blog.zagsblog.net/ last night that 6'0 junior guard Justin Crosgile of DePaul Catholic (NJ) had committed to St. Joseph's. Also last night, I caught up with the future St. Joe's baller and discussed his decision with him. "Well, it's a great school, not too far from home, it's a guard school, it has my major, and I think it's a perfect fit for me," said Crosgile of why he picked the school, adding, "I feel comfortable with my decision. I'm happy and excited to be a Hawk. The coaching staff is great and I love everything about the school." I inquired of Justin what he planned on his major being: "Computer science or business and marketing." I asked the DePaul Catholic guard when he actually committed and when he really did make his decision, and he told me that he officially committed yesterday, but "decided about two weeks ago." After hearing that he waited two weeks to commit, I questioned Crosgile about the reason for the wait, to which he said: "My coach wanted to talk it over, and my mother wanted to a little bit after my brother's graduation." Justin, who told me that "family" helped him along the way to a decision informed me that his other finalists were "Virginia, Miami and [he] was looking at Indiana." I will keep you posted on Crosgile as he completes his high school career and continues off to St. Joseph's.

Lance Stephenson- Where is he Headed?

After Lincoln (NY) defeated Rice (NY) at the Prime Time Shootout in February, I caught up with Lance Stephenson. I spoke with Lincoln's 6'6 junior swingman again this past weekend at the Rumble in the Bronx and I just got off the phone with him about 20 minutes ago. Stephenson's Raising Champions team had an extremely dissapointing performance at the Rumble 2008, and according to http://www.rivals.com/, the team did not even win a game. The squad featured Stephenson, Karron Johnson, Roberto Nelson, CJ Leslie, and Christian Kabongo, yet could not even pick up a win. Lance just told me this about the reasoning for the dissapointing showing: "I didn’t think we had the team chemistry, we never really practiced with each other. It was . . . our second time seeing each other." Despite the poor performance of the team, I still took the opportunity to chat with Lance on Saturday.

NB: There’s been a lot of reports lately about what colleges you’re considering. Can you just clear up the air and let me know what schools you are officially considering?
LS: UCLA, USC, and Kansas.

NB: What about Kentucky?
LS: Oh yeah, I like Kentucky, [it’s] a good school. I’m looking at every school, so if I just tell you a name of a school, that doesn’t really mean I’m actually going to really go there, I’m just looking at them real hard right now.

NB: Are there any other schools that are a little bit further behind . . . that you’re also considering? Anyone in particular?
LS: Memphis, St. John’s, [Pause] Indiana, and North Carolina.

NB: Does St. John’s have a bit of an edge in some ways because [it] is the home state school?
LS: Oh yeah, I was really looking at St. John’s. I think I can bring New York back [to prominence], so I’m really looking at that right now.

NB: What are going to be some of the factors in your decision?
LS: [A] good place surrounding and a good coach.

NB: You mentioned USC. What do you think about the whole OJ Mayo situation right now?
LS: I think that it’s real messed up, but [Pause] somebody did the wrong thing around him and I don’t think that should have happened, but . . . I don’t think I’m going to be in his league. I’m just focused on school and basketball right now.

NB: What do you consider to be the strongest point of four game?
LS: Down low in the post.

NB: What [is] . . . your weakest point?
LS: I don’t think I have one. Right now, it’s my attitude, that’s it, but I can change that.

NB: What are you trying to do to work on that?
LS: Just relax, but sometimes it doesn’t go my way and I get real upset. . . . I’m trying to work on it now.

Since Saturday, it seems that Lance's list has changed a little bit. "USC, St. John's, Kansas, UCLA, and Tennessee," are the schools that Stephenson just told me he is considering. I asked if North Carolina, Memphis, Kentucky, and Indiana were out of contention, and he told me that they are not: "I’m still looking at [those] schools, but I’m more focused on the other [first five] schools, then I’m going to focus on the others." As for a favorite: "I don’t have a leader right now," said the New York superstar. The only schools that Stephenson mentioned upon first questioning both times were USC, UCLA, and Kansas, so it seems that although he won't publicly say it, they may well be the favorites right now.

Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/

Update on . . . Paris Bennett

Paris Bennett, a 2009 standout from St. Patrick's (NJ) has been drawing interest from some new schools recently. Yesterday, Paris informed me that George Mason, Rice, Boston University, and Siena are "starting to get in the mix." In addition, Bennett told me that "all" of them have offered him a scholarship. Paris, who will "be at the NBA camp next week," let me know that he is "not even sure" who his leaders are at this point in the race for his services. The 6'6 junior swingman runs with Team New Jersey ABC on the AAU circuit, and will continue to showcase his abilities with the NJABC team as the season progresses. I'll keep you informed on how Bennett's recruitment is shaping up.

Update on . . . Lance Stephenson

Here is a quick and simple update for you on Lance Stephenson of Lincoln (NY). The stud junior is playing AAU ball with Raising Champions at the Rumble in the Bronx this weekend. I watched a little bit of his squad's game tonight, and witnessed a scary moment for the class of 2009 stud. Lance drove to the rack and laid it up, came down, and tripped on a rug that was sticking up from the floor. He writhed on the floor for a bit, grabbing his ankle, yet walked--rather, limped--it off and stayed in the game. Although Lance Stephenson appears to be fine, it will be something to keep an eye on.

Update on . . . Brandon Jennings

Within the last half hour, I spoke with Arizona-commit Brandon Jennings. I asked him if he is considered with the current state of the program, and whether all the turnover--all three assistant coaches are gone and two players have de-committed--worries him. He told me that he is not concerned and and is still planning on heading to Arizona, unlike fellow Wildcat-commit Emmanuel Negedu who was released from his Letter of Intent. Jennings told me that he did not have much of a relationship with the big man, and had not even heard of the player who de-committed from the class of '09, Abdul Gaddy. As well, I asked Jennings whether or not he has heard about his eligibility for next year, which was in question after his test scores were flagged. He informed me that he has not yet heard the result on the matter, yet expects to find out next week. If he is not eligible, he is not sure what he will do next year. The Jennings situation will be an interesting one to watch, and I'll keep you posted on it.

Update on . . . Markus Kennedy

Markus Kennedy, a 6'9 power forward from St. Patrick's (NJ) has picked up a number of scholarship offers since my last post on the talented sophomore. Kennedy, who plays with Team New Jersey ABC on the AAU circuit has added offers from Arizona, St. John's, and most recently Xavier. Along with these three, the big man has been offered by Rider, Michigan St., Villanova, Ohio St., and Rutgers. Penn St. is apparently close to extending him an offer, and Syracuse has picked up the heat since my last post Kennedy. He will be in action this week at the Nike Hoop Jamboree in St. Louis, Missouri, along with some of the nation's other top ballers, including stud sophomore Jeremy Tyler. Markus Kennedy has a quartet of offers right now, and that number will only continue to grow, as he improves his game over the next two years. I will definitely keep you posted on Kennedy's recruitment right here on Northstar Basketball.

Update on . . . Dontae Johnson

It appears that I featured 6'3 sophomore forward Dontae Johnson of The Pennington School (NJ) at just the right time. Just two weekends ago, the two-sport star was selected as the defensive back MVP at the Lincoln Park Combine that he attended. Johnson, a wide receiver/safety on the gridiron, attends the same high school that just produced current Maryland Terrapin safety Dominique Herald, a sophomore-to-be. Johnson, who ran a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash and 4.40 in the shuttle, felt that he could better overall at the combine: “Even though I was named defensive back MVP at the Lincoln Park Combine on May 17th, I still feel as if I can improve. I’m very happy that I won the award, yet I’m looking forward to doing better at the Invite Ultimate 100 Camp.” Part of his reasoning for this thinking is that Johnson says he has run a 4.49 40-yard dash, which means he was .16 seconds slower in his run at the event. Should Dontae run a sub 4.50 40, his recruitment would likely blow up, as he would have a rare blend of height and speed that is uncommon in safeties at any level. Johnson, who "just got invited to the Under Armour Combine in Baltimore on June 3rd, but will unfortunately be unable to attend due to final exams in school,” says that he is "excited for [his] next camp, whenever that may be." Johnson's aggressive nature on the basketball court for both Pennington and his AAU squad, Team New Jersey ABC, is a good illustration of why he is so good at football, as he is fearless and draws lots of contact. The stud athlete says that “since winning the MVP award, more colleges, such as Miami (FL), have showed interest in [him].” Dontae is the type of kid who not only excels in athletics, but also is phenomenal in the classroom, with his GPA consistently staying above the 3.5 mark. Thus, Johnson may end up and not only a prestigious athletic university, but a mighty fine academic institution as well. I will be sure keep you informed on how Dontae Johnson's recruitment is coming along.

Note- 40-yard dash and shuttle times are from http://www.rivals.com/

Update on . . . Ryan Pearson

Soon-to-be George Mason Patriot Ryan Pearson was one of the top players in New York this past season. Pearson, a 6'5 senior from Christ the King (NY), has a terrific inside-outside game that will lead him to eventually become one of the best players in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). In my opinion, Pearson is one of the most underrated ballers in the nation. In fact, I asked Ryan how he would respond if someone were to call him America's most underrated player. Pearson said he wasn't sure because he hadn't heard that before, so I asked him what he thought after hearing it for the first time: "I don't feel I am the most underrated. . . . I feel I am underrated to a certain extent." The CTK star is right that he may not be the most underrated baller in the US, bit he's also correct in saying that he is underrated. Ryan Pearson is a kid that will have a major impact for GMU and will make some noise on a national level. I asked Pearson if he had been worried about George Mason Head Coach Jim Larranaga taking the job at Providence: "I was when I first heard about it, but then he kept me posted the whole time [and] told me [that] he wasn't going [anywhere]." Pearson is a player who will thrive at the mid-major level, and he will do well under the tutelage of Larranaga. Although he likely won't bring the Patriots back to the Final Four, a few CAA titles and some NCAA Tournament wins are strong possibilities for Pearson and Co. while he is at George Mason. Remember the name: Ryan Pearson.

Update on . . . Antoine Allen

Last week, I caught up with Antoine Allen of the Cecil Kirk (MD) AAU program. Allen, who plays at the U-17 level, and is a 6'2 junior guard. As of now, Allen says that he is garnering interest from Auburn, Rhode Island, Rutgers, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, and Towson. In addition, Antoine said that there are "some others that like me, but I’m not sure how serious they are." Allen, who says that "most have offered," also told me that he has "no leaders." Thus, the chase for the class of 2009 member seems to be open right now. If you recall, when I posted my feature interview on Allen, he mentioned that he was going to transfer to a prep school for his senior year, yet was not entirely sure what school he would be heading to. Well, now he is sure, and it will be Notre Dame Prep (MA) that will be getting him. I will be sure to keep you updated on how the recruitment of Allen is progressing.

Update on . . . Erving Walker

Erving Walker, a soon-to-be Florida Gator, was kind enough to take some time to talk with me last week and give me an update on how he is doing. Walker is undersized for a basketball player--he stands just 5'8--but the Christ the King (NY) senior makes up for it with his talent on the court. I asked Erving about how he thinks playing for UF Head Coach Billy Donovan, a small guard in his own right when he played, will help him: "I think that it [will] help me a lot . . . [and he will be able to] give me tips." Points guards such as Walker love to have big men to throw the ball to down low, and Walker will certainly have a load of those by his sophomore year in Gainsville. Billy Donovan is putting together a monster recruiting class for the class of 2009 that includes Georgetown transfer and former high school star 6'9 Vernon Macklin, 6'10 Erik Murphy, and 6'9 DeShawn Painter. In addition, Donovan's 2008 haul includes 6'8 Allan Chaney, 6'10 Kenneth Kadji, and 6'10 Eloy Vargas. I asked Walker what he thought about the big man commitments that Donovan has already received from the class of '09 studs: "I think that [is] great, especially [for] me, being a little guy, you can never have too many big men. . . . I already have a relationship with Erik Murphy." Along with these six bigs, the Gators already have sophomore-to-be Alex Tyus on the roster. Florida will not be hurting for height while Walker is there. Walker won't have to worry about carving out some playing time from all the big men, but he will need to try to fit in the guard rotation, and with sophomores-to-be Jai Lucas and Nick Calathes there, playing time may be scarce for Walker as a freshman in 2008-09. "Coach [Donovan] told me [that] the playing is there. I just have to come in and work hard," is what Walker said when I asked him what he thinks his playing time will be like his first year at UF. Some big news about the Gators a few months ago was Billy Donovan's punishment of the squad, which included not allowing them to wear UF gear or use the practice facility. I inquired of Walker what he thought of the steps that his future coach used for his team: "At first, I though thought it was pretty harsh, but I thought, 'Coach, he knows what he [is] doing." So, it appears that Erving will be able to handle whatever Donovan throws his way. Walker will be one of the Player Diary writers here, so you will get to know him a lot better as time progresses.

Note- player information is from http://www.rivals.com/

Update on . . . Stevie Taylor

Class of 2011 stud Stevie Taylor is one of the Player Diary writers here at Northstar Basketball, and his first entry can be seen if you check the archive. Last week, I caught up with the 5'8 guard from Ohio. Taylor, a member of the Ohio Basketball Club U-15 team informed me that he is being recruited by Cincinnati, Dayton, Georgetown, Tennessee, Ohio St., Akron, and St. Joseph's. As for scholarship offers, Taylor has one thus far, from the Zips. "Akron offered, but the leaders are Georgetown, Tennessee, [and] Cincinnati," said Stevie. I asked Taylor if Akron has a shot at eventually landing him: "I [don't know] because they offered [another] pg in my class." As for his reasoning on why the Hoyas, Volunteers, and Bearcats are in the lead: "[They are] the leaders because they [are] showing the most interest in me." I will keep you updated on Steve Taylor's recruitment, and hopefully he will as well in his Player Diary entries.

Update on . . . Jayon James

Jayon James, a 6'5 sophomore swingman for Paterson Catholic (NJ), is a member of the high-powered Playaz Basketball Club (NJ) U-16 squad that has been making some noise on the AAU circuit this season. Early last week, I caught up with Jayon, and we discussed his recruitment and his status as a member of the Playaz. James informed me that he is being recruited by "Xavier, Fordham, Rhode Island, Seton Hall, La Salle, [and] Rutgers," adding "that's all of the schools that I know about so far." The highly-regarded class of 2010 baller said that "all of them offered," and stated that he does "not have a leader at the moment." It appears, from that list, that Jayon will likely end up in the Atlantic-10 or the Big East. There had been some rumors circulating that some of the Playaz U-16 ballers were considering switching to other programs, so I inquired of Jayon the validity of these rumors, first asking him if he planned on leaving the Playaz: "I'm not leaving the Playaz any time soon." I then asked if he knew whether anyone else such as Fuquan Edwin was contemplating a switch: "[No], none of us are leaving this year." That comment, with the "this year" on the end, left the door open for future years, and I thus asked James about the possibility of some of his teammates moving around next season: "Not that I know of." Should the Playaz U-16 team stay intact, and it appears they will,the squad will continue to wreak havoc on the grassroots basketball scene.