Recruiting Roundup - 9/6
Ledo joins Dunn at Providence, L.J. Rose picks Baylor
With the summer travel season complete and school back in session, the nation’s top prospects are getting closer and closer to deciding where they will play in college. With a large number of uncommitted players left in the 2012, there will be a lot of recruiting buzz going into the fall signing period and high school season. Check back here at fivestarbasketball.com’s ‘Commitment Corner’ every Tuesday to learn more about the week’s biggest news and inside information on the recruiting trail.
Providence sets up backcourt for the future
Five-Star rated Ricardo Ledo (Providence, RI/Notre Dame Prep, MA) has recommitted his pledge to Providence after de-committing last Christmas. Ledo is considered one of the top shooting guards in the nation with an array of offensive skills. What makes the coup so impressive is that it comes on the heels of the commitment of Connecticut Basketball Club's Kris Dunn (New London, CT/New London HS). Dunn was one of our breakout players of the year nominees and many view him as the 2012 point guard with the highest ceiling, with his length, athleticism and ball handling abilities. Sharp shooting Boo Williams guard Josh Fortune (Hampton, VA/Kecoughtan H.S.) is also apart of the class.
Newly appointed Head Coach Ed Cooley is making his presence felt early in the Big East recruiting trail for the Friars.
“I trust coach Cooley. He’s one of the reasons that Providence can get back on top," Ledo told ESPN.com.
Also considered: Kentucky, Syracuse, West Virginia, Connecticut
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PG Rose takes Baylor offer
Over Labor Day weekend, Houston Hoops floor general L.J. Rose (Houston, TX/Westbury Christian) made a verbal commitment to Baylor. Rose notes coach Scott Drew's hard working staff and proximity as his main reasons for selecting the Bears.
"[The coaching staff] didn't get discouraged, they just strived to work even harder," Rose sent in a text to Fivestarbasketball.com, "Also, it's close to home. Being with the guys, I felt like part of the family."
Also considered: Texas, Arizona, Houston, Memphis, Virginia
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Slim pickings at PG
With L.J. Rose's decision, college coaches looking for help at the PG position in 2012 are now in trouble if they want a top 100 talent with these floor generals off the board: Kris Dunn (Providence), Marcus Paige (UNC), Kevin Ferrell (Indiana), Ryan Arcidiacono (Villanova), Braxton Ogbueze (Florida), James Robinson (Pittsburgh), Tyler Lewis (N.C. State), Jevan Felix (Texas), Dominic Artis (UCLA), Mike Gesell (Iowa), Ronnie Johnson (Purdue), Codi Miller-McIntyre (Wake Forest)
Nino Jackson, Terry Rozier and Jevon Thomas are some of the better prospects left at the position in the 2012 class.
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Layman picks Terps
BABC forward Jake Layman (Wrenthram, MA/King Phillip Regional) chose Maryland after a weekend visit yesterday. At 6-8, Layman can be an ideal stretch 4-man for the Terps with his versatility and ability to hit the perimeter jumper. He also showed this summer his ability to apply ball pressure on the defensive end, as he was the lead man in BABC's vaunted 1-3-1 press.
Houston Defenders big man Shaquille Cleare (Houston, TX/The Village School) is also apart of the 2012 class.
"I like Coach Turgeon's style of play, his offense is a good fit for me," Layman told ESPNBoston.com. "The ACC is a good conference for me, too. I think it's the most skilled conference in the country, I like it a lot."
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Other Notable Commitments
Deonte Burton (Brewster Academy, MA/Terry Porter Elite) - verbal to Marquette
Travis Jorgenson (Rock Bridge, KS/KC Pump N' Run 16U) - verbal to Missouri
Dejuan Marrero (Bowman Academy, IN/Spiece Indy Heat) - verbal to Depaul
Demetris Morant (Bishop Gorman, NV/Dream Vision) - verbal to UNLV
Kamari Murphy (IMG Academy, FL/Juice All-Stars) - verbal to Oklahoma State
Brandon Taylor (Trenton Catholic, NJ/Team Philly) - verbal to Penn State
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On Campus/In-Home Visits
- Kyle Anderson (Fairway, N.J./St. Anthony's) took an official visit to Seton Hall last week and will visit Georgetown today and St. John's tomorrow
- Rodney Purvis (Raleigh, N.C./Upper Room Christian Academy) officially visited N.C. State this past weekend
- Shabazz Muhammad (Las Vegas, NV/Bishop Gorman) will host coaches from UCLA and UNLV for home visits this Friday and Saturday respectively
- Chris Walker (Bonifay, FL/Holmes County)visited Florida along with Brannen Greene (Monroe, GA/Mary Parsons) this past weekend.
- Walker is one of many players who will attend Kentucky's Midnight Madness including Muhammad, DaJuan Coleman (Dewitt, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt), Archie Goodwin (Little Rock, AR/Sylvan Hills), Alex Poythress (Clarksville, TN/Northeast) T.J. Warren (Durham, N.C./Brewster Academy), Andrew Harrison (Houston, TX/Travis) Aaron Harrison (Houston, TX/Travis), Willie Cauley (Spearville, KS/Olathe Northwest) and Dakari Johnson (New York, NY/Montverde, FL)
