Fuquan Edwin, one of the most athletic wings in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, is getting close to a college decision.
The 6-foot-6, 190-pound Edwin, a rising senior at Paterson (N.J.) Catholic, will choose between Big East programs Seton Hall and Providence, perhaps as early as next month.
Edwin, who helped the Cougars win the Passaic County championship last year and beat national power St. Anthony in the State tournament, will visit Seton Hall June 25 and Providence sometime next week.
Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez already landed former Paterson Catholic point guard Jordan Theodore, one of the bright spots on last year’s team. If Edwin picks the Pirates, he and Theodore could play together for two years.
“What I like about Seton Hall is, first of all it’s close,” Edwin said. “It fits my style. I think I’d be good there and it won’t hurt playing with Jordan again. We have good chemistry together.”
There are no Paterson Catholic players at Providence, but redshirt freshman big man Bilal Dixon played for nearby Queen of Peace High School.
“Providence, same type of style,” Edwin said. “They push the ball and run in transition. I think that fits my style, too.”
Edwin broke out as a freshman as a rebounding machine, swallowing up anything and everything on the boards. He showed a knack for scoring in transition and near the basket, often on passes from Theodore.
Though he took a step back as a sophomore, he was a factor last year when PC beat St. Anthony and head coach Bob Hurley for the first time since 2000.
“Fuquan Edwin scores like we breathe,” recruiting expert Tom Konchalski once told me.
Paterson Catholic coach Damon Wright said Edwin still must develop his handle, face-up game and jump shot.
“Absolutely,” he said. “Speaking to some of the coaches, he needs to work on his ballhandling skills and start working on his jump shot. They see him playing the 2 or the 3.”
Whoever lands Edwin will be getting a hard worker dedicated to improving his game.
“The one thing I can say, he’s a kid that’s going to work very hard,” Wright said. “He will see the floor eventually. He”s a hard worker and he’s going to do what he needs to do.”
Academically, Edwin says he needs to have a strong senior year.
“Next year I have to finish up strong,” he said.
Edwin plans to attend the Reebok All-American Camp July 6-10 in Philly and could make his decision at any time after the visits.
“Playing at home could be good and playing away would be good, too,” he said. “It gives me a chance to mature myself.”
SETON HALL NOTES
**Seton Hall is planning to get the following area recruits on campus before July: Kyrie Irving of St. Patrick; Jayvaughn Pinkston of Bishop Loughlin; Devon Collier of St. Anthony; Rod Odom of the Middlesex (Ma.) School, ; and Doron Lamb of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy.
**The Pirates will play in the 2010 Paradise Jam, according to PirateCrew.com.
NUNEZ, EPPS ON THE MOVE
Two high-profile high school players from the NY/NJ metro area are on the move to prep schools.
Angel Nunez, a 6-foot-7 2011 wing from Manhattan, will transfer to the Winchendon (Mass.) School from Cardinal Hayes in The Bronx.
And Isaiah Epps, a 6-2 point guard from Plainfield, N.J. who committed to Pitt for the 2010-11 season, will likely end up at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy or National (Md.) Christian.
“The interview went well today so it looks like we’re going to Winchendon,” Nunez’s mentor Eric Martinez said. “The application is in and everything’s in.
“It’s in his best interests academically. The atmosphere, the classrooms are smaller. There are like six kids per teacher versus 30 kids at Hayes. It’s a big difference. He gets better attention as far as school.”
On the college front, Arizona and Louisville have offered Nunez a scholarship and other schools are interested, Martinez said.
“Louisville offered him a scholarship,” he said. “Miami is heavily interested. This weekend we’re going to Virginia Tech for their Elite Camp.
“I spoke to Fred Hill at Rutgers. We’re going to attend Rutgers’ Elite Camp June 28-29. And on July 1, we’re going to St. John’s Elite Camp.”
Epps will be too old to play high school ball in Jersey this year and sources at Pittsburgh say he will likely wind up at Hargrave.
“I don’t know right now,” Epps wrote in a text. “I’m undecided.”
