I just got off the phone with Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle and he said about half a dozen schools are showing the most interest in senior point guard Kyrie Irving, one of the special talents in the Class of 2010.
Boyle listed Duke, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Seton Hall, Texas A&M and Georgia Tech.
“Those are the ones Kyrie speaks to me most about. They’re all working really hard to get him,” Boyle said
“It’s clear with all those schools that he would have an excellent chance to go in and compete for a starting job right away.
Kentucky and Texas A&M both have family connections. Kentucky assistant Rod Strickland is Irving’s Godfather and A&M assistant Scott Spinelli played at BU with Drederick Irving, Kyrie’s father.
Still, Kyrie has said the family connections won’t be the deciding factor in his recruitment.
Boyle’s team won the New Jersey Tournament of Champions last year and will be the favorite to repeat this year with a squad featuring Irving, Michael Gilchrist, Derrick Gordon Chase Plummer and Kevin Boyle Jr.
Boyle said he hears quite frequently from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Indiana coach Tom Crean about Irving.
“Coach K is making a hard push,” Boyle said of Krzyzewski. “He’s definitely a point guard at that level, without question.”
“Tom Crean is involved, Seton Hall is involved. That [Seton Hall] wouldn’t shock me. [Assistant coach] Scott [Adubato]’s busting his [butt].”
Boyle said Georgia Tech and Texas A&M are also in the picture.
Villanova coach Jay Wright is trying to get involved, but that team features a slew of guards, including former St. Patrick standout Corey Fisher.
“Jay Wright is trying to keep them in the game,” Boyle said. “If Kyrie’s willing to wait, they might have a chance. If Corey Fisher has a good year and is the No. 20 or 30 pick in the NBA Draft” that might open things up at Villanova.
“If that doesn’t happen, it might make it hard on any of the schools that need players to have good years to leave.”
Boyle said Irving has yet to plan out his visits, but Irving said he will take his five officials this summer and fall.
“Some of them are going to lose the [recruiting] battle even though they’ve worked very hard,” Boyle said.
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