The longer Kyrie Irving goes without committing to Duke, the better it is for the other four schools in the Irving Sweepstakes.
The 6-foot-2 Irving out of Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick still hasn’t committed to the Dukies and will head out today on his second official visit to Texas A&M.
“Getting ready for my visit at Texas a and m tmrw…let’s do it!!” Irving Tweeted this week.
The A&M connection stems from assistant coach Scott Spinelli, who played college ball at Boston U with Drederick Irving, Kyrie’s father.
After A&M, Irving is slated to visit Kentucky next weekend for Big Blue Madness, before going to Georgia Tech and Seton Hall.
A West Orange native, Irving sometimes practices in the Seton Hall gym and has developed a tight relationship with assistant coach Scott Adubato.
Seton Hall is the lone Big East program in the mix for Irving and is hoping to keep him local and make him the face of the program going forward.
Still, Irving is on record saying he’s “leaning” toward Duke and a source close to the situation said he would be “surprised if he doesn’t end up going to Duke.”
“Well, I’ve got that feeling with Duke, but I want to go on a few more visits to compare it al,” Irving told DimeMag. “I’m not ready to commit yet. I just want to make sure everything is right. Duke and Indiana were my top two schools, and Duke is up there, but I like the other schools too.”
BEJARANO TO ARIZONA
One day after landing Long Island wing Rod Odom, Sean Miller secured another elite player in former Texas commit Daniel Bejarano.
“This is where I belong,” the 6-4, 200-pound Bejarano, a shooting guard out of Phoenix North High, told The Arizona Republic.
“I felt that trust,” he told the paper. “The coaches are tremendous. They joke and make you feel like you’re one of them. The home visit [last week] by Sean Miller was incredible. The rest of the coaches are great.
“I feel this is where my dad would want me to be.”
Damian Gosa, Bejarano’s father, was shot and killed over the summer.
Arizona State dropped out of contention, leaving Arizona as the best option.
He has also developed a friendship with Wildcats freshman guard Lamont “Momo” Jones of New York.
“I started a good relationship with Momo,” Bejarano told The Republic. “He was telling me, ‘I need someone to pass the ball to.'”
MORGAN TO TAKE OFFICIAL TO SETON HALL
Jesse “The Takeover” Morgan will take an official to Seton Hall this weekend and UConn next weekend.
“It’s in a nice city, nice atmosphere,” Morgan said of Seton Hall. “I just want to get to know the players and the coaches. They are cool to be around.”
Morgan said his top five schools are Seton Hall, UConn, Louisville, Rutgers and UMass.
“I’m pretty much open. I want to go where I can play,” he said.
Morgan played at Olney High in Philly before transferring to South Kent this summer after playing for Jefferson at the Reebok All-American Camp.
South Kent coach Kelvin Jefferson said Morgan was “as under-recruited as anybody in the country.”
“Jesse’s got a chance to be really good,” Jefferson said. “He’s got great presence on the floor. He can really shot the ball and he’s got good size at 6-4 or 6-5. He handles it so well and can be moved over to the point.
“He plays within himself. He’s got a good chance to be a real good player at a high level.”
(Photos courtesy Irving Family and The ARizona Republic)
JessieWildcat / October 9, 2009
Congradulations to Daniel Bejarano.
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AZ makes an excellent comment.
Bejarano and MoMo made a special connection.
(be it basketball,be it life’s experiences…)
Not only is MoMo a very good player.
But, he has maturity beyond his years.
MoMo’s family, friends, coaches,NYC, coach Smith…. should be very proud of MoMo.
Arizona is surely appreciative of MoMo.-one classy gentleman.
Not sure where Woody is at???
“I love the way they play,” he said of the style that Miller will bring …”
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PaulSmenis / October 9, 2009
“Congradulations”? Priceless.
Good get for UA.
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jhawk4 / October 9, 2009
good pickup for zona.
hopefully this means doron lamb can go ahead and scratch arizona off his list…
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UAWildcat / October 9, 2009
I would assume D. Lamb will cross UA off his list.
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RockChalkWoody / October 9, 2009
I’m right here, Jessie. Why are you asking for me? Because I’m going to tell you that got you got Bejarano by default? Hey, it’s still a quality pickup for Miller.
Congrats or as you would say, “Congradulations.” Any word on whether TJ is visiting KU or UA yet?
Bring on Deron Lamb…
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UAWildcat / October 9, 2009
Yeah cause KU never got a player do to a “default” (Henery brothers, Jeff Whitey)
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tsmooth / October 9, 2009
Tarik black is committing to Memphis next friday!!! go tigers!!! number one class in 2010 baby!!!
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Big Ben / October 9, 2009
From what I can tell Xavier wanted to be at Kansas all along and Whithey had plenty of other offers to choose from before he chose Kansas. However, you’re right that Kansas has gotten plenty of guys for strange reasons (as we all have).
I remember most of the 2003 nucleus that we beat was there by strange circumstance. Kirk Hinrich was committed to Tim Floyd until he took a job with the Bulls, Nick Collison was committed to Iowa until Dr. Tom retired. I believe Keith Langford was also committed elsewhere before something happened and he switched his allegiance to Roy Williams and Kansas.
It happens everywhere, but I remember those Kansas teams were extraordinarily gifted by circumstances.
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UAWildcat / October 10, 2009
I was implying that wthout Calipari’s move to Kentucky and Lute Olson’s retirement you would not have these three players. And you are right every school has benifited from similar circumstances. Also it sounds like UA is still recruiting D. Lamb but as a pg now.
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JessieWildcat / October 10, 2009
Jawk and Woody,
Not so fast—on Doron Lamb.
I believe Doron Lamb and Calvin may schedule a visit to Arizona?
Judging by the last couple of weeks:
…Adam Z. reported that Arizona visited Smith/Lamb at Oak.(9/9) and had subsequent in-home visit(s).
Arizona has shown alot of LOVE for Doron.
PS- Arizona has a number of options ….and IT does include Doron Lamb.
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RockChalkWoody / October 11, 2009
I doubt that visit ever takes place. After he feels the love at Late Night next weekend I believe he will be a Jayhawk.
FYI Self had those same visits w/ Lamb…so what?
PS-Kansas has a lot of options too…again, so what?
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UAWildcat / October 11, 2009
Not sure if KU is recruiting D. Lamb as a 1 or 2 but Arizona is recruiting him as a 1. At his height that would be his position in the NBA so that might sway his decision.
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Big Ben / October 11, 2009
Bill Self always plays 2 PGs, so I’d assume Lamb would play there.
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JessieWildcat / October 11, 2009
Woody,
Other people would say…NOT alot of LOVE have been shown.
Would one LATE night change this….NO.
The KU visit did take a long time to develope.
For some reason, the phone system in Kansas is not up to bar…
(ie., BS not returning calls…Delaying the call to Calvin.)
Didn’t this happen with another recruit as well…Yeah, LMJ.
This also brings up the topic of Terrence Jones.
It was funny that one article stated that it had no idea of his recruitment direction.
It appears that VISIBILITY will become clearer , about 14 days.
Looks like AZ has the latest info. on TJ.
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RockChalkWoody / October 12, 2009
I don’t know anything about the phone system, but judging by all of the studs coming in for Late Night this Friday I’d say Bill Self is doing just fine.
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Big Ben / October 12, 2009
Anyone else wondering who LMJ is?
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