Dan Hurley has been on the job less than a month at Wagner College and he is already boldly reshaping the roster.
Of course, when a team goes 5-26 the previous season, some reshaping is in order.
Having already signed guard Latif Rivers and big man Orlando Parker, Hurley is now taking aim at Naofall Folahan, a 6-foot-10 center from Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Mass., who is visiting the Staten Island school this weekend.
Folahan visited Tulane last week and is also considering Davidson.
“I think he should know at least a week from now, if not sooner,” Wilbraham and Monson assistant coach Mike Mannix said of Folahan’s decision.
Folahan averaged 8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks last year at Wilbraham and Monson. He spent the previous year at Fitchburg (Mass.) Notre Dame Prep and at one time was committed to Marist.
Originally from Benin in West Africa, Folahan is close friends with countryman Mouph Yarou, a rising sophomore at Villanova. He has been in the U.S. for two years and has only been playing basketball for five.
“He’s very raw so it will take a little bit of time and a lot of work,” Mannix said.
“His biggest attribute is his athleticism. He covers guys out on the perimeter and he blocks shots like crazy.”
Hurley and the Wagner staff are hoping he can help them win the league before he his through.
Earlier this week, Rivers and Parker both signed.
The 6-1, 185-pound Rivers was a standout at Elizabeth High School before spending a year at Avon Old Farms Prep School in Connecticut where he averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game.
As a senior at Elizabeth, he was named All-State, All-Watchung Conference and Fist-Team All Union County. A highlight of his senior year was scoring 34 points in a victory over Newark Shabazz. He was selected to the North-South New Jersey All-Star game and was MVP of the Holiday Jubilee.
“We’re excited to add Latif to our program and feel that he can have a real impact at the guard position,” Hurley said. “He has point guard skills along with explosive scoring ability. As a Jersey guy, he brings that toughness and passion. I’ve known Latif since he was in the eighth grade and I think he is destined to have a tremendous career at Wagner.”
The 6-8, 195-pound Parker played at Orlando Christian Prep School, where he averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks per game in helping lead his team to two Class 1A boys basketball state championships and to a 28-4 record in 2009-10. He earned honorable mention All-Central Florida honors by the Orlando Sentinel.
“Orlando comes from one of the best high school programs in the state of Florida,” said Hurley. “He’s a long, athletic and skilled forward that has received excellent coaching and someone we expect to blossom into an outstanding player for us.”
Rivers and Parker bring Wagner’s recruiting class to four student-athletes as 6-2 guard Evan Pierce (Pittsburgh, PA/Mt. Lebanon) and 6-8 forward Josh Daniell (Old Bridge, NJ/St. Patrick) signed with the Seahawks in November.
FRANK, SELF, CREAN HEADLINE COACHES CLINIC
Adidas Basketball is proud to announce the formation of the first ever Adidas New England Basketball Coaches Clinic, coming to the birthplace of basketball, Springfield, Mass., on May 22 at Central High School.
The clinic will feature former New Jersey Nets Head Coach, Lawrence Frank, Kansas University Coach Bill Self, Indiana University Head Coach Tom Crean, Boston College Head Coach Steve Donahue, UMass Head Coach Derek Kellogg, Former Boston Celtics Head Coach John Carroll and Wagner College Head Coach Danny Hurley.
The clinic will be $125 per coach. Along with the teaching of these top coaches, each coach will receive a T shirt from Adidas as well as a Coaches Packet and a lunch. For each additional coach in a program the cost will be $100 dollars.
To learn more please visit: http://www.ballercircuit.com/new-england-coaches-clinic/
(Photo courtesy NEHoopnews.com)
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