Rutgers coach Mike Rice will welcome 6-foot-8 forward Cleveland Melvin and 6-3 point guard Antoine Myers to campus Wednesday and Thursday and Melvin plans to make a college decision shortly thereafter.
“After my Rutgers visit,” Melvin said Monday night during a phone interview.
A Baltimore native who plays at Notre Dame Prep, Melvin is also considering Marshall, DePaul and Seton Hall.
“They are even,” said Melvin, who initially committed to UConn before changing his mind.
Melvin said Rutgers assistant Jimmy Martelli, who was officially named to the staff Tuesday, called him last week and expressed interest.
“The assistant coach had called me and let me know that he was very interested in me. He told me they wanted me to come out and visit,” Melvin said.
Melvin said he’s looking for a school that plays an “up-and-down tempo,” can give him a “great education and a lot of playing time.”
One thing Rutgers can offer is playing time.
“When I tell a recruit that there is playing time available – there is no double-talk or double-meaning, there is playing time available,” Rice said in his opening press conference.
Melvin also visited Seton Hall and the Prudential Center last week and enjoyed it.
“It went good,” he said. “The coaching staff was great. They are all new. All of them [were] great.”
Melvin described himself as a “very athletic wing forward that can shoot mid-range.”
“He’s extremely athletic, 6-8, runs the floor,” added Cecil Kirk coach Anthony Lewis. “He’s a slasher-type scorer, wing-forward type player. He’s very quick, agile, can put it on the deck and get to the rack. He’s a solid defender on the perimeter and extremely athletic.”
As for Myers, he is considering several schools, including Marshall and Rutgers.
“I recently just visited Marshall and I’m visiting Rutgers this week,” he said by text. “When I get back from the Rutgers visit, I will sort out the various schools in the A-10 ad the Big East that I will be visiting.
“I have no favorites right now but my decision will be coming soon.”
BRANDIN KNIGHT STAYING AT PITT
As first reported on my Twitter, Pittsburgh assistant Brandin Knight has opted to remain on Jamie Dixon’s staff and will not join Mike Rice at Rutgers.
“I’m gonna remain at Pitt,” he texted.
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(Photo courtesy Baltimore Sun)
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