A couple of big commitments went down on Wednesday…
Ky Madden, a 6-foot-5 point guard from Arkansas East Poinsett County, chose Arkansas over Ole Miss and Baylor.
Madden joins two Arkansas natives, 6-10 power forward Hunter Mickelson and 6-7 power forward Aaron Ross — his teammates on the Arkansas Wings — in a terrific recruiting class for head coach John Pelphrey. The class also includes 6-3 St. Louis point guard B.J. Young.
“I feel like I can’t go wrong, I’m an in-state guy,” Madden told 103.9 the Game. “Us together, I think we can turn Arkansas around. … I didn’t feel like I could leave the state.”
Pelphrey has posted back-to-back losing seasons, but Madden said this class should help take the heat off of him.
“He’s got one of the Top five recruiting classes in the country. I don’t see why you’d fire the guy,” Madden told 103.9 the Game. “He’s bringing us all in.”
**Khem Birch, Rivals’ No. 1 power forward in the Class of 2012, confirmed a report that he verbally committed to Pittsburgh Wednesday.
“I chose them because they can develop my skills and because I loved the facilities, dorms and fans and I got to know the players on the team,” the 6-9, 200-pound Birch, out of Fitchburg (Mass.) Notre Dame Prep, said by text.
“I think [Head] Coach [Jamie] Dixon is a very good coach and I’m very close to [assistant] coach [Pat] Skerry.”
**D’Angelo Harrison has set his visit schedule, according to NY2LASports.com.
The 6-3 Harrison, out of Dulles (Texas) High, will visit Oklahoma State Sept. 30-Oct. 1st, Baylor Oct. 2-3, Marquette Oct. 15 and St. John’s Oct. 22.
HAITH, CASEY, HILL HIGHLIGHT COACHES’ CLINIC
The first annual Young World Athletic Association Coaches Clinic will take place on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at Lehman College in the Bronx.
Featured speakers include Miami head coach Frank Haith, C.W. Post head coach Chris Casey and highly regarded Kansas State assistant Dalonte Hill.
In addition, there will be skills and agility training for all coaches in attendance as well as breakfast and lunch served.
Haith, entering his seventh season as head coach at Miami, will lecture on out-of-bounds plays and special situations.
Casey, entering his first season as the head man at C.W. Post, will discuss building man-to-man defense.
Hill is currently the associate head coach at Kansas State and he will lecture on transition offense.
If you’d like more information about the Young World Coaches Clinic or to schedule an interview, please contact Vernon Gray at 347-392-1888 or isnmgmt@aol.com or Chris Altiery at 914-830-6500 or caltiery@gmail.com.
FREE THROWS
Andy Katz of ESPN tweeted that the NCAA Clearinghouse will next rule on the eligibility of Kansas freshman Josh Selby and Kentucky frosh Enes Kanter.…Brewster (N.H.) Academy guard Elijah Carter tweeted that Cincinnati is no longer involved in his recruitment. Cincinnati picked up a commitment from Rice wing Jermaine Sanders Monday night. Carter is still considering Seton Hall, Charlotte, Oregon State and Clemson…A Kentucky assistant will be at South Kent (Conn.) on Thursday to check out shooting guard Ricardo Ledo, according to coach Kelvin Jefferson…Seton Hall coach Dan McHale was at Northfield Mount Hermon this week to check out 2011 commit Aaron Cosby…Evan Cummins of NMH visited Notre Dame and Northwestern this past weekend, per NMH head coach John Carroll…Vince Van Nes of NMH is visiting Florida International this weekend…Armani Cotton of NMH is visiting Yale this weekend and Princeton next weekend…John Golden of NMH is visiting Yale next weekend…Tommy Carpenter, Lucas Van Nes and Ethan O’Day of NMH are visiting Holy Cross this weekend…Dakeeba Battee of NMH is visiting Brown this weekend.
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