Both Norvel Pelle and his sister say a report that he decommitted from St. John’s is inaccurate.
“I didn’t decommit frm no where I’m focusing on gettn my grades rite wit the ncaa. More so I’m jus focusing on me and my fam,” the 6-foot-10 Pelle said on his Twitter account.
“It’s inaccurate information,” Cherisa Pelle told SNY.tv about the report. “He did not decommit from St. John’s.”
She added: “Yes, he does still want to go to St. John’s.”
She said her brother wasn’t available for comment because he has a private phone line, but confirmed he has enrolled at The Phelps School in Malvern, Pa.
AztecSportsReport.com, a San Diego State Rivals affiliate, wrote a story quoting Pelle and saying he had decommitted.
“I’m back on the market, which I just found out,” Pelle is quoted as telling the Website Thursday. “So it’s my opportunity to go to different schools.”
Cherisa says her brother has a private line and never spoke with the site.
“He hasn’t spoken to anyone,” she said. “How can he tell anyone he decommitted?”
The Website indicated Pelle may join former Price (Calif.) High School teammate Skylar Spencer at San Diego State when he arrives in 2012.
“We could turn the program,” Pelle allegedly told the Website. “Possibly go to the NCAA Tournament and win it. That would be our main goal next year if everything works out and I decide to go there and what not.”
St. John’s spokesman Mark Fratto said the school could not comment because Pelle is now considered a prospective student-athlete who has not signed a Letter of Intent.
Pelle was one of three St. John’s commits ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA.
JaKarr Sampson, a 6-8 forward, previously decommitted and is back at Brewster (N.H.) Academy for a postgraduate year.
Amir Garrett, a 6-7 wing, is at Bridgton (Maine) Academy.
A source close to the Phelps School admission process confirmed that Pelle was on campus there Thursday.
“He’s as good as enrolled,” the source told SNY.tv, confirming news first reported by Keith Pompey of Philly.com.
The source said he was still under the impression that Pelle wanted to attend St. John’s, but it was unclear when he might become eligible.
“If something happens between now and January and he can be in college for the second semester we’ll certainly help him get there,” the source said.
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bball purist / September 22, 2011
I thought Steve Fischer already turned the program around? A 34-2 record plus a sweet 16 confirms it. It’s SJ’s that needs the help to get back to the Sweet 16 and beyond Norvel. So then it would seem SJ’s would be the more desirable choice if you want to go to the tournament and win it. Unlikely you’ll win it all with SDSU – jmtc – just sayin’
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AGinNYC / September 22, 2011
You’re probably right but try telling that to Tark.
BTW, St. John’s has the same number of NCAA championships as SDSU and (don’t look now) but the Mt West will be just as strong as the Big East in hoops once Syracuse, Uconn and Pitt leave. Just sayin’. 🙂
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SiJessieWildcat / September 22, 2011
Any word on the former players which were deemed qualifed but, actually, were not eligible.
Did the NCAA actually doing some funny business?
Allowing players to play college when they are actually ineligible.
How could these east players be allowed to play?
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DocBean / September 23, 2011
“I didn’t decommit frm no where I’m focusing on gettn my grades rite wit the ncaa. More so I’m jus focusing on me and my fam,”
HAHAHAHAHAHA
I’m thinking he’s going to have a hard time getting those grades up!
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crgreen / September 23, 2011
For Doc Bean: Dude, it was a TWEET.
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