By ADAM ZAGORIA
Marcus Hammond, the 6-foot-3 Niagara transfer originally from Queens, has set four visits in the coming weeks, he told ZAGSBLOG.
Hammond, a first-team All-MAAC selection who averaged 18.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season and scored a season-high 28 points twice, will trip to Georgetown this weekend and then visit Rutgers early next week. He will then trip to Notre Dame next weekend and Kansas State at the end of the month.
Not a bad list of schools for someone whose only offer out of Benjamin Cardozo High School was from Niagara.
“The people who know, know Marcus shoots as well as anyone in the country,” said Cardozo coach Ron Naclerio. “He led NCAA Division 1 as a freshman in 3-point shooting percentage at 52.2 percent and is one of the most under appreciated and improved players the last 4 years.
“He’s grown to almost 6’4”. He’s a true play-maker and every one of his teammates loves when he has the ball because they know if he’s open he will find them first and then score second which he did this past season at 18.1 points per game.
“Many believed he was the MAAC Player of the Year. He’s a player who makes very few fundamental mistakes, and he quickly learns from the mistake when he does make one. “He’s itching to improve and is a coach’s dream. Physically his body is finally maturing. I believe he will make money playing this game.”
Georgetown has lost four players to the Transfer Portal and is also losing freshman Aminu Mohammed to the NBA Draft. They have already brought in LSU transfer Brandon Murray and remain in the mix for Oklahoma State transfer Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe.
Rutgers is losing stars Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker and will have a lot of production to replace.
Notre Dame and Kansas State are also looking to add shooting and scoring to their rosters going forward.
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