ELIZABETH, N.J. — Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley continues to find gems before other schools do.
On Thursday, Hurley landed a verbal commitment from Cyril Langevine, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound power forward from New Jersey power St. Patrick’s, who appears to have a huge upside going forward.
After an official visit to Rhody this past weekend, Langevine — who was recruited by assistant Jimmy Carr — called the Rams “my top school.”
“It was a good experience,” the 17-year-old said of the visit. “Got to meet the coaches, the guys on the team, so it was really good.”
On Thursday he made it official.
“I would like to thank the universities, and more specifically, the coaches who recruited me,” he said in a statement. “I have decided to attend the University of Rhode Island. I look forward to a good education and a successful basketball career at Rhode Island.
“Additionally, I would like to thank The Patrick School community, specifically my teammates and the coaching staff, the Playaz Basketball Club, and the N.J. Roadrunners for helping me to attain my goal of securing a Division 1 scholarship.
A native of Guyana in South America, Langevine is Hurley’s third 2016 commit in the last 11 days. Rhode Island also added 6-9 power forward Mike Layssard, Jr. and 6-10 center Michael Tertsea.
Langevine also held offers from Fairleigh Dickinson, Duquesne, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, George Mason, St. Francis, St Bonaventure and Buffalo, while Pittsburgh wanted him to visit in early October.
Todd Decker, a St. Patrick’s assistant and the former head coach at St. Peter’s Prep, believes Langevine has a high ceiling.
“I love coaching Cyril,” he said. “He’s to me an under-rated beast down low. He can step and pick-and-pop out to the 3-point line. Really good 15-footer. He’s really improved his body and his conditioning in the offseason and he looks like he’s ready to have a big senior year.”
“I think the sky’s the limit for him,” St. Pat’s head coach Chris Chavannes said.
Langevine hopes to transition into a three man going forward.
“[Rhode Island] will move me out to the three and the four,” he said. “I can rebound and play defense and stuff like that. I need to continue to work on my shooting.”
This year, he will continue to practice against a slew of likely Division 1 bigs, including 6-foot-11 2017 Nick Richards, an NBA prospect who had coaches from Arizona, Georgetown, Indiana and Boston College scouting him on Wednesday.
“[It helps] a lot because of their height, trying to finish over bigger guys so it really helps me. ” Langevine said. “Playing against the bigger guys, they just work hard.”
