By ADAM ZAGORIA
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Cliff Omoruyi, the 6-foot-11, 237-pound junior big man from Roselle (N.J.) Catholic, took an unofficial visit to UConn on Friday in advance of his team’s game at the Hoophall Classic.
Omoruyi is being recruited by assistant coach Kimani Young.
“We went on an unofficial,” he said after putting up 9 points and rebounds in a 75-55 loss to Norcross (GA). “It was great. I got to watch them practice. They said I would be a great fit for them as a big, as a center because they don’t have a center there yet.”
Omoruyi worked out for Bob Hurley Sr. in New Jersey, so he’s familiar with UConn coach Dan Hurley and the family.
Omoruyi is playing alongside Kentucky-bound wing Kahlil Whitney and UNLV-bound point guard Josh Pierre-Louis on a team that is expected to contend for a second straight New Jersey Tournament of Champions title.
On New Year’s Day, Omoruyi went for 13 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks — including a slew of dunks — as Roselle Catholic polished off Montclair Immaculate, 72-60, at the New Year’s Jump Off at Don Bosco Tech High School. Assistant coaches from Auburn, Pittsburgh and Rutgers were on hand.
He now holds offers from Syracuse, West Virginia, UMass, Rutgers, Seton Hall, UConn, N.C. State, Cincinnati, Miami, Virginia, Xavier, Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky, Butler, UCLA, Florida, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, South Carolina and Pittsburgh.
He has taken other unofficials to North Carolina, West Virginia, Rutgers, Seton Hall and UMass.
“Cliff’s upside is extremely high,” RC coach Dave Boff said. “He is still developing his game and getting better every day. He is going to be very special.”
.@wizcliff77 with a put back dunk as he goes for 13/8 in a 79-44 win over @SalesianumHoops at #SlamDunkDE. @RoselleCatholic @rc_basketball pic.twitter.com/InP4NIJCr1
— Slam Dunk to Beach (@SlamDunktoBeach) December 29, 2018
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