Charlie Moore, the 5-foot-10 point guard out of Chicago Morgan Park and former Memphis commit, has pledged to California coach Cuonzo Martin.
Moore decommited from Memphis following the coaching change. He also considered SMU, LSU and Georgia Tech, where former Memphis coach Josh Pastner now resides.
Thanks to all the coaches who recruited me but this upcoming year I will be part of the Cal family #GoldenBear���� pic.twitter.com/qoNEnc9qiB
– Charles Moore (@CharlieM2_) May 19, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Morgan is rated the No. 16 point guard by 247Sports.com. He and incoming graduate transfer Grant Mullins from Columbia will help offset the losses of Tyrone Wallace (graduation) and Tyson Jolly, who decommitted and then pledged to Baylor.
“I have a great relationship with the coacing staff,” Moore told SNY.tv. “They’ve been recruiting me since the first go-round and they never change.”
LIVINGSTON TO TEXAS TECH
Anthony Livingston, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward, committed to Texas Tech, he told SNY.tv.
The graduate transfer from Arkansas State will be immediately eligible for coach Chris Beard.
“Texas Tech was just the best fit for me personally,” Livingston said. “I was very comfortable with Coach Beard being as though he coached against me in the Sun Belt Conference.”
A native of Washington, D.C., Livingston also considered St. John’s, LSU, West Virginia and Boston College.
“He’s a young guy but he has one of the smoothest strokes for a big man I’ve seen,” said San Jacinto (TX) College coach head coach Scott Gerander, who coached Livingston in 2013-14 before the player went to Arkansas State. “He’s a really good shooter from all over the floor, super soft touch with a good post and face-up game. It’s crazy how he gets all that done and isn’t very athletic and looks like the oldest man in the gym everywhere he goes.
Livingston averaged a double-double of 15.9 points and 10 rebounds as a sophomore. In 2015-16, he averaged 15.5 points and 9.4 boards, including a 29-point outing. He also went for 22 rebounds in a game against Arkansas-Little Rock where in he pulled in 22 rebounds.
“I bring an inside-out game, including mid-range scoring ability,” he said. “Scoring, rebounding, leadership, passing and defending. Coach Beard wants me to come in and be able to contribute on all cylinders.”
NEVADA LANDS PURDUE TRANSFER KENDALL STEPHENS
Nevada head coach Eric Musselman landed Purdue transfer Kendall Stephens, who also considered San Diego.
The 6-6 junior guard averaged 6.1 points and 1.3 rebounds last season. He will have to sit one season to play one.
“I think Nevada’s style of play suits me better and I have a great connection with the coaching staff who showed me their version of the program and where I fit into it,” Stephens told SNY.tv.
Take a guess �� pic.twitter.com/P7yCtL4Asd
– Kendall Stephens (@Kensteph21) May 18, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
VITAL SIGNS NLI WITH UCONN
Christian Vital, a combination guard from Queens Village, N.Y., signed his NLI to UConn.
Vital, 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, averaged 16.2 points per game last season at St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.), helping the Chancellors to a 31-7 record and the National Prep Championship finals.
Vital is known as a high-energy athlete, who can play either guard position, with an outstanding long range jumper, and is a solid defender. But UConn coach Kevin Ollie feels that he brings to the program much more than his basketball skills.
“Besides being a great basketball player with a great basketball mind, Christian is just an outstanding leader,” Ollie said. “He has won wherever he’s been. He’s a great person who lifts your spirit when you’re around him.
“Christian’s ability to play both guard positions and his leadership qualities are what intrigued us. His combination of talent and character are what we’re looking for in our student-athletes. We think he’ll be a wonderful addition to the program.”
Vital was a New England Prep School Athletic Conference Class AAA All-New England First-Team selection. He scored 13 points, including three three-pointers, and handed out seven assists in the Jordan Brand Classic Regional Game, in which he played with fellow UConn incoming recruit Mamadou Diarra.<
“He may have improved more than any kid I’ve ever had here for two years,” St.Thomas More coach Jere Quinn told the Norwich Bulletin. “He’s such a hard worker. First to show up in the gym, last to leave — that kind of kid.”
Vital is also well-acquainted with more of his future UConn teammates. In 2014-15 at St. Thomas More, he was a teammate of UConn rising sophomore forward Steve Enoch, he played he played AAU ball with current UConn redshirt sophomore Terry Larrier, and knows UConn rising sophomore Jalen Adams from the AAU and NEPSAC circuits.
Vital joins UConn’s highly-touted recruiting class which has been consistently rated among the top 10 in the country, including forward Diarra (Queens, N.Y.), guard Alterique Gilbert (Lithonia, Ga.), and forwards Vance Jackson (Altedena, Calif.), and Juwan Durham (Tampa, Fla.).
FREE THROWS
2018 G Zion Williamson picked up an offer from UNLV…2017 First Love Christian (PA) F Samson George has received an offer from Duquesne.
NCharlie Moore, the 5-foot-10 point guard out of Chicago Morgan Park and former Memphis commit, has pledged to California coach Cuonzo Martin.
