UCLA made recruiting news on several fronts this weekend.
The Bruins secured a verbal commitment from Norman Powell, a 6-foot-3 two guard from San Diego (Calif.) Lincoln High.
“Verbally committed to UCLA [Sunday],” Powell wrote on his Twitter.
Powell is ranked the NO. 16 shooting guard in the Class of 2011 by Rivals.
Also, Oak Hill point guard Quinn Cook will take an official next weekend to UCLA along with Memphis wing Adonis Thomas.
“I will take my official visit to UCLA this weekend 10/1-10/3,” Cook Tweeted.
UCLA head coach Ben Howland came into Cook’s home in Maryland Friday to meet Cook and his mother.
Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Villanova and St. John’s are also involved.
“The visits all change,” Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said previously. “I know he’s meeting with UCLA today and they’re trying to get him to visit next weekend [Oct. 1].”
Meantime, UCLA postponed a visit with Mount Vernon point guard Jabarie Hinds, who still plans to trip to UConn this weekend and West Virginia Oct. 14.
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Thomas visited Arkansas this past weekend.
“It was good,” he said by text. “I enjoyed it.”
He has visited Tennessee as well and still has UCLA (Oct. 2), Florida (Oct. 9) and Memphis (Oct. 15).
HARRIS VISITS IOWA
Long Island wing Tyler Harris of St. Benedict’s Prep visited Iowa this weekend and enjoyed it.
“Coach Fran [McCaffery] has put together a very good experienced staff that will help get Iowa back to the top,” Torrel Harris said. “Tyler and I were impressed with the academics of the business school. We visited the athletic and student center that houses all the athletes who need tutors. We toured the new facility that’s in construction with a new weight room, basketball practice facility and office.”
They also watched Iowa beat Ball State, 45-0, in football and had dinner at McCaffery’s house.
“Overall, Iowa is a very nice campus,” he said. “The trip made a huge impression on Tyler and gave him something think about hard as he evaluates the remaining four schools on is list.”
Next up is N.C. State this weekend and Providence Oct. 15.
A tentative visit to Louisville is set for Nov. 5.
No St. John’s visit has been set.
FREE THROWS
Indiana got a commitment from Trey Lyles in the Class of 2014. He joins fellow ’14 commit James Blackmon…Elijah Carter enjoyed his official to Charlotte. “It was great. Very nice city.” The 6-2 guard from Brewster (N.H.) Academy visits Cincinnati next weekend…Baylor hosts Deuce Bello and Quincy Miller next weekend…Seth Hinrichs committed to Lafayette, per Alex Kline. Toddrick Gotcher committed to Texas Tech, Shelby Moats to Vanderbilt and Ross Travis to Penn State, per Kline...Amir Garrett will visit Oregon this weekend, per Rivals…Maurice Aniefok, a 6-5 2011 wing at Huntington (West Va.) Prep, will take officials to West Virginia and Cincinnati, according to his mentor Joe Boncore.
(Photo courtesy Norman Powell)
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