Miller, Bello to Baylor; LeBryan Nash to OSU (UPDATED)

Quincy Miller and Deuce Bello are teammates at Westchester (N.C.) Country Day school, and beginning next year they will be teammates at Baylor University.

Both players announced Thursday on ESPNU.

“I will be taking my services to Baylor University,” said Bello, who also considered Louisville.

“And I’ll be taking my services to Baylor also,” added Miller, who said he also considered Louisville, Duke and Oklahoma.

Louisville pulled out of his recruitment, however, and he did not take a scheduled official last weekend to Duke.

Miller is the No. 1 power forward in Class of 2011, per Rivals, and Bello is the No. 11 shooting guard in the class.

They join 6-5 Florida small forward Quevyn Winters in the Baylor’s 2011 recruiting haul.

Miller and Bello played AAU basketball for D-One Sports, which was founded by Brian Clifton. Brian’s younger brother, Dwon Clifton, was hired to the Baylor coaching staff in 2008. At that point, the Bears were recruiting John Wall out of Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God.

Wall ultimately chose Kentucky and was the No. 1 overall of the Washington Wizards in this year’s NBA draft.

After two seasons at Baylor, Dwon Clifton left the school.

These latest commitments occur at a time when the NCAA is investigating Baylor for recruiting violations.

Still, both Miller and Bello professed a devotion to the Baylor coaching staff.

Asked to expand on his decision, Bello said, “I believe coach [Scott] Drew he’s a genuine guy. He keeps it real with you. Him and his coaching staff do the same. Baylor’s just a family and I could see myself a part of that.”

Added Miller: “Coach Drew is a great guy. His coaching staff is great. The players there are great. The facilities are great. The coaching staff is great. I love everything about it.”

Asked to assess each other’s play, Miller said of Bello: “He’s the most athletic shooting guard in the country. He’s explosive. He’s been working on his jump shot, he’s been working on his handle, so I think he’s going to open a lot of eyes.”

Of Miller, Bello said: “I think he’s real versatile. He’s hard to guard, to be that tall. He’s just hard to guard.”

Asked to deliver some trash talk, Miller added:

“We’re gonna be ready and we’re going to be the best next year.”

LEBRYAN NASH TO OSU

Dallas Lincoln small forward LeBryan Nash teased the ESPNU audience by showing baseball hats from Kansas, Baylor and Oklahoma State and then busted out a huge orange, floppy cowboy hat with “OSU” on it.

“I want to be somebody different,” he said of the hat. “I want to be a leader, not a follower.”

“Travis Ford recruited me so long,” added the 6-7 Nash, the No. 2 small forward in the Class of 2011. “Since he came here he’s been on me. Butch Pierre is a great assistant coach.”

He added: “I think I fit into that system and I’ll have the ball in my hand most of the times. The tutoring is so good up there and I think I’ll just fit there.”

Nash averaged 17.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season as a junior for Lincoln.

Byron Eaton, Nash’s half-brother, starred at Oklahoma State until 2009.

“He played a good role,” Nash said. “He told me Travis Ford is the coach for me. He’s been there for four years. I listen to what he says because he’s my big brother. I think I fit into that system. I love it up there.”

(Photo courtesy Chris Littman)