Maurice Aniefiok is one of the top shooting guards still available in the Class of 2011 and interest is picking up.
Indiana head coach Tom Crean came to watch Aniefiok Monday at Huntington (W.V. ) Prep and a Kansas staff member is due in soon, according to Huntington coach Rob Fulford.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Aniefiok currently holds offers from USC, Duquesne, Ole Miss and James Madison, according to Fulford. UCLA, Indiana and Kansas are among the heavyweights involved.
“He’s a high-major player,” Fulford said.
Fulford said Aniefiok, a Nigerian native, was originally “slated to go to West Virginia,” but the Mountaineers need another point guard to go alongside Mount Vernon (N.Y.) native Jabarie Hinds.
Aniefiok, averaging 13 points per game, is more of a natural off guard who can bring the ball up when necessary.
“He’s a scorer,” Fulford said recently. “He’s physical, he can score. He really can shoot it and defend. He’s a big kid, physically imposing right now.”
In a phone interview in December, Aniefiok said Dwyane Wade was his role model.
“I play combo guard,” he said. “I can push the ball, play off the ball and post a small guy up.”
Fulford said Duquesne has been there “longest” with an offer, and that Crean needed to come back and see Aniefiok in a game.
Aniefiok has already taken the ACT and is due to take the SAT in March.
Huntington (21-3) wraps up its season this weekend and is awaiting word on whether it will be invited to a postseason tournament.
FREE THROWS
NIA Prep 2011 wing Kelvin Amayo will take officials to Providence and Oregon State in the next two weeks, according to Alif Muhammad of NIA Prep.
