John Riek will be cleared to start running in a few days and expects to join the Cincinnati basketball team in December.
“He just gets clearance this month to start running,” said Riek’s adviser, Fatah Muraisi. “On Nov. 5 he’ll get the green light to start running. He’ll be joining the team in December.”
The 7-foot-2 Riek is rehabbing a surgically-repaired knee at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and recently received a qualifying score on the ACT.
He is on campus at Cincinnati this weekend for his official visit.
“He’s having a nice visit,” Muraisi said. “He said it was real nice. He said Yancy [Gates} is just tremendous. He was just watching them play.”
Hasheem Thabeet, the reigning Big East Defensive PLayer of the Year from UConn, recently said Riek had potential but had some work to do.
“I got to see him at the LeBron James Camp,” Thabeet said. “He’s not as coordinated as some of the big guys like myself, but he’s a good player and he can make it….If he’s good enough to get recruited to a good program, he can definitely make it.”
Added UConn coach Jim Calhoun, who recruited Riek. “I haven’t seen John in a year but if he’s improved, with his size he’s someone they can use.”
