Nearly a week after DeAndre Kane took an official visit to Seton Hall, his high school coach says Kane made a verbal commitment to play for the Pirates.
“He just told me he committed,” Patterson (N.C.) head coach Chris Chaney said Friday night by phone. “He did say he felt comfortable and really enjoyed the visit.”
Kane has not answered repeated text messages and voice mails.
“My boy goes there, Herb Pope,” Kane told me recently about Seton Hall. “That’s my boy. He told me it’s nice. I’ve been talking to Coach [Scott] Adubato.” Pope, a native of Aliquippa, Pa., is sitting out the year at Seton Hall after transferring from New Mexico State.
If the 6-foot-3 Kane eventually signs a National Letter of Intent during the late signing period beginning in April, he would be head coach Bobby Gonzalez’s first commitment from the Class of 2009. Kane is averaging 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists for Patterson, the top prep program in the nation.
“I think he’ll add another dimension to them [Seton Hall],” Chaney said. “He’s another piece to the puzzle. He’s ready for that competition right now. I think he can step in and play against Louisville right now and it wouldn’t faze or bother him. He’s a tough kid mentally and physically. He’s ready for any type of challenge.”
Seton Hall also can look forward to having transfers Pope and Keon Lawrence suit up next year, as well as 6-10 big man Melvyn Oliver.
Jeremy Hazell, another former Chaney player at Patterson, stars for Seton Hall now and could be a future NBA player.
Pittsburgh had placed Kane at Patterson and many assumed he would end up at Pitt.
Kane averaged 31 points last year and helped Pittsburgh Schenley win its fourth straight City League title. His high school teammates included DeJuan Blair, D.J. Kennedy and Jamaal Bryant.
