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Post by commissioner on Nov 8, 2017 14:23:12 GMT -6
The early signing period starts today. Thought I'd start a thread to report signings with HL schools. I'm only reporting kids when they've actually signed or scheduled a signing ceremony.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 8, 2017 15:48:14 GMT -6
Detroit
Detroit expects to sign two or just maybe three during the early signing period.
Today they got an LOI from Adrian Nelson, a 6-6 small forward/shooting guard from Pickerington Central HS in Ohio. Pickerington has produced a steady stream of talent in recent years (Caris LaVert of Michigan, Jae'Sean Tate of Ohio State, Sterling Manley of North Carolina, and Northern Kentucky's Jalen Tate) and Nelson is a good, solid recruit. He had reported offers from at least 17 schools, all mid-majors, including Green Bay, Northern Kentucky, Youngstown State, Cleveland State and Wright State in the Horizon. On a team loaded with D-I prospects, he averaged 9.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists last year and was All-State Honorable Mention. Ohio Hoops ranked him the #10 prospect in Ohio's deep 2018 class; Triple-Double Prospects puts him 15th.
Triple Double Prospects says: "With a long frame and budding athleticism, Nelson is showing an explosion of improvement and excelling in almost every area of the game. Nelson is already known to be exceptional at running the floor, filling lanes on the break and attacking the rim in transition. He can hit the open pull up, he's patient on offense and he's showing an ability to find open guys on the move. The most exciting thing about him is his length along with his ability to get out and run. He's extremely productive and involved on both ends of the floor and he may even grow a few more inches." ESPN says, "Big bodied inside power forward. Strong frame and has the ability to increase his strength over the next year. Adrian can finish around the rim with drop-offs to him from teammates or facing up and attacking. Long wing span helps him keep the ball alive on the offensive rebound." And Prep Hoops Ohio writes, "We believe Nelson should be considered by high-major programs."
Sounds like a nice get for the Titans.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 8, 2017 17:08:18 GMT -6
Cleveland State
Rashad Williams, a 6-3 pg from Wayne, Michigan, has a signing ceremony scheduled for Thursday. He'll be inking with Cleveland State. Williams had at least 12 reported offers, including from the A10 (St. Bonaventure) and MVC (Evansville), and fellow Horizon member Detroit. Rashad was a Class A (Michigan's highest class) first team All-State selection as a junior.
NY2LA Hoops Scouting report says, "Despite the ability to catch fire from three point land, Williams is more than just a shooter, and show off a versatile offensive package."
Prep Hoops Michigan says, "It’s refreshing to see a young man quietly go about his work and let his greatness show on the court. Rashad Williams is an exampl of a player like this. He goes about his business and proves on the court what type of player he is. Williams, a combo guard from Wayne Memorial, is a shooter. The 6-3 guard has limitless range and stays efficient from deep. He is an exceptionally strong young man... "
This is a really good signing for Coach Fulton and the Vikes.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 8, 2017 19:46:20 GMT -6
Wright State
WSU expects a multiple letters of intent this week.
Jeremiah Davenport, a 6-5 guard/forward out of Cincinnati Moeller, is slated to sign an LOI with Wright State this week. Davenport averaged just 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds off the bench last year, so WSU is obviously going on potential. But Moeller did win the state championship, and Davenport was at his best in the state tournament, including 17 points and 7 rebounds against Pickerington Central in the state semi-finals. Davenport had an offer from Northern Kentucky and from a smattering of smaller D-I schools. Prep Hoops Ohio calls Davenport "a team player" who "attacks the glass much harder than other guards." They add, "the intensity and athleticism to which he goes to the offensive glass speaks to the type of player Davenport is." At the same time, they say that "Davenport projects as a low-major Division I prospect." Ohio Hoops ranks him the #24 prospect in the state.
A second should LOI come on Thursday from Malachi Smith, a 6-3 guard from East High in Belleville, Illinois. Smith chose WSU over offers from Denver and Missouri State. PrepHoops Illinois has this to say about Smith: "a two guard that is wired to score! He is a slick ball handler through traffic that has the ability to get in the paint. Turns the corner with speed coming off a ball screen attacking downhill. Can beat his man off the bounce and get in the lane where he likes to finish with runners and acrobatic layups. On occasion will throw down a poster dunk. He is a solid jump shooter with the ability to knock down a one dribble pull up from mid-range and has a clean looking shot from three off the catch. ... Rebounds well for his size and is active on the offensive glass getting at least one put back a game. Solid athlete at the wing position. Could improve on the defensive end. Projects as a low-major prospect with mid-major upside." Smith averaged 12 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals last season.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 8, 2017 21:31:23 GMT -6
Oakland
Oakland landed two members of the Class of '18 today.
The first is Braden Norris, a point guard from Hilliard, Ohio, who signed his LOI today. Ohio Hoops ranks Norris the #22 prospect in the state. 270-Hoops, ranks him the top point guard in Central Ohio. He was a second team all-state player as a junior. His 4 other offers were from lower majors, most notably Army and Robert Morris.
Norris is a classic Kampe point guard: a bit small (5-11), quick, can score (15.8 ppg last year, 16.5 as a soph), plays fast. ESPN's evaluation says in part, "Braden is a tough nosed knock down guard that knows how to play. He can really shoot from the perimeter with range and a very quick release. Makes threes in bunches when he gets hot. Someone that the other team has to find in transition quickly." He's a coach's kid with a high basketball IQ. Looks like OU has a successor to Brailen Neely lined up.
Also signing an LOI today is 6-5 Treveon Maddox of Novi, Michigan. Kampe's coup here was getting Maddox to play hoops at all--he had football offers from Syracuse and Louisville, and most Big 10 schools at least keeping in touch. But he decided to stick with hoops, where as a junior he averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. The assumption that he'd play football probably held down his basketball recruitment, although several MAC and Horizon schools, including Detroit, Cleveland State, and Milwaukee, had him on the radar. Maddox can play the 1, 2, or 3 positions. Prep Hoops Michigan ranked him just the #27 prospect in Michigan's Class of '18, a range where we are usually looking at low D-I and D-II players. But Michigan's 2018 class is deeper than usual, and Maddox, with his raw athletic ability, could turn out to be a real steal for OU.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 8, 2017 23:16:12 GMT -6
Youngstown State
YSU got a huge commitment, the likely star of the HL's entering class next year, in 6-4 guard Atiba Taylor of Hillside, New Jersey's Patrick School. This is a kid who had offers from Seton Hall, St. Joe's, Rutgers, Kansas State, Temple, and La Salle. UConn wanted him to take a prep year and join its Class of '19. St. John's, Miami, and Syracuse, and others were interested, It's not often any Horizon team beats out that type of competition, let alone YSU.
Two other YSU recruits signed LOIs.
Darius Quisenberry is a 6-0 guard out of Wayne HS in Huber Heights. YSU beat out Horizon rivals Northern Kentucky, Oakland, Cleveland State, and Wright State, among others, to land Quisenberry. Prep Hoops Ohio ranked him the #8 prospect in the state: Hoops Ohio had him at #14. Prep Hoops says, "he has great court vision, and is able to find the open man. What is surprising however, is the high intensity this young guard plays at. When he cuts hard to the rim, he cuts with a purpose. When the ball is on the ground, he is diving on the floor for it. Not only can Darius play physical, but his shooting is excellent as well." Triple Double Prospects ranks him 17th in state, and says, "'Quizz' is a gamer who makes winning plays, competes with passion and has both the shooting touch and IQ to be a really solid guard. While he’s more of a scoring guard, Quisenberry can play the point guard position, but his ability to shoot the three or make the floater is what really excites us about him. Doesn’t have great size or athleticism, but is as skilled as they come and plays an efficient style with his IQ." He missed much of last year, but averaged 22 points per game as a sophomore.
Jelani Simmons of Columbus has also reportedly signed. A 6-5 shooting guard, Hoops Ohio puts him #17 in the class. Prep Hoops had him at #20 in the state but moving up rapidly.
All in all, a very good class shaping up for Coach Calhoun.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 9, 2017 6:03:21 GMT -6
UIC
UIC should get a letter today or tomorrow from Isaac Bassey, a 6-11 Nigerian by way of Baltimore, now playing at State Fair CC in MIssouri. Bassey averaged 4.1 points and 3.8 rebounds last year. He's one of those big, raw types that HL teams almost have to gamble on if they hope to get that big presence in the paint. With Greg Egboigboden bailing on his Letter of Intent last spring, UIC needs an immediate successor to Tai Odiase after this year, so going the juco route isn't a bad idea. Bassey drew a lot of upper mid-major interest when he enrolled at Capital Christian Academy in Baltimore in 2014, but except for James Madison, didn't convert that interest into offers before enrolling at State Fair.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 9, 2017 6:37:01 GMT -6
Northern Kentucky
NKU inked two on the first day of the early signing period, at least one of whom looks like an impact player.
Trevon Faulkner was upgraded this summer to three stars by 247Sports, making him the fifth 3-Star recruit to sign with NKU since John Brannen took over as head coach 2.5 years ago. Faulkner averaged 24.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last year for Mercer County High School in Kentucky, shooting over 50% in the process. He was a second team All-State selection. That follows a sophomore year in which he averaged 18.6 points and 5.9 rebounds. The 6-4 point guard also had offers from Western Kentucky, Valparaiso, Murray State, Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana Lafayette, and Wright State. Prep Hoops Kentucky ranks him the #3 prospect in the state. From his High School Coach: "Trevon can play defense at any level. He's probably one of the best defenders in the state, he's just so strong, so long, and so athletic. ... He's one of the most hard-working kids I've ever been around." Trevon is not related to NKU's sophomore guard Mason Faulkner.
While Louisville and Kentucky recruit nationally, Brannen continues to gather up Kentucky's best homegrown talent, with Faulkner joining Mason Faulkner, Carson Williams and Chris Vogt as top 5 players in the state to sign with NKU under Brannen.
NKU also got a signed LOI from Bryant Mocaby, a 6-5 shooting guard from Derby, Kansas, outside of Wichita. Mocaby averaged 18 ppg as a junior. Prep Hoops Kansas says, "A 6’5 shooting guard, Mocaby can light up the scoreboard shooting from the mid-range, 3-point range and can also put the ball on the floor and get to the basket and finish. Armed with a physical frame, Mocaby is also a standout defender capable of holding his own against elite 2-guards." Nonetheless, Mocaby had not drawn a lot of interest, with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi his only other reported D-I offer. Hoop Focus says of Mocaby: "His defense is tight and physical. He bodies players his size, or uses his length to suffocate and clamp the smaller, quicker guards. ... Despite not being a strong ball handler, he still finds opportunities to score outside of his catch-and-shoot play style. His size and physicality allow him to body bigger defenders under the rim and go up strong against contact."
It looks like NKU has no intention of relinquishing its recently gained spot in the Horizon's upper echelon.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 9, 2017 18:50:35 GMT -6
Milwaukee
Milwaukee had a big week, colllecting 3 LOIs.
Physically, the biggest of those signatories is Zach Cameron-Chodes, a 6-10, 245 lb. center out of Mineral Area CC in Missouri. Cameron-Chodes spent last year at Kennesaw State, where he averaged just 1.1 points and 2.6 rebounds. Before that he came out of the Brewster Academy prep school in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Out of Brewster, Chodes was ranked just the #20 prospect in not-so-hoops hotbed New Hampshire, and #80 in all of New England. But he's tall, and mid-major coaches have to take some chances if they want height. At one time he signed an LOI with Missouri State, but asked to be released after missing most of his senior year with injuries, then went to Brewster for a season.
Also out of Mineral Area CC is Fabio Soehnel. Soehnel, a 6-4 guard, is originally from Austria, and played last year at Hillsborough CC, averaging 12.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He chose Milwaukee over an offer from Robert Morris.
Finally, Milwaukee signed Shae Mitchell, a 6-8 forward from Lakeville South HS, Minnesota. Mitchell averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds as a junior. Mitchell would seem to have the most potential of the trio, with offers from MVC schools Drake, Illinois State, and Northern Iowa, and a 3-star ranking from ESPN. But Mitchell seems to have plateaued a bit, with his rank in Minnesota's Class of '18 falling each year, and early interest (9th/10 grade) from schools such as Clemson and Vanderbilt not translating into offers. Still, Northern Exposure Hoops ranks him the #6 prospect in Minnesota, and he seems like a very good signing for Milwaukee and the Horizon.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 9, 2017 21:12:58 GMT -6
Wright State
WSU added 2 more LOIs today.
The first was from Grant Basile, a 6-8 forward from Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Here's NY2LA last February on Basile:
"He can finish at all three levels on the court although his most consistent area is 15 feet and in. Equipped with size and length the Wisconsin native has shown the ability to finish with either hand in a variety of ways throughout the year. Currently averaging over 15 points a game for the conference champion Pewaukee team that is 18-2 this year, Basile has been the driving force for his team game in and game out and that consistent high level production has impressed scouts and college coaches alike.
"Not just a one trick pony so to speak, Basile can contribute in other ways beside scoring as he has solid court awareness and an improved understanding of spacing, position, leverage, angles, etc. all of which he’s used throughout the year to both score and help his team on both ends of the floor. His size and plus length along with his feel have made him a dominant rebounding talent averaging close to 9 rebounds a game while defensively his timing and positioning have made him a force on that end of the court altering shots and blocking them to the tune of almost 3 blocks per game. Still developing across the board, Basile has a lot of clay to mold into a quality prospect and he looks and feels like a late blooming Division 1 prospect whose best basketball lies ahead."
Basile finished last year at 13.6 points and 11.6 rebounds. He had an offer from Denver and a bunch of D-II schools.
Also signing was Skylear Potter, and you have to admit, Sky is a great name for a basketball player, even if he's only a 6-2 guard. Potter averaged 20.2 points and 11.8 rebounds at Warren High School in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Prep Hoops Kentucky writes: "Potter is a strong player who can shoot the ball well, especially from deep, and can get to the rim and finish on just about anyone." Potter had offers from Lipscomb and Miami of Ohio, but his recruiting was really just starting to pick up when he verballed to WSU. He seems like a good fit for Coach Nagy's system.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 10, 2017 14:20:06 GMT -6
Milwaukee
The Panthers added a 4th LOI, and it's a good one. Ty Mosely, a 6-5 guard from Chicago, turned down DePaul, Bradley, Duquesne, UIC and some lesser programs to signed with Milwaukee. Mosely led his team to the State Class 2A title last spring. 247 Sports ranks him #101 in the country--almost certainly too high, but impressive. I think. I say "I think" because while 247 ranks him the #2 prospect in Illinois, he did not make any all-state teams and Prep Hoops Illinois ranks him just the 46th best prospect in the state. That's a divergence you don't see often. The Prep Hoops guys have a big presence on the ground and do a pretty good job, so Milwaukee fans might temper their enthusiasm. Still, looks like a good signing anyway you cut it, and he is clearly moving up--only this summer and fall did a number of Big 10 and Big East schools start recruiting him, and Prep Hoops didn't have him ranked at all a year ago. No Mosely is not the #101 prospect in the country. Yes, he looks like a good player and this is a nice recruit for Milwaukee.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 10, 2017 16:46:55 GMT -6
Detroit
Detroit got its second LOI today when 6-7 SF Cory Hightower, of Meadowcreek HS in Norcross, Georgia, signed. Hightower is the son of the former Flint star and San Antonio Spurs draftee of the same name. Hightower had interest from schools such as Evansville and Murray State, but no other reported offers. Hightower is a slender athlete who is still growing. He was a second team All-Region player selection by the Atlanta Journal Constitution last year. The Atlanta scouting service AllMetro Hoops writes: "Long forward with good perimeter skills. Has mid-range game. Very effective operating from high post with shot making and passing ability." Last year he averaged 10.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals.
Hightower looks like a bit of a gamble at this point, but there seems to be a broad consensus that he's a high upside recruit.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 13, 2017 19:04:45 GMT -6
Cleveland State
CSU strikes again in Detroit, signing Deante Johnson, a 6-8 forward from Detroit Edison. Johnson had offers from Illinois State, Loyola, and Southern Illinois of the MVC, plus current reigning Horizon champs Oakland and NKU and also Toledo. Johnson didn't score a lot last year on team that has two other D-I commits, and he needs to work on his strength, his post moves, and free throw shooting. But he's a real talent, and is still improving rapidly, making him a potentially excellent get for CSU. Says PrepHoops Michigan:
"For a big man, Johnson is very mobile. He can dribble the ball up court and change directions just as quick as a guard. He can defend on the perimeter, as well as come all the way across the lane to block a shot.... Long arms, quick feet, and decent athleticism help Johnson block shots well... It’s rare that a kid can be so mobile and so coordinated at 6’9″. He already has the ability to rebound a shot and take the ball up the court himself; if he were to focus on improving his handles and playmaking ability to an elite level, he could become unstoppable."
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