Maurice Aniefiok

Joe Boncore, Aniefiok’s mentor, would like the 6-foot-5, 210-pound combo guard to visit Tempe sometime between Dec. 23-29, when Huntington (West Va.) Prep has no games scheduled.

“That’s the week he can visit,” Boncore said. “We want him to take visits.”

Huntington coach Rob Fulford said no visits were planned yet.

“I understand the need to take official visits and obviously we want Maurice to see different setups, but I don’t agree with him taking official visits to schools that haven’t been in to see him yet,” Fulford said. “They haven’t earned an official visit. He plans on taking all five officials, but there is not rush. He will be signing late anyway.”

Still, Boncore said the visit to ASU was in the works and that Oregon, UCLA, West Virginia and Notre Dame are also involved. He said Notre Dame was due to visit “next week” and that a trip to Notre Dame was in the works for “maybe the first week of January.”

Aniefiok has already visited West Virginia, while UCLA is “waiting for transcripts to be cleared by their compliance office,” Boncore said.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Aniefiok has only been in the U.S. for three months.

“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, 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.”

He said he was still growing accustomed to the American style of ball and just wants to get better.

“When I came here, basketball is different from what we have back home,” he said, adding that he wants to “learn more, get better, learn more skills.”

Aniefiok said he wasn’t thinking much about colleges just yet.

“I’m not really concentrating on that,” he said. “I’m just focusing on learning the game more.”

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Negus Webster-Chan, Darrick Wood and Stefan Jankovic of Huntington Prep are taking an unofficial to Louisville today (Saturday)…Boncore said 6-11, 240 pound sophomore Emmanuel Ndumanya is now at Junipero Serra High in Los Angeles and visits Maryland unofficially Dec. 29. for the North Florida game.

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The 6-foot-5 Aniefiok arrived in the U.S. this fall and is a senior at Huntington (West Va.) Prep under head coach Rob Fulford.

“He’s really good,” one Division 1 assistant coach said.

West Virginia may have the inside track for Aniefiok. The Mountaineers are the only school to offer him, Fulford said. And Aniefiok visited West Virginia in mid-October for Mountaineer Madness.

Having witnessed the decommitment of point guard Ryan Boatright (now considering UConn, UNLV and Oklahoma), West Virginia is in the market for a second lead guard to go with Mount Vernon product Jabarie Hinds.

Fulford said UCLA, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Georgetown and Ole Miss have also expressed interested in Aniefiok, who is awaiting one set of SAT results and may take the test again.

“He’ll be fine on the test score,” Fulford said.

Joe Boncore, who mentors several African players, including Aniefiok, agrees.

“He is smart,” Boncore said. “The test isn’t a worry. He is going to take it again but he isn’t worried.”

No visits are planned right now and Fulford says Aniefiok likely won’t sign until the spring. The NCAA early signing period begins Wednesday.

“It will be later,” Fulford said.

Because of his size, Fulford has no doubt that Aniefiok can play at the Big East and major-college level.

“He’s a scorer,” Fulford said. “He’s physical, he can score. He really can shoot it and defend. He’s a big kid, physically imposing right now.”

As of now, though, West Virginia appears to have the edge.

“Probably leaning that way right now,” Fulford said. “I’m sure he’ll want to take a couple visits.”

RUTGERS RECRUITS LOOKING GOOD

Rutgers fans certainly have reason to feel optimistic about their 2011 recruiting class. Kadeem Jack dropped 25 points and 12 rebounds in his debut Friday with CJEOTO, an 88-80 victory over U.S. Military Academy Prep. “He was good,” CJEOTO coach Ian Turnbull said. “A little rough early then he settled down. Good kid. Very long  and super athletic.” Onetime Seton Hall commit Eugene McCrory dropped 21 and 14 for CJEOTO in that game…Also, fellow 2011 Rutgers commit Jerome Seagears of Flora McDonald (N.C.) Academy poured in 45 points in his season opener, but lost to Rodney Purvis and Raleigh (N.C.) Upper Room Christian. Purvis, who reclassified to 2012, poured in 36 points, including a game-winning 3-pointer.

(Photo courtesy westvirginia.247sports.com)

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After taking an official to Siena last weekend, the 6-foot-5 Gray will get a special visitor today at the Newark school.

“Arizona State head coach Herb Sendek called St. Ben’s Coach Roshown McLeod last week inquiring about Vaughn and he is flying into town on Tuesday  to watch Vaughn and the team work out,” said St. Ben’s assistant coach Billy Diamond, who is coordinating Gray’s recruitment.

As for the Siena visit, it went so well the Saints now top his list.

“Vaughn had a very good visit to Siena last weekend,” Diamond said. “He was overwhelmed by the support of the basketball team by the Capital Region community. He said the students and fans showed him so much love that they made him feel like he was a celebrity. Clarence Jackson was his host and between him and Assistant Coach Craig Carter, they did a thorough job presenting the basketball program, the campus, the school, and especially the Business Department as a whole.

“As of right now, I would say that Siena is at the top of Vaughn’s list. He will take an official visit to George Mason with his parents this weekend for their Midnight Madness at the Patriot Center (he will not be playing in the Eddie Griffin Tournament) and then when he returns, we will sit down and evaluate where we are in the process and see if he wants to take visits to Wichita State and Western Kentucky.”

FREE THROWS

Conference-USA will have its men’s basketball media day Wednesday in New York City…Angelo Chol, a 6-8 center from San Diego, Tweeted that he will attend Kansas Midnight Madness this weekend. He will also visit North Carolina Jan. 3, Arizona Jan. 29 and Washington Feb. 12…Nick Jacobs ’11, who cancelled his visit to Florida over the weekend, has narrowed his list down to Georgia, Alabama and Clemson, per Alex Kline…St. Anthony junior point guard Kyle Anderson Tweeted that Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua came to watch him on Monday…2012 star Ricardo Ledo narrowed his list to Kentucky, Providence, Texas, Syracuse, West Virginia, Louisville & Villanova, per Kline….Kline also reported that Western Kentucky picked up a commitment from 6-6 Kentucky forward George Fant. Fant joins St. Patrick guard Derrick Gordon and 7-footer Deng Leek in Ken McDonald’s recruiting class…Jaren Sina, a 2013 point guard from Gill St. Bernard’s, will attend St. John’s Midnight Madness Friday.

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The 6-foot-5 Brown is considering Washington, UConn, Arizona State, Georgia Tech and Oregon, he confirmed Saturday by text.

Brown has already visited Washington and is currently on an official to UConn.

He hits Arizona State Tuesday, Oregon Oct. 2 and Georgia Tech Oct. 10.

“I just want to see everywhere,” Brown told the esteemed Mike Anthony of the Hartford Courant during his visit. “Every school I could see myself going to, I just have to be able to actually go out there and experience what life would be like.”

He added: “It’s just going to be the place where I can improve as a player and have a chance to go to the NBA, and [also] a place where I have a chance to win a national championship.”

As for the UConn visit, Brown told Anthony:

“I know [UConn] has great guards, a lot of great players, big men. I think I would definitely fit in with their style of play.”

He spent time with head coach Jim Calhoun before UConn’s game with Buffalo.

“He’s just telling me how much they want me here and he feels I would be a great fit for the program. I definitely feel a level of comfort with Coach Calhoun and what he’s all about.”

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Jahii Carson

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Mesa (Az.) point guard verbally committed to Arizona State.

“Yes, I did,” he said by text. “It’s my hometown school and there’s a great opportunity to come in and get great minutes.”

The news was first reported by Eric Bossi.

Carson also considered Arizona, Washington, Oregon State, UNLV and St. John’s.

Carson, who averaged 23.5 points and 7.2 assists last season at Mesa, wants to bring an uptempo style to the point guard spot.

“I’m gonna try and bring an uptempo style,” he said. “I like to push the ball and play pressure defense. That’s the type of style I like to bring.”

FREE THROWS

6-foot point guard Marcus Burton from Charlotte (NC) Butler committed to Dan Hurley and Wagner…Ky Madden, No. 4 PG in 2011 from Arkansas, will visit UConn Oct. 8-10…Former Michigan State guard Chris Allen transferred to Iowa State….Team New York beat Team New Jersey, 109-104, at the Golden Hoops event in Brooklyn. Omar Calhoun (19 points) and Kamari Murphy (13 pts, 11 rebs) were named Co-MVPs….Queens beat The Bronx, 76-74 in OT, in the Battle of the Boroughs final at the Gauchos Gym. Kadeem Jack scored 16 points, Jordan Washington 14 and Jevon Thomas 12.

(Photo courtesy Kelly Kline/Nike)

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Johnson led the Drew Gooden Soldiers to wins at the Fab 48 tournament in Las Vegas and at the Pumps event in Anaheim, Calif. He is ranked the No. 13 shooting guard in the Class of 2011, but can play both guard positions well.

Wherever Johnson and the Soldiers went last month, a slew of high-profile head coaches followed.

Now, Johnson is narrowing his list and a decision is coming closer.

An Arizona native, Johnson will take unofficials to Arizona and Arizona State followed by officials to Louisville and Kansas.

And he could make a decision soon after.

“Right now I’ve got some unofficials and some officials,” he said Friday night by phone after scoring 22 points in USA West’s 112-108 loss to France in the Nike Global Challenge in Portland, Ore.

“I’ve got an unofficial to ASU next weekend,” Johnson added. “I’m scheduling one with U of A sometime in August.”

In September, Johnson has two officials in mind.

“I take my first official to Louisville Sept. 10,” Johnson said.

(His Soldiers teammate Josiah Turner visits Louisville the weekend before, Sept. 4).

After Louisville, Johnson wants to visit Kansas.

“Then I’m also going to take an official to Kansas, maybe the weekend after (Sept. 17),” he said.

Johnson is uncertain what will happen after that.

“I just want to take one this weekend and see what’s going on with the rest,” he said. “Maybe set a few more. If not, these could be my final four.”

Asked when he might decide, Johnson said, “Maybe mid- to late-September.”

Wherever he lands, Johnson could have a tremendous future based on his summer performance.

“I want to be an impact player my freshman year coming in,” he said. “I think I could handle the ball and run the team pretty good.”

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The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Carson out of Mesa (Az.) High said he plans to take officials to Arizona, Washington, Oregon State and St. John’s.

He plans to leave one official open and said he would probably take it to Alabama or North Carolina.

He has already visited UCLA, Oregon State, Arizona and Arizona State unofficially.

Other schools in the mix are Oregon, Washington State and USC.

“I’m going to try and narrow it down to five [officials] and right before the signing period ends make my decision,” Carson, the No. 10 point guard in the nation, said by phone after scoring 22 points for USA Midwest at the Nike Global Challenge in Portland, Ore.

Carson is one of several West Coast players new St. John’s coach Steve Lavin is targeting, and Carson is interested in what the Johnnies have to offer.

“I talked to him a couple times,” Carson said. “I know he was at UCLA. I’m trying to build a nice relationship with him. They’re a historic university. I’m looking to get down there and see how things are going. I’m gonna try and get down there and take my time and talk to the players.”

Wherever he lands, Carson wants to bring an uptempo style to the point guard spot.

“I’m gonna try and bring an uptempo style,” he said. “I like to push the ball and play pressure defense. That’s the type of style I like to bring.”

(Photo courtesy Kelly Kline/Nike)

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I’m hearing BC wasn’t aware that Taylor had been suspended for seven games last season for “violating team rules.” Really? How do you not know that?

Anyway, the 6-foot-7 Taylor, a Union, N.J. native, will visit Xavier Tuesday and is also considering Miami, Cincinnati and Arizona State.

“Travis and his family want to utilize the three remaining official visits he has left before he makes a decision,” a source with knowledge said. “Considering we’re about to enter the second live period this could drag into August.”

Taylor averaged 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds last season.

FREE THROWS

Jabari Brown of the Oakland Soldiers picked up an offer from UConn, Alex Kline reports… Former St. Bonnie’s commit Elijah Carter of Paterson, NJ has picked up offers from Rutgers, Cincinnati, Richmond & Charlotte…Pa. guard Ryan Arcidiacono has added offers from Florida, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Ga Tech and BC. Kansas & UNC called.

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NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C.

Sitting courtside were Roy Williams (North Carolina), Bill Self (Kansas), Gary Williams (Maryland), Paul Hewitt (Georgia Tech), Ben Howland (UCLA), Fran McCaffery (Iowa), Craig Robinson (Oregon State), Tony Bennett (Virginia), Tony Barbee (Auburn), John Beilein (Michigan), Jeff Capel (Oklahoma), Kevin O’Neill (USC), Mike Montgomery (Cal) and Dana Altman (Oregon), among others.

“It’s pretty good,” said Nick Johnson, a senior guard with the Soldiers and Findlay (Nev.) Prep. “Just coming from LeBron [James Skills Academy], that was the big stage. All of them were there so I kind of got used to it. It takes some getting used to, but I think I’m used to it now.”

The Soldiers are sponsored by Drew Gooden and are one of the hottest AAU teams on the summer circuit.

When I asked one assistant coach who he was looking at, he joked, “The entire Solider starting 5.”

That would be the 6-3 Johnson, 6-3 guard Josiah Turner, 6-4 wing Jabari Brown and 6-9 bigs Kyle Wiltjer and Brandon Ashley (2012).

Those five combined to score 68 of Oakland’s points in an 83-66 rout of Alabama Challenge. Brown poured in 23 points, Turner had 17 and Johnson 15.

Johnson, a tremendous playmaker and defender, said he is considering Arizona,  Arizona State, St. John’s, UConn, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Louisville.

A Phoenix native whose mother still lives there, Johnson is seriously considering Arizona.

“U of A has definitely been on me the hardest,” he said.

He plans to cut his list later this summer.

“After this tournament, I’m going to narrow it down,” Johnson said.

Turner shot 6 of 8 from the field and was a perfect 5 of 5 from the line.

He listed Kansas, Wake Forest, UConn, Oregon and Arizona as the schools “coming the hardest.”

“There’s a lot of schools coming out hard now,” Turner said. “Duke called [Sunday] night. They said they need a guard to come in after Kyrie [Irving]. They think he’s going to be one-and-done so they’re trying to find a guard to come in.”

The 6-4 Brown was 7 of 13 from the field, hitting 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.

He listed UConn, Oregon State, Washington State, Washington, Kansas, Cal, Maryland, Wake Forest, Georgetown, Arizona State, Stanford and Georgia Tech.

“I’m still pretty open, trying to win this tournament and then after that sit down and think about it,” Brown said.

In the meantime, expect the army of college coaches to follow the Soldiers wherever they go.

“It’s definitely a good thing because we’re all trying to find the right school and go to a school where we can eventually go to the NBA after hopefully,” Brown said. “It’s fun playing in front of all these coaches against the best competition.”

(Photo courtesy Oakland Soldiers)

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Waiting for the NCAA to decide his fate.

A French native who is enrolled at Loomis (Calif.) Del Oro High, Barry cannot make his next move until he is cleared by the NCAA.

He is considering St. John’s, UCLA and Arizona State but cannot enroll until he hears from the NCAA.

“I’m waiting on the NCAA on everything,” the 6-foot-7 Barry said Thursday night by phone.

“Basically, there’s a lot of things they don’t know. They don’t know if I’m eligible. They’re trying to figure it out.”

Barry visited St. John’s in late June and said then he planned to decide within a week or so.

He said he still hasn’t decided.

“I don’t want to say anything,” he said.

Barry said his mentor, Chris Hendricks, knew more about the situation, but Hendricks was not immediately available.

Doc Haynes, Barry’s AAU coach with the YBA Dawgs, said Barry was just waiting.

“He’s just being patient right now trying to stay positive,” Haynes said. “We’re just waiting.”

Haynes said ESPN had reached out about doing a story on Barry, who has been deemed a potential future NBA player.

Told that St. John’s fans and others around the country were awaiting Barry’s decision, Haynes said, “I’m just as excited and just as anxious as the people there.”

(Photo courtesy YBA Dawgs)

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