The 6-foot-4 Cousins chose the Sooners over Virginia Tech, UConn, Dayton and Xavier, Cimmino said.

“Isaiah is a 6-4 point guard who attacks the rim, hits the 3 and is a gym rat,” Cimmino said. “He never takes a play off and has elevated his game tremendously in the last year.”

The list of players to come out of “Money Earnin’ Mount Vernon” in recent years includes Ben Gordon of the Detroit Pistons, former Rutgers players Mike Coburn and Jonathan Mitchell, George Mason’s Sherrod Wright and West Virginia’s Kevin Jones and Jabarie Hinds.

Cousins led Mount Vernon to its seventh straight Section 1 title and was named First-Team Tri-County by the Westchester County Coaches Association.

He had 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, five steals and two blocks March 19 when Mount Vernon won the Class AA state championship game at the Civic Center in Albany.

Cousins then scored 13 points when the Knights (23-3) lost to Brooklyn Boys & Girls in the New York State Federation Class AA Tournament of Champions.

Photo: Lohud

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The 6-foot-1 Newell, from Philadelphia, was OU’s second-leading scorer this season at 13.0 points per game.

“I met with Coach [Lon] Kruger this morning and told him I’ve been dealing with issues regarding my family the past few months and that I’ve felt distracted lately,” said Newell. “I feel I need to get back closer to home and that’s why I’ve made this decision.”

Newell added, “I like this team a lot and I know they’ll do well. I’ll be cheering them on.”

“We’ll definitely miss Calvin,” said Kruger. “He’s been a key contributor this season and a guy who’s scored the basketball for us. However, I respect his decision and the issues he’s facing, and certainly wish him the best.”

Newell averaged 1.6 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per contest in OU’s five games this season, helping the team to a 4-1 start.

Newell led the Sooners in scoring twice this year, finishing with a career-high 19 points in the season opener against Idaho State and 18 points in last week’s win over Washington State in OU’s first game of the 76 Classic.

As a freshman last year, Newell averaged 3.5 points and 1.5 assists in 12.5 minutes a game.

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Haith, 45, replaces Mike Anderson, who departed last month to take the Arkansas job.

As of late Sunday night, Haith had not informed his staff of his decision to move to the Big 12 from the ACC.

Haith went 129-101 in seven seasons at Miami, 43-69 in the ACC.

A Queens, N.Y. native, Haith is a former Big 12 assistant under Rick Barnes at Texas.

One name likely to surface as a potential replacement at Miami is Kansas State coach Frank Martin.

The 44-year old Martin is a Miami native who earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Florida International in 1993.

PETERS DECOMMITS FROM OU

By ALEX KLINE

When Oklahoma decided to part ways with head coach Jeff Capel, a number of people were surprised, including the recruits.

Last week, Lon Kruger left the UNLV Rebels to take the vacant spot in Norman.

On Sunday night, 2012 Oklahoma commit Richard Peters decided it was time to part ways. At first, Peters was optimistic about the addition of Kruger, but soon realized it wasn’t the right fit.

“I’m just letting you know I’m decommitting from OU and re-opening my recruitment,” Peters said in an email. ”It was a hard decision but this is what’s best for me. I’ll still be keeping tabs on OU.”

A 6-foot-10 center out of Westwind Prep in Arizona, Peters is highly touted for being a big inside presence. A native of Canada, he is currently back home preparing for the AAU season with Team Takeover Canada.

Team Takeover has their first tournament this weekend at Boo Williams in Virginia and Peters’ recruitment is sure to be a hot topic. “I want to go into AAU season a free man and start to rack in new offers and interest.”

The big man had offers from UConn, Louisville, Miami, Florida State and Georgia before choosing the Sooners. He also has one school who stands out the most to him.

“I have no true favorites at the moment but Washington is high on the list,” he stated. ”As for now, my favorite is still going to be Oklahoma. I just wanted to open up my recruitment because of the coaching change and not close the door on other options. I just got off the phone with the new assistant, Ben Betts, minutes ago and the love is strong.”

Peters says his tie to Washington is due to a relationship build with assistant coach Raphael Chillious. The two have known each other since the Westwind product was 16-years old and playing in the Jordan Brand Classic International game. Chillious was on the coaching staff for his team.

While the situation may not seem like the best at the moment, Peters seems optimistic about his future.

“It is what it is,” he said. ”Things take a bad turn sometimes.”

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HOUSTON

“I have lived in a lot of places, but I was raised in middle America and that has always been home for me,” Kruger, who also was head coach of the Atlanta Hawks for three seasons, said in a statement. “We never knew if the opportunity would present itself to get back there, but it did in this case, and it came at a great university.”

Oklahoma President David L. Boren said that Kruger was the best candidate for the position. He replaces Jeff Capel, who was fired last month.

“Lon Kruger is the best choice for the University of Oklahoma,” he said. “He has outstanding coaching ability and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. He will provide strong leadership to our program.

“In addition, he and his wife, Barbara, have a long record of service to the larger community. They will be tremendous additions to our campus and the state of Oklahoma.”

Kruger, 58, just completed his seventh season at UNLV where he compiled a record of 161-71.

He took the Runnin’ Rebels to the NCAA Tournament in four of the last five seasons after the program appeared in only two of the previous 15 tournaments, and also achieved UNLV’s first national ranking since 1992-93. Over the past five seasons, Kruger’s teams have posted a .743 winning percentage (127-44) and have averaged 25.4 wins. His 2006-07 squad won 30 games and advanced to the Sweet 16.

Kruger’s overall college mark is 479-304 with 16 post-season appearances in 25 years.

(OU Athletics contributed; Photo courtesy OU)

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Oklahoma fired Capel Monday.

“After careful consideration, it has been determined that our men’s basketball program would be best served by a change of direction,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said.  “Therefore, we are making a change in the head coaching position.  Jeff Capel has worked diligently on our behalf, and for that we are appreciative.  He has many outstanding qualities and we wish him success as he moves forward.

“As we look to the future, we do so with a great university, a proud tradition in basketball, continued commitment to excellence in all areas and some of the country’s finest facilities.  We expect that those qualities will play an important role in our search for a new coach.  We’re ready to embark on that process.”

OU President David L. Boren thanked Capel for his contributions.

“The decision that has been reached is in the best interest of both Coach Capel and the basketball program.  I appreciate Jeff’s hard work and commitment as head coach and wish him well in the future,” he said.

The Sooners finished 14-18 this season, marking the program’s first back-to-back losing seasons in 44 years. They went 13-18 a year ago.

Last year, Oklahoma was ensnared in a controversy surrounding big man Tiny Gallon, who reportedly received $3,000 from a financial adviser.

Capel replaced Kelvin Sampson in 2006 and posted a 94-61 record over five seasons. He guided Oklahoma to two NCAA Tournament berths, with an Elite Eight appearance in 2008-09.

Seth Davis of SI first reported the news.

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Perry Ellis,

The 6-foot-8, 224-pound Ellis is considering Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Memphis, Wichita State and Oklahoma.

Numerous other schools have also offered, including Texas A&M, Wake Forest, Iowa, Stanford, Wichita State, Georgetown and UCLA.

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Perry Ellis,

“He is looking to trim his list for Christmas,” she said by text.

The 6-foot-8, 224-pound Perry is currently considering Memphis, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas A&M, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Iowa, Stanford and Wichita State.

“Georgetown and UCLA are just getting involved,” Fonda said.

UCLA came to watch him practice Monday night in advance of Thursday’s game at Kansas.

Kansas (Friday), Kansas State (Tuesday) and Oklahoma (Tuesday) are also expected in soon.

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“He’s trying to narrow it down to 5 or 7 by the time the season starts,” she said Saturday by phone.

The 6-foot-8, 224-pound Perry said his list currently includes Memphis, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas A&M, North Carolina and Wichita State.

Iowa and Wake Forest have also offered and his mother said Georgetown, UCLA, Miami and Stanford are also interested.

North Carolina assistant Jerod Haase called last night (Friday) and speaks with the family once a month, Fonda said.

“They haven’t offered him yet,” Fonda said. “They call once a month. He told me that Roy [Williams] was coming to his first or second game in December. It’s nice to know that Coach Williams wants to come to Wichita and watch him play.”

Ellis has already taken unofficials to Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Memphis for Midnight Madness.

“We had a great time there,” Fonda said of Memphis.

Next up is a visit to Kentucky for the season opener Nov. 12.

“We’re going to go to Kentucky for the first game,” she said.

Texas A&M and Stanford both want him to visit as well, but Fonda said, “We just haven’t been able to make it everywhere yet.”

As for a time-frame on a decision, she added: “He’s not in any rush to make a decision. He’s still just a junior.”

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Quincy Miller

The 6-foot-9 1/2, 190-pound Miller, the No. 1 power forward in the Class of 2011, now has a top four schools.

“I narrowed it down to four — Baylor, Duke, Louisville and Oklahoma,” Miller said Wednesday by phone.

Asked if he had any favorites, Miller replied: “Baylor and Louisville are slightly in the lead and Duke is right behind and then Oklahoma.”

Miller has already visited Louisville and was slated to trip to Oklahoma this coming weekend but has to take the SAT instead.

“I have to take the SAT this weekend,” he said.

Next up then will be an official to Duke Oct. 15. That same weekend, Duke commit Austin Rivers of Florida and Oak Hill point guard Quinn Cook also visit Duke.

Asked if he could envision himself playing with those two, Miller said, “Most definitely.

“I played with Austin in the in USA games [U18 national team] and I played with Quinn during adidas nations. Both are great players and I love playing with them.”

As for the Baylor visit, Miller had a great time with Bello, his High Point (N.C.) Westchester Country Day teammate.

“The Baylor visit went real well,” Miller said. “That was my best visit thusfar. They’re like a family and I’m really interested in that.”

The 6-3 Bello also enjoyed the trip.

“It was good,” Bello said. “It was a good experience meeting Coach [Scott] Drew and all those guys.

“They said we’d fit in real well by the way they get up and down the floor. They’re recruiting us as two different players but we would both fit in great.”

Next up for Bello is a trip to Florida State Oct. 15.

“I have Florida State,” he said.

Asked about any favorites, Bello said there were none.

“It’s still early,” he said. “I don’t have any favorites.”

(photo courtesy nationofblue.com)

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“Oklahoma has offered,” Brewster coach Jason Smith said. “Coach [Jeff] Capel will be here today [Monday]. Kansas is involved and Coach [Bill] Self] will be here on Thursday. UCLA and Villanova have been in contact, too. St. John’s is still a school Naadir is interested in.”

N.C. State has also offered.

Tharpe has only visited Minnesota, but both Oklahoma and Kansas want him to trip there.

“Nothing has been set up,” Smith said. “However, both have asked about him taking an official.”

SLEDGE TO IOWA STATE

Tavon Sledge, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound point guard from Dix Hills (NY) Half Hollow Hills West, verbally committed to Iowa State, choosing them over St. John’s and UTEP.

A jet-quick floor leader, Sledge averaged 18.3 points and 11.1 assists last season.

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