Maurice Aniefiok, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound combo guard originally from Nigeria, has begun a series of visits and hopes to decide on April 25.

Aniefiok leaves today for an official visit to James Madison that runs through Saturday. After that he will take officials to Ole Miss (April 14) and Duquesne (April 21).

Indiana has also offered and Rutgers just did as well.

“I just finished talking to the [assistant] coach of Indiana [Tim Buckley],” Aniefiok, a senior at Huntington (WV) Prep, said Thursday by phone.

“From what I see talking to the coach right now, he’s more than interested,” Aniefiok added. “He just watched us practice. He just was overwhelmed with the way I played. He was so overwhelmed with the way I played, he wants me to come visit. He’ll keep in touch. He said he’ll get back to me.”

Earlier in the day, Joe Boncore, Aniefiok’s mentor, said Rutgers associate head coach David Cox called Boncore.

“They offered him and I told him it’s late but he’s got one visit left [after the scheduled ones],” Boncore said. “He was going to Indiana but they got five kids in [in the Class of 2012] so he’s got one visit.”

Later, Aniefiok added of Rutgers: “He [Cox] said they want me to come visit so I told him to get with Coach Rob [Fulford] and fix something.”

Still, Ole Miss may be the favorite to land Aniefiok.

“I think Ole Miss has really been recruitng me a lot, higher than every other school,” Aniefiok said.

When asked which coaching was the lead recruiter, Aniefiok said, “[Andy] Kennedy himself.”

Aniefiok considers himself more of a combo guard and a scorer than a point guard.

“I’m combo player,” he said. “I can score, I can rebound, I can hustle, I can pass the ball, just everything from mid-range shots to 3-pointers. Tip it in, just dunk.

“A LeBron James, Dwyane Wade kind of game.”

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Due to NCAA transfer rules, the 6-foot-6, 200-pound Atlanta native can start practicing with the team in the upcoming semester and will be eligible to suit up for the Rebels next December.

“We are pleased to announce that Jelan Kendrick has joined our program,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. “Jelan is a very talented young man that was looking for an opportunity to start anew. His talent has never been questioned with versatility being his greatest strength. After visiting with him and his family, we are excited about his future as an Ole Miss Rebel.”

Kendrick signed with Memphis out of high school but left the team prior to playing a game. He was a McDonald’s and Parade All-American at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., following his 2009-10 senior season. He averaged 19.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists and helped Wheeler to the Sweet 16 of the Georgia state tournament. He played for Westlake High School in Atlanta as a junior and helped that team to the state semifinals.

He was a consensus top-15 recruit, ranked as the No. 8 player in the nation and the No. 2 small forward in the country by Rivals.com and the No. 15 player in the nation by Scout.com. Playing with the Memphis Magic Elite, he led his team to an AAU national championship.

Following his senior year of high school, he played in both the McDonald’s All-America game and the Jordan Brand Classic at Madison Square Garden. He will be the first McDonald’s All-American in Ole Miss Basketball history.

(Photo courtesy Memphis Commercial Appeal; press release courtesy Ole Miss)

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The 6-foot-5, 175-pound Madden out of Arkansas East Poinsett County is considering Baylor, Ole Miss and Arkansas, he said by text.

He cancelled planned visits to Oklahoma State and UConn.

“Really right now I’m liking Arkansas, Ole Miss and Baylor,” he said last week. “Those are the only schools I’ve been able to look at. I like Oklahoma State and UConn but I really haven’t seen them for myself.”

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He has already visited Ole Miss unofficially.

“Really right now I’m liking Arkansas, Ole Miss and Baylor,” the 6-foot-5, 175-pound Madden out of Arkansas East Poinsett County said by phone. “Those are the only schools I’ve been able to look at. I like Oklahoma State and UConn but I really haven’t seen them for myself.”

This past weekend, the No. 6 point guard in the Class of 2011 tripped to Arkansas.

“It was real good,” he said. “It was really exciting. They told me I can come in and be a point guard and just come in and play right away. And with the commitments they already have I’ll be a good fit for them.”

Wherever he lands, Madden figures to make an impact.

“I think I’ll be a point guard,” he said. “Ill get my teammates involved. My will to win is like no other. It’s one of the best. I will come in and play and win games.”

As for a timetable, Madden plans to take all five visits before deciding.

“Right now that’s my plan,” he said. “I’m going to take all five.”

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Edson Avila, a 6-10 center from Brooklyn Thomas Jefferson, has committed to Barry Rohrssen and Manhattan, choosing them over Hofstra and Quinnipiac. “He brings them size, strength and a big who can run the floor and finish,” Jefferson coach Lawrence Pollard said. “He also complements [6-6] Rhamel Brown [of Transit Tech who committed to Manhattan].” All Hallows guard Mike Alvarado also committed to Manhattan…Boston College has landed three players from the Los Angeles area: 6-11: K.C. Caudill, 6-8 Ryan Anderson and guard Lonnie Jackson, according to the LA Times….Jabari Brown said this past weekend’s official to Washington was “good.” UConn is up next this coming weekend…St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin has an in-home visit Tuesday night with D’Angelo Harrison. The 6-3, 190-pound shooting guard from Dulles (Texas) Fort Bend is also looking at Baylor, Marquette and Oklahoma State.

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Lawson is mulling Purdue, Seton Hall, West Virginia, Ole Miss and Maryland, according to his coach, Stan Kowalewski.

“I think everything’s even right now,” Kowalewski said of the schools. “We’re trying to work through the process and once he feels there’s something he loves he’ll pull the trigger.”

Lawson took his first official to Purdue and was still on campus as of Friday afternoon.

“It went well,” Kowalewski said. “It’s a great campus, great environment. They’re gonna be really good this year. The staff’s really good.”

The only other official set up at this point is to Ole Miss the weekend of Sept. 17.

Lawson also has several in-homes set:

Sept. 10 – Seton Hall

Sept. 14 – Purdue

Sept. 20 – West Virginia

As far as Seton Hall, former coach Bobby Gonzalez’s staff actually originally offered Lawson, and new coach Kevin Willard followed up.

“The former staff offered Jacob way back,” Kowalewski said. “He took an unofficial to Seton Hall [last February] and really liked the campus and facilities. He hasn’t had a chance to sit down in person with the new staff. But they immediately offered once they got the job. Kevin Willard is one of the younger, up-and-coming coaches in the country. He’s willing to sit down and go from there.”

Wherever Lawson lands, his coach thinks he can make a significant impact.

“I think he’s an impact kid,” he said. “He brings a tremendous amount of athleticism to the table. As he hones his skills, especially from the outside with the perimeter to go along with his ability to finish inside, he can make an immediate impact.

“It has to be a team that likes to go up and down and defend, that’s his game. He has to find the right fit. He can certainly help as a freshman.”

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