Harris Visits Rutgers; Famous to Check Out Missouri; Ryan Kelly, UConn, Pitt

Tobias Harris attended the North Carolina-Rutgers football game Thursday night, and while the Scarlet Knights were blown out 44-12 on ESPN, Harris continues to think highly of the basketball team.

“Tobias had a great time at the Rutgers football game even though the outcome was lopsided,” Torrel Harris, Tobias’ dad, wrote in an email. “He had a great meeting with head coach Fred Hill and assistant Craig Carter reviewing game tape and showing Tobias how his style of play fits their system. Tobias came away very impressed with the vision that Coach Hill has set for the Rutgers’ men’s program and how Tobias would be a very important player for his program. Tobias has great respect for Coach Hill.”

Torrel said Rutgers was the first to offer Tobias a ship, when he was 13.

“Rutgers saw the talent in Tobias at 13. They were the first Division I program to offer a scholarship. UConn was second and Indiana was third with Kelvin Sampson. Tobias toured the school with Patrick Jackson. He watched the players work out and play a pickup game. The coaching staff was at the first workout at Tobias’ new high school (Long Island Lutheran) last Wednesday. Tobias also likes that Rutgers has a good business school.”

Harris previously cut his list of potential schools to 10: Louisville, Syracuse, Rutgers, Georgetown, Virginia, Maryland, Marquette, West Virginia, Wake Forest and USC. But he later added UConn after a visit last weekend.

Harris is the No. 9 power forward in the Class of 2010 and has numerous scholarship offers. Rutgers has made him a prime target for the Class of 2010.

A year ago, he scored 52 points in one game for Dix Hills (NY) Half Hollow Hills West and scored his 1,000th career point as a sophomore. He recently announced his transfer to Long Island Lutheran.

In other Rutgers news, the Scarlet Knights will hold a MidKnight Madness at 10 p.m. on Oct. 17 at The Barn.

FAMOUS SETTING VISITS

Westchester Community College 7-footer Jarrid Famous will take an official visit to Missouri, and could add one to West Virgina.

“Jarrid plans to visit Missouri after a great visit with Coach (Mike) Anderson and Coach (Melvin) Watkins. The date is not yet set,” WCC associate head coach Dave Vandiver said.

Read more about Famous here.

UCONN PURSUING CHEEK, SCOTT

As reported here earlier, UConn head coach Jim Calhoun and assistant Andre LaFleur visited Rice last week to put the fullcourt press on Rice senior guard Durand Scott (pictured), who has yet to narrow his list down. The Norwich Bulletin reports that UConn coaches will continue to monitor both Scott and St. Anthony senior wing Dominic Cheek, as well as 6-10 senior Daniel Orton. Next up for Cheek is an in-home visit Monday with Kansas head coach Bill Self and assistant Joe Dooley. Villanova is also coming Sept. 23, and Memphis is also finding a date.

KELLY VISITS WITH DUKE

Duke had its in-home visit Thursday with 6-9 big man Ryan Kelly of Ravenscroft (NC) High and some believe Duke and Notre Dame are in the lead with Vanderbilt the darkhorse.

Even though Duke has 6-10 Mason Plumlee coming in next year, the Duke staff Views Kelly as a perimeter big man.

“The plan is hopefully to make a decision before the season starts,” Kelly said. “I’ve been to all these places before, I just want to get that final 48 hours and make an educated decision.”

Avery Bradley, one of the top ’09 shooting guards, was set to visit Texas this weekend and rumor has it he was going to verbal. Now Hurricane Ike may have changed his plans. If he does commit, it may knock Texas out of the Kenny Boynton Sweepstakes.

PITT TO LAND DRONEY?