Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Kevin Parrom committed to Xavier Saturday, choosing that school over St. John’s.
“I committed to Xavier today,” the 6-foot-6, 195-pound Parrom, a senior shooting guard/small forward at South Kent (Conn.), said Saturday by phone from Xavier where he is on an official visit with Chris Braswell. “I like the coaching staff and the players. They’re going to the (NCAA) tournament every year. They just win, that’s what I like.”
Asked what he could contribute to Sean Miller’s club, Parrom said: “I think I can contribute energy to the team. I’m a scorer and I can bring more fire and versatility to the team.”
“He can be a terrific player,” recruiting analyst Tom Konchalski said of Parrom. “I don’t think he’ll ever be a primary scorer, but his strong suit is his versatility. He’s a terrific offensive rebounder. He can pass the ball, he can handle the ball. He’ll hit an occasion moonball three, but he’s not a consistent perimeter threat. He does so many things. He has so many little wins. He’s an all-court player, he can can handle the ball, he can pass, he can rebound.
“I think he’s a good fit for Xavier. It’s a good get for them.”
Parrom, who transferred from St. Raymond’s in the Bronx after last season, also considered St. John’s — where his close friend and teammateOmari Lawrence committed last month — South Carolina, Providence and other schools, but Xavier has long been in the running, partially because of Parrom’s relationship with assistant Book Richardson, the former head of the Gauchos AAU program.
“Their academic advisor (Sister Rose Ann Fleming) has graduated every player that she’s had so I’ll definitely get a degree at Xavier, so that’s a plus,” Parrom said. “It’s a good environment. It’s good fit for me.”
Xavier has one ship left for ’09 and is looking for a versatile, face-up four-man such as Braswell or Ari Stewart of Marietta (Ga.) High.
As for St. John’s, look for Norm Roberts now to focus on 6-7 Tevin Baskin of Stamford (Conn.) Trinity Catholic and and 6-7 Jordan Williams of Torrington (Conn.) High.
FRANKLIN TO OKLAHOMA STATERoger Franklin, a 6-foot-6 small forward from Duncanville (Texas) High, committed to Oklahoma State on Friday, according to Justin Young of Rivals.
“He felt like it was the best fit. He said he’s going to love playing for coach Ford,” Andre Johnson, Franklin’s uncle, told Young. “Roger is ready to be a Cowboy.”
Franklin was scheduled to visit UCLA, Arizona, Michigan State and Oklahoma but after an in-home with OSU head coach Travis Ford, it was a done deal.
“On the first open day, [Ford and assistants Butch Pierre and Chris Ferguson] told me that they wanted me, they told me that they needed me, and they said that I would be a great fit here,” Franklin told Jay Fielder of OStateIllustrated.com on Friday night.
Franklin joins an impressive ’09 recruiting class that includes point guard Raymond Penn, point guard Fred Gulley and Torin Walker.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Kevin Parrom committed to Xavier Saturday, choosing that school over St. John’s.
“I committed to Xavier today,” the 6-foot-6, 195-pound Parrom, a senior shooting guard/small forward at South Kent (Conn.), said Saturday by phone from Xavier where he is on an official visit with Chris Braswell. “I like the coaching staff and the players. They’re going to the (NCAA) tournament every year. They just win, that’s what I like.”
Asked what he could contribute to Sean Miller’s club, Parrom said: “I think I can contribute energy to the team. I’m a scorer and I can bring more fire and versatility to the team.”
“He can be a terrific player,” recruiting analyst Tom Konchalski said of Parrom. “I don’t think he’ll ever be a primary scorer, but his strong suit is his versatility. He’s a terrific offensive rebounder. He can pass the ball, he can handle the ball. He’ll hit an occasion moonball three, but he’s not a consistent perimeter threat. He does so many things. He has so many little wins. He’s an all-court player, he can can handle the ball, he can pass, he can rebound.
“I think he’s a good fit for Xavier. It’s a good get for them.”
Parrom, who transferred from St. Raymond’s in the Bronx after last season, also considered St. John’s — where his close friend and teammate Omari Lawrence committed last month — South Carolina, Providence and other schools, but Xavier has long been in the running, partially because of Parrom’s relationship with assistant Book Richardson, the former head of the Gauchos AAU program.
“Their academic advisor (Sister Rose Ann Fleming) has graduated every player that she’s had so I’ll definitely get a degree at Xavier, so that’s a plus,” Parrom said. “It’s a good environment. It’s good fit for me.”
Xavier has one ship left for ’09 and is looking for a versatile, face-up four-man such as Braswell or Ari Stewart of Marietta (Ga.) High.
As for St. John’s, look for Norm Roberts now to focus on 6-7 Tevin Baskin of Stamford (Conn.) Trinity Catholic and and 6-7 Jordan Williams of Torrington (Conn.) High.
FRANKLIN TO OKLAHOMA STATE
Roger Franklin, a 6-foot-6 small forward from Duncanville (Texas) High, committed to Oklahoma State on Friday, according to Justin Young of Rivals.
“He felt like it was the best fit. He said he’s going to love playing for coach Ford,” Andre Johnson, Franklin’s uncle, told Young. “Roger is ready to be a Cowboy.”
Franklin was scheduled to visit UCLA, Arizona, Michigan State and Oklahoma but after an in-home with OSU head coach Travis Ford, it was a done deal.
“On the first open day, [Ford and assistants Butch Pierre and Chris Ferguson] told me that they wanted me, they told me that they needed me, and they said that I would be a great fit here,” Franklin told Jay Fielder of OStateIllustrated.com on Friday night.
Franklin joins an impressive ’09 recruiting class that includes point guard Raymond Penn, point guard Fred Gulley and Torin Walker.
