The recruiting process is heating up for Christ the King senior shooting guard Jon Severe.
Alabama, Rutgers, Duquesne and St. Bonaventure are working the hardest for the 6-foot-1 Severe, who is averaging 22.7 points and was recently nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game, head coach Joe Arbitello told SNY.tv.
Alabama head coach Anthony Grant and assistant John Brannen saw Severe go for 14 points and seven assists Sunday in a 71-51 win over Xaverian.
“They like him,” Arbitello said. “Jon didn’t have his best scoring game, but he did a lot of other things. They said that he’s somebody that they need, a guy that can get his shots a bunch of different ways.
“They said, ‘We love him and we want him. We want him to come visit right after the season, and take his last visit to Alabama.'”
Rutgers head coach Mike Rice saw the epic Christ the King-Bishop Loughlin game Friday night in which Severe had 18 points in a 73-72 win. (Video highlights here.)
“Mike Rice spoke to me after the game and said they want him in the worst way,” Arbitello said. “They would do whatever it takes to get him.”
Rutgers just landed former St. Raymond’s of The Bronx point guard Shane Rector of South Kent (Conn.) and is now looking to add a second New York City guard in the Class of 2013 to back up guards Myles Mack, Eli Carter and Jerome Seagears.
Duquesne coach Jim Ferry, the former LIU coach, and a George Washington assistant were also on hand Sunday.
They have offered, as has St. Bonaventure, Arbitello said.
Fordham coach Tom Pecora was there Sunday, but Arbitello said he wasn’t sure if it was for Severe.
On top of all that, Florida State assistant Dennis Gates saw the Loughlin game, which also featured 6-3 Khadeen Carrington, being recruited by St. John’s, UConn and others.
“I think he can step in to Duquesne and GW and help them immediately,” Arbitello said of Severe. “They told me he could step in right away and play, probably start as a freshman.
“I think at Alabama it may take a year or two.”
As for a timetable, on a decision, Arbitello said, “I think he’s going to decide after the season.”
