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.
Recruiting Rundown: Keith Frazier Visiting SMU, Julius Randle on N.C. State, Jermaine Lawrence Still Undecided; Curington to DePaul (UPDATED)
Keith Frazier, a 6-foot-5 unsigned shooting guard out of Dallas Kimball, will visit SMU officially beginning Saturday.
SMU plays future Big East rival Houston on Saturday afternoon.
“He likes the coaching staff, it’s close to home and he would be able to make an impact right away,” Erven “Big E” Davis , Frazier’s mentor, told SNY.tv.
“He loves Coach [Larry] Brown and the team has a chance to be an [NCAA] Tournament team next year with the guys they have returning and the transfers who are sitting out.”
Frazier visited Texas two weeks ago and is also considering Texas Tech and Texas A&M, with Auburn showing interest.
As for the Texas visit, Davis said Frazier likes the “atmosphere and playing on the big stage.”
“He loved the players and especially [Myck] Kabongo. he has formed a good relationship with Coach [Chris] Ogden.”
Wherever he lands, Frazier could be a major contributor.
“The sky’s the limit,” Davis previously told SNY.tv. “He will be a dynamic player wherever he goes. He only gets better if he gets to the next level and his body gets stronger and he gets more and more knowledge about how to play the game.
“His athletic ability and talent is second to none. Whatever school he goes to they’re gonna get a kid that ‘s going to help the team get to the next level.”
RANDLE SAYS N.C. STATE VISIT WAS BEST YETFollowing his official to N.C. State last weekend, Julius Randle of Prestonwood (TX) Christian called it his “best visit so far.”
“All in all, I’d have to say that this was my best visit so far,” he wrote on his USA Today blog. “I had a ball at Kentucky, and yeah they had Drake and everything, but this visit just had a lot more going on.
“State definitely set the bar high on the visits.”
Randle will visit Texas Feb. 9 and Kansas Feb. 16.
He’s also considering Kentucky, Oklahoma and Florida, and will sign in the spring signing period beginning April 17.
“My next two visits are to Texas and Kansas, so I’m really looking forward to those,” he wrote. “Kansas will have College GameDay there too, so I know that will be crazy.”
LAWRENCE STILL IN LIMBOJermaine Lawrence has returned to the court at Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII after missing the first half of the season with a hand injury.
His birthday is Sunday but he is not expected to announce then.
“He’s not announcing Sunday as far as I know,” Pope John coach Jason Hasson told SNY.tv.
The Queens native is considering St. John’s, Cincinnati and UNLV and is expected to visit St. John’s one more time before announcing.
CURINGTON TO DEPAUL
Oak Hill (Va.) shooting guard R.J. Curington committed to DePaul Thursday night.
The 6–4 Indiana native also considered UAB, Creighton and Texas, with Michigan State coming in this week, Oak Hill coach Steve Smith told SNY.tv.
“My parents and I talked about everything recruiting wise and we looked more into the school and was intrigued by how close it was to where I live,” he told Chicago’s 247 site. “I called coach Oliver Purnell and told him around 7 PM and he was excited.”
Curington joins a recruiting class that includes point guard Billy Garrett and center Forrest Robinson.
“I will bring a winning mentality because my junior year at Oak Hill we won 44 games and lost zero,” he said. ” So I know what it takes to win games. I will bring 3 point shooting. I was awarded with the highest 3 point percentage on that team full of shooters like D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera and Jordan Adams. I will also bring a motor. I’m an energy guy and I will do whatever it takes to win. And last I’ll bring leadership. I pride myself in those skills.”
Said Smith: “R.J. is a big-time shooter with great 3-point range. He can score off the bounce and really rebounds his position.”
FREE THROWS
Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry is expected to watch 2013 PG Emmanuel Owootoah of Cordia (Ky.) High tonight (Friday)…Arkansas associate head coach Melvin Watkins watched 2014 SG Rashad Vaughn of Robbinsdale (MN) Cooper go for 28 points, 16 rebounds, 6 blocks and 4 steals this week…Tennessee and West Virginia are the latest schools to call with interest on 6-1 Christ the King shooting guard Jon Severe, coach Joe Arbitello told SNY.tv. Alabama, Rutgers, Duquesne and St. Bonaventure were previously involved, as I wrote here.
Photo: Rivals
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.
Keith Frazier, a 6-foot-5 unsigned shooting guard out of Dallas Kimball, will visit SMU officially beginning Saturday.
SMU plays future Big East rival Houston on Saturday afternoon.
“He likes the coaching staff, it’s close to home and he would be able to make an impact right away,” Erven “Big E” Davis , Frazier’s mentor, told SNY.tv.
“He loves Coach [Larry] Brown and the team has a chance to be an [NCAA] Tournament team next year with the guys they have returning and the transfers who are sitting out.”
Frazier visited Texas two weeks ago and is also considering Texas Tech and Texas A&M, with Auburn showing interest.
As for the Texas visit, Davis said Frazier likes the “atmosphere and playing on the big stage.”
“He loved the players and especially [Myck] Kabongo. he has formed a good relationship with Coach [Chris] Ogden.”
Wherever he lands, Frazier could be a major contributor.
“The sky’s the limit,” Davis previously told SNY.tv. “He will be a dynamic player wherever he goes. He only gets better if he gets to the next level and his body gets stronger and he gets more and more knowledge about how to play the game.
“His athletic ability and talent is second to none. Whatever school he goes to they’re gonna get a kid that ‘s going to help the team get to the next level.”
RANDLE SAYS N.C. STATE VISIT WAS BEST YET
Following his official to N.C. State last weekend, Julius Randle of Prestonwood (TX) Christian called it his “best visit so far.”
“All in all, I’d have to say that this was my best visit so far,” he wrote on his USA Today blog. “I had a ball at Kentucky, and yeah they had Drake and everything, but this visit just had a lot more going on.
“State definitely set the bar high on the visits.”
Randle will visit Texas Feb. 9 and Kansas Feb. 16.
He’s also considering Kentucky, Oklahoma and Florida, and will sign in the spring signing period beginning April 17.
“My next two visits are to Texas and Kansas, so I’m really looking forward to those,” he wrote. “Kansas will have College GameDay there too, so I know that will be crazy.”
LAWRENCE STILL IN LIMBO
Jermaine Lawrence has returned to the court at Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII after missing the first half of the season with a hand injury.
His birthday is Sunday but he is not expected to announce then.
“He’s not announcing Sunday as far as I know,” Pope John coach Jason Hasson told SNY.tv.
The Queens native is considering St. John’s, Cincinnati and UNLV and is expected to visit St. John’s one more time before announcing.
CURINGTON TO DEPAUL
Oak Hill (Va.) shooting guard R.J. Curington committed to DePaul Thursday night.
The 6–4 Indiana native also considered UAB, Creighton and Texas, with Michigan State coming in this week, Oak Hill coach Steve Smith told SNY.tv.
“My parents and I talked about everything recruiting wise and we looked more into the school and was intrigued by how close it was to where I live,” he told Chicago’s 247 site. “I called coach Oliver Purnell and told him around 7 PM and he was excited.”
Curington joins a recruiting class that includes point guard Billy Garrett and center Forrest Robinson.
“I will bring a winning mentality because my junior year at Oak Hill we won 44 games and lost zero,” he said. ” So I know what it takes to win games. I will bring 3 point shooting. I was awarded with the highest 3 point percentage on that team full of shooters like D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera and Jordan Adams. I will also bring a motor. I’m an energy guy and I will do whatever it takes to win. And last I’ll bring leadership. I pride myself in those skills.”
Said Smith: “R.J. is a big-time shooter with great 3-point range. He can score off the bounce and really rebounds his position.”
FREE THROWS
Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry is expected to watch 2013 PG Emmanuel Owootoah of Cordia (Ky.) High tonight (Friday)…Arkansas associate head coach Melvin Watkins watched 2014 SG Rashad Vaughn of Robbinsdale (MN) Cooper go for 28 points, 16 rebounds, 6 blocks and 4 steals this week…Tennessee and West Virginia are the latest schools to call with interest on 6-1 Christ the King shooting guard Jon Severe, coach Joe Arbitello told SNY.tv. Alabama, Rutgers, Duquesne and St. Bonaventure were previously involved, as I wrote here.
Photo: Rivals
