Rutgers and St. John’s remain in hot pursuit of Naz Reid, the 6-foot-11 Class of 2018 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic big man.
Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell used his day off on Wednesday to scout Reid, while St. John’s assistant Matt Abdelmassih was also there.
Kentucky is also recruiting Reid but has yet to offer. The Wildcats play Hofstra on Sunday at Barclays Center, although Reid is not expected to attend. Louis King, a 6-8 small forward from Hudson Catholic who is Reid’s Sports U teammate, is expected to attend to watch Kentucky.
Reid holds offers from a slew of high-majors, including Kansas, Syracuse, UConn, Rutgers and St. John’s, but says he’s not yet focused on his recruitment.
“I actually still don’t even know when I would make that decision,’’ he told the Asbury Park Press. “For now, I just have to try to focus on what’s happening on the court. I probably don’t look at that stuff as much as a lot of other people do.
“I do read some of the stuff that’s out there, but I try not to do it that often. I just try to go out and play to my ability.’’
Along with The Patrick School, which is loaded with five Division 1-bound seniors, Reid and Roselle Catholic will be among the favorites to win the New Jersey Tournament of Champions this season. To contend, the Lions need Reid to take a step forward as a leader and a player.
“He’s got more back-to-the-basket post moves than he had last year, and he has a little pull-up jump shot now,’’ RC coach Dave Boff told the Park Press. “Now hopefully he’ll be able to score at all three levels: In the post; at three-point range; and in the mid-range.
“He’s starting to really understand that he has to use his perimeter skills and his post skills together. Whereas in the past he relied very heavily on his perimeter game. Naz has a very good basketball IQ. So you just have to explain to him the advantages he has base on his size, and we just want him to understand what he can do.’’
SYRACUSE OFFERS JAHVON QUINERLY
Syracuse is the latest to offer Jahvon Quinerly, the 6-1 Class of 2018 point guard from Hudson Catholic and Sports U.
Quinerly also holds offers from Arizona, Maryland, Ohio State, UConn, Virginia and many others.
MARYLAND TO HOST TRIO
Maryland on Saturday will host a trio of young stars from Archbishop Molloy High School.
Moses Brown, a 7-foot-1 junior, 6-6 junior wing Khalid Moore and 6-2 sophomore point guard Cole Anthony will all attend the St. Peter’s-Maryland game. Anthony is the son of former NBA point guard Greg Anthony.
Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, Kansas and St. John’s are among the other schools involved for Brown and/or Anthony.
JALEN CAREY TO ATTEND VILLANOVA-NOTRE DAME
Jalen Carey, the 6-3 sophomore point guard from Montclair (N.J.) Immaculate Conception, will attend Saturday’s Notre Dame-Villanova game at Prudential Center.
Both schools are among those recruiting him.
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