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.
Moses Abraham has only been in this country for three months since arriving from Nigeria the day before Thanksgiving, but he’s already in very high demand.
A 6-foot-9, 237-pound power forward with a 7-3 wingspan, Abraham plays for Temple Hills (Md.) Progressive Christian. His advisor, Joe Boncore, said Abraham is in the Class of 2011 but will go to school in the fall of 2010 after picking a school in two weeks.
“He’s going to make his decision the first week of March. He’s got about six schools that’s he’s narrowed his list down to,” Boncore said by phone.
Boncore listed Georgetown, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Maryland and Seton Hall as the top seven.
Numerous other schools have offered, including Texas, UConn, UCLA, Rutgers and Kansas State.
Boncore said Abraham had just taken the SAT this past weekend and was awaiting his results.
Boncore said several coaches were expected to visit Progressive Christian in the next couple of days, including Bruce Pearl of Tennessee and Bobby Gonzalez of Seton Hall.
Abraham will be in Knoxville, Tenn. for Saturday’s Kentucky-Tennessee game (noon, CBS). He also visited Maryland and Georgetown, which are close to Progressive Christian.
He was to visit Indiana Thursday night for the Wisconsin game, but cannot make it because Progressive Christian has a game, Boncore said.
At this point, Boncore conceded that Georgetown may hold a slight advantage over the other schools.
“Georgetown has gone beyond what I would expect,” Boncore said.
Boncore said John Thompson Sr. often comes by on his own.
“Coach Thompson Sr. made it a point to come see a lot of Moses’ games. That’s made a big impression. He’s just a big basketball fan. He really likes Moses because the way Moses plays reminds him of Patrick [Ewing], defense, intimidation, clogging up the middle,” Boncore said.
Georgetown coach John Thompson III also visits with his brother, Ronny.
“They’ll play a game on CBS and all of a sudden the whole family’s here a couple hours later. Ronny Thompson. They bring the whole family. They really seem like they want to take care of him,” Boncore said.
As for Seton Hall, Boncore said he knows Abraham would get immediate playing time there.
“I know Seton Hall’s losing some guys,” Boncore said. “I’d like to send him somewhere that’s gonna help him out.”
Whoever lands Abraham could get a two-for-one situation because Boncore might send 6-9, 237-pound Gabriel Williams to follow Abraham next year. Williams, who is in the Class of 2011, is on his way from Nigeria.
“He’s on his way here. This kid is the same size as Moses and they grew up in the same town. I”d like to keep them together. They’d be quite an imposing front line,” Boncore said.
Boncore also coaches Jordan Goodman, a 6-9 sophomore shooting guard whom he called “the next Michael Beasley.”
Georgetown, Kentucky, Kansas State and UCLA are among the schools that are already on his radar.
Boncore has another player, 6-7 sophomore guard Daddy Echebo, who he says is “going to be better than all of them.”
“He’s going to Kentucky or Maryland,” Boncore said.
While Goodman’s decision is a ways off, Abraham’s is imminent.
“We’re going to sit down after next week and decide where we’re gonna go,” Boncore said.
FOR MORE RECRUITING NEWS ON SETON HALL & OTHERS:
**Read about 6-10 Maurice Walker of Brewster Academy.
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter.
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.
Moses Abraham has only been in this country for three months since arriving from Nigeria the day before Thanksgiving, but he’s already in very high demand.
A 6-foot-9, 237-pound power forward with a 7-3 wingspan, Abraham plays for Temple Hills (Md.) Progressive Christian. His advisor, Joe Boncore, said Abraham is in the Class of 2011 but will go to school in the fall of 2010 after picking a school in two weeks.
“He’s going to make his decision the first week of March. He’s got about six schools that’s he’s narrowed his list down to,” Boncore said by phone.
Boncore listed Georgetown, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Maryland and Seton Hall as the top seven.
Numerous other schools have offered, including Texas, UConn, UCLA, Rutgers and Kansas State.
Boncore said Abraham had just taken the SAT this past weekend and was awaiting his results.
Boncore said several coaches were expected to visit Progressive Christian in the next couple of days, including Bruce Pearl of Tennessee and Bobby Gonzalez of Seton Hall.
Abraham will be in Knoxville, Tenn. for Saturday’s Kentucky-Tennessee game (noon, CBS). He also visited Maryland and Georgetown, which are close to Progressive Christian.
He was to visit Indiana Thursday night for the Wisconsin game, but cannot make it because Progressive Christian has a game, Boncore said.
At this point, Boncore conceded that Georgetown may hold a slight advantage over the other schools.
“Georgetown has gone beyond what I would expect,” Boncore said.
Boncore said John Thompson Sr. often comes by on his own.
“Coach Thompson Sr. made it a point to come see a lot of Moses’ games. That’s made a big impression. He’s just a big basketball fan. He really likes Moses because the way Moses plays reminds him of Patrick [Ewing], defense, intimidation, clogging up the middle,” Boncore said.
Georgetown coach John Thompson III also visits with his brother, Ronny.
“They’ll play a game on CBS and all of a sudden the whole family’s here a couple hours later. Ronny Thompson. They bring the whole family. They really seem like they want to take care of him,” Boncore said.
As for Seton Hall, Boncore said he knows Abraham would get immediate playing time there.
“I know Seton Hall’s losing some guys,” Boncore said. “I’d like to send him somewhere that’s gonna help him out.”
Whoever lands Abraham could get a two-for-one situation because Boncore might send 6-9, 237-pound Gabriel Williams to follow Abraham next year. Williams, who is in the Class of 2011, is on his way from Nigeria.
“He’s on his way here. This kid is the same size as Moses and they grew up in the same town. I”d like to keep them together. They’d be quite an imposing front line,” Boncore said.
Boncore also coaches Jordan Goodman, a 6-9 sophomore shooting guard whom he called “the next Michael Beasley.”
Georgetown, Kentucky, Kansas State and UCLA are among the schools that are already on his radar.
Boncore has another player, 6-7 sophomore guard Daddy Echebo, who he says is “going to be better than all of them.”
“He’s going to Kentucky or Maryland,” Boncore said.
While Goodman’s decision is a ways off, Abraham’s is imminent.
“We’re going to sit down after next week and decide where we’re gonna go,” Boncore said.
FOR MORE RECRUITING NEWS ON SETON HALL & OTHERS:
**Read about 6-10 Maurice Walker of Brewster Academy.
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter.
