**[See the documentary on Cheek, “A Star Emerges from City Streets.”]
The Dominic Cheek Sweepstakes is about to end.
Ben Gamble, the associate head coach at St. Anthony in Jersey City, said the 6-foot-5 Cheek will make his announcement on Friday at 6 o’clock at the school gym.
“Dom will announce at St. Anthony on Dec. 12,” Gamble said.
Television coverage is still being worked out.
Cheek is down to Kansas, Memphis, Villanova, PIttsburgh and Rutgers and has taken official visits to all five schools.
“All the schools are still in there. Dom will make a decision this week,” Gamble said by phone Saturday. “It will be this week.”
Gamble said Cheek would consult with St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley, Gamble, his family and some former St. Anthony players.
“It’s pretty much Dominic himself,” Gamble said. “He’s gotten advice from myself and Coach Hurley and some other people who have gone through the recruiting process. Once in a while he’ll run into a former St. Anthony player who has been through the recruiting process.”
Cheek has former St. Anthony teammates at Kansas (Tyshawn Taylor), Pittsburgh (Travon Woodall) and Rutgers (Mike Rosario).
Kansas and Memphis played for the national championship last season and both teams need wing players. Villanova has long been a Cheek favorite and he is close with incoming freshman Maalik Wayns of Philly. Pitt also features assistant coach Brandin Knight, a New Jersey native from Seton Hall Prep. Rutgers is the local school and would enable him to play in front of friends and family.
“I think all the schools provide tremendous support for him. Development [will be a factor],” Gamble said. “Wherever he feels comfortable and we feel he has the chance to develop into a pretty good college player.”
Cheek did not sign in the early signing period last month and will wait until April to sign.
By committing soon, he will avoid having to answer questions through his senior season, as St. Anthony seeks to defend its Tournament of Champions title. The Friars open their season Dec. 19 against CREATE Charter.
“It’s best that he does it before the season starts,” Gamble said.
“Whenever’s the right time, that’s when I’ll decide,” Cheek told me recently.
“I guess a lot of people will be asking a lot of questions, but whenever is the right time it will happen.”
