Tracking the College Basketball Stars of the Future=====

ECU & C-USA Hoops Recruiting Report Saturday, April 26, 2003 By Thad Mumau Special Correspondent

Uncertainty surrounds Hutchinson guard's leanings

Marquette nabs wing; Plot thickens in U of L, Cincy recruiting efforts

©2003 Bonesville.net

Josh Gonner visited Greenville Easter weekend, but there is no indication where East Carolina ranks on his list of prospective colleges.

The 6-2 wing guard from Hutchinson (KS) Community College has also visited Southeastern Missouri State this spring after taking a trip to the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee back in the fall.

Gonner also will make an official visit to South Carolina, and there could be a fifth trip.

"There are several other options," Hutchinson coach Chad Wintz said, "but I would rather not divulge them at this time.

"As far as Josh’s visit to East Carolina goes, I don’t know anything about it. I only know that he will take his time to make a decision. He isn’t in any hurry."

The spring signing period, which began April 16, ends May 15. That is the time for signing letters of intent that are binding. High school and junior college athletes may sign after that time up until the start of school next fall, but those letters are not binding.

There are reports that Gonner is a point guard, but they are inaccurate, according to his coach.

"He never played one possession at point guard in two years with us," Wintz said. "In my opinion, Josh will play strictly two guard in college as well.

"The thing about him is that he is very solid and versatile. Josh is very athletic and does a lot of things well. He is a well rounded player who can score, handle the ball some, rebound pretty well for his size and play good defense.

"He defends exceptionally well," Wintz said. "We play man-to-man all the time, and he is a tough defender. I think he is pretty solid. He doesn’t have too many flaws. He is a good shooter and goes to the basket.

"Josh would be an asset to any program."

Gonner averaged more than 19 points per game for Hutchinson, which finished 24-8. He was third in steals in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference with 2.59 per contest, and third in free throw shooting, sinking 82.3 percent. He hit over 30 percent of his three-point attempts.

A two-year starter, he averaged almost 11 points per game as a freshman. He played his high school basketball at Fort Worth (TX) Paschal.

Louisville, which appeared to have a big man on board in the fall, is still looking.

The Cardinals got a commitment from 6-10, 300-pound James Lang, but not a signature. And, although he continues to include Louisville among his favorites, Rick Pitino and his staff are expanding their field.
Mohamed Abukar, a 6-10 power forward from San Diego (CA) Rancho Bernardo, includes Louisville in his favorite three schools with Florida and Kentucky.

The Wildcats may be scratched, however, since they have received a commitment from 7-2 Shagari Alleyne. The center from Manhattan (NY) Rice had committed to Rutgers, but changed his mind and decided to sign with Kentucky instead.

Abukar signed with Georgia in November, but requested and was given a release from his letter of intent after the mess involving former Bulldogs coach Jim Harrick and his son.

As for Lang, he is also considering Alabama, Alabama-Birmingham, Liberty and even a direct route to the NBA. He is ranked the No. 16 senior in the country by Prepstars.com.

Marquette has signed its fourth member of the 2003 class. He’s Carlton Christian, a 6-3 small forward/wing guard who averaged 22 points per game at Orlando (FL) Evans High.

Christian had previously committed to Central Florida.

The Golden Eagles, Final Four participants last season, signed point guard Brandon Bell, 6-4 shooting guard Dameon Mason and 6-6 power forward James Matthews in the fall.

Cincinnati shares the favorite’s role with Florida State for 6-8 power forward Alexander Johnson, but both must survive a push by Connecticut.

Johnson, a fifth-year senior at North Bridgton (ME) Bridgton Academy, is visiting UConn this weekend. He is ranked No. 41 in the class of 2003.

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02/23/2007 02:40:06 PM
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