Thad Mumau: Annual pursuit of talent picking up steam

Read Thad Mumau's feature article on Conference USA basketball recruiting in Bonesville Magazine.

Hoops Recruiting Report
Saturday, October 16, 2004

By Thad Mumau

Bonesville Magazine
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• PAT DYE: Short on Tenure, Long on Impact

• INSIDE PIRATE FOOTBALL
• Recruit Profiles
• Rookie Books
• Tracking the Classes
• Florida Pipeline
• NCHSAA & ECU: Smooth Sailing Again

• HIGH HOPES FOR HOOPS

• STEVE BALLARD: New Leader Takes Charge

• SCOTT COWEN: Busting Down the Door

• KEITH LECLAIR on ECU's Field of Dreams

• BETH GRANT: Actress Still a Pirate

Conference USA basketball recruiting is gaining momentum with East Carolina landing its first prospect for the 2005 class and Louisville putting together a group that is both very talented and very large.

Dwight Burke has committed to Bill Herrion’s Pirates. The 6-8, 235-pound power forward is at Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s, where Danny Hurley is the head coach.

“Dwight is really an unknown,” Hurley said. “Coaches have come to our school to look at other kids and have left pleasantly surprised by him. He’s a strong rebounder and a pretty good athlete.”

Rick Pitino has wasted no time cashing in on the ouster of the NCAA’s five/eight rule, which prevented colleges from giving more than five basketball scholarships in a year, with a limit of eight over a two-year period.

Pitino and his Louisville staff already have commitments from seven players, all of whom are high school seniors. Four are ranked among the top 100 prospects in the country by Prepstars.com, with the other three are in the second 100.

The Cardinals raided California for three of their hoops promises and added a fourth from the West Coast. Four of the newcomers stand 6-8 or taller.

Memphis doesn’t have the numbers of Louisville in terms of how many prospects, but the Tigers have the strongest 2005 contingent as far as reputation. All five of John Calipari’s commitments are from players in the top 100, with two in the top 25. Three of the Memphis pledges are from Laurinburg (NC) Prep.

Marquette also has a strong class that includes three top-100 kids and four overall. Cincinnati’s three additions are all ranked in the top 100.

Those are the best four 2005 classes in Conference USA to this point. Prospects (with ranking in parentheses) are listed below. The rest of the league’s commitments will be detailed in a later column.

LOUISVILLE (7) — Amir Johnson (17), 6-9 power forward/center, Los Angeles (CA) Westchester ... Terrence Williams (38), 6-5 wing guard, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach ... Andre McGee (52), 5-11 point guard, Moreno Valley (CA) Canyon Springs ... Clarence Holloway (84), 6-11 center, Chicago (IL) Fenger ... Bryan Harvey (112), 6-5 small forward/wing guard, Compton (CA) Dominguez ... Chad Millard (144), 6-8 small forward, Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy ... Jonathan Huffman (188), 6-11 power forward/center, Birmingham (AL) Central Park Christian.

MEMPHIS (5) — Shawne Williams (2), 6-8 small forward, Laurinburg (NC) Prep School ... Chris Douglas-Roberts (23), 6-5 wing guard, Detroit (MI) Northwestern ... Ricky Sanchez (61), 6-10 power forward, Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy ... Antonio Anderson (7), 6-4 wing guard, Laurinburg (NC) Prep ... Robert Dozier (94), 6-8 power forward, Laurinburg (NC) Prep.

MARQUETTE (4) — Dominic James (26), 5-11 point guard, Richmond (IN) High ... Jerel McNeal (49), 6-2 wing guard, Country Club Hills (IL) Hillcrest ... Wes Matthews Jr. (44), 6-3 point guard/wing guard, Madison (WI) Memorial ... Matt Mortensen, 6-5 small forward, Provo (UT) Timpview.

CINCINNATI (3) — Tyree Evans (40), 6-3 wing guard, Winchendon (MA) School ... Devan Downey (74), 5-10 point guard, Chester (SC) High ... Abdul Herrera (83), 6-11 center, Miami (FL) South.

EAST CAROLINA (1) — Dwight Burke, 6-8 power forward, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict's Prep.