April 2012 Basketball Wiretap

Robert Upshaw To Announce Decision April 15

Apr 13, 2012 11:55 PM

Robert Upshaw will announce where he intends to go to college on April 15.

"Only Robert knows," says his mother, Ceylon Sherman. "I don't even know, and my stomach is upset. I'm nervous."

Upshaw, a 7-foot, 270-pound center, initially signed scholarship papers with Kansas State, but withdrew his commitment when Wildcats coach Frank Martin left last month for South Carolina.

The top-60 recruit is reportedly considering Fresno State, Georgetown and Louisville.

Fresno Bee

Tags: Robert Upshaw, Georgetown Hoyas, Louisville Cardinals, Fresno State Bulldogs, American Athletic Conference, Southeastern Conference, Western Athletic Conference, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Nerlens Noel Commits To Kentucky

Apr 11, 2012 8:47 PM

Nerlens Noel has committed to Kentucky.

Noel also considered Georgetown and Syracuse.

Noel recently reclassified into the incoming freshman class of 2012 and is considered by many to be the top recruit. Noel is a defensive-minded center as an excellent shotblocker.

Noel announced his decision on ESPNU by shaving the UK logo into his head.

Noel will join fellow incoming top recruits Alex Poythress, Archie Goodwin and Willie Cauley.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Nerlens Noel, Georgetown Hoyas, Kentucky Wildcats, Syracuse Orange, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting, NCAA Commitment

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Shabazz Muhammad Commits To UCLA

Apr 11, 2012 7:22 PM

Shabazz Muhammad has announced his commitment to UCLA.

Muhammad also considered Kentucky and Duke.

Muhammad will join Kyle Anderson in UCLA's incoming class of 2012. Anderson is a top-five recruit.

Jordan Adams also committed to UCLA and is a top-50 recruit.

Evan Daniels/Scout.com (via Twitter)

Tags: Shabazz Muhammad, Duke Blue Devils, UCLA Bruins, Kentucky Wildcats, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting, NCAA Commitment

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Anthony Bennett Growing Tired Of Recruiting Process, Anxious To Make Decision

Apr 6, 2012 10:18 AM

The recruiting process is starting to wear on top-10 prospect Anthony Bennett of Henderson Findlay Prep High School.

“I appreciate all the love the coaches and fans give me,” Bennett said. “But it’s all getting kind of annoying.”

Bennett is considering Kentucky, Washington, Florida, Oregon and UNLV and he said “they are all pretty even. I don’t have a favorite right now. I’m just going to look at all of them.”

Bennett said the all-star game circuit, along with schoolwork and recruiting is just getting tough.

“I will be glad when it’s over,” Bennett said. “I’ve always stayed humble and tried to keep my head and why been annoying is because I have to do schoolwork throughout the year and then the phone calls. I have to my mom, talk to my friends, do homework and projects. And then there’s recruiting. It’s just tough.

“It will be nice to have it over with.”

Louisville Courier Journal

Tags: Anthony Bennett, Washington Huskies, UNLV Runnin' Rebels, Oregon Ducks, Florida Gators, Kentucky Wildcats, Mountain West Conference, Pacific-12 Conference, Southeastern Conference, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Noel Envisions Sliding Into Davis' Role At Kentucky

Apr 4, 2012 5:37 PM

Nerlens Noel admitted that Kentucky’s national championship has affected his decision-making, though he stopped short of giving the Wildcats the edge in his recruitment.

“Kentucky had the big win Monday night and I had a good time watching that game,” Noel wrote in his ESPN blog. “I was really liking how Anthony Davis continued to be effective even without scoring the ball. I know how it feels to not be able to get it going on the offensive end at times and that makes you just want to go even harder defensively. I loved that he got Most Outstanding Player, too.

“Just seeing him have all the success that he’s had this year definitely makes me think a lot about what I could be doing there. That’s really appealing to me.”

Noel recently spoke with Davis while in New Orleans for the All-American Championships.

“I talked to him a lot while I was down there and he told me all about how much better he’d gotten since he got there,” Noel wrote. “He told me that I’d have to be ready when I got there because it was going to be a lot of hard work. I’d definitely say it makes me think about Kentucky more, and with them winning with all of those freshmen was very attractive. Just seeing that it doesn’t matter how young you are, you can win a national title.

"I wouldn’t say that all of that stuff gives Kentucky an advantage though. It’s just something I think about a lot."

ESPN.com

Tags: Anthony Davis, Nerlens Noel, Kentucky Wildcats, Southeastern Conference, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Muhammad Embraces Possibility Of Reviving UCLA

Apr 4, 2012 10:47 AM

Shabazz Muhammad, a 6-foot-6 prospect out of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High School, is viewed as a savior by many UCLA fans.

"I would love to take on that challenge knowing that they had a really down year this year and just knowing how much responsibility I would have to take to help get more wins for the team and try to win a national championship," said Muhammad, who is also considering Kentucky and Duke. "It's no pressure at all."

Muhammad has toured the UCLA campus multiple times and was impressed by renderings of the $136 million renovation at Pauley Pavilion.

"I looked at the models and it was stunning," Muhammad said. "The arena is really nice. Getting all the weight rooms downstairs, that's really a selling point."

Los Angeles Times

Tags: Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA Bruins, Pacific-12 Conference, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Jabari Parker Likes Idea Of Staying In Illinois

Apr 2, 2012 3:28 PM

The father of Jabari Parker, who is the nation's top-ranked junior out of Chicago's Simeon Career Academy, said Monday that his son has an affinity for in-state schools like Illinois.

"He wants to be remembered as, 'Hey, he's the one who led his home state or home city, who represented,'” said Sonny Parker, who had a six-year career with the Golden State Warriors. “And I think every kid wants that."

Sonny recently confirmed that Illinois is still in the running for Jabari.

"He likes the idea that he can do something for his community, in this state, in this city," Sonny said. "That's the thing he wants to experience and share."

The 17-year-old Parker remains license-less as his mom and dad continue to take him to and from school and practice.

"I just want to be a good example, for people generally," Parker says. "Not just athletes, but people. I just want to make change in everyone's life. I know a lot of athletes out here, they're making wrong decisions. I know there's going to be a light on me everywhere I go, and there's going to be eyes everywhere. I want to have good behavior.

"I always want to be a good person."

Champaign News-Gazette

Tags: Jabari Parker, Illinois Fighting Illini, Big Ten Conference, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Harrison Twins Narrow List To Kentucky, Villanova, Maryland, Baylor

Apr 2, 2012 10:41 AM

Andrew and Aaron Harrison have narrowed their list to four schools -- Kentucky, Villanova, Maryland and Baylor – their father, Aaron Harrison Sr., confirmed.

The elder Harrison said Andrew and Aaron will make a decision in the late summer.

“When school stars again and summer is over, they’re going to make a decision,” Aaron Harrison Sr. said. “I want them to sit back and enjoy their senior year of high school. They’ll look and make the best decision then."

Aaron and Andrew are regarded as top-10 prospects in the class of 2013.

Louisville Courier Journal

Tags: Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Maryland Terrapins, Baylor Bears, Villanova Wildcats, Kentucky Wildcats, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 Conference, American Athletic Conference, Southeastern Conference, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Nerlens Noel Sets Decision Date

Apr 1, 2012 10:06 PM

Nerlens Noel will announce where he intends to go to college on April 11 -- the first day of the spring signing period.

"I've had fun," Noel said of his recruitment. "It's been a great experience, but I think it's time to bring it to an end and make a decision on April 11th."

Noel, the consensus No. 1 overall recruiting prospect, is considering Georgetown, Kentucky, and Syracuse.

“All three schools are great programs and I could see myself at each one,” Noel said. “But the final factor is going to be where I feel most comfortable at -- and where I feel I'll benefit the most.”

Louisville Courier Journal

Tags: Nerlens Noel, Georgetown Hoyas, Kentucky Wildcats, Syracuse Orange, American Athletic Conference, Southeastern Conference, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Anthony Bennett Leads Findley Prep To NHSI Crown

Apr 1, 2012 1:30 PM

Anthony Bennett scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Findley Prep (Henderson, Nev.) to a 86-83 overtime win over Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) for the National High School Invitational Championship.

"This is the farthest I came in this tournament," said Bennett. "Coming in, I really wanted to win it this year.”

Findlay Prep, ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), finished its season 32-1.

Bennett, a top-10 recruit, is seriously considering Washington, Oregon, UNLV, Kentucky and Florida as his college finalists.

ESPN.com

Tags: Anthony Bennett, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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