Recruiting Roundup: Where Are Some Top High School Talents Headed?

Lots of news has come out this past week regarding colleges doing some great high school recruiting. Andre Rafus Jr. released his Top-3 of schools in a Def Pen exclusive. He relayed the three candidates are Georgetown, TCU and Kansas, and there’s no timeline for him to make a decision. It’s highly believed by opposing outlets Rafus Jr. will commit to TCU, but with him delaying his commitment, the jury is still up in the air on that possibility.

*All of the information in this piece was obtained first hand unless stated otherwise.

Recruiting Roundup

Boy’s Basketball:

• Daman Tate of St. Sebasitan’s (MA) is receiving interest from Boston University, Binghamton and Arizona State. The 6-5 guard recently went on a visit to Boston University, which went well and led to him being impressed with the staff and facilities. On Tate’s trip, he was able to meet BU guard Kyle Foreman.

• Tommy O’Neil of St. John’s Prep (MA) had a great outing in the BABC Holiday, which included a 21-point and 17-rebound performance. His dominance in the tournament is a reason as to why he’s a top talent in New England. O’Neil is receiving interest from American University, Holy Cross, Colgate and Fairfield. He currently holds an offer Binghamton and will wait for more offers prior to making a decision on his lone offer thus far.

• Bridgewater-Raynham (MA) has a lot of talent on their basketball team, and because of that many of their players are being recruited heavily. From what I was told, EJ Dambreville is receiving interest from schools in the Northeast Conference, Patriot League and Northeast 10 Conference. The exact schools aren’t clear, but he is expected to pursue a post-grad year in the NEPSAC if he doesn’t receive any offers. With the post-grad mindset, Dambreville is receiving interest from Cheshire Academy, Spire Institute and Putnam Science Academy.

• Griffin Perry of Bridgewater-Raynham is receiving “strong interest” from Suffolk University, Wentworth and UMass Boston. Teammate John Tesson is receiving interest from UMass Boston, Lasell, and Bobby Long, another teammate, I’m told is receiving “strong interest” from WPI.

• California is known for their basketball talent. Jordan Williams of Capo Valley Christian knows it best, as he’s receiving interest from Weber State, Biola, Air Force and the University of Albany.

• The recruitment of Trayce Jackson-Davis of Center Grove (IN) is picking up. He recently received an offer from Purdue University, and is received varying levels of interest from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Virginia and Marquette. Visiting Iowa is on his radar.

• Jake Forrester of Westtown School (PA) if an athletic forward who has seen his recruitment gain much traction with a recent offer from Kansas State. Of all the offers he currently holds Kansas State, Indiana, Penn State, Providence and Temple are his top-five of schools that have offered thus far. He plans on visiting Indiana and Providence once the “season slows down.” He’s also getting interest from UVA.

• Gabe Brown of Belleville (MI) is a talent that has seen his recruitment pick up a lot throughout his junior year. He currently holds nine offers, and the question is who will help him hit double digits. That’s a mystery for now. What’s not a mystery is the interest he’s receiving from other Division One’s. He’s receiving interest from Kansas State, UCF and Xavier. He recently visited Eastern Michigan, and I’m told it “went good” and he was impressed with the atmosphere and energy of the players. Despite many offers, there’s no timeline for him to make a decision. Brown also visited Michigan State and I’m told it “went great” and he was fond of the atmosphere along with energy of the players, which left him impressed. Brown was also fond of the Spartans’ coaching staff.

• Malcolm Nicholas lll, a 6-5 guard from Mater Academy (FL), is receiving much interest from high division one schools. Creighton’s recruitment on him is expected to be “heavy” and he’s expected to schedule actual visits in February.

• Watch out, an 8^th grader is better than most high school and some collegiate players. Terrence Clarke of The Rectory School (CT), is receiving high school interest from Benedict’s Prep, Brewster Academy, Blair Academy, Putnam Science Academy and Rivers. Suffield Academy, located in Connecticut, I’m told is “highly interested” in Clarke. Receiving interest from the top high school basketball programs in New England is one thing, but to already garner college interest from notable Division One’s is another. Clarke is receiving interest from Georgetown, Rhode Island, Boston College and Northeastern, from what I was told. He currently holds an offer from Iona College, which he announced on twitter.

• David Collins of First Love Christian Academy (PA) has received offers from Siena and Cincinnati. Also relayed to me is he will “probably” make a decision after the season.

• Chauncee Cheeks from Cathedral (MA) recorded a quadruple-double a few weeks ago in the BABC Holiday Classic. He’s a supreme athletic guard, who was trending on the internet this past summer, and is looking into a post-grad year. A “couple” of Division 3’s have been interested in him from what I know.

• Another local talent from Massachusetts that is receiving college interest is Everett guard Ghared Boyce. He scored his 1,000th career point a few weeks ago and is garnering interest from Boston University, Drexel, Bentley and a few prep schools.

• Mason Forbes of Folsom High (CA) has been in touch with Stanford and Hawaii, along with receiving offers from Tulane and Cal State Fullerton. He’s one piece of the Forbes basketball family. If you’re unaware of them, make sure to check them out.

• Skyler Nash of Gould Academy (ME) is waiting to hear from admissions at Dartmouth and Columbia. To my understanding, he’s been in touch with the aforementioned schools “a lot” lately, and is receiving interest from Fordham University. In the BallasTV invitational at UMass Boston, Nash scored 22 points as Siena and Columbia were both in attendance to watch him play. Siena was impressed and they’re ready to go forward with their recruitment with him.

• Erik Kinnebrew, a guard at Allan Hancock (CA), is receiving “active interest” from Biola University. The story of Kinnebrew is interesting because of his growth spurt reminiscent of Pelicans star Anthony Davis. In the past year and a half, Kinnebrew has grown from 5-foot-8 to 6-foot-6 and a half.

• At the Good Sports invitational at TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics, much talent from across the state was on display. One in particular was Thomas Shaughnessy of Needham High (MA). He’s been receiving “a lot of” Patriot and Ivy League interest. Just recently he had coaches from Brown in attendance for his game against Brown, and representatives from American University watched him play on Tuesday against Walpole.

• Mohamed Traore, Maitgnon’s newest 1,000 point scorer, is looking to transfer from the school and go prep.

Football:

• Joshua Moore, a 4-star recruit from Yoakum (TX), I’m told could make his college decision after his senior year football season concludes. He’s contemplating visiting Ohio State, Michigan, Auburn and Tennessee.

• Talked to Jackson Sirmon briefly on his commitment to the University of Washington and he told me, “I just feel like I would fit in well with the program and the kind of guys they have on the team.” Sirmon also relayed that he knows some of the current players on Washington’s team due to his dad’s tenure at the school, and has a former teammate on the team whom he stays in contact with. Sirmon is expected to visit the school after announcing his commitment.

• Robert Snead of Queen of Peace (NJ) had his junior season cut short after four games due to him suffering a right foot hairline fracture. His injury has 100% healed and no surgery was required. Despite his short season, colleges took notice of his body of work as a whole. I’m told Snead is currently receiving interest from Virginia Tech, Maryland, Georgia, Syracuse and more. Ohio State wants him to attend their camps and Coach Ash of Rutgers is expected to visit him within the next weeks.

• Jackson Latimer of Pingree (MA) has an official visit set with Saint Anselm on January 27^th.

• DeShown Luckey of Plano West (TX) has visiting Southwestern and Dakota State on his radar and is receiving interest from the University of St. Francis.

• Sharrod Frazier of Brunswick (GA) will attend Auburn’s junior day on January 28th and he’s also receiving interest from Penn State, NC State, Purdue, Notre Dame, UCF, Central Michigan and of course Auburn.

• Marquee Peters of Ellicotville (NY) has received an offer from Wagner College (he’s now announced it on his twitter) and is receiving “a lot of interest” from NAIA schools.

Girl’s Basketball:

• Caitlin Bickle of Cactus Shadows (AZ) has narrowed her list to Cal Berkley and Baylor. Also told she is expected to make a decision by March, but it could of course happen earlier. She recently recorded her 1,000^th point and is ranked No. 34 overall in ESPN’s ranking for class of 2018.

• Christyn Williams of Arkansas Christian (AK), the No. 2 ranked player in ESPN’s 2018 rankings, holds various offers at the next level and I’m told a decision is expected to be made this fall after she takes her official visits.

• Daishai Almond of Peach County (GA) recently scored her 1,000^th point last month. Her game speaks volumes and that’s why colleges are taking noticed with her. I’m told she’s receiving interest from Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic and Mercer. She has no upcoming visits.

• Veronica Burton of Newton South (MA) is a top talent from the Northeast. I’m told she’s been in touch with about 20 schools and there’s no timeline for her to trim her list or make a decision. I’m also told she’s already visited Brown and Holy Cross and plans to visit DePaul and George Washington “soon.”