Recruiting Roundup Volume 3: Post NLI

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

We’re a few weeks removed from student-athletes signing their National Letter of Intent (NLI) making it official that they’ll be continuing their athletic careers at the next level. That day was a sigh of relief for many prospects, families, and schools as programs received the players they had recruited for long periods of time. Signing that piece of paper is only step one of a bigger journey and goal for many of the new wave of college athletes, and despite their NLI day, there’s always someone coming in right behind you the next year. Here’s the latest recruiting roundup.

Boy’s Basketball:

• Cole Swider of St. Andrew’s School (RI) is hands down one of the best players in the nation. His 6-foot-6 frame allows him to bully defenses, with his creativity around the hoop and ability to create for himself from pulling from deep. A few weeks ago at the BABC Prep Classic in Boston, he made his presence felt with his athleticism on offense and defense. He’s being recruited from top schools around the country, and from what I was able to put together he’s been receiving interest from Virginia and Pittsburgh. The swingman is currently sitting on many offers and intends to trim his list during the April live period and will “most likely” make his decision after Nike’s Peach Jam. Evan Daniels of Scout.com reports Swider received an offer from Villanova recently.

• Sean Price of Port Charlotte (FL) is an under the radar prospect that many schools haven’t yet noticed. The Florida resident is listed as 6-foot-4 received an offer from The Citadel and new interest from Vermont Academy and Kennesaw State.

• Charles and Charlie Mitchell of New Mission (MA) are a twins that are experts at putting the ball in the basket. If it’s driving to the rim with their slight frame and finishing of creating for a teammate or catching fire from behind the three-point line, the tandem has been a force to reckoned with as the reigning Division 2 champs. Their run as high schoolers is almost over, and at the next level, they’ve received interest from Suffolk University, WPI, Keene State, Emmanuel and UMass Boston.

• Speaking of Kennesaw State, they’re also interested in Malcolm Nicholas lll of Mater Academy (FL) and were recently in attendance for one of his games. Nicholas is also receiving interest from Virginia Military Institute (VMI). VMI assistant coach Chris Kreider was in attendance for one of Nicholas’ games and talked to him, his father and coach. The recruitment of Nicholas has picked up, and he’s expected to have his visits “situated” by March.

• David Collins of First Love (PA) received an offer from Quinnipiac University after First Love’s game against Obama Academy. Along with Quinnipiac, Delaware, Rice (offered), St. Bonaventure and Toledo were in attendance to watch him.

• Uziel Muteba of Northwest High (MD) is receiving new interest from South Carolina, Texas, UNLV, Ole Miss, Stanford and Boise State.

• Skyler Nash of Gould Academy (ME) has received interest from Boise State, Radford, University of Wisconsin-Radford, to go alongside the countless schools showing him love with offers and interest in his post-grad year.

• The Running Rebels of UNLV were in attendance to watch Gabe Brown of Belleville (MI) play against Romulus on Valentine’s Day. The Rebels plan on watching him during the AAU season and could like to have him in for a visit. Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo has been in touch with Brown.

• Rivaldo Soares, a highly talented prospect at The O’Bryant (MA), where current D-leaguer Wayne Selden went before transferring, is “in the middle” on following Selden’s footsteps and heading prep. Soares like the idea of staying home and what O’Bryant has going on there. He’s a believer in he’ll get noticed at whichever school he’s at if he produces on the court. Soares has been receiving interest from The Hotchkiss School and Bradford Christian Academy.

Football:

• Raymond Boone, a three-star recruit at Eleanor Roosevelt (MD) is a highly touted Defensive Back who has received interest from Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Boston College, Purdue, Wake Forest, Alabama and the University of Michigan. He will “probably” make a decision sometime during his senior year.

• Kalel Mullings of Milton Academy (MA) has received an offer from Boston College, which he has now announced via social media, and will visit the institution on February 20th.

• Nicholas Peck of Roosevelt (CA) is a Sophomore Offensive Lineman and long snapper weighing in at around 290 pounds and a 6-foot-5 height frame to go along with it. He recently received an invite from Rivals and will be in attendance for their Speed Combine and has received college interest from Colorado, USC, Arizona State, SMU, Duke, and Kansas.

• Terrance Taylor of Mount Carmel (IL) has been drawing interest from Central Michigan, Miami of Ohio, Bowling Green, Penn State, Tennessee, Toledo, and Arkansas. He will also be in attendance for The Opening.

• Rutgers has been very busy with their camps as of late, and Jared Martino of Malden (MA) is the most recent player that’ll be in attendance for their junior day. Martino, obviously a junior, is receiving interest from UMass Amherst, UCONN, Boston College, Sacred Heart, and Bryant.

• Catholic Memorial (MA) has always produced standout athletes, and Zach Trombley is now different. After visiting Endicott College and Southern Connecticut, he’s narrowed those two schools down before his decision, which is expected soon.

• Heading to a prep school for a post-grad year is always an option and Umari Taylor of Holy Trinity (NY) has received such an opportunity. He has received interest from Deerfield Academy and Jireh Prep.

• 3-Star MLB/RB Realus George of Pace Academy (GA) has received new interest from Miami, Louisville, Mizzou and Eastern Kentucky. He plans on visiting Tennessee, Georgia State, USF, Miami, South Carolina and Louisville.

• After attending Rutgers junior day, Alec Beesmer of Milton Academy (MA) will “probably” visit the school once again during the spring.

• Rutgers has been very busy in the Northeast as offensive coordinator Jerry Kill is expected to visit the rehabilitating Joshua Comune of Cheshire Academy (CT) during the spring.

• Jake Bobo of Belmont Hill (MA) has fully healed from his broken left hand, which he suffered playing basketball. Now that he’s healthy, he plans on visiting the schools that offered him thus far with a decision followed afterward.

• Daniel Abraham of Boston College High School (MA) is receiving interest from Duke, Syracuse, and UMass. He’s already gotten visits from Duke and Syracuse.

• Dean Sise of Juanita (WA) on what he bring to Navy: “I see myself bringing physicality to the defensive and coming in early making an impact on special teams.”

• Marquee Peters of Ellicottville (NY) on Stony Brook: “It’s one of the closer schools to where I live. Also, the coaches are all there to do three things: Get their guys to graduate. Build a family feeling. Win games. With those three aspects, I feel like you cannot loose. Also, their pre-med program is stellar, and their alumni programs will help me after I graduate. Also, I can see myself going out there and competing. I will be bringing the competitive edge I’ve always given to help the team. Anyway, they need me I will gladly go out there and fight with my family.”

• Eric Rauker of Littleton High (MA) on committing to Stonehill: “Great education, great facilities, and the team feels like a family. Always how I felt when I was there.”

• Antonio Giannico of Stepinac (NY) On Bryant: “Felt like home. They’ve been around since freshmen year. I’m bringing to the team a hardworking kid who loves to play football.” Giannico relays he’s been holding an offer from Bryant since the summer entering his sophomore year.

• Nolan Bedard of St. Paul’s School has received an offer from Queen’s University and the University of Toronto. He’s been getting interest from Western Ontario, McMaster, University of Ottawa and UBC.

Girl’s Basketball:

• Diamond Bragg of Camp Hill (PA) has been a scoring machine all season, as she just cracked 500 points for the season. Her production on the court has led to her holding ten offers and receiving interest from USF, Wisconsin, DePaul and Virginia Tech. She’s currently looking to visit Wisconsin and George Washington.

Girl’s Soccer:

• Stephanie Figueiredo (Wilmington) on committing to Lenoir-Rhyne University: “I committed to LR because the second I stepped on campus I fell in love. The team and coaches made me feel at home showing me around campus. The idea of going far away wasn’t as scary as I thought, I liked the idea of starting fresh and meeting new people. I feel that one thing that comes to mind first and most important is that I am a quick learner , have an open mind and always try to fit in with a new coach and new formations systems of play and hope that I can contribute to my new team and teammates and learn from them so that I can be the player that Coach Gary recruited and envisioned me to be. Lenoir-Rhyne University likes to play a possession style of soccer which is a style I am accustomed to playing so adapting should work well for me. One of my biggest attributes is that I can play both defensive positions and offensive positions.”

• Kayla McCauley (Wilmington) on taking her talents to Northeastern: “I committed to Northeastern University for their excellence on the soccer field and their outstanding academics. I hope to bring my athleticism, speed, and knowledge of the game to the already successful program.”
• Julianna Locco (Wilmington): on heading to Clarion: “I committed to Clarion University to play Division 2 soccer because ever since I was a little girl, I had the dream of playing in college. I learned that with a great deal of hard work and determination anything is achievable. I hope to bring my skill, toughness, and passion for the game to the home of the Golden Eagles.”

Baseball:

• Right before the official high school baseball season starts in New England, Dylan McNary of Nobles (MA) is making sure to get his visits in before the season. He recently visited Georgetown and St. Joseph’s University and is receiving interest from Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Bucknell, Harvard, Yale, Army, Navy, and Cornell.