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Friday, September 11, 2009
Welcome To Sports University
One team with a torrent of young talent on the AAU circuit is the Sports
University All Stars.
The New Jersey-based All-stars feature a bevy of top-stratum Division-I
recruits from St. Anthony’s and St. Benedict’s, perennial powers in the
Garden State.
Derek Williams, a 6-foot-6 wing who creates matchup problems with his
handle and perimeter shooting, is heating up on the recruiting radar. As
the summer progressed, so did Williams’ game. The result?
He’s induced drool from a vast array of college coaches.
A senior at St. Anthony’s, Williams is being actively pursued by a number
of schools, including Providence, Seton Hall, Virginia, South Carolina,
Temple, and Boston University.
A productive summer which saw him take cats off the dribble and attack the
cup at will has paid dividends for the New York native.
“Derek had a very good summer,” explained Sports University coach Brian
Coleman, who’s also an assistant under the legendary coach Hurley at St.
Anthony’s.
“We worked a lot with him on shooting the ball from the perimeter, he’s
become a really good three-point shooter. He can handle the ball. You
know, he’s very strong inside. He’s also going to create matchup
difficulties when smaller guys are trying to guard him from the outside.”
Coleman continued, “We’ve kind of narrowed his (college choices) down, but
a lot of schools are still showing interest. Providence is in his top-5,
Seton Hall is definitely still in his top list.”
D-Will's footwork is top-tier, but his quickness could use a tune-up. This
is one obstacle he must hurdle in order to get to that grand stage.
“If he can get two more inches, and just get his lateral movement down,
he’s only got to do one year of college. He’ll be a one-and-done,” said
Sports University coach Eddie Bright, who cut himself short before going
into a hyperbole.
He's an emotional dude. Bright’s commitment to molding young minds is of
highest order.
The IZOD-sponsored AAU squad touts an elite coaching staff, headlined by
Darryl Dawkins, the former backboard-shattering professional who shined
with the Philadelphia 76ers back in the day. The All Stars recently had
the services of Ira Bowman, the former NBA player who is now at NJIT.
Bowman's position as the strength and conditioning coach for the All Stars
would bode well, before he bolted for the low Division-I program nearby.
Another player whose come out of the woodwork and announced his presence
with his superior scoring is Elijah Carter. Carter is currently getting
looks from Notre Dame, Rutgers, and Providence.
“Eli is a scorer first, he’s a combo guard but I’m trying to make him into
a point,” Coleman said.
Notre Dame showed major interest in Carter at first, but their recruitment
of the 6-foot-2 scoring guard has tailed off recently.
Why? All-world guard Kyrie Irving, who’s widely recognized as one of the
nation’s elite prospects.
“They (Notre Dame) really wanted Kyrie Irving,” Coleman explained.
“I think Kyrie and Eli are real similar players. I think that if they
can’t get Kyrie, they’re going to get Eli. Kyrie was really first on their
list.”
With Irving favoring Duke and Indiana, the idea of the Irish netting the
St. Patrick’s star seems far-fetched.
Irving, whose cyborg-like game, schoolboy smarts, and personality has
quickly made him one of the nation’s most highly sought-after items on the
recruiting market, hoops with Sports University in the fall. Expect to see
Irving rolling with the All Stars at IS8 this fall.
Posted by Zach Smart |
