ESPN.com: RECRUITING - Hodge: About the Benjamin

SPORT SECTIONS

Tuesday, September 16

Pruitt decision expected Tuesday

By Bill Hodge
CollegeSports.com

Class 2004 guard Keith Benjamin of Mount Vernon, NY., has chosen Pittsburgh. He recently decommitted from Villanova.

Class 2004 Top 100 forward Shaun Pruitt of Aurora-West Aurora, Ill., is expected to announce on Tuesday (Sept. 16) between Illinois and Michigan State.

One of the top prospects in Class 2005, forward Josh McRoberts (6-10 215) of Carmel, Ind., is expected to announce on Tuesday (Sept. 16) for Duke over Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina and Notre Dame. McRoberts, who averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds as a sophomore, was also recruited by Iowa, Michigan, Purdue and Xavier, among many others. Duke recently gained Class 2005 top guard Greg Paulus of Manlius-Christian Brothers Academy, NY.

Wake Forest has pledged Class 2005 center/forward David Weaver (6-10 205) of Black Mountain-Owen, NC., over offers from Tennessee and North Carolina State. Others showing interest were Clemson, Stanford and Illinois. Kevin Swinton, a Class 2005 6-7 forward from Greensboro-Dudley, NC., committed to the Deacons in June.

Senior center Steve Thomas of Carrollton, Ga., has chosen Middle Tennessee State after being dismissed from Georgia by new coach Dennis Felton. Thomas was the leading rebounder and third leading scorer for the Bulldogs last season.

George Mason has verbals from Class 2004 guards Folarin Campbell of Silver Springs-Springbrook, Md; and John Vaughn of Laurel, Md.

Wichita State has a verbal from Class 2004 guard Sean Ogirri of Denver-East, Colo.

Fresno State coach Ray Lopes has withdrawn a scholarship offer to Fresno City College guard Tyrone Jackson, pledging to recruit only high school seniors for at least the next three seasons. The NCAA recently approved Fresno State's self-imposed sanctions of three scholarships lost for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons with a minimum of one each season. Jackson, the California junior college player of the year, averaged 21.1 points and 6.9 assists last season. He had committed to Fresno State after considering Brigham Young, Gonzaga, UNLV, Saint Mary's, San Jose State and Utah State.

Portland has pledged Class 2004 forward Marcus Lewis of Long Beach-Poly, Cal.

Mount St. Mary's has pledged Class 2004 guard Chris Vann of Dale City/Gar-Field, Va.

Sixty-three prospects on the early Class 2004 Top 100 have already made commitments.

Texas, Indiana and Alabama lead the very early 2004 Top Classes. Florida State led the 2003 Top Classes.

Class 2004 Basketball Database
* Search the early list of Prospects/Commitments/Schools and Conferences
* Early list of Top 100 Prospects/Commitments/Remaining Top 100 Prospects.
* More players projected to make an impact: Super Prospects.
*Bssketball Signing Periods: Early (Nov. 12-19) and Regular (Apr. 15-May 19).

* Texas, Indiana and Alabama lead the very early 2004 Top Classes.

Class 2003 Basketball Database
* Search the list of Prospects/Commitments/Signed/Schools and Conferences.
* List of Top 100 Prospects/Commitments/Remaining Top 100 Prospects/Super Prospects/Top 100 JC Prospects.

* Florida State led the 2003 Top Classes.

2003 NBA Draft:
The most heralded high school player in years, high school forward LeBron James was chosen No. 1 by the NBA. All four other preps were selected, while three junior college prospects were not picked: Forward LeBron James of Akron/St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio, top pick in first round by Cleveland; forward Travis Outlaw of Starkville, Miss., 23rd pick in first round by Portland; forward Ndudi Ebi of Houston-Westbury Christian, Tex., 26th pick in first round by Minnesota; center Kendrick Perkins of Beaumont-Ozen, Tex., 27th pick in first round by Memphis, then traded to Boston; center James Lang of Birmingham-Central Park Christian, Ala., 19th pick in second round by New Orleans (not guaranteed contract). Forward Charlie Villanueva of Blairstown-Blair Academy, NJ., and center/forward Sani Ibrahim of Southern Idaho CC, Id., withdrew from draft. (List).

2002 NBA Draft:
The NBA selected only one high school and a single junior college prospect: Center/forward Amare Stoudemire of Orlando-Cypress Creek, Fla., was taken 9th in the first round by Phoenix, while Portland took forward Qyntel Woods of Northeast Mississippi CC, Miss., at No. 21 in the first round. The NBA passed on three other high school/prep school prospects and seven JC players (List).

2003 McDonald's All-American Game
LeBron James scored 27 points in leading the East over the West, 122-107, in the 26th annual McDonald's All-American high school basketball game in Cleveland, Ohio. McDonald's All-American Game stories/Rosters for 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000.

2003 Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team
LeBron James heads roster.

Basketball Commitments/Signings:
OCSN: Main Recruiting Page.
Class 2004 Men: Database/Top 100.
Class 2003 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes.
Class 2002 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes/Women: Database.
Class 2001 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes/Women: Database.
Class 2000 Men: Database/Top 100/Top Classes/Women: Database.
Class 1999 Men: Database/Women: Database.
Class 1998 Men: Database/ Top Classes/Women: Database.
*McDonald's All-American Game stories/Rosters for 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
*USA Men's Junior National Team.

Bill Hodge is the executive editor and director of recruiting coverage at CollegeSports.com. For daily columns on prospects, commitments and signings, plus databases, go to CollegeSports.com's Recruiting Page.

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