DeShonte Riley Gives Syracuse His Word

by Franklyn Calle

DeShonte Riley has committed to Syracuse University, according to The Syracuse Post-Standard. The news broke last night, just a day after you read right here that Riley had cut his college recruitment list down to his final two, Syracuse and Marquette. But now it seems like he has made up his mind as to where he wants to attend next year. The 6-11 center was once Georgetown-bound after verbally committing to the Hoyas last summer but after visiting the campus in the fall, the Detroit native decided to de-commit in November. When he gave the Hoyas a verbal, USC, UCLA, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Florida, and Xavier had also offered him. But when he decided to re-open his recruitment once again in the fall, aside from Syracuse and Marquette, Riley’s new list included California, LSU, Virginia, Oregon, and Oregon State.

Currently a senior at Detroit Country Day High School, Riley wasn’t expected to commit until the season had come to a finish. He is ranked among one of the top centers in the class of 2009. At Syracuse, Riley will be joined by 2009 recruits Brandon Triche, a guard from Jamesville-DeWitt HS (NY), and New York City native, James Southernland, a forward currently doing a prep year at Notre Dame Prep (MA).