Another Week in the Recruiting Market

Washington, Purdue, N.C. State and Texas A&M land prospects.

by Franklyn Calle

The All-East Bay Player of the Year, Desmond Simmons, gave the Washington Huskies a verbal commitment last Monday. The 6-7 small forward committed to the program on Monday night after an unofficial visit during the weekend. “After visiting the school and sitting down and talking to the coaches one-on-one, I got a good vibe,” Simmons told the Oakland Tribune. “I felt confident that was the school that best fit me.” “

“It’s very exciting and humbling at the same time,” Simmons continued. “Going to a good program like that with a lot of guys as talented as you are, it’s going to be a lot of hard work to make sure you get there and are able to do something.” The Richmond, California, native averaged over 18 points and 14 rebounds for Salesian H.S. As a junior, Simmons led his high school team this past season to a California Interscholastic Federation Division IV state basketball championship, including a 31 point and 19 rebound performance in the state championship at Arco Arena. According to ESPN, Simmons chose Washington over St. Mary’s, Oregon State, UNLV, Stanford, among others. He becomes the first commitment for the Huskies in the 2010 recruiting class.

One of the top freshmen in the country, Rapheal Davis, verbally committed to Purdue on Wednesday night after visiting the campus earlier on the day, according to the Journal & Courier. The 6-5 shooting guard averaged 16.4 points,7.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game this past season for South Side High School. The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native was also being shown interest from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, and Xavier, according to reports.

“I really liked the way they played up academics and how they stressed the importance of becoming a success in life,” Davis told the Journal & Courier. “The coaches made me feel very much at home. I like the fact the campus isn’t too spread out and that I will be playing close to home.”

N.C. State landed its sixth recruit for their incoming freshmen class when DeShawn Painter committed to the program on Wednesday. The 6-9 power forward signed with Florida in the fall but was released of his letter of intent last month. Painter spent the past season at Hargrave Military Academy. He was also considering Maryland. “I wanted to play closer to home,” Painter told The News & Observer. “I love the coaching staff and I fit in with the [N.C. State] players.” “We all have the opportunity to play as freshmen,” Painter said. “It should be fun.”
The Northfolk, Virginia, native will join a massive incoming freshmen class that consists of: Lorenzo Brown- a 6-4 shooting guard of Centennial H.S. in Georgia, Scott Wood- a 6-6 shooting guard of Marion H.S. in Indiana, Josh Davis- a 6-6 wing of Athens Drive H.S. in North Carolina, Richard Howell- a 6-8 power forward in Wheeler H.S. in Georgia, and Jordan Vandenberg- a 7-0 center of Australian Institute of Sport in Australia.

Junior Daniel Alexander verbally committed to Texas A&M on Wednesday, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The 6-8 Dripping Springs, Texas, native picked the Aggies over Texas, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma and USC. The 2010 forward recruit averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds this past season for Dripping Springs H.S.. “It was not a difficult decision,” Alexander told the Austin American-Statesman on Wednesday night. “I’ve become very close to the (A&M) staff and players, and I like their playing style a lot.” He becomes Texas A&M’s first recruit in the 2010 recruiting class.