Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 4:31 pm  |  3 responses

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The Rich Get Richer

North Carolina lands another blue-chipper while Indiana and Oklahoma State get reliable prospects over the weekend.

by Franklyn Calle

One of the best juniors in the nation, James McAdoo, gave the Tar Heels a verbal commitment over the weekend. The 6-8, 210-pound power forward is considered the best at the #4 position in the 2011 class according to multiple scouting services. The Northfolk Christian star had narrowed down his recruiting list to North Carolina, Duke and Virginia before committing to coach Roy Williams during the weekend while attending a sold-out charity pro alumni game at Dean Smith Center. McAdoo averaged 25.2 points and 11 rebounds last season as a sophomore. He joins top ranked guard P.J. Hairston, a 6-6 shooting guard from Dudley Senior H.S. in North Carolina, as part of the Tar Heels’ 2011 recruiting class.

Michael Cobbins made his first official visit over the weekend and felt there was no need for any other afterward. The 6-9 power forward verbally committed to Oklahoma State after spending the weekend at the Stillwater, Okla., campus. The Amarillo, Texas native was also considering Oklahoma, Memphis, Georgia Tech and Missouri. “I made a great connection with the players and coaches there,” Cobbins told the Amarillo Global-News. “It’s a great community that supports their players. I love how the fans sit right on top of you. The weight room is huge, and there’s a track that runs around it where you can get your conditioning in without going out in the heat. Everything you need is under that one roof.” Cobbins will join recruits Markel Brown, a 6-4 shooting guard from Peabody Magnet H.S. in Louisiana, and Brian Williams, a 6-5 small forward from Glen Oaks H.S. in Louisiana, as part of next years’ Cowboys in-coming freshman class.

Just like the previous two players, Victor Olapido also gave a verbal commitment after spending the weekend on a school campus. The 6-5 senior shooting guard committed to Indiana on Monday after spending time in Bloomington this past weekend. Notre Dame, Maryland and Providence among others were in the hunt for him. Hoosiers freshman Maurice Creek showed Olapido around the campus and that seemed to have played a factor in his decision. “Mo Creek is like my brother,” he told the Courier-Journal. “I have known him for a long time. It was a big factor; I liked being able to hang around with him.”  Oladipo will be entering his final year at powerhouse DeMatha Catholic H.S. in Maryland. He joins David Williams, a 6-7 small forward from First Coast H.S. in Florida, in the Hoosiers’ 2010 recruiting class.

Last Wednesday, Xavier received a verbal commitment from senior Griffin McKenzie. The 6-9, 200-pound power forward made the announcement in a press conference at his school, Moeller H.S. in Cincinnati. McKenzie was also considering Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and Northwestern. “It really came down to my gut feeling and my relationship with head coach Chris Mack,” McKenzie is quoted as saying in the Cincinnati Inquirer. “Xavier is really the total package for me – socially, academically and athletically. It’s too much of an opportunity for me to pass up. I feel that it really is the best fit for me.” He is the fourth recruit for the Musketeers’ 2010 recruiting class joining Jay Canty- a 6-5 forward from Ragsdale H.S. in North Carolina, Justin Martin- a 6-6 guard from Mountain State University Academy in West Virginia, and Jordan Latham- a 6-8 forward from Baltimore City College H.S. in Maryland.

Bryce Jones, one of the top players in California, gave USC a verbal commitment last Thursday.  The 6-6 shooting guard picked the Trojans over Arizona, Arizona State, Gonzaga and UNLV. Jones sat out last year after transferring from View Park Prep of Los Angeles to Taft. Jones becomes the third recruit for the Trojans in their recruiting class of 2010 after Dwayne Polee- a 6-7 small forward from Westchester H.S. in California and Curtis Washington- a 6-9 power forward from Elizabethtown H.S. in Kentucky.