A look back at some of the major commitments of the past 10 days.
by Franklyn Calle
Orlando’s Cady Lalanne decided on Georgia over Ole Mississippi and Virginia Commonwealth last Wednesday. The 6-8 forward also reportedly received interest from George Mason, Auburn, and Massachusetts. He becomes the first co
mmit for the Bulldogs’ 2010 recruiting class. The Oak Ridge senior is nationally ranked among senior power forwards. He is expected to sign his letter of intent on the first day of the early signing period, November 11th. Lalanne, who visited the Georgia campus on Sep. 12-13, averaged 17 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks lat year as a junior. “I’d been thinking about it for a while so I was ready to do it,” Lalanne told the Atlanta Journal- Constitution. “I met Coach Fox this summer and he called me on the first day [of the contact period]. I looked at Coach Fox’s background and saw he had a good history of developing big guys like me. It’s a great school and it’s close to home so I didn’t see any reason to wait.”
Stanford received a verbal commitment from Josh Huestis last Thursday. The Montana native was considering USC, Oregon 
State, Georgetown, Montana, Montana State and Harvard. The 6-7 power forward from C.M. Russell High School is also expected to sign in a couple of weeks when the early sign period begins. Stanford is loaded for next year with Huestis becoming the fifth commit for head coach Johnny Dawkins’ 2010 recruiting class. Huestis will be joining Aaron Bright- a 5-10 point guard from Issaquah HS in Washington, Anthony Brown- a 6-6 small forward from Ocean View HS in California, Dwight Powell- a 6-10 center from IMG Academy in Florida, and John Gage- a 6-10 power forward from Vashon Island HS in Washington.
Also on Thursday, Michigan State received great news when they landed a verbal commitment from Adreian Payne, a top 25 recruit. The Dayton, Ohio, native chose the Spartans over Arizona, Kentucky, and We
st Virginia according to reports. He becomes the fourth recruit for the Spartans 2010 class following Keith Appling- a 6-3 point guard from Pershing HS in Michigan, Russell Byrd- a 6-7 shooting guard from Blackhawk Christian School in Indiana, and Alex Gauna- a 6-8 center from Eaton Rapids HS in Michigan to the Big Ten Conference. Five days later, Michigan State landed their first recruit for the 2011 recruiting class in Brandan Kearney. The 6-5 small forward is nationally recognized among the best at his position. Also involved in his recruiting were Minnesota, Michigan, Georgetown, and Ohio State, according to ESPN Scouts Inc. Michiganlive.com also reported that Kentucky’s Calipari made a late push for Kearney attempting to delay his announcement.
Purdue landed their 3rd recruit for their 2012 class on Saturday in Jay Simpson. The 6-8 power forward has yet to play a varsity game. Illinoi
s, Iowa and Xavier also were involved in his recruitment. “It’s a great situation … just a great fit. I came over to Purdue a couple of weeks ago for an unofficial visit and watched practice,” Simpson told the Journal and Courier. “They showed me a lot of love. The players were great. I also like that Purdue is very much a program on the rise.” Ironically, Simpson is from Champaign, IL, which can be considered Fighting Illini nation. The 15 year old will be joining Kyle Molock- a 6-1 point guard from Dublin Coffman HS in Ohio, and Rapheal Davis-a 6-5 forward from South Side HS in Indiana.
Jim Boeheim received great news on Sunday when his program landed a verbal commitment from shooting guard Michael Carter-Williams. The 6-5 Massachusetts native was also considering Providence, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Miami as well as Boston College.“I didn’t think I would like any school better than Syracuse,” Carter Williams told The Salem News. “I wanted to have the decision off my shoulders. It wouldn’t be fair to my teammates (at St. Andrew’s) to be thinking about colleges this season. I want to focus on my academics and basketball — now I’ll be able to do that.” Last year as a sophomore, he averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds for St. Andrew’s School in Rodhe Island. He becomes the first commit in the Orange’s 2011 recruiting class.
Top 30 na
tionally ranked junior, Kevin Ware, decided to end his recruitment on Sunday after choosing Tennessee. The 6-4 shooting guard also held scholarship offers from Miami, Florida, and Georgetown. Last year Ware averaged 16 points, 8.5 assists and 8 rebounds as a sophomore “It’s good knowing I’m going up there with people I already know,’’ Ware told the Knoxville News Sentinel. “It’s just Tennessee’s style of play, how I fit the system, and the academics. The Georgia native is currently the only recruit in the Volunteers’ 2011 class.
Tyreek Duren, a Philly native whom I had a chance to check out this past summer at the Reebok All-American Camp, decided on Monday that he will be staying home and attend La Salle University. The 6-1 guard was also considering Temple and 
Massachusetts. “Out of Temple, La Salle and UMass, I think at La Salle I got the best chance of playing right away and be on a good team,” he told the Philadelphia Inquirer. As part of next year’s incoming freshmen class for the Explorers, he will be joining New Jersey’s Matt Lopez, a 6-10 center from Washington Township HS.
New York City’s Devon Collier ended his recruitment last night. The 6-9 Bronx native chose Oregon State over Big East locals St. John’s, Seton Hall, and Providence. Collier is rated as one of the top power forwards in the country for the 2010 class and will finish off his high school career under legendary coach Bob Hurley at St. Anthony’s HS in Jersey City. “He’ll become a better player, but he’ll become a better person,” his AAU coach Kimani Young told the NY Daily News. “Getting away from home will be good for Devon.” He joins Ahmad Starks, a 5-8 point guard from Whitney Young HS in Chicago, as part of next year’s Beavers incoming freshmen.
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