November signings reap future benefits

November signings reap future benefits

Beginning last week, high school seniors could sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI), and for Rhode Island’s four Division I programs, November is a time to help cement the future of their programs.

The Ivy League does not participate in the NLI program, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a busy fall for Mike Martin and Brown. Martin has the Bears on the rise, finishing last season 7-7 in the Ivy League after a 2-12 conference record the year prior. Providence fans have witnessed Brown’s gains first-hand, seeing the Friars fall to the Bears last December, and coming within a missed jump shot of losing to them for a second straight year last week.

Martin already has five players committed in the class of 2014. Ohio point guard Tyler Williams will look to help replace star guard Sean McGonagill’s production next season, and he’ll be joined by a trio of shooting guards in Kyle Haber of Iowa, Florida’s Jason Massey, and Patrick Triplett, who will head east from Missouri. 6’8 Miki Ljuboja is an intriguing prospect. The power forward is a native of Serbia who lived in Illinois before prepping at Philips Exeter. He’s said to be a face-up big man with a solid skill set.

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Rhode Island came into the fall with just two scholarships available after welcoming a strong three man 2013 haul, led by the terrific E.C. Matthews. The Rams’ only commitment to date this season comes from 6’7, 240 pound junior college transfer Earl Watson. Watson will be eligible for two years beginning next season, and could help to form a bruising frontcourt alongside Gil Biruta. Like Biruta, Watson is at his best when he’s in the paint. He’s an athletic wide-body who won’t stray far from the rim. Expect the Rams to add backcourt help for next season, and if another scholarship opens up they would most likely add two guards.

After adding six freshmen this year, Bryant will look to parlay what very well could be a strong 2013-’14 season into a solid three man recruiting class. To date, Bryant does not have any commitments, but they’ve reportedly been involved with guards Cameron Johnson (6’5 shooting guard out of Pennsylvania) and Miles Wright from nearby Tabor Academy. Willem Brandwijk is a big man prospect out of the Netherlands who plays at Holderness and has also seen interest.

As reported earlier, Providence has an outstanding three man class of 2014, headlined by 7’2 center Paschal Chukwu out of Fairfield Prep. His commitment came on the heels of Franklin, Tennessee small forward Jalen Lindsey committing to Ed Cooley this summer. Both are universally regarded as top 75 prospects. Delaware power forward Ben Bentil rounds out the class. All three signed with the Friars last week, and it’s a group that will be among the nation’s top 20 at season’s end.

Locally, a pair of St. Andrew’s products are headed to Division I schools. 6’5 power forward Bonzi Colson is off to Notre Dame. Colson saw his stock take off after leading St. Andrew’s to the NEPSAC Class AA finals last March, and then putting up monster numbers for BABC on the AAU circuit this summer. He’ll pair with guard Henry Bolton for the final time this year, as the duo hopes to win the NEPSAC title they saw slip away on a last second shot by Cushing Academy’s Jalen Adams in March. Bolton will play his college basketball at Utah State, where he signed last week.

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Throughout the 2013-14 season, the staff of Friarbasketball.com will partner with GoLocalProv to bring you all of the latest on not only the makings of Providence’s 2014 class and beyond, but the recruiting classes and efforts at Rhode Island, Brown and Bryant as well. We’ll also feature local prep and high school players throughout the year.

We’ll take you through who may be on the verge of committing and highlight how commitments from each of the schools are faring throughout the season.

Follow Kevin Farrahar on Twitter @Kevin_Farrahar.