Tyreke Evans Picks Memphis

Tyreke Evans, the #1 Prospect on the Sports Illustrated / Takkle Top 25 Basketball Rankings, has chosen to join the Memphis Tigers and Coach John Calipari next year.

Read the full story here.

Evans decision was made today after a recruiting process that included strong offers from Villanova and Texas. Most people believe this decision was made as a result of Memphis star freshman Derrick Rose's announcement to enter the 2008 NBA Draft just a few days ago.

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McDonald's All-American Team is Named: Mike Rosario is a surprise pick

The McDonald’s All-American teams were announced this week, and there were a few surprises.

As expected, American Christian guard Tyreke Evans and St. Benedict’s forward Samardo Samuels will headline the East team in Milwaukee. But the biggest surprise on the team had to be St. Anthony’s guard Mike Rosario. This is a major coup for Rutgers, who signed the 6-0 guard, as Fred Hill, who was hired to replace the departed Gary Watters based on his skill as a recruiter, can now say that he has brought a McDonald’s All-American to Piscataway. But Rosario’s inclusion, despite the fact that he has played extraordinarily well this season, is somewhat odd being that he isn’t even the best player on his team. That distinction belongs to junior forward Dominic Cheek, who will be a prime candidate for next year’s squad. St. Anthony’s will take on Evans and American Christian tonight at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City.

- As for the West squad, it looks like Brandon Jennings and Willie Warren will finally get a chance to team up in the backcourt. Warren, of North Crowley High in Fort Worth, was supposed to be Jennings’ backcourt mate at Oak Hill Academy this year. But Warren, an Oklahoma signee transferred back to North Crowley this fall, where he has led the Panthers to a 31-1 mark. Jennings exploded for 63 points last week in a win over Bonner. What a duo they would have made.

- In a blockbuster playoff match-up in Florida, sophomore wunderkind Brandon Knight led Pine Crest to a 90-76 win over Kenny Boynton and American Heritage in the state regional semifinals. “Knight is a special player,” American Heritage coach Danny Herz said. “We haven’t had a player like that around these parts for quite some time."

- American Christian junior guard Lamont Jones, who was included on TAKKLE’s first-team All-PrimeTime Shootout squad after his blistering performances against Rancocas Valley and South Kent, told the New York Daily News that he is decomitting from Louisville and that his recruitment is once again open. Jones, who transferred to ACS from Rice High in Manhattan, should be a hot commodity on the summer circuit.

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Tyreke Evans to visit Memphis - Ohio State Bound B.J. Mullens dominates

Top-ranked basketball player Tyreke Evans of American Christian School told the Philadelphia Daily News this weekend that he will take his final recruiting visit this weekend to Memphis. Evans says there is no clear-cut favorite, but Villanova, Louisville, Connecticut and Texas seem to be in the running.

- B.J. Mullens of Canal Winchester H.S. in Ohio, the number 11 player in the country according to TAKKLE.com/ SI player rankings, scored 48 points last weekend against Centennial High. Mullens, a 7-foot senior, has signed with Ohio State.

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PrimeTime Shootout: Lamont Jones, Tyreke Evans and Greg Monroe

American Christian School proved once again that they are more than just a one-man team today at the PrimeTime Shootout.

Eagles junior guard Lamont Jones stole the spotlight from Tyreke Evans this afternoon in American Christian’s 73-48 win over Rancocas Valley of New Jersey. The Red Devils had been able to keep the game surprising close until Jones, a transfer from Manhattan’s Rice High and Louisville commit, took over. Jones hit six 3-pointers in the third quarter, highlighting a 25 point performance that earned him game MVP honors. Evans, the top-rated player in the TAKKLE.com Top-25 rankings, finished with only five points, but he was hardly missed. He’ll get a chance to redeem himself on Sunday when ACS takes on South Kent School of Connecticut.

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St. Benedict’s, the number three team in the country according to SI.com, played a surprising close game against Our Savior New American of Long Island Saturday afternoon. The Gray Bees dynamic duo of junior guard Tamir Jackson and senior forward Samardo Samuels combined to score 51 of the St. Benedict’s 77 points in a 77-63 win. Jackson, who currently list UAB and North Carolina State as two of his top choices, had 26 points, earning him MVP honors. Playing with Samuels has garnered Jackson a great deal of attention, and bigger schools may be getting in contact with him soon.

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Helen Cox High forward Greg Monroe is considered to be a perfect fit for John Thompson III’s Georgetown program, and he showed why today. The Louisiana big man 28 points and notched nine boards in the Cougars’ 62-58 win over Whitney Young of Chicago. He also displayed a deft passing touch for a big man, and was remarkably comfortable at the top of the key. He was able to pass well out of the high post to fellow big man Trevon Flowers down low, and those skills will be of great use in JTIII’s Princeton offense.

Video Posted from Greg's Gallery on Takkle.com

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Michigan - Ohio Coaches In Attendance for Terrelle Pryors (basketball) Game, Tonight

Tonight, the Villanova Pavilion will host a high school doubleheader featuring some of the best players in the nation, in both football and basketball.

Chester (Pa.) High, who behind Nasir Robinson played its most complete game of the season when the Clippers topped Harrisburg High in Pittsburgh, will take on Jeannette High, and top-rated football prospect Terrelle Pryor. Pryor is a terrific basketball player as well, but has said that he will give up the sport in college to concentrate on football.

"I want to be the best college quarterback in the game, so I know that playing basketball isn't in my future," Pryor told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette yesterday. "I know I have to get stronger, study more films and improve my football techniques if I want to achieve that goal."

Basketball used to a sanctuary away from football for Pryor, but the Post-Gazette story says that might be changing. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and several assistants are expected to attend Pryor’s basketball game on Saturday against East Allegheny High. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel will also be in attendance, and Jeannette basketball coach Jim Nesser indicated to the Post-Gazette that the Buckeyes may be in the driver’s seat in the Pryor sweepstakes.

"I think Terrelle likes and trusts (Ohio State coach Jim) Tressel, but that's my opinion," Nesser said. "He'll do well wherever he chooses."Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether Pryor will sign on Wednesday.

- Also at the Villanova Pavilion, American Christian Academy and top-ranked guard Tyreke Evans will challenge Samardo Samuels and St. Benedict’s High in the event’s feature game. Tonight’s games are all fall under the PrimeTime Shootout banner. But the main event is still next weekend in Trenton. Stay tuned for coverage next week.

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Terrence Jennings out-duels Tyreke Evans

Notre Dame Prep star Terrence Jennings was the star of last weekend’s Showcase Event in Pittsburgh. The Louisville-bound power forward scored 29 points in a win over Tyreke Evans and American Christian. Evans, who was in foul trouble for most of the contest, finished with 11 points.

Jennings originally signed with Maryland, before de-committing and signing with the Cardinals. He will join St. Benedict’s High super prospect Samardo Samuels at Freedom Hall, and may just end up playing with Evans as well.

Upon Jennings announcing his commitment in October, several reporters caught up with Tyreke’s older brother Reggie Evans to get his thoughts on the signing. "That's a good pickup by them dudes," Reggie Evans said. "Man, I like that kid Terrence. 'Reke likes him, too. Mount Zion played American Christian twice last year (when Jennings was at Mount Zion) and I was like, 'Damn, is that Amare Stoudemire's little brother?" "It's a good added pickup (for Louisville). That's just what we want to see. We want to see who's coming and who's going. “They got him and Samardo. That's a good look for them."

The recruitment of Tyreke Evans continues, with Louisville currently the favorite, but Villanova, Connecticut, Texas, and Memphis still prominently in the mix.

Video Posted from Tyreke's Gallery on Takkle.com

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Chester High's Nasir Robinson, Quick as a Panther

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon likes his players quick, tough, and confident and Chester, Pa., guard/forward Nasir Robinson fits that mold perfectly.

At this past weekend’s Lehigh Valley Showcase in Allentown, Pa., Robinson and the Clippers topped Harrisburg (Pa.) 74-68 in a contest in which the senior guard proved yet again that you don’t have to be the game’s high scorer to be the best player on the court. Robinson stats (13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists) exemplify the completeness of his game. His shot needs a little work, but he’s a relentless worker and a fearless leader.

Robinson made headlines a couple of years ago when he became one of the rare prep stars to jump from a private school powerhouse (American Christian Academy of Aston, Pa. – home of top schoolboy prospect Tyreke Evans) to Chester High, a public school that launched the career of Jameer Nelson and others. Evans and Robinson were and remain friends, but Robinson felt the need to forge his own identity.

"I wanted to come here and play in front of my hometown,” Robinson told the Delaware County Times. “I was nervous at first, but now I’m more comfortable and relaxed."

Chester is currently ranked 6th in the country by Sports Illustrated.

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It’s the Lance Stephenson show, starring Lance Stephenson.

Lance Stephenson and Lincoln of Coney Island were the stars of Saturday’s competition. The Railsplitters embarrassed Milwaukee Pius IX 89-56, with Stephenson tallying 22 points and 13 rebounds in just 22 minutes on the court.

Stephenson, a junior, is the star of his own web reality series, available at BornReady.tv. Not to put the cart before the horse, but if the Railsplitters win this year’s Public Schools Athletic League championship, he and teammate Darwin Ellis will have a chance to be the first players to win four consecutive PSAL titles next year. The only potential hurdle for Lincoln in the PSAL is Boys & Girls High of Brooklyn, which features Rutgers-bound shooting guard Patrick Jackson. The Kangaroos played the Railsplitters tough in December, falling 109-95 in double overtime. These two squads met last year in a PSAL final that was marred when several brawls broke out in the stands at Madison Square Garden.

- Although much of the focus this past weekend was on the HoopHall event in Springfield, Big Apple Basketball’s High School Invitational at Baruch College in Manhattan had its fair share of thrilling finishes as well as big-time prospects. Despite playing without top-rated-prospect Tyreke Evans, who was out with a concussion, Pennsylvania’s American Christian still had enough firepower to outlast St. Thomas More of Connecticut and Indiana-commit Devin Ebanks. Ebanks, who had played at Bishop Loughlin of Brooklyn previously, tallied 31 points and 16 rebounds in the loss.

- Also at the Big Apple event, Notre Dame Prep topped Blair Academy of New Jersey 77-67. It was an odd game for the Crusaders, however, as Louisville-bound star forward Terrence Jennings found himself in foul trouble early. Missouri-bound guard Kim English picked up the slack, however, notching 21 points and eight rebounds in just 18 minutes.

Video Posted from Lance's Gallery on Takkle.com

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