SYRACUSE TEAM NOTES

In case you missed some of these in the last week:

Paul Harris officially announced his verbal commitment to Syracuse with a press conference this past Friday, one day after teammate Robert Garrison held his official announcement for Connecticut. However, not everyone was in a celebreating mood as a public party held in honor of Harris, Garrison and their teammates of their state champion NFS team turned violent. Here are the stories from the local papers: Buffalo News on Harris Party and Niagara Gazette on Harris Party. Harris has found himself in toruble in the past a few times with the law and spent some time in an alternative high school, Syracuse fans will have to hope that getting away from Niagara Falls will also mean that trouble will stop finding him. Paul Harris is a very engaging young man that you hope can take advantage of the opportunity he is given and is not brought down by some around him, he is a kid you really like if given the chance to meet him. I hope Harris takes the steps necessary to keep those wanting to cause trouble away from him. As the articles said, there is no indication that Harris or any of his teammates were involved in any way in the incidents from Firday night and early Saturday morning.

Here are some stories on the Harris commitment: Niagara Gazette on Harris Commitment and the Syracuse Post Standard has a long, detailed story on Paul Harris and the life he has had leading up to his commitment to Syracuse: Harris Sharpening Image. Harris also took the time to thank the people of Niagara Falls High School and their fans, from the Post Standard: Harris Thanks the Falls.


The Niagare-Gazette has a story on SU 2007 commit Johnny Flynn and the tougher task ahead of him at Niagara Falls HS with the graduation of Paul Harris and others from their state championship team. It also mentions Harris will hold a press conference to "officially" chose a college and prep school on Friday. Here is the article: Flynn has New Challenge.

SU is being fined by the state for basketball ticket gifts to state figures: SU Fined.

Former SU Orange commit Tiki Mayben officially commits to UMass: Mayben to UMass.

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SYRACUSE RECRUITING UPDATE

Projected 2006-2007 Roster:

Seniors: Louie McCroskey (G), Demetrius Nichols (SF), Terrence Roberts (F), Daryl Watkins (C), Matt Gorman (BF)
Juniors: Josh Wright (PG), Dayshaun Wright (F)
Sophomores: Eric Devenderf (G), Arinze Onuaku (BF/C), Andy Rautins (G)
Freshmen: Paul Harris (G)

Note: SU has also picked up and early 2007 commitment from Johnny Flynn (PG)

Previous SU Orange recruiting features: July 14 report and June 28 Report. Also, the July 25 Round-Up.

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As reported earlier this week, Tiki Mayben and Syracuse have officially parted ways and coach Jim Boeheim and the SU Orange currently have 2 scholarships open. There is still a cloud of uncertainty with Dayshawn Wright and if he will be back this fall with the Orange. They have recently gotten the word that key target Deshawn Sims has opted to stay in-state with the Michigan Wolverines and this leaves the SU recruiting picture a little unclear right now.

I still fully expect the Orange to close the deal with NY C Brad Sheehan, and close the deal rather quickly. From there, things seem to be really up in the air as the Orange do not look to be very far along with many prospects, of course, this is Syracuse and a lot can change in a hurry if they decide to put the full court press on a couple different players in the near future. They definitely need to add an athletic forward, the 6'8 Sims would have been a perfect fit, but SU lost that recruiting battle. A player on their radar at one time, Lance Thomas, also would have been a nice fit, but SU seemed to pull out of that recruitment and concentrate on Sims. The same might have also been true for Raymar Morgan of Ohio.

I fully expect the Orange to land a major haul in 2007, but I really do not think they want to be extending six or seven scholarships, so finding two more additions for the 2006 class will be a priority. Sheehan is a strong possibility and I will be paying close attention to some forward prospects, like Taj Gibson, Justin Burrell, Damian Saunders, Tyrell Lynch, Shamari Spears, etc to see if they enter the SU picture. However, some of those guys may find their way to the class of 2007, too. One interesting name to watch is 6'9 230 lbs Canadian Devin Brennan-McBride. He could become a hot SU target in the near future. Long and lean DC F Jacob Green is another interesting name as is NYC's Austin Wallace and Rob Thomas.

Stay tuned...SU recruiting should be taking some different twists and turns in the weeks ahead.

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