“Anali is excited about playing for a coach who has coached in a high major college program, who is also a great teacher of the game and who has a good number of players in the NBA,” said his high school coach, Wendell Saunders of Banneker. “He also would like to experience playing in the NCAA Tournament and he feels George Mason would have a better chance by the time he plays because Coach [Paul] Hewitt has a track record for recruiting talent.”

Okoloji must sit out next season per NCAA transfer regulations and will suit up for the 2012-13 season.

George Mason is adding local products Corey Edwards of Christ the King and Vaughn Gray of St. Benedict’s Prep this season.

Okoloji played in just 16 games as a freshman last year and averaged 3.3 minutes per game.  The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 1.9 points and 1.0 rebounds per game.  Okoloji scored a career-high nine points vs. NJIT on Dec. 19.

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By ALEX KLINE

On Sunday night, two very different — but talented – players made their college decisions.

Erik Copes, a a 6-foot-8 2011 center out of Imhotep Charter in Pennsylvania, is headed to Geroge Mason.

And Georges Niang (pictured), a 6-7 2012 forward out of the Tilton School in New Hampshire, has pledged to Iowa State.

Copes, who was released from his letter of intent with George Washington on Tuesday, decided it was best to move on. The program fired head coach Karl Hobbs, who along with Copes’ uncle, Roland Houston, recruited the star senior to George Washington. Houston was recently hired by new George Mason head coach Paul Hewitt as an assistant. This led to Copes taking an official visit this weekend and his ultimate decision.

“I love the Virginia area and what it has to offer,” he said by phone on Sunday. “The university is amazing and the campus is great.” Copes was disappointed when he first found out that the George Washington staff was fired. However, after visiting George Mason this weekend, he believes this is a much better opportunity.

The No. 22 power forward in the Class of 2011 per Rivals, Copes joins Christ the King point guard Corey Edwards and St. Benedict’s Prep guard Vaughn Gray in George Mason’s 2011 class. Both remained committed after the coaching change.

Niang’s recruitment was not as complicated.

Coming into Tilton School as a non-athlete, Niang was not a basketball player until he tried it. Now, his stock has taken off. The talented forward made his decision after evaluating the process.

“I committed to Iowa State,” he said by phone on Sunday night. “Everything felt right and Coach (Fred) Hoiberg is a great guy and coach. The staff did a great job of recruiting me and making me feel at home.”

Niang, is part of the talented Tilton and BABC team which features Nerlens Noel, Wayne Selden and Goodluck Okonoboh, among others. He took an unofficial visit to the Hawkeye state in March and toured Iowa and Iowa State. Ultimately, he chose the Cyclones over the Hawkeyes, Providence, Texas A&M, Miami (FL) and a number of other schools.

“Georges is a tremendous competitor with great offensive skills and instincts,” Tilton coach Marcus O’Neil said by text.

“His focus is always on winning and has proven to be very durable.”

RECRUITING RUNDOWN

Brian Bernardi, a 2012 shooting guard out of Xaverian in New York, took an unofficial visit to Georgetown on Saturday. “I loved it!” he said. Bernardi, who has over half a dozen mid-major offers and is still waiting for his first high major offer. That could come soon from Providence, a school he visited two weeks ago.

Johnnie Vassar, a 2014 point guard out of Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts, took an unofficial visit to Syracuse on Saturday. Vassar, who went to see his sister graduate from the school, also met with Syracuse assistant Mike Hopkins. “The ‘Cuse visit went really well and I enjoyed meeting Coach Hopkins,” he stated. A Chicago native, Vassar recently took an unofficial visit to Illinois, where he picked up his first scholarship offer from the Fighting Illini.

Zach Auguste, a 2012 power forward out of New Hampton in New Hampshire, took an unofficial visit to Providence this weekend, according to his coach Pete Hutchins.

Derek Walton, a 2013 point guard out of Chandler Park Academy in Michigan, took an unofficial visit to Michigan on Friday. The talented guard hopes to stay close to home and loves cold weather. “The visit went GREAT,” he said by text. “The coaching staff is incredible & the program is going in a positive direction.”

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The former Georgia Tech coach met Wednesday with both players and both will remain committed to George Mason.

“The meeting went well,” June Gray, Vaughn’s mother said by text. “Vaughn’s excited to be under Coach Hewitt.”

After initially saying he might consider going to Miami with new coach Jim Larranaga, Edwards told ZAGSBLOG on Monday he would remain committed to George Mason.

He reaffirmed those thoughts after Wednesday’s meeting.

“Once I found out they hired him, it was real positive, knowing he was an ACC coach, he put guys in the [NBA]. He knows how to win, basically,” Edwards told the New York Post. “He’s a great coach. He’s recruited the best, he’s coached the best.”

(Photo courtesy Washington Post)

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He also said, “In June I am goin to George Mason.”

****

George Mason signee Corey Edwards said new Miami coach Jim Larranaga talked to him about following the coach to Miami and that he is considering it.

“The coach from George Mason is talking about me going over to Miami,” Edwards said Monday by phone. “I told him it could be a possibility.”

The news broke April 22 that Larranaga was leaving George Mason for Miami.

Edwards said Larranaga called him “a couple days after he took the job.”

“He called me and we were talking about is it possible that you would come with me?” Edwards said.

On Saturday, former Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt became the new George Mason coach and Edwards said Hewitt is due to meet with Edwards and his family this week.

“Coach is going to come to my house on Wednesday and talk to me and my family,” Edwards said of Hewitt.

Asked where he was leaning, Edwards said, “I’m really kind of undecided right now. It depends on whether they’re going to let me out of my Letter of Intent and the discussions that me and coach have.”

He added: “Miami is a good school. It’s an ACC school. It could be the right school. Coach Larranaga is a good coach.”

Vaughn Gray, the St. Benedict’s Prep guard who committed to George Mason the same day Edwards did, said he would remain committed to George Mason.

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**Hewitt on George Mason: ‘Just too good to turn down’

**Hewitt to George Mason

**Larranaga move could impact locals

(Photo courtesy Daily News)

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Paul Hewitt

Georgia Tech fired Hewitt after 11 seasons, including five NCAA Tournament trips and an appearance in the 2004 national championship game. He was 190-162 during his tenure with the Jackets.

George Mason features several local products on its roster, including sophomore guard Sherrod Wright of Mount Vernon, redshirt-freshman forward Paris Bennett of Linden, N.J., and junior forward Ryan Pearson of Christ the King.

Vaughn Gray, a senior guard at St. Benedict’s Prep remains committed to George Mason.

“Vaughn is very excited with the choice,” his mother, June, said by text. “Although he hasn’t spoken to Coach Hewitt yet, he’s made a decision to keep his commitment to George Mason.”

Point guard Corey Edwards of Christ the King said he was waiting to hear from Hewitt.

“I really haven’t heard anything about it,” Edwards said Saturday by phone. “I spoke to the AD a couple days ago and he said he they were thinking about picking a coach that we all could relate to. If it’s Paul Hewitt, then it’s Paul Hewitt.

“It’s too early to tell [what I will do]. He’s a good coach. He’s from New York, obviously.”

Sophomore guard Sherrod Wright of Mount Vernon, redshirt-freshman forward Paris Bennett of Linden, N.J., and junior forward Ryan Pearson of Christ the King are all on the George Mason roster.

Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino and St. Patrick assistant Rae Miller said it was too early to comment on how the coach’s departure may impact those players.

Vaughn Gray, a senior guard at St. Benedict’s Prep who has signed with George Mason, remains committed at this time.

“I just spoke with Vaughn at 5 p.m. tonight and he spoke with GMU assistant coach Mike Huger earlier this afternoon,” former St. Ben’s assistant Billy Diamond said. “Obviously, Vaughn is disappointed about Coach Larranaga not coaching at George Mason next year but he respects his decision. I told Vaughn and his parents when he was deciding what college to attend, he should consider multiple factors including but not limited to, Coach Larranaga being there as head coach. We were all aware of the possibility of him leaving in the near future since he’s been such a highly successful coach at GMU.

“Vaughn’s decision to attend GMU was based on multiple factors besides just Coach Larranaga and his staff, such as the academic and social envrionment and reputation at George Mason, as well as the basketball program, facilities and campus. Tonight I spoke with GMU Athletic Director Tom O’Connor and he assured me that he intends to hire a very qualified coach to continue to lead their very successful basketball program.

“Vaughn and his family will speak with Tom on Monday and as of right now he is still committed to attend George Mason. However, he will wait until he sees who the new head coach is, meet with him and re-evaluate his situation at that time. Until then, Vaughn still intends to honor his commitment.”

Point guard Corey Edwards of Christ the King has also signed with George Mason.

“As soon as I speak to the AD over there and see what he’s going to do with the coaching job, that’s when I’m going to decide whether I want to back out of my letter of intent or whether I’m going to stick with George Mason,” Edwards said Friday by phone.

He said George Mason assistant Mike Huger recruited him and he was uncertain what Huger would do.

“He wasn’t aware what Coach L was going to do, but when I spoke to him yesterday everything was in the air,” Edwards said. “I haven’t spoken to him since.”

FREE THROWS

Former Virginia Tech assistant and Syracuse guard Adrian Autry will replace Rob Murphy on the Syracuse staff, per The Washington Post…Texas freshman forward Tristan Thompson is expected to announce his intentions to declare for the NBA Draft, according to multiple reports. Thompson initially said he would return for his sophomore season.

RELATED CONTENT

**Gray, Edwards commit to George Mason

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“We talked about it when we got down there,” the 5-foot-10, 176-pound Edwards said by phone. “We felt mutual. I’m a pass-first point guard and he’s a scorer. That would be a perfect situation for both of us.”

Edwards chose George Mason over UNLV, Fordham and Hofstra.

“I liked the whole atmosphere, the crowd, the team, the coaches,” Edwards said.

The 6-5, 185-pound Gray, who also considered Siena, echoed those sentiments.

“It fits all my needs,” he said. “I just felt comfortable there. It was a great academic school. I love the area. I got family down here. My aunt lives down here. I just feel like I love the team, the atmosphere. I felt comfortable with Coach [Jim] Larranaga and I felt it was a great opportunity for me.”

St. Benedict’s coach Roshown McLeod said Gray will bring scoring and defense to George Mason.

“Vaughn is a tough defender with great size for his position,” he said. “As he becomes a better shooter he will fall into what George Mason has had over the years — four-year seasoned players that can win with experience.”

As for playing with Edwards, Gray added: “That’s my man. We knew each other for a long time, playing at New Heights and with the Playaz. We definitely had a relationship.”

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After a couple of days at the Rumble in the Bronx at Fordham University, this much is clear: there is a lot of movement on the prep scene.

**Vaughn Gray, a 6-foot-5 off guard, is transferring to Newark (N.J.) St. Benedict’s Prep from Don Bosco Prep and will play for first-year coach Roshown McLeod.

“Yes, he’s going to St. Benedict’s,” said June Gray, his mother. “It was pretty much Vaughn’s decision. We wanted him to have more development and play more on a national level.”

Gray holds offers from Providence, Delaware, Drexel, George Mason and UNC-Charlotte.

“Vaughn brings energy and athleticism to the wing position for us,” McLeod said. “His ability to guard multiple positions on the floor with toughness will be vital to our team. He will also add senior leadership to what will be a young and talented team.”

St. Ben’s lost Myck Kabongo (Findlay Prep) and Sidiki Johnson (Oak Hill), but McLeod figures to bring in a few more transfers. The Gray Bees finished 20-1 last season under former coach Dan Hurley.

**Myles Davis, a 6-1 rising senior combo guard, may transfer back to his hometown Plainfield High from St. Peter’s Prep to play with fellow rising senior Tyrone Johnson, sources said.

The 6-3 Johnson — who is being courted by a number of schools, including Georgetown and Villanova — is also considering going to Montrose Christian, he told Gannett New Jersey.

“Right now it’s still undecided,” Johnson said. “I was leaning toward transferring but now I want to wait and see how things are going to come along.”

Added Davis: “He talked about going to Montrose and how that was practically done.”

Davis will trip to Virginia next week unofficially and is planning on tripping to Villanova June 17-18 “just to go check it out.”

Davis has a top seven of Villanova, UConn, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, St. Joe’s, George Mason and Virginia.

“I’m liking everybody,” he said.

**Former Seton Hall commit Dashaun Wiggins said he has yet to decide where he will play next season but is considering staying at Bridgton  (Maine) Academy or attending Newark (N.J.) NIA Prep or Notre Dame Prep.

“I’m not really sure,” said Wiggins, a Bronx native.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Wiggins verbally committed to Seton Hall when Bobby Gonzalez was head coach but does not appear to be on Seton Hall’s radar now that Kevin Willard is head coach.

“I never heard from them,” he said, “so obviously I’m not going there.”

He added: “It’s not frustrating. It’s a business.”

**New Jersey and New York have already seen a slew of high-profile transfers. Former Paterson Catholic guards Myles Mack and Kyle Anderson are headed to St. Anthony….Former PC guard Jayon James still plans to prep a year at Brewster (N.H.) Academy…South Kent is getting Derrick Randall (Paterson Catholic), Kadeem Jack (Rice), Maurice Harkless (Forest Hills) and Ricardo Ledo (St. Andrews)…St. Anthony guard Elijah Carter plans to attend either South Kent or Winchendon…2011 Fordham commits Jeff Short (Bronx Kennedy) and Devon McMillan (Uniondale) may also prep next year.

(Photos courtesy Rivals.com)

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Three of those players – Fisher, Stokes and Cheek — played at New Jersey high schools.

Now, as Wright plans for the future, he has his gaze focused on yet another talented Garden State guard.

Myles Davis, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound combo guard from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter’s Prep, is the No. 9 shooting guard in the Class of 2011.

Davis averaged 20.1 points a game and was named First-Team All-State by The Star Ledger. He dropped 33 points in an upset of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, scored 29 in the Group A final against Camden Catholic and had 23 against St. Anthony.

According to St. Peter’s coach Mike Kelly, Villanova is in a strong position with Davis at this point.

“Villanova has made a commitment to Myles Davis,” Kelly said. “They’re going to offer him in person. Jay Wright said they’re going to offer him a scholarship.”

There is a dead period until May 28, but Kelly said Wright could come to see Davis after the dead period in late May or early June.

“I talked to Coach Wright,” Davis said. “He seems really interested in me. I’m interested in the program, too. Coach Wright produces guards and it’s a guard school. If you want to get better as a guard that’s definitely a school to look at.”

Still, Davis is keeping his options open.

His complete list includes Georgetown, UConn, Pitt, Virginia, George Mason, St. Joe’s and Villanova. Among those, UConn, Georgetown and Villanova have yet to formally offer.

“There isn’t any specific leader,” Davis said. “There isn’t any order or anything.”

Aside from Villanova, Davis is also considering Big East rivals UConn and Georgetown.

“UConn is another guard-oriented school and I know they know what they are doing,” Davis said. “I went there for an unofficial. I worked out with the guys. I worked out with Kemba [Walker] and Shabazz Napier. C.J. Leslie was down there. I got to run with the guys.

“They just had a bad year last year.”

Davis also visited Georgetown last season and enjoyed it.

“It was really good,” he said. “I talked to Coach [John] Thompson [III]. I got to meet some of the guys. That was really good. Georgetown is definitely one of the schools that I’ve always looked  at. It was always interesting to me when I was young.”

Davis will run this summer with the Playaz Gold team that also features Myles Mack, Derrick Randall, Vaughn Gray and Desmond Hubert.

He plans to narrow his list later in the summer.

“By the end of the summer I’ll probably narrow it down to my top five,” he said. “I’ll probably take some unofficials. I just don’t know when yet.”

If you ask Kelly, Villanova would be a good landing spot for his star guard.

“What a great spot that would be,” Kelly said. “It’s a great spot for him. What I told Coach Wright is Myles is not a point guard. He’s not a wing. He’s really a slot guy, a guy that can slot toward the wing or toward the point.

“He’s more of a slot guard and I think that fits Villanova pretty well.”

(Photo courtesy Rivals.com)

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NEW YORK —

And when that Monday night comes around, the Heels hope somebody besides the Duke Blue Devils are raising the championship trophy.

“Ahhh, I want to see them lose because their Duke. I’d rather have West Virginia win,” freshman point guard Dexter Strickland of Rahway, N.J. told me Monday afternoon in Manhattan.

While Duke advanced to the NCAA Final Four to play West Virginia Saturday in Indianapolis, Carolina will play Rhode Island Tuesday night in the NIT Final Four at Madison Square Garden. Dayton meets Mississippi in the other NIT semi.

The West Virginia squad features a starting five made up entirely of players from New York and New Jersey, so Strickland is rooting for the Mountaineers over the Dukies.

“Da’Sean Butler is from New Jersey, so it’s nice to see him get a win. I’d rather them win than Duke win any day,” Strickland said referring to Butler, a senior wing from Newark who was instrumental in the Mountaineers winning their first Big East tournament title at the Garden.

Carolina coach Roy Williams was a little more political, saying it’s good for the Carolina-Duke rivalry when both teams succeed.

Duke is in its 11th Final Four under Coach Mike Krzyzewski, but its first since 2004. Coach K has led the Devils to three NCAA titles while Williams has won two at Carolina since 2005.

“I think Duke is the favorite,” Williams said. “They’ve proven that. They’re a No. 1 seed, they deserve a No. 1 seed.

“I think West Virginia’s next. They’re a 2 seed , they’re a 2 seed because of their play. Then I think Butler and Michigan State are 5 seeds. It’s weird because a 1′s playing a 2 and 5′s  playing 5.”

Asked flat out if he was hoping for Duke to lose, Williams did a nifty little dance.

“You’re talking about probably the largest rivalry there is in college basketball is Duke and North Caorlina. Duke helps make us good. and I hope that we hope make Duke good,” Williams said.

“When we play each other, when both teams are really highly ranked, it gets so much attention. For me deep down inside that is the most important thing. As long as we stay very good and they stay very good, that helps both of us.”

BARON FOCUSING ON RHODE ISLAND

While rumors swirl that Rhode Island coach Jim Baron could be in the mix for the St. John’s job, Baron says he’s strictly focused on his team and the NIT.

“I’m worried about my team,” said the Brooklyn native. “I always love coming back to New York because this is where I grew up. It’s great, my family’s here. I’m just worried about my team getting ready to play in the NIT, and that’s the most important thing for me right now.

“Once that’s over, then we’ll deal with the next issue. But right now I want the focus to be on North Carolina Tar Heels.”

Baron said he’s received calls from the media about the issue while he was visiting his brother in the hospital in Rochester. His brother just had open-heart surgery.

“I just said I wanted to focus on my brother and my team as far as getting ready for this NIT,” he said. “Let me tell you something. You can’t worry about anything else but North Carolina when you’re playing against North Carolina.”

St. John’s is set to meet with ESPN analyst Steve Lavin Monday in the New York area and if the meeting goes well, he could become the next St. John’s coach.

Norm Roberts was fired two weeks ago after six years on the job.

There has been speculation that former Virginia coach Dave Leitao could be an assistant to Lavin, but two sources said the men hadn’t spoken in over a year.

Besides, Leitao is said to be in the mix for head coaching vacancies at both Hofstra and UNC-Charlotte.

“He’s involved in about two or three jobs,” said an industry source. “The thing with him to St. John’s may not materialize.”

BRYON ALLEN TO GEORGE MASON

Bryon Allen, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound point guard from Oakdale (Conn.) St. Thomas More, verbally committed to George Mason Monday, choosing them over Siena and SMU.

“I felt it was the best program for me,” Allen said. “I felt real comfortable there.”

Allen initially committed to West Virginia, but lost his scholarship when Joe Mazzulla was granted a redshirt season.

An Upper Marlboro, Md. native, Allen said the George Mason campus in Fairfax, Va., was about 45 minutes from his home so “my friends and family can see me play.”

Allen knows several George Mason players from the high school and AAU ranks, including Isaiah Tate, Paris Bennett and Rashad Whack.

“I know some of the guys  from high school and AAU, he said.

Fran McCaffery’s decision to leave Siena for Iowa on Sunday triggered Allen’s decision.

“I was really considering Siena, but once I found out coach was leaving I went with George Mason,” he said.

Allen said he hopes to come in and battle for time at point guard.

“Coach [Jim Larranaga] said it’s up to me. I have to give it my all and show my leadership and skills and show what I can do,” he said.

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