EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jared Cunningham committed to Arizona State as a sophomore out of San Leandro (Calif.) High School.

But Cunningham said the school opted to go in a different direction during signing period of his senior year, leaving him free and clear to go somewhere else.

“I think they got somebody at my position,” Cunningham told SNY.tv Monday at the Izod Center. “I really never got the answer really what happened. We just decided to part ways.” (more…)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Devon Collier could have stayed home to play college ball.

Big East schools St. John’s, Seton Hall and Providence were in the final mix for the 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward from The Bronx who finished his high school career playing for Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley at St. Anthony.

But Collier visited Oregon State several times, met with head coach Craig Robinson and decided that was the place for him because it felt like a “second family.”

“We felt that going away would be a good experience for me,” Collier told SNY.tv after shootaround Monday at the Izod Center. “I’m able to mature, get away from everything and it would be a good choice for me just to play in the Pac-12.” (more…)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Don’t look now, but the Oregon State Beavers are 4-0.

Yes, the same Oregon State team that finished 10-19 a year ago and was 42-57 through head coach Craig Robinson’s first three years on campus.

Yet the Beavers may have scored the biggest victory of Robinson’s tenure Saturday night when junior guard Jared Cunningham went for a career-high 37 points despite a split lip over the final minute as the Beavers beat perennial powerhouse Texas, 100-95 in OT, in the Legends Classic at the Izod Center.

(more…)

By ALEX KLINE

When Kelvin Amayo entered high school at NIA Prep in New Jersey, he was under the radar.

Throughout his career, he has played with some of the top tier talent in the area and always taken a backseat. Now, as one of the top unsigned seniors in the country, Amayo is a star.

It didn’t come easy, though. The 6-foot-4 guard/forward had to work at it.

“It took me hard work in the gym to be even brought up with the best in my class and nobody knows that this was my true drive to be great,” he said. (more…)

Former St. Bonaventure commit Elijah Carter will wait until the spring to sign with a school.

“Yes, I am,” Carter said by text.

Asked why he would not sign in the fall, Carter said, “So that I can bond more with the coaches I will be around for the next four years.”

The 6-foot-2 Carter, the No. 22 point guard in the Class of 2011, is still considering Oregon State, Seton Hall, Charlotte, Rhode Island and South Florida, but will now have an entire season at Brewster to mull his options — and perhaps consider other options.

“Yes, there is a chance new schools can get in,” he said.

The NCAA early signing period runs Nov. 10-17. (more…)

After taking weekend official visits, New Jersey products Elijah Carter and Desmond Hubert are still weighing their options as they move closer to decisions.

The 6-foot-2 Carter, a Willingboro, N.J., native, visited Oregon State this past weekend and watched the football team pound Cal, 35-7, on Homecoming Weekend.

“I had a great time,” Carter said by text. “I really enjoyed the college life out there.” (more…)

Two of New Jersey’s top 2011 recruits will hit the road on official visits this weekend when guard Elijah Carter trips to Oregon State and forward Desmond Hubert heads to Maryland.

“Taking an official tomorrow [Friday] to OSU,” Carter said Thursday night by text.

A year after initially committing to St. Bonaventure, the recruitment of the 6-foot-2 Carter has exploded, with Pac-10 and Big East schools getting involved.

At this point, Seton Hall, Oregon State and Charlotte appear to be the most likely destinations for Carter, who plays at Brewster (N.H.) Academy. (more…)

Elijah Carter is settling into his new life at Brewster (N.H.) Academy and trimming his college list as well.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Carter, a former St. Bonaventure commit, says his top five consists of Seton Hall, Cincinnati, Oregon State, Charlotte and Clemson.

Carter had an in-home visit with Oregon State assistant Nate Pomeday on Tuesday night. He also recently had an in-home with Cincinnati head coach Mike Cronin and assistant Darren Savino and also took an unofficial to Seton Hall.

Carter said no official visits are set although Oregon State would like him to visit in late October. (more…)

West Virginia picked up a verbal commitment Tuesday from Tommie McCune, a 6-foot-7 power forward from Saginaw, Mich.

McCune, ranked No. 29 at his position in the Class of 2011 by Rivals, committed after an unofficial visit to Morgantown Tuesday.

“Tommie McCune has committed to West Virginia,” All Ohio Red coach Benji Burke told Alex Kline of The Recruit Scoop. “He committed about twenty minutes ago.

“He thought it was the right time to commit and I think it is a great decision.” (more…)

Jahii Carson has four official visits in mind — and one of them is St. John’s.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Carson out of Mesa (Az.) High said he plans to take officials to Arizona, Washington, Oregon State and St. John’s.

He plans to leave one official open and said he would probably take it to Alabama or North Carolina.

He has already visited UCLA, Oregon State, Arizona and Arizona State unofficially. (more…)