NEW ORLEANS — Russ Smith has been confounding coaches from high school to college.

Just ask Kelvin Jefferson.

For Jefferson, the coach at South Kent (Conn.) prep school, even Smith’s recruitment by Louisville was highly unorthodox.

“Russ had committed before they offered,” Jefferson told SNY.tv before letting out a hearty laugh. (more…)

Chris Thomas has expanded his top three into a top five.

The No. 1 shooting guard in the Class of 2013, Thomas now lists Xavier, Kentucky, Florida, Missouri and Iowa State as his top five, according to his grandmother, Latonia Smith.

“Those are his top five right now but that could change at any moment,” she told SNY.tv by text.

Seton Hall and Arkansas have also called, Smith said. (more…)

As first reported last week by FiveStarBasketball.com, South Kent’s Chris Thomas, the Rivals No. 1 shooting guard in the Class of 2013, has a top three of Xavier, Kentucky and Florida.

In an extensive interview Friday with SNY.tv, Thomas’s grandmother, Latonia Smith, expanded upon those three schools.

“With Chris, he really likes Xavier because the assistant coach, Rasheen Davis,” Smith told SNY.tv. “He really likes the way Rasheen communicates with him and encourages him and is always in his corner, so he really likes that about him.” (more…)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — For the second time in the last two seasons, Derrick Randall must fill in for Kadeem Jack.

A year ago, the two were teammates at South Kent (Conn.) before the 6-foot-10 Jack left in the middle of the season and ultimately enrolled at Rutgers in January.

Now, with Jack out 3-4 months with a broken foot, the 6-9, 235-pound Randall will again be asked to step up in Jack’s absence.

“Yes, this is going to be the second time filling in for Kadeem again so I just gotta get more conditioned and be prepared for this Big East Conference because everybody in this Big East Conference is tough,” Randall told SNY.tv. (more…)

Mike Taylor had it all going for him.

The 6-foot-4 shooting guard led Brooklyn Boys & Girls to its first New York PSAL championship ever in the spring of 2010, and then signed a National Letter of Intent to Rutgers that September, joining a blockbuster recruiting class for head coach Mike Rice.

Then the bottom began to fall out.

“I just stopped working,” he told SNY.tv by phone Tuesday. “I thought I didn’t have to to do school work and stuff like that.” (more…)

SOUTH KENT, Conn. — While Ricky Ledo and Chris Thomas figure to be the stars of this year’s South Kent (Conn.) team, Kelvin Jefferson’s club is loaded with strong role players, too.

Two of those players were placed at the prep school by the Kansas State staff, and may end up with the Wildcats.

Zedric Sadler is a 6-foot-2 postgraduate combo guard from Detroit (pictured at left), and Laimonas Chatkevicius is a 7-foot junior from Klaipeda, Lithuania. Both are 2012. (more…)

SOUTH KENT, Conn. — Ricky Ledo and Chris Thomas share a lot in common.

Both are potential pros who are still trying to get a grasp on maturity issues.

Both have had difficult family lives and are being raised by grandparents.

And both have landed at the South Kent school with a chance to make — or break — their futures together.

“I’m hoping it clicks and they make it to college and go on to make a lot of money one day,” South Kent coach Kelvin Jefferson told SNY.tv Wednesday after an open gym at the school. (more…)

Chris Thomas, the No. 1 shooting guard in the Class of 2013, has landed at South Kent (Conn.).

A Denver native, Thomas was at Westwind (Ariz.) Prep for the second semester last season but never played because he arrived late, and before that was at Bowie (Md.) Princeton Day.

“Chris is a tremendous talent and I am excited about the opportunity to coach him,” South Kent coach Kelvin Jefferson told SNY.tv. “Chris has great size and athleticism for the guard position. He should make an immediate impact.” (more…)

2011 DePaul commit Braeden Anderson says Cal is now the top choice for his new destination after signing his release papers.

“Cal is the favorite, I would say,” the 6-foot-8 forward told Alex Kline of TheRecruitScoop.com. “I have a good friend on the team, my fellow Canadian, Emerson Murray. They have really nice facilities, great academics and it wouldn’t hurt living in California.” (more…)