NEW YORK -- The Washington Huskies will leave here having gone 0-2 during their stay in the Big Apple and facing a question mark about one of their key players going forward.

Yet they remain optimistic they can compete for a Pac-12 title.

“We’ve lost some tough ballgames and I think we’ve learned a lot of things about ourselves, mainly that we can compete at a high level,” Washington coach Lorenzo Romar told SNY.tv after No. 5 Duke beat the Huskies, 86-80, at Madison Square Garden.

“I think we’ll take this experience and take it back home and be confident that we can go out and play and be real competitive.” (more…)

NEW YORK — Washington came to the Big Apple with a great opportunity to score at least one NCAA Tournament resume win.

The Huskies narrowly missed out on their first chance, losing a heartbreaker to No. 11 Marquette, 79-77, on a 3-pointer from Jae Crowder in the Jimmy V Classic at MSG.

So, does that make Saturday’s game against No. 7 Duke at the Garden a must-win in terms of NCAA Tournament credentials?

“Oh, definitely,” Washington sophomore guard Terrence Ross said after scoring a team-high 19 points, including a sick 360-dunk, and grabbing 9 boards in the loss. (more…)

Former Kansas State power forward Wally Judge will visit Maryland this coming weekend and Washington the next.

Memphis also remains an option.

“He’ll have a better feel after he takes his visits,” said Arlington (Va.) Country Day coach Rex Morgan, Judge’s high school coach.

“He only visited Kansas State and only signed there so it’s very important for him to take two or three visits and get a perspective.” (more…)

The man with the best name in college basketball has schedule two more visits.

God’s Gift Achiuwa will visit Washington this coming weekend and St. John’s over Easter weekend. The 6-foot-8 power forward from Nigeria by way of Erie Community College has already visited Cincinnati.

“I don’t know if he’s going to take five [visits],” Erie coach Alex Nwora said Wednesday by phone. “It depends. We’re going day-by-day. (more…)

God’s Gift is planning visits.

The 6-foot-8 Nigerian forward from Erie (N.Y.) Community College will visit Cincinnati April 8.

After that, he has tentative visits set for Washington (April 15) and St. John’s (April 21).

“The only visit that is definite is Cincinnati,” said Erie coach Alex Nwora.

Nwora said Kentucky was also interested in God’s Gift, but that the Wildcats were obviously busy with their run to the Final Four. (more…)

Back in April, Terrence Jones reached out to a table holding six baseball hats and picked up a black Washington Huskies cap as the assembled crowd at Portland (Ore.) Jefferson High let out a roar.

Three weeks later, he officially changed course and announced he would go to Kentucky instead.

Now, Jones and his new team may meet the team he briefly committed to in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational Tuesday night.

The 6-foot-8 Jones put on a show in posting 29 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals in a 76-64 victory over Oklahoma. (more…)

Norvel Pelle, the No. 2 center in the Class of 2011 from Los Angeles Price High School, says he “loved” his official visit to St. John’s and will decide between the Johnnies and Washington after visiting UW next weekend.

“I have Washington next weekend,” Pelle said by phone Sunday night. “I’m just going with an open mind.”

Asked if those were the only two schools he was focusing on at this point, Pelle said, “Yes.”

Asked if he planned to sign in November, he said, “Yes.”

The NCAA early signing period runs Nov. 10-17.

(more…)

Things are moving fast and furious tonight in the world of college hoops recruiting….

**First off, Norvel Pelle told me tonight by phone that he plans to visit St. John’s and Washington, but didn’t have the specific dates nailed down.

“I’m starting visits next week,” he said.

The NCAA early signing period runs Nov. 10-17 and Pelle said he hoped to take “two or three” visits before it ends.

The 6-foot-10, 210-pound big man out of Los Angeles Price said he’s also considering UTEP, UCLA and Oregon. He has been to UCLA on an unofficial but not to the other schools. (more…)

After all the flirting with Louisville, and the Tweets to Kentucky coach John Calipari, Tony Wroten is staying home.

The 6-foot-5 senior guard from Seattle Garfield, ranked the No. 8 point guard in the Class of 2011 by Rivals.com, chose Washington over Louisville, UConn, Villanova and Seattle University.

Wroten’s father, Tony Wroten Sr., played football for the Huskies from 1981-84.

Two years ago, Wroten led the Garfield High to the Class 4A state championship game while averaging 18.6 points per game. He then sat out his junior year with a torn ACL in his right knee suffered playing football.

Wroten is Washington’s third commit for 2011, following 6-2 guard Hikeem Stewart of Rainer Beach (Seattle) and 6-10 power forward Jernard Jerreau of New Orleans, whom one Division 1 assistant coach said “has a chance to be a pro because of his excellent skills and athleticism.”

The Huskies are also reportedly pursuing 6-8 forward Angelo Chol of San Diego and 6-8 forward Norvel Pelle of Los Angeles.

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Two of the top prospects in the Class of 2011, Seattle guard Tony Wroten and Oakland guard Jabari Brown, will announce their college choices tonight on ESPNU.

Brown (pictured) goes at 5 p.m. EST and Wroten follows at 6.

The 6-foot-5 Wroten has a final five of Washington, Louisville, UConn, Villanova and Seattle University, but most expect him to announce for either Washington or Louisville. (more…)