Wednesday marks the beginning of the NCAA late signing period and several of the top basketball recruits in the nation — including Brooklyn’s own Lance Stephenson — have yet to pick a college.
Three of the Top 10 recruits in the Class of 2009 according to Rivals.com — No. 1 John Wall, No. 3 Xavier Henry and No. 9 Stephenson — are keeping college coaches and fans sweating until they make their final decisions.
“It’s unusual that that many of the elite players are still available,” said Queens-based recruiting expert Tom Konchalski. “Part of it is due to the dislocation and movement in the college coaching ranks. Xavier Henry would’ve been all settled [at Memphis] had John Calipari stayed. … Some of them like to be the last guy [to pick a school] because that gets them into print more.”
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**In a related story, Tim Stevens of the News & Observer reports that John Wall could potentially be eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft because he is 19 and is a year removed from his high school graduating class. It should be pointed out that Wall himself has not expressed any interest in going to the NBA this year and instead says he’ll pick a college in the late period.
**Also, Kentucky center Patrick Patterson will test the NBA waters but won’t hire an agent, meaning he could return to play for John Calipari for his junior season. Teammate Jodie Meeks will do the same thing. DraftExpress.com projects Patterson as the No. 23 pick by the Portland Trailblazers.
