***UPDATED***
Kyrie Irving, one of the top point guards in the Class of 2010, took an unofficial visit to UConn this weekend and has changed his list as a result.
“I liked the court and the facilities,” Irving wrote in a text message. “The coaching staff, they were really passionate and informative.”
The 6-foot-1 Irving previously said Indiana was at the top of his list.
UConn, which wasn’t on his list before, now is.
“Yea, they are on my list,” he said.
The new list looks like this: UConn, Georgia Tech, Duke, Indiana, Seton Hall, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Florida, Marquette and Kentucky.
St. Patrick of Elizabeth (N.J.) Coach Kevin Boyle has high praise for Irving.
“Kyrie Irving, when it’s all said and done, he will arguably be as good as any guard who’s played in New Jersey,” Boyle told me earlier this year. “Any guard. Ever. Ever. DaJuan Wagner, Bobby Hurley, Shaheen Holloway. You’re talking about a guy who’s a great shooter, a great finisher. He’s going to be as good as anybody who’s played in New Jersey.”
HARALSON TRANSFERS
In other UConn news, freshman guard Scottie Haralson has transferred to Tulsa and must sit out next season as per NCAA transfer regulations.
“Scottie is a great addition to our team. He compliments D.J. Magley extremely well for the future, and then obviously losing Ben Uzoh next year he can step in there,” Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik told the Tulsa World.
“Scottie fills a huge need. He’s a big, strong and powerful kid who can really shoot the basketball. He was a very exceptional high school player with national recognition.”
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Haralson was the 2008 Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Provine High in Mississippi when he averaged 22.1 points a game. In 17 games with UConn last season, Haralson averaged 1.4 points and 4.1 minutes.
GORDON TO WESTERN KENTUCKY
Derrick Gordon, Irving’s teammate at St. Patrick, committed to Western Kentucky Friday night during his stay at the Hilltoppers’ elite camp.
The 6-2, 170-pound Gordon is the first 2011 commitment for coach Ken McDonald.
The 6-3 Gordon dropped 27 points on John Wall and Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God last season and averaged about 9 or 10 points a game. He helped St. Patrick win the New Jersey Tournament of Champions and the Celtics, with Irving, Gordon and Michael Gilchrist, should be the favorite again next year.
Auburn, Virginia and Rutgers were also after Gordon.
“I wasn’t surprised,” St. Pat’s coach Kevin Boyle said. “Derrick had a thing as a young kid about wanting to go to St. Pat’s. I wasn’t sure if he was good enough to play at St. Pat’s but he was so determined. He’s been the same way about Western Kentucky. He’s always loved Western Kentucky and he couldn’t wait to officially say he’s going there.
“He’ll be a great player there. He’s getting better and better. He’s going to really explode on the high school scene. This year people will realize how good he is.”
McDonald has also offered Kelvin Amayo, a 6-4 point guard out of Newark St. Benedict’s who is friendly with Gordon, so Gordon’s commitment could help land Amayo.ST. PAT’S SKED Once again, Boyle has slated an impressive schedule for the Celtics: Jan. 3 – Linden Jan. 10 – Trenton Catholic Jan. 18 – Findlay Prep (Hall of Fame Classic, Springfield, Mass.) Jan. 23 – St. Benedict’s (Coalition for the Homeless, Elizabeth, N.J.) Jan. 30 – TBD (Brian Doherty Classic, Newark, N.J.) Feb. – Westchester (Nike Extravaganza) Feb. – Oak Hill (Va.) Academy (PrimeTime Shootout, N.J.) Feb. – Rice (PrimeTime Shootout) (Photos courtesy Rivals, UConn)
