BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: SETON HALL

December 1, 2006


COMMITMENT ALERT: Brandon Walters, PF/C from Lincoln High School in NYC.


2007-2008 Projected Roster

Seniors: Brian Laing (G/F), Jamar Nutter (G)
Juniors: Paul Gause (G), Austin Okosun (C)
Sophomores: Kashif Pratt (G), Eugene Harvey (PG), Larry Davis (SG), John Garcia (C/F)
Freshmen: Michael Glover (F), Jeremy Hazell (G/F), Brandon Walters (BF/C)


For a story on Walters's commitment, see the article in the NY Daily News: Walters Splits for Seton Hall.


Read More...Click 'Read More' Below!!!


Brandon Walters is the 4th member of Bobby Gonzalez's 2007 recruiting class as the NYC product from PSAL power Lincoln made his choice to be a Pirate next year. Walters is a 6'9 BF/C with a solid skill set and enough athleticism to be a good shot-blocker and rebounder in the Big East. He is one of those players you feel has his best basketball ahead of him if he can consistently put forth the effort on the floor and the determination to improve in practice. At 6'9 and 220 lbs, he brings much needed size to the Pirate roster and he is athletic enough to fit in the style that coach Gonzalez wants to bring to the floor with SHU. As a junior at Lincoln, Walters averaged just over 8 PPG and 11 rebounds. He was also considering Rutgers, who he visited unofficially, Manhattan, St. John's and Providence. He had not visited Seton Hall, or anyone officially, since he has not taken his SAT's at this point.

Seton Hall previously got a commitment from the class of 2007 when Nigerian JUCO prospect Austin Okosum committed to Bobby Gonzalez and the Pirates. As a freshmen, Okosum played at NAIA school Georgetown College in Kentucky. Georgetown College is usually a popular place for Division 1-A transfers. After averaging 2.4 PPG and 2.7 rebounds in under 10 minutes a game, Okosum decided to take his game to the JUCO ranks and has quickly parlayed that move into a Big East scholarship.

Okosum joined Michael Glover in the 2007 recruiting class. Glover is a native of NYC whose older brother played for St. John's in the Big East. Glover is a solid athlete that competes with a high intensity level. A little under-sized for a PF, Glover relishes that disadvantage to bang away inside and is playing for a talented American Christian Academy. The other member of the class is sharp-shooting Jeremy Hazell, regarded as one of th ebest shooters in the prep ranks this year. Playing for a loaded Patterson School, Hazell has prozen to be a very solid recruit with his play this fall.

With the recent Walter's commitment the Pirates are left with two scholarships for 2007 and they remain in the mix for Mike Davis, who could join the program sometime this January when he finally fulfills his high school graduation requirements. Davis is another 6'9 225 lb big man that has the ability to run the floor. The big lefty has solid post moves and offers a little more of a low-block game to Walters, so they could compliment each other well. Questions on the health of John Garcia continue to remain and with all the knee trouble, you wonder how well he can hold up in Gonzalez's frantic pace.

With the final available scholarship, it would likely be held until the spring to see if anything late opens up, like last year when they landed Kashif Pratt, Eugene Harvey and got Larry Davis off a de-commitment from NC State when Bobby Gonzalez took the SHU job. Most likely the Pirates will hold the scholarship for 2008, when they have two more scholarships opening and a local class available that has much more available talent than the 2007 group.

Check back and we will keep you posted on the recruiting efforts of Bobby Gonzalez and his hard-working Pirate staff.