BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: SETON HALL

May 16, 2007




COMMITMENT ALERT: Mike Davis, PF/C from NYC


2007-2008 Projected Roster

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


While many in the world of college basketball have been fixated on the recruiting battles for Jai Lucas and Patrick Patterson as the late signing period came to a close, the fans of the New Jersey Big East schools were closely following the back and forth battle waged by Seton Hall and Rutgers for Mike Davis. According to Jerry Carino's Hoops Haven blog, it looks as a winner was finally crowned as Davis is Headed to the Hall.


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Bobby Gonzlazez, the tireless recruiter that he is, added a 6th member to his 2007 recruiting class by getting the long awaited commitment of Mike Davis, the 6'9 BF/C originally from NYC who has bounced around to four different schools since being expelled from Xaverian as a junior. Davis, who at one time looked like he could join the program sometime this January when he finally fulfilled his high school graduation requirements, finally becomes an official member of the SHU recruiting class after a late charge by Fred Hill and Rutgers that took this story right to the end. Davis is another 6'9 230 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. Davis was a top-150 level recruit, but he has bounced around from class to class so much that he could give the Pirates a little more of a lift due to his advanced age than a normal top-150 big man prospect in his first season.

Davis joins Chris Smith, Brandon Walters, Austin Okosum, Michael Glover and Jeremy Hazell in the Pirate recruiting class. Smith committed to SHU a little over a week ago and is the younger brother of former Lakewood High School and St. Benedict’s Prep standout J.R. Smith, who plays for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets. Smith averaged a team-high 18.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.8 steals for the St. Ben's prep team last year (the Gray Beed field two teams). He can fill in at both guard spots and should be able to spell Eugene Harvey, whom Smith played with at St. Benedict's for a season, at the point next season. Walters was the 4th member of Bobby Gonzalez's 2007 recruiting class and also signed his letter of intent this spring. The NYC product from PSAL power Lincoln made his choice to be a Pirate last winter. 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.

Seton Hall previously signed Okosum, Glover and Hazell last fall. Last summer Bobby Gonzalez gained a commitment for 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. 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 the best 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. Also, sharp-shooting prep school wing Jeremy Hazell committed earlier in the process to Seton Hall. Hazell is regarded as one of the best deep threats in the perp ranks in the class of 2007 and will be a nice lift on the perimeter for Bobby Ganzalez's style of play.

Due to the transfer earlier this spring of Kashif Pratt, the Pirates do have another scholarship open, but they'd be wise to hold on and get moving on the talented 2008 local class. They will be looking for some scoring help in the class with the graduated of Brian Laing and Jamar Nutter and more size would be welcomed as well.

Check back often for SHU recruiting news and notes!

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SETON HALL 2007-2008 SNAPSHOT

May 7, 2007


Head Coach: Bobby Gonzalez
2006-2007 Record: 13-16 (4-12 Big East)

Returning Players:
Brian Laing, Senior (Guard/Forward)
Jamar Nutter, Senior (Guard)
Paul Gause, Junior (Guard)
Eugene Harvey, Sophomore (Guard)
Larry Davis, Sophomore (Guard)
John Garcia, Sophomore (Center)

Incoming Players:
Chris Smith (Guard)
Austin Okosun (Center)
Brandon Walters (Big Forward)
Jeremy Hazell (Guard)
Michael Glover (Forward)

Graduated:
Carl Marshall
Grant Billmeier
Stan Gaines

Transferred Out:
Kashif Pratt


Open Items/Issues:
At the moment I typed this up, Mike davis was still an open item as Seton Hall continues to pursue the 6'9 Big Forward in hopes of shoring up their frontcourt for the 2007-2008 season. Davis is also being pursued by Rutgers and a decision should be coming within days, but that has been said for months now. The Pirates have two scholarships currently open after adding Chris Smith and Brandon Walters in the late signing period and parting ways with freshman guard Kashif Pratt and incoming verbal commitment Jamar Greene. For now, it looks like bobby Gonzalez will pursue Davis until the very end and hold any unused scholarships for a 2008 class that has some interesting local talent.

Summary:
In his first year in the Big East Bobby Gonzalez guided Seton Hall to a 4-12 record. The Pirates played with a high amount of energy, similar to their coach's sideline demeanor. He will add some new recruits that are all very agile and the added depth will help greatly in the style of play the Pirates will look to attack with.

In the college game, good guards will keep you in any game and the Pirates appear to have a good stable of guards. Sophomore Eugene Harvey returns to run the show and Larry Davis and Paul Gause are perfect in the high-octane game that Gonzalez likes to unleash on the opponent. There was some question as to whether Jamar Nutter would return for a 5th-year, but it looks like we can count him in for 2007-2008 giving the Pirates an experienced deep threat that will look to rebound from a tough season last year.

The interior game still remains the Pirates biggest question mark. Last year they had to use Brian Laing and even Larry Davis at the '4' position due to injuries to Grant Billmeier and Stan Gaines as well as the slow comebock of John Garcia from his knee injuries. Billmeier and Gaines have graduated leaving Garcia as the only returning frontcourt player. Laing will hopefully be able to play the wing position for the most part, but you can see why the Pirates are going to battle for Mike Davis until the bitter end. It is uncertain how much help Auston Okosun or Brandon Walters will be able to provide next season. Michael Glover will bring his lunch pail every day to work in the Big East, but he will be a bit undersized inside, but he will work extra hard to give the Pirates some depth.

Seton Hall will be better equiped to play the full court defense that Bobby Gonzalez prefers. Their guard corps is deeper and they add some additional skill with Jeremy Hazell and everyone else is a year older. Their inside game is still below par for the Big East, but their backcourt will keep things interesting. They should set their sights on qualifying for the Big East Tournament and an NIT bid, they should be in that group of teams a luck break or two from sneaking out a .500 conference record, but they are going to have to shoot very well to make up for their lack of interior strength (and numbers).

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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: SETON HALL

May 7, 2007


COMMITMENT ALERT: Chris Smith, (G) St. Benedict's Prep


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), Chris Smith (G)


There is One Coming, One Going on the recruiting front at Seton Hall as Jerry Carino reports in his Hoops Haven Blog that Chris Smith of St. Benedict's has committed to the Seton Hall Pirates and will sign a letter of intent this week. With the news of Smith coming to Seton Hall, it is also reported that JUCO Jamar Greene, who verbally committed to the Pirates last winter, will not be part of the 2007 recruiting class.


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Bobby Gonzlazez, the tireless recruiter that he is, added a 5th member to his 2007 recruiting class by getting a verbal commitment from Chris Smith, a 6-foot-3 senior guard from St. Benedict’s Prep. Smith is the younger brother of former Lakewood High School and St. Benedict’s Prep standout J.R. Smith, who plays for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets. Smith averaged a team-high 18.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.8 steals for the St. Ben's prep team last year (the Gray Beed field two teams). He can fill in at both guard spots and shoudl be able to spell Eugene Harvey, whom Smith played with at St. Benedict's for a season, at the point next season.

Smith joins Brandon Walters, Austin Okosum, Michael Glover and Jeremy Hazell in the Pirate recruiting class. Walters was the 4th member of Bobby Gonzalez's 2007 recruiting class and signed his letter of intent this spring. The NYC product from PSAL power Lincoln made his choice to be a Pirate last winter. 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.

Seton Hall previously signed Okosum, Glover and Hazell last fall. Last summer Bobby Gonzalez gained a commitment for 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. 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 the best 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. Also, sharp-shooting prep school wing Jeremy Hazell committed earlier in the process to Seton Hall. Hazell is regarded as one of the best deep threats in the perp ranks in the class of 2007 and will be a nice lift on the perimeter for Bobby Ganzalez's style of play.

With the late additions of Walters and Smith, the Pirates are left with one scholarships for 2007 and they remain in the mix for Mike Davis, who at one time looked like he could join the program sometime this January when he finally fulfilled 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. However, once considered a lock for Seton Hall, it looks like Rutgers has made a strong move and might be expecting him to join the Scarlet Knights class in the near future.


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

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