Simmons, at 6-foot-4, is a true combination guard that can fill the role as scorer or distributor. He’s very quick and is a high-level athlete. Much like Smith, Simmons is tough to stop in transition. He’s an improved mid-range scorer and has good vision.
With Friday being the 4th of July I am releasing the weekly recruiting update a day earlier than normal. This weekly update will return to it’s normally scheduled Friday next week. This will be the final recruiting update prior to the first July live period which begins at 5pm on July 9th. For more information on the recruiting calendar over the next few weeks, check out this page.
News came down Wednesday afternoon that Josh Fortune was transferring to Colorado. This ends one of the more bizarre and confusing player transfers I’ve ever seen and I doubt the real reasons will ever be truly made public. Whatever the reasons, it seems Fortune was looking for a fresh start and he will get that at Colorado which is much further from his home than Providence, for what that’s worth.
Fortune leaving has left a bit of a hole at the shooting guard position. After the various swings and misses this spring, Ed Cooley and his staff are apparently on the fence about bringing someone in at this late stage. I’m told that Armel Potter is anxious to have the PC coaches watch him play live which is something that hasn’t happened as of yet. Potter is mulling over possibly playing somewhere during the July live periods but no decision has been made on that. I was told that Potter hasn’t spoken with Cooley yet but I get the sense that if Cooley calls with an offer, Potter will be on the next plane to Friartown. The former Florida Atlantic commit has offers from Appalachian State, Ball State, Iona, Niagara, Tennessee Tech and some other mid majors.
ESPN updated their class of 2016 rankings from the top 25 to the top 60 today. Providence is involved with more than 10% of the ESPN top 60.
Similar to Adam Finkelstein yesterday with the class of 2015, Reggie Rankin offered “Ten things to know about the ESPN 60”. The below are excerpts where a PC recruit is mentioned by Rankin:
3. There are some big-time wing scorers in the Class of 2016. These bucket-getters attack defenders and are difficult to deal with when they have the ball in their hands. Shooting guards Malik Monk and Josh Langford, small forwards Mario Kegler and V.J. King and SG Tyus Battle lead the top 20 players.
5. Combination forward Miles Bridges and point guardDennis Smith are fresh faces in the top 10 because of their consistent production. A few dominant performances this spring on the travel circuit clearly separated them from their peers.
8. There’s a lot of variety and versatility in the 2016 class. Many players can play and excel at two positions, both in the post and on the perimeter. A few examples are Bridges, Omari Spellman, Amir Coffey, Vance Jackson and Kobi Jordan-Simmons.
There is a charity all-star game being held Saturday at 5pm at East Greenwich HS. You can see the details and rosters below the video but this is a great cause and there will be a good number of PC recruiting targets participating. $10 admission at the door.
At 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 (5pm) many of New England’s top high school basketball prospects will come together at East Greenwich (R.I.) High School for the first annual 2eZ All-Star Game, The $10 admission will benefit event for Meeting Street School student Jake Downey.
The money raised will go directly to Jake Downey, a loving 11-year-old boy and the son of beloved teacher and coach at East Greenwich High, Bob Downey. Jake was born with congenital hydrocephalus, which caused brain injury and several serious medical complications. Jake is unable to walk and requires complete assistance for all his daily needs and care. Jake attends The Meeting Street School with many other kids like him that thrive each day with their special abilities. Through the all-star game money will be raised for a handicap van that will improve the daily life of Jake and his family, along with a donation to the Meeting Street School.
A dunk contest will prelude the all-star game. Here are the rosters, named with a “Space Jam” theme:
(College commitments in bold)
“2eZ Squad”
Unique Mclean | 6-2 G | Brooklyn, N.Y. (Hoosac School)
Jalen Adams | 6-2 G | Boston (Cushing Academy)
Jared Terrell | 6-4 G | Weymouth, Mass. (Brewster Academy) – Oklahoma State
Abdul-Malik Abu | 6-8 F | Boston (Kimball Union Academy) – NC State
Jarred Reuter | 6-9 F | Rochester, Mass. (Brewster Academy)
Crew Ainge | 5-10 G | Wellesley, Mass. (Kimball Union Academy)
Curtis Cobb | 6-4 G | Fall River, Mass. (Wilbraham & Monson)
Tomas Murphy | 6-7 F | Wakefield, R.I. (Prout School)
Max Twyman | 6-2 G | Rye, N.Y. (Brewster Academy)- Albany
Saul Phiri | 6-3 F | Haverhill, Mass (Worcester Academy)
Tommy Hunt | 6-1 G | Smithfield, R.I. (St Andrew’s)
Tyler Nelson | 6-2 G | Haverhill, Mass. (Central Catholic HS) – Fairfield
“2eZ Monstars”
Kaleb Joseph | 6-3 G | Nashua, N.H. (Cushing Academy) – Syracuse
Donovan Mitchell | 6-2 G | Greenwich, Conn. (Brewster Academy)
Terrance Mann | 6-5 F | Lowell, Mass. (Tilton School)
Tyler Lydon | 6-9 F | Pine Plains, N.Y. (New Hampton School) – Syracuse
Bonzie Colson | 6-6 F | New Bedford, Mass. (St. Andrew’s) – Notre Dame
Marcel Pettway | 6-6 F | North Providence, R.I. (Wilbraham & Monson)
Jackson Donahue | 6-0 G | Stonington, Conn. (Northfield Mount Hermon)
Dmitri Floras | 6-1 G | Merrimack, N.H. (MacDuffie School)
Bruce Brown | 6-4 G | Boston (Vermont Academy)
Zach Lydon | 6-8 F | Pine Plains, N.Y. (Bridgton Academy)
Tyree Weston | 6-1 G | New Bedford, Mass. (Cheshire Academy)
Ben Chester | 5-6 G | East Greenwich, R.I. (East Greenwich HS)
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