KING OF PRUSSIA, N.Y. — Longtime friends and AAU teammates Tyler Wilson and Josh James made the move together, from the New York Gauchos to New Heights. It is proving to be a wise decisions — not only is their 17U team enjoying a big summer, but the two guards are seeing their recruiting pick up.
James, a 6-foot-2 rising senior from Archbishop Stepinac, recently landed an offer from Norfolk State and new interest from Siena and Marist to go along with a handful of exiting mid-majors offers from St. Peter’s, Manhattan, Iona, Stony Brook and Quinnipiac. He plans to commit before his senior year begins.
“I’m happy with the [schools recruiting] me, but I could get better ones,” the New Heights guard said.
Wilson, meanwhile has been hearing a lot from Samford, Butler and Eastern Illinois of late. Marist and Manhattan are his only offers. The 6-foot floor general had a breakout performance in the Adidas Invitational championship game, when he had 11 points and eight assists against Florida-bound point guard Kasey Hill, one of the nation’s top prospects and his Florida Elite team.
“That was a big stage, but I felt I’ve played better,” he said. “I have to keep playing good.”
New Rens’ Lee to leave LuHi: After winning back-to-back state Federation Class A titles, K.J. Lee is leaving Long Island Lutheran, he said. The versatile 6-foot-3 wing will transfer to the Salisubry School (Conn.), where he will reclassify into the Class of 2014 and team with top 10 prospect Chris McCullough of The Bronx.
“I need to get prepared for college,” Wilson said. “I will have an extra year — that’s the main reason.”
Lee, who is playing with New Rens-Memminger, has yet to pick up a scholarship offer, but said he has heard from Marist, Central Connecticut State, Hofstra, Canisius and Boston University. It will be a big change, from living at home in Huntington, L.I. to being on his own in Connecticut.
“It’s time to take on a new challenge,” Lee said.
NOTES: Bishop Loughlin’s Khadeen Carrington has landed offers from Iowa and SMU, his AAU coach with the Long Island Lightning, Chris Williams, said. … New York Lightning guard Dayshon Smith of Putnam Science Academy (Conn.) has added UMass, St. Bonaventure and Witchita State to his growing list of mid-major scholarship offers, which is now at 17, he said. … Boys & Girls guard Wesley Myers of the New York Panthers has recently heard from UMBC, Stony Brook, Norfolk State and St. Bonaventure, he said. … Curtis forward Hassan Martin is no longer considering Creighton after the Blue Jays landed another forward, a source said. The 6-foot-7 Martin recently added another scholarship offer from St. Joseph’s College, he said, to go along with the likes of Iowa State, Rhode Island, Kansas State, Providence, Fordham and Duquesne. Rhode Island’s Dan Hurley, Providence’s Ed Cooley and Fordham’s Tom Pecora were all front and center during Summer Classic East for his games. … UCLA is the latest offer for Isaiah Whitehead, Lincoln’s soon-to-be junior said. … Team SCAN’s T
erry Larrier was offered by Robert Morris and teammate Cheick Diallo of Our Savior New American was offered by Arizona, coach Terrence (Munch) Williams said. … New Heights guard Nassir Williams, a Cardinal Hayes grad, will likely do a postgraduate year at the Milbrook School in upstate New York, unless a Division I scholarship offer comes his way. Norfolk State and Samford have shown interest this year while Hofstra, Fairfield, Quinnipiac, Richmond, Robert Morris and Monmouth have indicated interest if he goes prep, Williams said. … Iona and Niagara are recruiting Xaverian rising junior guard Raven Owen, assistant Chris Alesi said. … Rhode Island recently offered Christ the King rising senior guard Jon Severe and Missouri is now involved, he said. … George Mason commit Jalen Jenkins of New Heights has yet to decide if he will go prep or begin his college career in the fall. The multi-talented 6-foot-7 forward is young for his grade, having recently turned 17, and will make a decision at the end of the July live recruiting period. …. Emile Blackman of Half Hollows Hills West and the NYC Jayhawks is planning visits to Norfolk State and Canisius for August, but still may attend prep school, he said.