By Jeff Borzello

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Kuran Iverson has been one of the most hyped players in the class of 2013 for several years. His 6-foot-9 size and versatile skill set have had onlookers drooling over his potential.

Over the summer, though, he put on pounds and it slowed him down. To his credit, though, he realized it and has made adjustments.

“I carried a lot of weight and it started to hurt my knees,” Iverson said. “So I cut down on my eating, worked out more.”

Iverson looked significantly slimmer over the weekend at the Hoophall Classic, but he struggled against DeMatha Catholic’s BeeJay Anya due to Anya’s size and length inside. Iverson finished with four points and three rebounds, hampered by foul trouble the entire game.

The Northwest Catholic (Conn.) prospect hopes to be a small forward at the next level. Which school he ends up at is still up for grabs.

So far, he is hearing from Connecticut, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Rutgers, St. John’s, Oklahoma and Florida. Iverson wants to visit North Carolina, Florida and Rutgers. He has been to Connecticut, and would like to take another trip. The Huskies are one of the schools standing out to him right now.

Kentucky is another school getting plenty of play with Iverson. Head coach John Calipari went to one of his games at Northwest Catholic, and the Wildcats are showing interest. They have not yet offered, but they would move into the forefront of his recruitment should they extend a scholarship.

Iverson is not ready to make a decision just yet.

“I’m not thinking about it until after the season,” he said.

Photo: Southington Sports

By Jeff Borzello

June was the key month for Allerik Freeman.

Prior to it, he was considering a prospect that could play at the high-major level. After big-time weekends at the Nike Elite 100 and NBPA Top 100 Camp, Freeman became one of the most sought-after players in the country.

An impressive July vaulted him to the No. 15 spot in the CBSSports.com Top 100.

“I feel like I’ve been getting better and I played more on the main stage this year,” Freeman said.

While he has always been able to use his strength and finishing ability to execute off the dribble, Freeman expanded his game in the past few months to make himself more dangerous.

“My pull-up three ball,” he said. “I’ve zoned in on my mid-range game, and just using my speed and size.”

In terms of recruiting, so many schools are pursuing Freeman that he barely remembers all of them.

He holds offers from North Carolina State, Miami (Fl.), Florida, Kansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Xavier, UNLV, Georgetown, Baylor, Oklahoma, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Memphis, Texas, Villanova and Wake Forest, while also hearing from North Carolina, Clemson, Marquette, DePaul, Florida State and Arizona.

With upwards of 30 schools vying for his services, Freeman is ready to start eliminating suitors.

“I’m cutting it to nine by August 25th,” he said.

Photo: VUHoops.com 

By Jeff Borzello

After playing alongside incoming Arizona freshman Nick Johnson last year, Nigel Williams-Goss knows his time to shine is coming up.

“We’ve had great players in the past, and I think I played well last year,” Williams-Goss said. “I wouldn’t say I was overshadowed. I’ll have my chance this year.”

Williams-Goss, a 6-foot-2 guard from Findlay Prep (Nev.), committed to UNLV last December, but decided to open up his recruitment after head coach Lon Kruger left the desert to go to Oklahoma.

With Dave Rice coming on board, Williams-Goss said the Runnin’ Rebels are still under consideration.

“They’re definitely in there,” he said.

The talented lead guard has good size for his position and is also adept at finding teammates in areas where they can score. He has good basketball IQ for someone his age, and uses his strength to finish through contact at the rim.

Williams-Goss ranked No. 48 in CBSSports.com’s 2013 rankings, but he is sure to move up when they are updated in August.

“I’ve been playing pretty good, but there’s always room for improvement,” he said.

In addition to UNLV, Williams-Goss said Washington is also in heavy pursuit. He is hearing from Oklahoma, Miami (Fl.), Georgia Tech, Harvard, Saint Mary’s and the entire Pac-12 besides California and Stanford.

Williams-Goss will likely take his time with his second college decision.

“Definitely, I have to be there for four years,” he said.

Photo: MaxPreps

By Jeff Borzello

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – Houston Hoops swingman Justin Jackson doesn’t get much burn sitting behind Duke commit Rasheed Sulaimon and four-star guards J-Mychal Reese and L.J. Rose.

That hasn’t mattered so far, though, as the 6-foot-6 sophomore is ranked among the top 2014 prospects in the country.

“I want to prove I can hang with the older guys,” Jackson said.

Jackson has the potential to be a match-up nightmare down the road, given his outstanding length and accurate shooting ability from behind the arc. He'll need to add weight, but his range and form are among the best in the country. Jackson can go off the dribble, using his height and reach to make plays in the mid-range and with floaters.

He isn’t trying to show off in front of all the college coaches, though.

“I’m just playing my game, not doing too much,” Jackson said. “Just playing my game.”

The homeschooled Houston product is honest about what he needs to work on.

“I’m trying to get better at everything,” Jackson said. “Get strong, play better through contact.”

Despite not getting as much playing time as some other players, he already has plenty of suitors for his future destination.

Jackson said he has offers from Ohio State, Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, with interest coming from North Carolina, Kansas, Washington, Georgetown, Marquette and Michigan.

Just imagine what will happen when he’s the star of the team.

Photo: USA Basketball

TEAMS INTERESTED:



By Jeff Borzello

In a camp setting or on the AAU circuit, the mindset of several players revolves around impressing scouts and coaches with offense.

For Marcus Smart, he is far more likely to garner attention for being arguably the best perimeter defender in his class.

“With my school team, we’ve been the No. 1 defense for the last few years,” Smart said. “Defense wins games; you have to be able to play defense.

Smart is a 6-foot-4 swingman from Marcus, Texas, with a strong build and a physical brand of basketball. At the NBPA Top 100 camp last week, Smart took Duke-commit Rasheed Sulaimon completely off his game by bodying him throughout the contest.

He is not all defense, though. Smart is a big-time athlete who can finish in transition and even showed some perimeter skills by knocking down 3-point shots. He has a non-stop motor and is one of the fiercest competitors in the country. Smart can also rebound fairly well and is capable of handling the ball.

While Smart is going to be an immediate fan favorite at whichever school he attends, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas isn’t too far along in his recruitment.

He listed offers from the entire Big 12, and he also recently picked up an offer from North Carolina.

Smart also added that North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma were the three schools standing out.

“I don’t know when I want to decide,” he said. “It depends on school.”

Smart, who hasn't taken many visits, knows what he is looking for in a school.

“It has to have a good educational program, first,” Smart said. “And how I get along with the players and coaches.”

Photo: The News Connection

By Jeff Borzello

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- With a relatively weak point guard group in the class of 2012, Gabe York could establish himself as one of the best -- if he is able to handle the position full time.

“I’m trying to be a point guard, still getting the hang of it,” York said. “The biggest thing is learning the position.”

York, a 6-foot-1 prospect from Orange Lutheran (Calif.), is one of the best scorers in the country. He has tremendous range and lift on his 3-point shot, and he finishes effectively at the rim.

York doesn’t want to change his scoring prowess.

“I want to be a scoring point guard,” he said. “I don’t want to take away that part of my game.”

Recently, York trimmed his list to 10 schools: Marquette, Notre Dame, Kansas, Louisville, Washington, Oklahoma, UNLV, Arizona, Memphis and Connecticut.

Recently, he took a trip to Washington, and he went to Chicago after the NBPA Top 100 Camp to check out Marquette and Notre Dame. York also plans on going to Arizona at the end of the month.

“I’ll have a better feel for what I want after that,” he said.

Poythress feels pressure to stay home

Playing alongside Tony Parker and several other high-major players on the Georgia Stars this spring, Alex Poythress stood out.

The 6-foot-7 forward from Northeast (Tenn.) made an impact with his athleticism and length. He can power around the rim and is one of the better rebounders in the class. Poythress also has the ability to face-up and knock down jumpers.

“I didn’t do anything different,” he said. “I just played hard and tried to show what I could do.”

Plenty of schools were impressed, as Poythress currently boasts a long list. Vanderbilt, Memphis, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Stanford, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville and Ohio State are all on him.

While Poythress has no favorites, three schools are on him the most, and they all have something in common.

“The in-state schools are probably coming at me the hardest -- Memphis, Vanderbilt, Tennessee,” he said.

Howard has a future in two sports

For all the athletes at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, Twymond Howard might be the best overall athlete.

The 6-foot-6 Howard is a star on the hardwood -- and on the gridiron. As a result, he is being pursued in both sports.

Howard, a small forward from Pearl (Miss.), wanted to prove himself on the basketball court last week in Virginia.

“Just to show I’m one of the top players,” Howard said of his goals. “I feel like I’m one, so I have to play hard. I want everybody to know who I am.”

For now, Howard is hearing from Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Mississippi State, West Virginia, Alabama and Auburn.

“I’ve taken unofficials to Tennessee, Mississippi State and Ole Miss,” he said.

Photo: MaxPreps.com