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TERPS, FRIARS GAIN HUGE PLEDGES

Rob Harrington
robharrington@prepstars.com
August 24, 2011

Maryland scored with its big man of the future, getting a commitment from TX C Shaquille Cleare, who is leaving his home state in order to travel east.

While the timing of Gary Williams’ retirement earlier this year hampered the school’s ability to hire a new coach in a patient fashion, former Texas A&M boss Mark Turgeon’s selection as the new head man obviously played a critical role in Maryland’s win for Cleare, a top 40 national prospect. Cleare is a massive insider who lacks ideal size (he’s 6-8) for the center spot and isn’t much of a leaper, but he boasts excellent strength and a clever array of post moves.

Cleare’s best event we saw was the NBAPA Top 100 Camp, where he competed very successfully against most of the nation’s other big-time frontcourt prospects. He’ll need to work his body into ideal shape and continue honing his craft, but certainly the Terrapins are happy to secure a player to build around with Turgeon having arrived in College Park only within the past few months.

DUNN PICKS PROVIDENCE

Arguably the nation’s top point guard, CT PG Kris Dunn, chose Providence over UConn and many others. Dunn gives Ed Cooley a franchise recruit and someone who could prove vital to the program for many years to come, even if he doesn’t spend more than a couple years on campus.

Dunn teamed with elite senior Andre Drummond for the Connecticut Basketball Club this summer, and the duo completed some of the most spectacular lobs you’ll see. Even in his own right, though, Dunn is a tremendous scorer in the open floor with excellent size (6-2) and athleticism for point guard.

ELSEWHERE. …

Former 2012 Xavier commitment Sim Bhullar is enrolling at New Mexico State this fall rather than play his final year of high school and play for the Musketeers. Reportedly, there were academic issues involved. …