Recruiting Updates and Features 
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Recruiting Updates and Features
The NBAPA Top 100 Camp rolled through Charlottesville again this June and once again I had the opportunity to get an up-close look at some of the nation's elite high school basketball players. As always, I took down a ton of notes on players from point guard to center in an effort to familiarize myself and Sabre EDGE subscribers with some of the players that Virginia may be eyeing on the recruiting trail.
2013 guard Rodney Purvis, one of only a few rising sophomores at last week's NBAPA Top 100, has earned an offer from the University of Virginia. Read more on Purvis as well as the latest on a pair of 2011 point guards and North Carolina star rising junior Tyler Lewis in this latest edition of "Notes."
6-1, 160-pound point guard Marcus Paige averaged about 15 points per game as a sophomore this past season, but at last week's NBAPA Top 100 Camp he was asked to play the role of a traditional pass-first point guard. This was just fine with the rising junior standout, who has guided Linn-Mar (Marion, IA) to back to back second place finishes in the state.
North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.) forward Bernard Sullivan showed off his talents at the NBAPA Top 100 Camp, scoring from inside and out while being one of the most consistent performers throughout the week.
"Out here with the top 100, I've gotten to see how good I am against everybody. From what people have been saying, I guess I got a grade A," Sullivan said.
After having a solid spring on the AAU trail, 2011 forward Paul Jesperson figured he might have a chance to attend the National Basketball Players Association Top 100 Camp at the John Paul Jones Arena. When the invitation officially came about a month ago though, he decided to make it a full week in Charlottesville, attending Tony Bennett's Elite Camp prior to the Top 100 to close out the week. The trip has been worth his while.
6-11, 215-pound rising senior Marshall Plumlee is in Charlottesville for the NBPA Top 100 Camp. TheSabre.com caught up with the Christ School (Arden, N.C.) standout, who has been pleased with the way his game has developed this spring.
Christ School (Arden, N.C.) rising senior shooting guard Damarcus Harrison has received scholarship offers from BYU, Oklahoma State, Virginia and Wisconsin and he plans to visit each school this summer. He was in Charlottesville on Monday and Tuesday for UVa's Elite Basketball Camp and reflected on the visit earlier today.
I.C. Norcom (Portsmouth, VA) small forward Dorian Finney-Smith, one of the top 2011 class prospects in the state, recently narrowed his list to Florida, Maryland, Old Dominion, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. The 6-7, 192-pound prospect visited one of his favorites last week and will be able to check out another this week.
2011 forward Bernard Sullivan was a heavy lean to Clemson before Oliver Purnell left for DePaul this spring. The 6-8, 215-pound North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.) standout, who eyes a big AAU season with Team Charlotte, now has no clear favorite.
Billy Baron will sign a letter of intent with the University of Virginia tomorrow, officially becoming a member of Tony Bennett's first full recruiting class as Cavaliers head coach. Three words come to mind for the 6-1, 185-pound point guard, who attended Worcester Academy (MA) this year after a standout 4-year career at Bishop Hendricken High School in Rhode Island.
"I can't wait," he said.
Virginia fans will get a look at one of its 2010 recruits this evening, when Charlotte Christian (N.C.) takes on Findlay Prep (Las Vegas, NV) in the quarterfinals of the ESPN Rise prep tournament. Charlotte Christian features 6-7 forward Akil Mitchell, who hopes to help his team to victory at 8:00 p.m. on ESPNU.
Also read more on Will Regan and K.T. Harrell.
Montrezl Harrell was relatively quiet in games one and three at the Carolina Challenge, but in game two he really showed off his abilities on the offensive side of the ball. The 6-6 1/2, 215-pound forward scored inside and out in game two, finishing with 19 points in the contest. Harrell demonstrated a nice outside stroke on Saturday, but this offseason the North Edgecombe (Tarboro, N.C.) sophomore wants to continue to improve his perimeter skills.
Beddingfield High School (Wilson, N.C.) product Aaron Rountree averaged 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds per game this past season as a junior, earning first-team all-conference and first-team all-area honors. The 6-7 small forward is on the radar of at least three Division 1 programs, including Virginia.
Nichols School (Buffalo, N.Y.) will continue what has been a terrific 2009/2010 season this weekend, when it faces Long Island Lutheran in the semifinals of the Federation state playoffs. Helped by senior forward and Virginia recruit Will Regan, Nichols already has the Manhattan Cup (league championship) and a Catholic Class A championship under its belt and is looking for more.
Elsinore (Wildomar, CA) senior forward James Johnson estimates that he averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds this past season, helping the Tigers to a 25-5 overall record including an appearance in the state playoff semifinals . The 6-9, 230-pound Virginia recruit was named Valley Player of the Year by The Californian for his performance. Despite a productive senior season, Johnson is hungry for more.
In just three months, Joe Harris will travel across the country from Lake Chelan (WA) to Charlottesville to begin his college career. Harris, one of five high school seniors to sign with Virginia's men's basketball program last November, recently concluded a stellar high school career in which he amassed 2,398 points.
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