Byline: Mike Waters Staff writer
After receiving two early commitments from perimeter players, Syracuse University basketball coaches appear to be thinking big.
Big in terms of stature and ranking.
In May, Demetris Nichols, a 6-foot-7 small forward from St. Andrew's School in Barrington, R.I., decided to attend Syracuse. Earlier this month, Louie McCroskey, a 6-4 guard at St. Raymond's High School in the Bronx, followed suit.
Now Syracuse's wish list is down to three frontcourt players. All three are at least 6-8; all three are ranked among the top 75 players in the class of 2003; and all three have scheduled official visits to SU.
They are:
Chris Taft, a 6-9, 230-pound forward/center at Xaverian High School in Brooklyn;
Terrence Roberts, a 6-8, 205-pound forward from St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, N.J.; and
Courtney Sims, a 6-11, 225-pound center from Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Mass.
Bob Hurley, Roberts' coach at St. Anthony, said Roberts will visit the SU campus on the weekend of Sept. 13. Hurley also said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim will visit the Roberts' home on Sept. 8. The Syracuse visits are the first Roberts has scheduled.
'You reward people for their effort,' Hurley said Tuesday. 'Syracuse's coaches started recruiting Terrence the earliest, and they've spent the most time on him. They deserved the opportunity to schedule a visit that fit best for them.'
Hurley said Roberts is trying to trim his list of schools to five. High school recruits can take up to five expense-paid campus trips. In addition to Syracuse, Roberts is considering Florida, Maryland, Virginia, Villanova, Connecticut, St. John's, Rutgers and Seton Hall.
'I think we'll get down to five very soon,' Hurley said. 'We want him to visit the schools he's interested in. I'd like him to use as many as he needs. So many kids are committing so early now, they blow the opportunity to visit the campus.'
Roberts averaged 10.1 points and 8.0 rebounds as a junior, but his scoring was limited on a guard-oriented team that finished second in the nation with a 29-1 record. Three guards off St. Anthony's team will be at Division I schools this winter - Elijah Ingram (St. John's), Donald Copeland (Seton Hall) and Dwayne Lee (St. Joseph's).
HoopScoop editor Clark Francis ranks Roberts as the 35th-best player in the class of 2003.
Taft said he will visit the SU campus Sept. 6-8.
'It's the first one I've set up,' Taft said Tuesday. 'I'm still waiting to schedule my other four.'
Taft said he also plans to visit North Carolina, Maryland and Pittsburgh. His fifth visit could go to either Villanova, Miami or Indiana.
Taft, who averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior, ranked No. 43 among this year's seniors, according to HoopScoop. Taft said the important factors in his decision are academics and his relationship with the coach and players.
Sims is considering Boston College, Providence, Maryland, Michigan, Connecticut and Memphis along with Syracuse. He is ranked No. 68 by HoopScoop and plans to visit Syracuse Sept. 13.
He's already taken an unofficial visit to Boston College. In addition to his trip to Syracuse, Sims has scheduled official visits to Michigan and Maryland in September.
CAPTION(S):
PHOTO
File photo/Dennis Nett, 2002
CHRIS TAFT is one of three players - all 6-foot-8 or taller - on Syracuse's wish list. Color
File photo/Dennis Nett, 2002
TERRENCE ROBERTS,a 6-foot-9 forward/center, will visit Syracuse on Sept. 13.
