Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (9/20)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Recruits

Milton High’s Julian Royal, who is ranked among the country’s top 100 players, has narrowed down to Georgia Tech, UGA and Wake Forest. First up was Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt, who met with the 6-foot-9 power forward over the weekend. Royal’s family is fond of Hewitt, and they wanted to know about the coach’s future at Tech. AJC 9/13

Shabazz Muhammad was the breakout high school star of the summer. The 6-6 wing from Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) was already rising through the rankings before he averaged 32 points per game on the AAU circuit and really blew up. Now every school from North Carolina to Kentucky to Duke is in pursuit of Muhammad, a junior who is ranked 8th overall in the High School Hoop national Top 50, and 3rd in his class by Scout. Muhammad has agreed to give HSH and Dime exclusive access by chronicling his thoughts in a regular diary where he’ll keep everyone updated on everything from his personal life to his high school season to his recruiting process. Dime Magazine 9/14

Over the weekend, Arizona head coach Sean Miller was in Las Vegas hoping to win big in a city where most people with the same ambitions walk away empty-handed. Miller’s potential earnings were far from the blackjack tables or slots on the Las Vegas strip — rather, 20 miles west of the bright lights at Bishop Gorman High School gymnasium, two of the nation’s top recruits in the 2012 class worked out as college basketball’s fall evaluation period started on Sept. 9. Shabazz Muhammad, ranked No. 3 in the 2012 class, and Rosco Allen, ranked No. 23, both worked out with their teammates in front of several top coaches in the nation from Thursday to Saturday. Arizona Daily 9/15

The Huskies are also hot on the trails of Norvel Pelle, who is rated the No. 2 center in the class of 2011 by Rivals.com. Coincidentally, he attended the same high school - Frederick K.C. Price High in Los Angeles - as Breshers. Zagsblog is reporting Pelle had in-home visits with UTEP, Washington, Kansas, Oregon, St. John's and Arizona. He has in-home visits scheduled with UConn and UCLA and then will decide on his official visits. Seattle Times 9/16

Josiah Turner, a 6-foot-3-inch point guard rated in the Top 25 nationally, will join Arizona commit Nic Johnson this weekend in time to watch the UA-Iowa football game. Turner visited UCLA last weekend and has hosted Miller and Kansas coach Bill Self recently at his home. After this weekend, Turner may visit Oregon in early October and is scheduled to visit Kansas officially for Late Night in the Phog. But he may also not last that long. "If he finds somewhere he likes, I'm sure he'll commit, as opposed to taking the five visits," said Turner's mother, Doris Ward. Arizona Daily Star 9/16

Quinn Cook, a top-30 guard at Oak Hill Academy, is scheduled to visit Arizona in the near future. He probably will not, however, visit along with Oak Hill teammate Sidiki Johnson, a UA commit. Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said via text message that Johnson would take his UA visit in October. Arizona Daily Star 9/16

"Anything that can hinder him from going on to the post-season and the NCAA Tournament, you know we don't want to make that choice," countered Thomas. Also "being there" on the same day for Adonis Thomas was a late-bloomer in the form of UCLA head hoops coach, Ben Howland, who might be devoid of Pearl's dynamic personality, but who brought the message of his school's rich history with him. "UCLA came in on a late run. But, UCLA is one of the schools that Adonis looked at," said Thomas. "It's like a legacy. You just don't pass over UCLA because of all the history that comes from there." But, in the 5-way "Being There" Adonis Sweepstakes, that also includes Arkansas and Florida, and Memphis Tiger head coach Josh Pastner, who'll play host to Adonis on his last official visit the high energy night of Midnight Madness, continues to make a steady case for an added bonus. Why be there, when you're already right here? Fox Memphis 9/16

ESPNU 100 PG Josiah Turner (Sacramento, Calif./Sacramento) has committed to coach Sean Miller and the Arizona Wildcats. The No. 3-ranked point guard in the 2011 class is the most physically gifted point guard prospect in the West, regardless of class. Turner "I wanted to be part of [Arizona's] outstanding tradition and compete for a national championship," said Turner, who chose the Wildcats over UCLA, Oregon, Louisville and Kansas. Turner is a scoring point guard who knows how to get his own shot as well as be a facilitator for his team, which is a lethal combination. He has a terrific frame for the position with ideal speed and quickness. Turner also understands how to change his speed and direction to blow by his opponent, which will make him a good fit in Arizona. "I really like their style of play," Turner said. "We will push the ball hard on the fast break and play high pick-and-roll in the half court." ESPN 9/19