Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (11/15)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

Guard Norman Powell (San Diego, Calif./Lincoln) signed his national letter of intent Wednesday and will join the UCLA basketball program next season, the school announced on the first day of the early signing period. ESPNU ranks the 6-foot3 guard at No. 47 overall and No. 15 shooting guard in the class of 2011. Powell averaged 19.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals in guiding Lincoln to the CIF Division II state title last season. ”I’m really excited about Norman Powell joining our basketball program and family,” coach Ben Howland said in a statement released by the school. “He’s one of the most athletic kids that we will have had in this program in a while and one of the most athletic kids since I’ve been here. ESPN 11/10

Recruits

Why little drama Wednesday? Of the Sporting News top 25 players, 23 have chosen their schools. Unless a player suddenly changes his mind, it should be a quiet, business-as-expected day. The two SN25 players uncommitted are No. 19 DeAndre Daniels, a 6-8 power forward from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and No. 25 Cody Zeller, a 6-10 power forward from Washington, Ind. Daniels -- who backed out of a Texas commitment -- might opt to sign in the late period and has Kentucky, NC State, UCLA, UNLV and Southern Cal high on his list. Sporting News 11/9

The highest ranked player who remains uncommitted in the NBE Post-Summer Class of 2011 Top 150 will not be signing this week in the early signing period. DeAndre Daniels, who checks in as the 15th ranked player in the class, is not too worried about the recruiting process at the moment. IMG Director Andy Borman fills in Jeff Borzello about the former Texas verbal commitment and his recruitment. “His decommitment had nothing to do with Texas, it had everything to do with DeAndre,” Borman said. “He’s not worried about schools right now, he’s worried about getting better.” Kansas has been to Florida to watch Daniels, while UCLA plans on coming next week.NBE Basketball 11/10

Steve Lavin's recruiting haul gets bigger by the day. One day after introducing a five-man recruiting class, St. John's received a verbal pledge from 6-foot-10, 200-pound Los Angeles Price center Norvel Pelle, the No. 2 center in the Class of 2011 according to Rivals. "It feels like a home away from home," Pelle told ESPNU Thursday. "Coach Lavin is a very smart guy. He's a very smart coach. I just loved the way he approached the situation. "He was calm and cool. He knew other schools wanted me, and he gave me space and also made sure I knew they wanted me." Pelle was to have visited Washington this weekend, but now that visit won't be necessary. SNY.TV 11/12