Get schooled.
The Tulsa World reports Blaise Staab of Memorial High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has announced his intention to attend Columbia this fall. The 6-6, 210-pound Staab averaged 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for Memorial and was named First Team All-Metro by the Tulsa World. He is the fifth incoming freshman to go public with his commitment to the Lions, joining transfer Brian Grimes in a class that now numbers six.
Larry Loughery, a forward out of the Academy of New Church, has received admission and will play basketball for Penn next season. Loughery told the Philadelphia Daily News that he chose the Quakers over Tulane, Davidson, and Vermont. The 6-6, 210-pounder transferred from St. Joseph’s Prep prior over the summer and can play either forward position. He is a surprise fifth member of a strong 2008 recruiting class for Glen Miller, featuring recruits at all five positions.
New England Recruiting Report claims Dartmouth has secured a commitment from Jabari Trotter. The 6-2 point guard is doing a postgraduate year at Phillips Exeter after graduating from the Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood, California. Trotter was Exeter’s leading scorer, averaging 17 points per contest last season, and both his outside shooting and slashing game have drawn praise. His commitment brings Dartmouth’s 2008 recruiting class to four known recruits — three of whom are wings.
The Charlotte Observer reports former Harvard commitment Frank Ben-Eze has signed a national Letter of Intent to attend Davidson. The highly regarded 6-10 big man created a major stir when he committed to Harvard back in October. However, Ben-Eze found himself at the center of a controversy over Harvard’s admissions standards in February, and reopened his recruitment on March 11 after Harvard reportedly raised the SAT score he would need to gain admission.
With Craig Robinson departing for Oregon State, the Hampton Roads Daily Press reports Bill Weaver of nearby Bethel High School has backed out of his commitment to Brown and reopened his recruitment. The 6-4 forward was recruited by NJIT, Furman, and Cornell prior to his initial decision to attend Brown.