Big-time recruit Emmanuel Negedu visits IU, will visit GA Tech, Tenn., and Memphis
With only one scholarship available for the 2009 season, the prospect that is biggest on Tom Crean’s radar right now is unquestionably 6’6”, 225 lb power forward Emmanuel Negedu out of Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. Negedu is the 40th-ranked player in the nation and a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and is far and away the best recruit still available for 2008.
Normally a player of his caliber would have long been snapped up by a big-time program, but special circumstances have Negedu still searching for his place. He originally signed a letter of intent last November to play for Lute Olson and the Arizona Wildcats, but when Olson’s absence brought his coaching future came into question, the Nigerian phenomenon demanded to be released from his letter of intent.
“I do not need to visit [Arizona and Olson] again,” Negedu told CBSSports.com senior writer Gary Parrish after Olson tried in vain to retain him. “I need a release. Nothing can make me change my mind from getting a release. I'm strong on my decision."
Not surprisingly, Negedu’s persistence and unmoving stance forced Arizona into the unenviable decision to release him from his commitment, allowing him to move onto a long list of other collegiate suitors.
Following the release, Negedu quickly established a short list of four schools that he would consider attending: Indiana, Georgia Tech, Memphis, and Tennessee. He took the first of his four June visits to the schools in Bloomington on Tuesday, and gave positive feedback on the visit despite severe spring storms."Everything worked out well,” he told Andy Romey of Peegs.com.
Negedu has plenty of connections with IU. He played AAU ball for Indiana Elite with IU commits Matt Roth and Kory Barnett, and the director of the foundation that helped him come from Africa to play basketball in America, Mark Adams, is a Bloomington native. This foundation, which is called A-HOPE, also helped IU commit Tijan Jobe, who is friends with Negedu. The two have spent considerable time in Bloomington on holidays and such before.
The African star is known for his extreme explosiveness, strength, and overall ability. In a past interview Barnett said Negedu had “something like a 48 inch vertical,” and that he “would just do amazing things.” Although the vertical may be somewhat of an overstatement, there’s no doubt that like Jobe, Negedu brings an impressive set of physical tools to the table, along with an even more developed skill set.
He was the 2008 Gatorade Player of the Year for New Hampshire and has a slew of other honors, including a McDonald’s All-American nomination. With some additional development and experience, Negedu could become a dominant force wherever he ends up.
Though there were some faint hopes that Crean would pull off another huge upset and pull Negedu into an early commitment after his first of four visits, Negedu has been adamant about refraining from making his decision until all four schools have gotten a fair shot, so fans probably won’t know for sure until after his visit to Memphis on June 12 He is set to visit Georgia Tech on June 8, and Tennessee on June 10.
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Everything sounds good, except for the fact that he was quoted in a Tennessee report saying that immediate playing time wasn't a factor for him; he simply wanted to play for a championship caliber team. Let's hope CTC can convince him that he'll be the foundation of a great team in the years to come..
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