News and Notes: Monday Edition

Below, news and notes for Monday...

• Penn State's D.J. Newbill hit another game winner and NBC Sports remembers his shot against Cornell earlier in the season.

• The Daily Princetonian recapped the Tigers' win over Cornell on Friday:

In a thrilling weekend, the Princeton men’s basketball team swept opponents Cornell and Columbia in its final homestand of the season. Previously, they had split their games in the four-game road trip.

In the first game of the weekend, the Tigers (15-14 overall, 8-5 Ivy League) put in a strong defensive effort for the win. They held the Big Red to 37.5 percent shooting from the field and a paltry 19.0 percent from behind the arc. In addition to stopping Cornell from grabbing the board, Princeton also prevented the visiting squad from getting any second chances — they outrebounded Cornell 35-26 on the day.

All this is not to say that Cornell (13-17, 5-9) didn’t have its bright spots. Star forward Shonn Miller did not disappoint for the Big Red, putting up 25 points and 8 board on the day, with an efficient (relative to the rest of his team) 47.6 percent shooting performance. However, the Tigers’ defense would hold the two top guards in Cornell’s rotation, Galal Cancer and Robert Hatter, to 3-of-10 and 2-of-10 shooting, respectively.

A steady offensive performance for Princeton was paced by junior forward/center Hans Brase and senior guard Clay Wilson. After delivering only three points for his team in their last outing vs. Brown, Brase would put up 14 points on 80 percent shooting and 6 boards to go along with it. Wilson, for his part, would score 15 points on 50 percent shooting, including a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. The game was part of an upwards trend for Wilson, who had gotten into double-digit scoring in three of the four previous contests.

Princeton’s offensive improvement overall is a far cry from what they had when they faced Cornell in Ithaca. There, Princeton shot only 32.7 percent from the field and were themselves outrebounded by Cornell 36-29.

• The Cornell Daily Sun recaps the Big Red's unsuccessful weekend:

The Cornell men’s basketball team closed the 2014-15 season this weekend with road games against Princeton and Penn. The Red dropped both games to finish the season 13-17 overall and 5-9 in the Ivy League. After finishing last season, 2-26, the Red had one of the best turnaround seasons in recent history.
Despite the vast improvement from last season, the Red squad finished in disappointing fashion, going 1-3 in its last four games, granted, the one win was against perennial power Harvard. Against Princeton, the Red saw senior forward Shonn Miller put together another stellar performance with 25 points and eight rebounds. However, the rest of the squad did not do much to support its All-American candidate. As a from the Red in the end. The tables turned from the last matchup between the two teams, when Red went on a 22-0 run to pull away from the Tigers a month ago in Ithaca.
“We were unable to control the pace as we would’ve liked to. We hung around early but in the second half the tempo was not in our control and that hurt,” said head coach Bill Courtney.
The Red was able to keep its turnovers down, committing eight in the game, but it did not convert those possessions into positive trips on the offensive end. The following day’s game at Penn would be the final contest for the senior class and the Red wanted to ramp up the intensity and send them out on a win.
The squad came out with improved intensity and a drive to make positive runs in the game. Miller came out with another “Player of the Year” type performance, pouring in 23 points and grabbing eight rebounds. However, Penn came to play, eventually taking a 20-point lead in the second half.
“We played with a purpose, but let them make too many big plays throughout the game,” Courtney said.
The Red again kept its turnovers down, committing just six. However, the defense was unable to force the Quakers into turnovers and only snatched eight takeaways of its own.
Despite its disappointing defensive performance, the squad, behind Miller and freshman guard and forward Wil Bathurst, who had a career high 20 points and eight rebounds in just 21 minutes, mounted a late game comeback to cut the Quaker lead to just five. Eventually, time ran out in the game and on the Red’s season, and Penn won, 79-72.
“It wasn’t the way we wanted to finish the regular season, but this team continued to fight for each other and that is worth so much,” Courtney said.
The Red finished the season with 11 more wins than last season, an improvement that most people outside of Ithaca did not think possible. It was a turnaround that should send the squad into the offseason with optimism and a drive to correct the shortcomings of this year’s campaign.
The squad still has a slim chance of being selected to a postseason tournament such as the CBI, however, it is likely that Saturday’s game was the last for this years team. The Red will finish the season in sixth place in the conference. The Ivy League championship and the NCAA Tournament berth that it carries will be decided in a playoff between Harvard and Yale this Saturday in Philadelphia.

• Penn has fired its coach Jerome Allen.  Per ESPN, former Cornell head coach, Steve Donahue, is a leading candidate for the position.  Donahue's former Cornell assistant, Nat Graham, is a current assistant at Penn.  Donahue came to Cornell from an assistant role at Penn.  Donahue was interviewed for the Penn job in 2006, but Penn hired Glenn Miller instead.  Donahue then turned the Penn job down in 2010 after Glenn Miller was fired.

Below, a look at the "Cornell Coaching Plantations"  -- the men's college basketball coaches with ties to Cornell University.

Kevin App-(Cornell Class of '07)-Head coach, Williams College. Played for Cornell under Steve Donahue. 

Zach Spiker-Head coach, Army. He served as an assistant coach at Cornell under Steve Donahue from 2004-2009. 

Joe Burke-Head coach, Skidmore College. He was an assistant coach at Cornell under Steve Donahue between 2001-2004. 

Mike Blaine-Head coach, Medaille College.  He served as an assistant coach at Cornell between 2011-2014 under Bill Courtney. 

Ricky Yahn-Head coach, Concordia College of Michigan. He was an assistant coach at Cornell during 2010-2011 under Bill Courtney.

Arlen Galloway-Head coach, Wentworth Institute of Technology.  He was an assistant coach at Cornell between 2011-2013 under Bill Courtney. 

Izzi Metz-Head coach, Wilkes University.  Former head coach Hobart College. He served as a Cornell assistant coach for five seasons between 2001-2006 under Steve Donahue and served as an assistant coach at Boston College under Donahue. 

Jon Jaques (Cornell Class of '10)-Assistant coach at at Cornell. Played for Cornell under Steve Donahue. 

Ryan Wittman (Cornell Class of '10)-Graduate student  assistant coach at Boston College.  Played for Cornell under Steve Donahue.

Jeff Foote (Cornell Class of '10)-Graduate student assistant coach at University of Miami.  Played for Steve Donahue.

Yanni Hufnagel (Cornell Class of '06)-Assistant coach at Cal. Served as student-manager at Cornell under Steve Donahue.

Nat Graham-Currently an assistant coach at Penn.  Former associate head coach (assistant) at Boston College under Steve Donahue. Served as an assistant coach under Donahue at Cornell from 2005-2010. 

Steve Robinson-Assistant coach at North Carolina under Roy Williams. He was an assistant coach for Mike Dement at Cornell for two seasons, including on the 1988 Ivy League Championship team.

Paul Fortier-Assistant coach at Cal Poly. He served as an assistant coach at Cornell during 2003-2005 under Steve Donahue.

Desmond Oliver-Assistant coach at Charlotte. He was an assistant coach at Cornell between 1998-2000 under Scott Thompson.

• Here is another look at Cornell's incoming 7-member frosh class for next season:

Stone Gettings (Loyola HS) Los Angeles, CA, 6-8, F
Matt Morgan (Cox Mill HS) Concord, NC, 6-2 G
Troy Whiteside (Webb School) Knoxville, TN, 6-4, G
Joel Davis (Wayne Country Day School) Goldsboro, NC, 6-3
Donovan Wright (Blair Academy) Blairstown, NJ, 6-6, F
Joseph Ritter (Woodrow Wilson HS) Dallas, TX, 6-8, F
Xavier Eaglin (Dayton HS) Raymond, TX, 6-7, F
Jack Gordon (St. Mark's School) Dallas, TX, 6-4, G

Checking in with Cornell's recruits: Per the OC Register, Stone Gettings had 18 points on March 3, but his team was bounced from the CIF-SS Division 1A semifinals.  Per MaxPreps, Gettings finished the season in a Division I loaded league averaging 15.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .9 blocks per game.  Per the Salisbury Post, Matt Morgan was named his conference (SPC) Player of the Year.  His team finished the season ranked 3rd in the region, but was bounced from the 3A playoffs after he scored 24 points.  Joel Davis was named all-state on the NCISAA 1A team.  Blair Academy and Donovan Wright won the MAPL Championship.  Xavier Eaglin was named Defensive Player of the Year for District 21-5A in Texas.  Below is a senior highlight video of Jack Gordon:

• Cornell alumni that have played professional basketball since 1995 include the following (with NBA or NBA D-League experience noted): Zeke Marshall ('95), Alex Compton ('97), John McCord ('97), Brent Fisher ('98), Jeff Aubry ('99) (NBA D-League), Ray Mercedes ('01), Jaques Vigneault ('03), Karon Barnes ('04), Stevan Marcetic ('04), Cody Toppert ('05) (NBA D-League), Eric Taylor ('05), Andrew Naeve ('07), Ryan Rourke ('07), Jason Hartford ('08), Louis Dale ('10), Jeff Foote ('10) (NBA and NBA D-League), Ryan Wittman ('10) (NBA D-League), Jon Jaques ('10), Alex Tyler ('10), Aaron Osgood ('11), Adam Wire ('11), Andrew Ferry ('12), Jonathan Gray ('13) and Alex Hill (Cornell 2008-2009).   Below, are the current alumni playing professionally: 

Drew Ferry ('12) (Albacete, Spain EBA)

Jonathan Gray ('13) (Albacete, Spain EBA)

Alex Hill (Cornell 2008-2009) (Piacentina, Italy, A2 Silver)

Cornell Receives Commitment from Xavier Eaglin

Cornell received a recruiting commitment from Xavier Eaglin (Dayton HS) Raymond, TX, 6-7, F.  An athletic, defensive-minded and high volume rebounding/shot blocking combo forward with a "younger Shonn Miller-styled" game, as a senior, he was named Defensive Player of the Year for District 21-5A in Texas.  He held offers during May 2014 from Yale, Columbia and Loyola MD.  He was also recruited by Rice.  He played AAU basketball with the Houston Defenders.  He also previously played with the Houston Hoops.

Eaglin is physically gifted forward, but a raw talent with upside.

RCS Sports ranks Eaglin #44 in the Houston Area., while Texas Hoops Recruits ranked him #24 at a regional combine.  Earlier this season, he was named MVP of the Lee College Classic.  As a sophomore, he was named all area by the Baytown Sun.

See his profile on Showtime Nation, Verbal Commits, Future 150 and Recruit Recon.  Future 150 describes him as: "Xavier is an explosive athlete who is an excellent rebounder. He uses his length and athleticism to score several points per game off of put-back opportunities and is an active defender around the rim as well."  Future 150 adds:

STRENGTHS
Athleticism
Defensive Rebounding
Help-Side Defense
High Motor
Offensive Rebounding
On-Ball Defense

NEEDS TO IMPROVE
Ball-Handling
Low Post Footwork
Low Post Moves
Mid-Range Shooting
Upper Body Strength

Below, some video highlights...

PG Jack Gordon to Attend Cornell

Cornell received a recruiting commitment from Jack Gordon (St. Mark's School) Dallas, TX, 6-4, G.

Gordon is a 6'5" point guard.  As a junior, he was named all conference and averaged 17.3 points per game.  He was also all conference as a sophomore during 2012-2013.  He is ranked #144 in Texas by TexasHoops.com which describes him as a, "Crafty scorer that can hit his open looks from behind the arc, runs the point and makes good decisions."  Texas Hoops also wrote, "Big guard, hard to stop when he is attacking the rim, strong body and finishes in the paint, shooter with a good stroke "

Playing with Team Triumph on the AAU circuit during the summer of 2014 at the Great American Shootout (GASO), Texas Hoops wrote, "One player from this Triumph team that needs to get some ink is 6-foot-3 combo guard Jack Gordon. More than a shooter, Gordon is a bigger point guard that takes care of it. He gets the ball up the court with his eyes up looking to make the smart pass. He has a nice shooters touch, but does a great job of being the solid point guard that Triumph needs."

See Gordon's profile on Verbal Commits and Rivals.com.  Below, some highlights:

News and Notes: Sunday Edition

Below, news and notes...

• Sports Chat previews today's game.

• The Post Standard writes, "The Syracuse Orange returns to action following a brief holiday break to face the Long Beach State 49ers today at the Carrier Dome.  Syracuse, which enters the game with a 7-4 record, has just two non-conference games remaining before the start of ACC play. The Orange will also host Cornell on New Year's Eve."

• Below is a list of the Cornell commits for 2015:

• Stone Gettings (Loyola HS) Los Angeles, CA, 6-8, F
• Matt Morgan (Cox Mill HS) Concord, NC, 6-2 G
• Troy Whiteside (Webb School) Knoxville, TN, 6-4, G
• Joel Davis (Wayne Country Day School) Goldsboro, NC, 6-3, G
• Donovan Wright (Blair Academy) Blairstown, NJ, 6-6, F
• Joseph Ritter (Woodrow Wilson HS) Dallas, TX, 6-8, F

Checking in with updates on Cornell's incoming recruits: Matt Morgan was a recent Charlotte Observer "Top Performer" after notching 28 points in a win on December 18.  On December 27, Morgan finished with 22 points in a defeat per Upstate.com.  As of December 2014, Donovan Wright is ranked as the #24 senior in talent loaded New Jersey by NJHoops.com.  Troy Whiteside is ranked #13 in the state of Tennessee by HoopSeen.com.  On Friday, December 26 in the Arby's Classic, Whiteside finished with 11 points after spending much of the game in foul trouble per TriCities.com.  Per TriCities.com, Whiteside finished with another 11 point performance on December 27 in a defeat.   In the Under Armour Classic in California, Stone Gettings finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds per the LA Times in a defeat to Redondo Union on December 26.  On December 27, Gettings finished with 19 points in a defeat to Windward in overtime.

Cornell Gets Commitment from Stone Gettings

Cornell received a commitment from Stone Gettings (Loyola HS) Los Angeles, CA, 6-8, F.

Gettings also had an offer from Coumbia.  A face-up power forward, per MaxPreps, Gettings finished his senior season in a Division I loaded league averaging 15.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .9 blocks per game.  As a junior, he averaged 4.9 points per game.  He also averaged 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 32% from beyond the 3-point arc and 80% at the FT line.  ESPN describes him as:

Gettings has a strong physique with solid length and good hands. He can step out and knock in the 17-foot jump shot as he fits that pick-and-pop 4-man description to a tee. He is savvy position rebounder as he uses his strength, length, and soft hands to snag rebounds.

ESPN ranked Gettings No. 39 overall in the state of California (and had since dropped him to No. 43) regardless of position and gives him a 66 rating (down from a 68 rating).  See his profiles on ESPN and Verbal Commits.  Gettings is a McDonald's All American Game Nominee.  Below, some video highlights with additional highlights on hudl.

Joe Ritter to Join Cornell's 2015 Recruiting Class

Cornell received a commitment from Joseph Ritter (Woodrow Wilson HS) Dallas, TX, 6-8, F.

Ritter is ranked as the #133 overall prospect in the class of 2015 in Texas by TexasHoops.com which describes him as a, "Tough interior player that will mix it up, rebounds, gets trash, hits 12-footer."  His 2013-2014 high school stats (3.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) are on Max Preps.

On the commitment, NY2LA Sports writes:

2015 PF Joseph Ritter of Woodrow Wilson High School found a home in the Northeast last week. The 6-8 240 pound post from Dallas, Texas decided to take his game to Cornell.

Cornell took their Ivy League academic standards and Division 1 needs to comb the state of Texas and struck nicely adding Ritter. Ritter’s 3.5 AP GPA and a 29 ACT score makes for an attractive Ivy League student and when you combine that with a college ready body and a decent ceiling Cornell struck nicely with this talent. Scouting service notes say he’s a skilled low post guy with college ready body that can face up out to 15 feet, knock down free throws, and he has a solid touch with nice upside.

The talented young man is excited about the opportunity to attend Cornell and he also is aware he needs to keep improving. “I feel comfortable about rebounding and defending at the next level but have to get college level strength and conditioning,” he said, adding “I’m excited about the opportunity Cornell presents both academic and basketball wise and I’m looking forward to the challenge and working with the coaches there.”

Joseph took multiple unofficial Ivy League visits because of his value of a high level education, but Cornell had a feel that provided an atmosphere he thought he could be productive in. Joseph spent his summers with Dream Elite basketball during the grassroots travel season.

Below, some highlights.

Updated 10.11.14

Matt Morgan Commits to Cornell

Cornell received a commitment from Matt Morgan (Cox Mill HS) Concord, NC, 6-2 G.  The point guard also plays AAU basketbal for the Queen City Thunder.
  

Cornell had been on Morgan for quite a while, making an offer on March 20, 2014.  Matt is the son, of Lamon Morgan, a former 4-year player at Georgetown (class of 1994) and a Gonzaga HS, D.C. graduate.

As a high school senior, per the Salisbury Post, he was named his conference (SPC) Player of the Year.  He was also selected to the North Carolina All Star team in the North Carolina vs. South Carolina, Carolinas All Star Classic.

On the AAU Circuit over the summer of 2014, Morgan was the Future 150 Charlotte Main Event Tournament MVP.   Future 150 wrote, "Morgan had an excellent weekend, showing our staff exactly why he is such a coveted low major prospect, showing off his blazing speed and crafty finishing ability."

Before committing to Cornell, Morgan had interest from Harvard, Dartmouth, VMI, Davidson, Georgia Southern, College of Charleston, Drexel, Davidson, Belmont, Winthrop, High Point, Western Carolina, UNC-Asheville, High Point, American, Gardner-Webb and Elon.

As a junior, Morgan averaged 25.1 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, shot 49% from the floor and 89% at the FT line.  For his efforts, he was First Team All-South Piedmont Conference and 2nd Team All District.  He was also First Team All State 3A by NCPreps and All Region Honorable Mention by the Charlotte Observer and First Team All County.

Obviously a big time scorer, Morgan has already surpassed 1,000 career high school points.

A true PG, Future 150 describes him, as, "Matt is an excellent slashing prospect who is very hard to stay in front of. He always seems to get a piece of the paint and can finish around the rim using both hands. He possesses excellent court vision and a high basketball IQ, making him an appealing low major prospect."

See Morgan's profile on Future 150 and Verbal Commits.  Below is Morgan's profile from the Phenom Hoop Report below:

Player: 6’2 Matt Morgan
Class: 2015
Twitter: @TheRealMM30
HS: Cox Mill High School (Concord, NC)
GPA: 3.6 Weighted (3.2 GPA Unweighted)
Honors: A/B Honor Roll
Statistics:
PPG: 24.5
RPG: 4.0
APG: 4.0
SPG: 4.7
Basketball Honors: All Conference South Piedmont Conference 2nd Team All Cabarrus County, Team MVP, Team Co-Captain, Conference Tournament Champions, and LeRoy Holden All-Tournament Team

Last season, 6’2 sophomore Matt Morgan helped Cox Mill to the 2013 South Piedmont 3A Conference tournament championship. He averaged 14.5 PPG and 5.5 APG and has started to draw interest from Southern Conference and Big South Schools in the area. This season, Cox Mill is off to a fast start and so is Matt Morgan. In the first four games of the season, Matt is averaging 24.5 PPG and dishing out 4 APG, but the biggest impact has been on the defensive end of the court where he is averaging 4.7 steals per game.

Matthew has always been known for his athleticism and ability to play hard. He is the type of player that will give maximum effort 100% of the time. Matthew recently attended the NC Phenom 150 camp in October and we were impressed with his hustle, attitude and overall play. We stated the following, “Matthew is very athletic and finishes well in transition. He is a really good defender, especially his anticipation of passing lanes. He thrived in the open court and is an excellent teammate. We were impressed with his soft shooting touch and more importantly his 1-2 dribble pull up jumper. He is a very talented player with a bright future and should be playing at the next appropriate level.”

Cox Mill head coach Jody Barbee has been singing his praises and stated, “Matt has been flying under the radar. He plays PG for us, but think he will be an excellent combo guard because of his ability to score the ball. The kid plays with such emotion and heart. More importantly, you are not going to out work him because he is so competitive.”  What separates Matt from many of his peers, he simply “gets it.” He is a true “student athlete” and sports an impressive 3.6 GPA. He is a model citizen on and off the court and he is as good a person as he is a basketball player. Matt showcased his ability at the Phenom 150 Camp in October and has carried this over to the high school season. In our camp evaluation, we were impressed with his ability to read the passing lanes and it is not surprising that he is averaging 4.7 steals per game. His competitive nature translates at every level and in any game situation, whether it is AAU, high school or exposure camp settings. Matt’s strongest attributes is his ability to get to the rim and finish with contact, overall court vision and his uncanny ability to knock down 3-pointers with consistency. Coach Jody Barbee stated “Matt holds the record for the most three’s in a season at Cox Mill with 50. Matt has continued to grow on and off the court and is an extension of a coach on the floor. He is a pleasure to coach and has been fun watching him orchestrate the team the past three years. Matt’s basketball IQ is off the charts which should be natural with his dad having played college ball at Georgetown.”

While Matt Morgan has been flying under the radar, D1 coaches in the area should put this young man in their SIM CARD. He has the combination of skills, athleticism and academics, but more importantly is a high character young man. Coach Barbee stated it best when he commented, “Matt is a deserving young man and I can only hope that my 8 year old turns out to be the young man he is.” That statement alone speaks volume.

Cornell Receives Commitment from Troy Whiteside

Cornell received a verbal commitment from Troy Whiteside (Webb School) Knoxville, TN, 6-4, G.

The Webb School of Knoxville also produced Dwight Tarwater (Cornell '14).  Whiteside, a TWSA All State selection as a junior, had reported offers during the early summer from Samford, Liberty, American, Penn, Columbia and Georgia State.  Others to offer included Cal and Davidson while had had interest from Arkansas, Harvard, University of Houston, Western Carolina, Furman, and Northeastern.  See his profile on Verbal Commits.

Whiteside is ranked #13 in the state of Tennessee by HoopSeen.com.

D1Spects' analysis of the combo guard is as follows: "He can really stroke the ball. Troy is equally dangerous pushing the ball in transition, where he like wise constantly has his head up and eyes scanning the court, while he shows extremely good control of the ball with both hands, even when operating at full speed. Troy relies mostly on subtle changes of speed and direction to get by his opponent."

 On Whiteside, The Knoxville News Sentinel writes:

Webb guard Troy Whiteside Jr. chooses Cornell

Troy Whiteside Jr. has been driven for years to reach his potential as a basketball player, yet it's not the No. 1 goal for the Webb School of Knoxville senior.

Whiteside wants to be a doctor.

That would explain why Whiteside turned down several Division I scholarship offers for basketball, with other offers potentially coming this season, and signed Monday to attend Cornell of the Ivy League, which plays Division I basketball but doesn't offer athletic scholarships.

"From the start, I was really looking for a good balance academically and athletically with the academics coming first," Whiteside said. "That really fueled my decision to go to the Ivy League and Cornell."

Whiteside, a 6-foot-3 point guard/shooting guard, turned down Division I offers from Liberty, American and Samford. Arkansas and California also were recruiting Whiteside.

"Who knows if he played the season out, the different offers he would have received?" Webb coach Ricky Norris said. "He's had a lot of interest from a variety of different schools. His improvement has been fun to watch."

Whiteside, averaging more than 20 points going into Friday's home game against rival Catholic, saw his recruiting stock soar during the summer while playing for Game Elite, an AAU team based in Atlanta.

It was a team loaded with future Division I players, including 6-7 small forward Jaylen Brown of Marietta, Ga., the nation's No. 2 overall prospect.

Game Elite played tournaments coast to coast in front of the nation's highest profile coaches.

"It's a ton of great exposure," Whiteside said. "You play top-notch talent every single weekend, all across the country. You play against great players and you practice with great players. It's continual competitive basketball all the time, so it really helps you get better and helps you learn how to play with really good players."

Norris said playing for Game Elite was a change for Whiteside.

"I think one way he benefitted was he learned how to be a really good role player on a phenomenal team," Norris said. "He's brought leadership back to our team and he's playing at an incredibly high level."

The same could be same for Whiteside's academics.

"I can tell you, when it comes to the classroom and the court, I've never been around a kid as focused as Troy," Norris said. "It's rare to find a kid as focused on both academics and athletics at the level Troy is. I think his teachers would echo that comment."

As for his career goal, Whiteside wants to be an orthopedic surgeon.

Last summer, Whiteside shadowed Dr. David Hovis, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Knoxville.

"I was really even more interested in being a doctor after I did that this summer," said Whiteside, whose brother, Donovan, played at Webb and Centre (Ky.) College.

Before he goes to medical school, Whiteside will get a chance to showcase his basketball skills at Cornell.

Norris won't be surprised to see Whiteside in the headlines.

"I think he has the potential to be an elite Ivy League guard," Norris said. "I think he has all-conference potential. I don't know how early it will happen, but it's definitely there."

Below, some highlight videos:

Joel Davis Commits to Cornell

Cornell received a commitment from Joel Davis (Wayne Country Day School) Goldsboro, NC, 6-3, G.

Prior to committing, Davis was also receiving interest from Campbell and a host of smaller non Division I colleges in the region.  As a senior, Davis is a McDonald's All American Game Nominee   and was named all-state on the NCISAA 1A team.  As a junior he averaged 12.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game for Wayne Country Day.  He was named All Area as a junior by the Goldsboro News and is ranked as the #44 player in North Carolina by Phenom Hoop Report which evaluates him as follows:

Joel Davis is a fierce competitor who has a very high motor. Davis makes hustle plays, dives on the floor for loose balls,and pursues rebounds with consistent effort. Joel has a unique ability to see the play one pass ahead and react as a help defender. He plays a good “IN YOUR FACE” style defense and his hands are constant motion in attempts to disrupt the ball handler. Davis is at his best in transition as something positive usually happens when he is attacking the rim. He is constant motion which enables him to pick up easy buckets slipping behind the defense unnoticed for uncontested layups. He isn’t afraid to mix it up and score off offensive rebound put-backs. Davis is a good athlete who has a competitive edge. This young man’s stock is on the rise.

Following Davis' commitment, Phenom Hoop Report reported: 

NC Phenom Alum Joel Davis ended his recruitment before it really got started when he committed to Cornell on Tuesday. Davis is an explosive 6’3 lefty wing who plays his AAU ball with the Raleigh Capitals AAU program.
The rising senior at Wayne Country Day School says that Cornell’s style of play fit what he does, “It’s a good fit for me and my style of play. They play a fast paced pressured defense and get up and down on offense. They are also looking to build around me.”
As with most Ivy League schools the campus and facilities are beautiful at Cornell and not lost on Davis is the academic side of things, “They have a beautiful, big campus. I really liked their weight room. It was just redone and furnished with brand new equipment. You cannot beat that type of education, it taken advantage of, it can set you up for life.”
Coming off a five man class last year, Davis joins 6’5″ New Jersey wing Donvan Wright in this class for Cornell.

See additional video highlights (click here)

Donovan Wright Commits to Cornell

Cornell received a verbal commitment from Donovan Wright (Blair Academy) Blairstown, NJ, 6-6, F.

During 2013-2014, Wright and Blair Academy captured the New Jersey Prep Championship.  Wright had 9 points in the state title game.

Prior to committing to Cornell, Wright also received an offer from Canisius and was receiving interest from Siena and Lafayette.  Prior to enrolling at Blair Academy, Wright, a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, played for the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut where he was First Team All NEPSAC as a sophomore in 2012-2013.  NJ Hoops/Rivals.com ranks him the #25 senior in New Jersey.

On the commitment, NJ Hoops/Rival.com writes:

6-foot-6 Blair wing Donovan Wright has made his college plans. Wright has made an early commitment to Cornell University  In addition to Cornell Wright had interest from Canisius, Brown, Columbia, BU, Davidson, Bucknell, Lafayette and VCU.  Wright played at the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut before transferring to Blair.  This season he helped lead Blair to a 16-6 record and final NJ Hoops ranking as the #1 Prep Team in the state.  On the summer circuit Wright was named to the All Tournament Team at Gym Rats Challenge and was a former Underclass All Star at Hoop Group Elite Camp. A terrific athlete, Wright is ranked among NJ Hoops top 25 seniors.

 

Wright was evaluated by New England Recruiting Report as, "Very strong and athletic but more 4 than 3; can make a wide open 3 but perimeter skill isn't forte."  Similarly, Future 150's Brian Flinn noted, "2015 wing Donovan Wright is an interesting prospect for Blair Academy. Super athletic and plays hard."  He was also evaluated at the Summer 2013 Gym Rat Invitational when playing for his AAU team, the New Jersey Thunder, as follows:

Donovan Wright (6-5 forward) N.J. Thunder/Hotchus H.S.: A strong, 220-pound body mixed with incredible explosive athleticism makes him a tough matchup. He is capable of posting up smaller defenders, and slower/big defenders have a tough time staying in front of him. His jumper is consistent out to the three-point line. Does a great job of rebounding out of his area, and he alters shots at the rim.  Hearing from Patriots.

Kyle Brown Profile: Brown to Join Big Red in 2014-2015

Kyle Brown, (Newport HS) Bellevue, Washington, 6-3, G will join the Big Red as a freshman in 2014-2015.  Brown spent the last two years on an LDS (Mormon) Mission.  He is the son of Charley Brown ('82), who played for Cornell Basketball between 1977 and 1982.  

Kyle Brown  was selected to the King County 4A honorable mention in 2011 out of Newport High School.  He played with the Creating Young Minds Gametime AAU.

Above, the 1981-1982 Cornell Men's Basketball team, which included #31, Charley Brown.  Kyle has used in the past the same jersey number as his father.

Riley Glassmann Commits to Cornell

Cornell received a recruiting commitment from Riley Glassmann (Fremd HS) Palatine, IL, 6-5, G.

Glassmann tweeted the news of his commitment on Sunday, November 3, 2013 after visiting the Cornell campus.  Glassmann's recruiting interest over the last year included a wide range of suitors, including: Northern Illinois, Indiana State, Nebraska-Omaha, Lehigh, Creighton, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oregon, Stanford, Illinois-Chicago and Wisconsin.  See his Rivals.com profile.

He told Chicago Hoops, “Obviously it’s a great academic school which was a big part of my decision. The coaches are awesome and I can really see myself fitting into their style of play. I really enjoyed hanging out with the team and got along great with the guys. I couldn’t be more excited to spend the next four years there.”

As a high school senior, Glassmann was named MVP of the 36th Annual Wheeling Hardwood Classic.  Glassmann was also named by the Daily Herald to the All Area team which noted:

One of the area’s top players this season and MSL West player of the year. A four-year varsity player, Glassmann scored over 1,200 points in his career while averaging 17.8 points per game. He was an all-tournament pick at Thanksgiving, and MVP of the Wheeling Hardwood Classic. And, quite clearly, a key ingredient in the Vikings’ undefeated regular season. His 6-foot-5 frame will be a huge asset to Cornell University next year. “Riley has really worked on all aspects of his game,” Fremd coach Bob Widlowski said. “He is very consistent in all phases of the game. His leadership has been a key for us this season.”

CSNChicago.com listed its Boys Basketball All-Area Teams and placed Glassmann during his senior year on the 3rd Team and writes:

Riley Glassmann, Fremd senior guard
Leader of a Fremd team that started 28-0 on the season before falling to Stevenson in the Class 4A Lake Zurich Sectional final. Cornell commit is a solid overall player and plays well on both ends of the floor. Also a tremendous leader that always played hard and made the right play. Not afraid to perform in big games. Wheeling Hardwood Classic Champion and Mid-Suburban League Champion.
Signature performances: 17 points in win over Conant; 24 points in Mid-Suburban League title game win over Prospect; 28 points in Wheeling Hardwood Classic title win over St. Viator.

As a senior, Glassmann was named Special Mention All State by the Chicago Tribune.  He also finished 16th in Illinois for Mr. Basketball voting and was named Second Team All State by the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette which writes:

Riley Glassman Fremd 6-4 Sr. G Cornell recruit, averaged 17.8 points, 5.4
rebounds and 2.7 assists for a team 25-0 in regular season; Mid Suburban League West Player of the Year.

Glassmann is a big combo guard that can also play the small forward. Chicago Hoops evaluates him, "Excellent size. A highly versatile talent who can make plays both inside and outside. Has the ability to make shots with range. Good fundamentals. Very solid all-around skill package. A prospect to watch." As a junior, he averaged 15.2 points per game.

During the summer, Glassmann played AAU basketball for Mike Weinstein (Fundamental U), the former coach of Chris Wroblewski.

Glassmann was recently named MVP of the Let's Play Hoops Fall 2013 League.   He was also on Rick Bolus' Top Underclassmen listing for the 2012-2013 season and for the Top Players listing for the 2013-2014 season.  He was an all-conference selection in 2012 and 2013, all-area in 2013 and an honorable mention all-state selection in 2013.  Glassmann was named to the All Tournament Team at the Wheeling Harwood Classic in 2012.  He also appeared in the 2010 Pangos Fullcourt Midwest Top 50 All Star Game.

On his all-area selection, the Daily Herald writes:

Riley Glassmann Fremd

There was no easy solution to stopping Glassmann on the offensive end, where he averaged 15.2 points. The 6-foot-4 junior was equally comfortable playing in the post and on the perimeter. And his defensive prowess is an underrated aspect of his game. “We’ve asked him to score and to defend a wide variety of different players,” said coach Bob Widlowski. “He provides a difficult matchup on offense for a lot of people because of his size and his basketball intelligence.”

An excellent student, he has a 4.0 GPA and scored a 32 on the ACT.  Below, some highlights and interviews with Glassmann.

Cornell Recruiting Commitment: William "Will" Bathurst

Cornell received a recruiting commitment from William "Will" Bathurst (Olean HS) Olean, NY, 6-3, G. 

As a high school junior, Bathurst was First Team All Western New York by the Buffalo News, the CCAAI Player of the Year and First Team Class B All State and was named MVP of the Olean Tip Off Tournament in December 2012.  Bathurst was a Second Team Class B All State selection as a sophomore.

Reportedly, Bathurst had scholarship offers from James Madison, Rider, Iona, Niagara and Marist among others.

As a senior, Bathurst was named All Tournament at the IAABO Tournament and was MVP of the Olean Tip Off Tournament.  He was also named one of six finalists for Mr. Basketball in New York State awarded by the New York Sports Writers was named  Big 30 Player of the Year.  See also WIVB.  (click here to check out his official Mr. Basketball profile, via the Basketball Coaches Association of New York).  Bathurst also was the MVP of the Section VI Class B1 playoffs and named All Tournament Team in the Class B Tournament.  He was named All Western New York First Team (for the 2nd consecutive year).    The Buffalo News writes on the selection:

Wil Bathurst
Olean: 6-4 senior forward
PPG: 19.8 Reb: 7.0 Steals: 4.0
A two-time first-teamer for a multitude of reasons: His smooth all-around game includes a pretty outside shot, defense-staggering drives, an excellent eye for passing, the smart defensive plays (42 steals, 28 blocks) – while his ball-hawking rebounding is worth watching all by itself. Did it all in big moments for a program that faced major competition all year as an independent. A Class B All-Tournament selection as the Huskies closed out a three-year reign as Section VI champions by making the NYSPHSAA final in Glens Falls. For his career, Bathurst had 1,196 points (16.6 ppg), 545 rebounds (7.6), 224 assists and 110 blocks. Southern Tier’s Big 30 Player of the Year is committed to Cornell. Also an excellent golfer

 He also was named First Team All Western New York by the Centercourt Blog.  See discussion of Bathurst in connection with the Western New York Player of the Year and First Team selections with the Buffalo News and the Centercourt Blog.  The Centercourt Blog writes on Bathurst:

Wil Bathurst - Olean, Senior
19.8 PPG  /  7.0 RPG  /  4.0 APG  /  1.7 SPG  /  1.0 BPG
One of the very best all-around players in WNY this season.  A fan favorite and high-riser who can do everything on the court.  Helped the Huskies capture a third straight Section VI Class B title and a 20-win season against a grueling independent schedule.  Scored over 30 points in a game three times this season, including a 36 point & 12 rebound effort against Greece Athena.  Selected to the NYSPHAA Class B All-Tournament Team.  Named MVP of the Section VI Class B1 Tournament.  Was MVP of the Olean Tip-Off Tournament.  Will play Division I basketball at Cornell next season.

As a senior, Bathurst also was named First Team All State Class B by the New York Sports Writers Association.  See also the Buffalo News and WIVB for the story.  Per the Buffalo News, the Western New York Chapter of the Basketball Coaches Association of New York also selected Bathurst as the Small Schools Player of the Year.


Following his senior year, Bathurst was ranked as the #7 overall player in New York State by NYCHoopsNet of Rivals.com.  NYCHoopsNet writes in its final ranking, "- A three year varsity starter, Bathurst averaged 23 points and 9 rebounds a game in this his senior season. He went over 1,000 points for his career in a 36 point outing against Greece Athena in early February, and he will surely go down as one of the best players in school history. Committed to play next season at Cornell, Bathurst is excellent attacking the basket, using his strong handle and good size to effectively get by defenders, and his outstanding shooting touch from the perimeter makes him a fantastic all around player. He was a finalist for Mr. Basketball in New York State this year, and he has led his Olean team to the Class "B" State Final Four."

The Buffalo News' profile on Bathurst from his junior year First Team All Western New York selection is as follows:

Wil Bathurst
Olean: 6-3 junior forward
PPG: 18.4. Rebounds: 8.0. Assts: 3.3.
You name it, Bathurst does it for the Huskies, who went wire-to-wire atop The News’ small school poll. He can score from outside, beat defenders one-on-one, take the ball to the basket and finish, or rack up assists with dishes or well-placed deliveries to his talented teammates. Equally as impressive is how he elevates to pursue defensive rebounds as well as blocked shots (1.9 per game). A third-team pick last year who has been a part of two straight Section VI Class B championship teams, the very accomplished golfer (he participated in the state tournament last year) says he would like to play basketball in college.

The Buffalo News' profile from Bathurst's sophomore year when he earned Third Team All Western New York honors, notes:

Wil Bathurst Olean: 6-2 sophomore forward PPG: 11.8 Reb: 7.6 Assts.: 2.2 On a young, talented team that seemed to have it all among its five underclassmen starters, Bathurst has a bit of everything in his game. Great size, ballhanding, leaping ability, body control, knack around the basket, three-point range, defense (2.1 steals), rebounding, unselfishness, explosiveness. The X-factor on a team that went 22-2 and held the top spot in The News small school poll all year.

During the offseason, Bathurst played AAU basketball with Locker-1 out of Western New York.  At the Gym Rat Challenge he was evaluated as follows:

Will Bathurst (6-4 forward) Locker 1/Olean H.S.: A stat-sheet stuffer that really affects the game in every facet. He is a strong, explosive player that does a great job of finishing around the basket. Capable of taking over a game in spurts. He also hits the boards well for a wing, and pushes it effectively in transition. Hearing from Iona, Niagara, Marist.

Below, Bathurst's personal highlight video: 

 

See also highlights of Bathurst's 25 points vs. Canisius High School, appearance in the postseason regionals vs. Wayland-Cohocton High School and postseason honors from the Buffalo News (10:50 mark).

On the commitment to Cornell, the Buffalo News' Keith McShea writes:

Olean senior Wil Bathurst told me via Twitter direct message that he has verbally committed to Cornell.
Bathurst was a first-team All-Western New York selection as a junior last  year for the Huskies. The 6-3 multi-talented forward was part of a third straight Section VI championship before Olean's season ended with a buzzer-beating loss to Batavia in the Far West Regionals.
I've thought Bathurst had Division I potential all along, and thought he proved it last season. He has good size and has the ability to do pretty much anything you need on the court.

The commitment was also reported on Time Warner Cable/YNN:

OLEAN, N.Y. — Olean boys basketball standout Wil Bathurst verbally committed to Cornell University on Friday, Bathurst told YNN's Andy Young through direct message on Twitter.

A highly talented 6'4" forward, Bathurst has been a key cog for a strong run of Olean teams. As a junior last season, he averaged more than 18 points per game while helping the Huskies to the Far West Regionals, where they lost on a buzzer-beater to Batavia. As a sophomore, Bathurst was a part of the Olean squad that made it to the state final four in Class B.

Cornell is an NCAA Division I program, competing in the Ivy League.

News and Notes: Thursday Edition

Above, a Date in Cornell Basketball History, an official cumulative stat sheet from Cornell's 19 win 5 loss season during 1966-1967.  Below, news and notes for Thursday...

• Cornell's freshmen now have their head shots on the roster.

• Check out our updated profiles on Cornell's 2014 commitments, Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof (Gonzaga HS) Washington, D.C., 6-7, F and Pat Smith (Archbishop Wood HS) Warminster, PA, 6-5, F. The Washington Post referred to the former, who committed yesterday, as "a versatile playmaker and highlight-reel dunker."

•  Daily Dose of Hoops is picking Cornell to finish 7th in the Ivy and writes:
  
  
  7) Cornell - Bill Courtney and the Big Red face an uphill climb in a muddled middle of the Ivy standings, but fortunately for Cornell, junior forward Shonn Miller; the team's leading scorer a year ago, is back for his third season in Ithaca. Sophomore guard Nolan Cressler will be the biggest focal point for Courtney this season as he looks to follow a rookie year that saw him shoot 40 percent from three-point range, as well as a young bench whose roles will need to be defined quickly as the season goes on.

• Cornell Athletics announced:

 Men's Basketball To Hold Alumni and Friends Weekend From December 6-8

 * Click here to sign up for Cornell Basketball's Alumni and Friends Weekend

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell men's basketball program will host Alumni and Friends Weekend from Dec. 6-8 in Ithaca. Included will be a Friday evening reception, Saturday's game against Saint Francis (Pa.) and a postgame reception, then Sunday's annual alumni game. Cornell will honor the 1953-54 and 2008-09 Big Red championship teams that weekend.

For more information, please contact contact Steve Caraher at 607-255-6410 or smc358@cornell.edu.

• Below is an updated list of players committed to Ivy League schools in the class of 2014:

CLASS OF 2014 IVY LEAGUE COMMITMENTS

Jason Massey (American Heritage HS) Plantation, FL, 6-4, G, Brown
Tyler Williams (Lakota West HS) W.Chester, OH, 6-1, G, Brown
Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof (Gonzaga HS) Washington, D.C., 6-7, F, Cornell
Pat Smith (Archbishop Wood HS) Warminster, PA, 6-5, F, Cornell
Zach Yoshor (Beren Academy) Houston, TX, 6-7, F, Harvard
Mike Auger (New Hampton Prep) New Hampton, NH 6-6, F, Penn
Mike LeBlanc (New Hampton Prep) New Hampton, NH, 6-7, F, Princeton
Aaron Young (Episcopal HS), Lynchburg, VA 6-1, G, Princeton
Amir Bell (East Brunswick HS) E.Brunswick, NJ, 6-4, G, Princeton
Eric Anderson (Haverford School) Haverford, PA, 6-6, F, Yale
Landon Russell (Nolan Catholic HS) Ft Worth, TX, 6-2, G, Yale
Maki Mason (Hotchkiss School), Lakeville, CT, 5-11, G, Yale
Khalil Bedart-Ghani (Loyola HS) Los Angeles, CA, 6-3, G, Yale

Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof to Play Under Newman Arena's Roof

Above, Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof (Gonzaga HS) Washington, D.C., 6-7, F, committed to Cornell.

The Cornell Basketball Blog had an opportunity to speak with Abdur-Ra'oof's coach at Gonzaga High School, Steve Turner, who filled  us in Abdur-Ra'oof's college recruitment and style of play.

The son of a former Kansas City Chief, Zin Abdur-Ra'oof, the younger Abdur-Ra'oof boasted offers from George Washington, Old Dominion, Siena, Holy Cross, Kennesaw State, UMBC, Brown and Princeton.  Assistant Coach, Mike Blaine led the recruitment effort for Cornell.

At the time of his commitment, Turner noted that several schools were making efforts to get Adbur-Ra'oof on campus for visits and were close to extending offers.  These included George Mason, Hofstra, Loyola (MD), Fairfield and Missouri State. Other schools which showed interest, even as late as this past summer included, Northwestern, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Penn State, Stanford, Iowa, Miami (FL), Vanderbilt, Bucknell, Davidson, American, Delaware and Columbia.

Several head college coaches that included GW’s Mike Lonergan, Penn State’s Pat Chambers and Bucknell’s Dave Paulsen have made trips to Gonzaga to recruit Abdur-Ra'oof.

Ra'off was named 2013-2014 Preseason 2nd Team All D.C. by DMV Elite.  As a senior, he was selected All WCAC Honorable Mention.  He also was invited to participate on March 21, 2014 in Maryland's North-South All Star Game, the Crab Ball Classic and was also invited during his senior year to the Capital Classic All Star Weekend.

When describing Abdur-Ra'oof's game, Turner, who expects to have six Division I commits on his team this year, explained to The Cornell Basketball Blog, "He's a high major athlete, he plays above the rim and has an incredibly high basketball 'IQ.'"  When asked about Abdur-Ra'oof's position, Turner noted, "For us, he is a forward... the 3 and 4 are interchangeable in our system and do the same things, he can stretch the defense or play inside and he is capable of guarding multiple positions.  At the college level, I think he is a 'face-up 4-man.'"  Turner also noted,  "He's expanding his game, working on his ball handling and outside shooting [to play more wing]."

Following the commitment to Cornell, Eric Bossi of Rivals.com tweeted, "Abdur'Ra'oof is a high end athlete with explosion and can probably play as a combo because of athleticism. Good pickup for Cornell."  Meanwhile, Edgar Walker of DMV Elite similarly commented, "explosive athlete."  Steve Keller of the Hoop Group added that Ra'oof could become an All Ivy League selection.  David Dickerson of HoopKidz.com also tweeted, "Long, athletic, shot changer. Improved tremendously, hard worker."

As a junior, Ra'off averaged 9.2 points per game and was a Second Team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.  He boasts a 3.9 GPA in the classroom.

Clark Francis of Hoop Scoop ranked Abdur-Ra'off as the No. 188 prospect in the nation for the class of 2014 (as of February 2013).  Although he did not crack the top 150, he was an "honorable mention" selection by Van Coleman of Hot100Hoops.com.

See also Abdur-Ra'off's team site and recruiting profiles on Recruit Recon, DMV Elite, YahooSports, VerbalCommits.com, and ESPN.  Abdu-Ra'off is a "two-star" recruit on Rivals and on ESPN (with a 63 rating).  ESPN ranks him as the 15th best player in Maryland and 82nd in the region and 99th in the nation for his position.  DMV Elite ranks him 18th in the D.C. Metro area.

Northwestern's WildcatReport.com notes, "Abdur-Ra'oof can play in the post or on the perimeter, but he is usually in his comfort zone around the elbows, 15 to 20 feet from the basket."

Back in 2012, LeftCoastRecruiting.com evaluated him as follows: "Abdur-Ra’oof is an interesting prospect. At 6’7 he is very long and can easily block shots with his length. Abdur-Ra’oof will need to work on his offensive game. Right now he is more of a defensive force kind of like how 2013 Oregon commit Jordan Bell is."

The Washington Post referred to him as, "a versatile playmaker and highlight-reel dunker."

At the Hoop Hall Classic in April 2013, he was evaluated by Posterize Blog as, "Abdur-Ra’oof had the tough assignment of making sure Chester High School’s Rondae Jefferson, the No. 17 recruit and Arizona commit was not able to use his athleticism to keep Chester possessions alive through offensive rebounding. Abdur-Ra’oof was a force on the glass all game limiting his opponent’s opportunities for second chance points. On the offensive end, Abdur-Ra’oof was using his athleticism to contribute as well. He racked up 16 points on 6-14 shooting, 13 rebounds (more than double the second-highest individual rebounding total on his team) one assist, one block and one steal."

Terrapin Times, a University of Maryland/Rivals.com site  scouted Ra'oof a number of times with  Gonzaga and his AAU team, Team Takeover and noted that he is "a spectacular high flyer whose personal highlight film is punctuated by dunks, blocked shots, dramatic over-the-rim-rebounds, and exciting tip-ins - at present he is a force on the inside as a prep player... but needs work on his outside shot and floor skills. Maryland has also been out to see him."

The Washington Post reported on the commitment to Cornell as follows:

Jordan Abdur-Ra’oof of Gonzaga commits to Cornell basketball

Fresh off a meeting with Cornell’s basketball coaches during his official visit to the campus during the Labor Day weekend, Jordan Abdur-Ra’oof strolled over to the locker room to lounge with the members of the Big Red Bears.
As the music blared and players shared laughs with one another, a feeling of ease fell over the Gonzaga senior forward. Minus the different school colors and fresh faces, Abdur-Ra’oof felt as if he was back in the Gonzaga locker room, passing the time with teammates he’s come to view as “brothers.” Immediately, Abdur-Ra’oof knew that he was ready to adopt Cornell as his college family, leading him to commit to the Ivy League school’s basketball program Tuesday night.
“I was looking for a family where I could feel comfortable like I do at Gonzaga,” Abdur-Ra’oof said, “and that moment in the locker room with the [Cornell] players let me know that this was my next home.”
Abdur-Ra’oof chose the Big Red over Brown, Princeton, George Washington, Old Dominion, UMBC and Kennesaw State. The versatile forward averaged 9.2 points for Gonzaga last season, earning All-Met honorable mention and playing a key role in the Eagles sweeping through their Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular-season schedule.

The positive vibes from Cornell stemmed from Abdur-Ra’oof’s unofficial visit to the Ithaca, N.Y. campus in May. The school’s size and diverse atmosphere somewhat reminded Abdur-Ra’oof of the University of Maryland — where his dad, Aziz, played football — making him even more comfortable with the school and its many resources.
“It’s a great balance of education as an Ivy League school and size as a bigger school with a lot of diversity,” Abdur-Ra’oof said. “It almost felt like home the first time I visited, but after being there with the team and with students on campus, that reaffirmed all of my feelings.”
At 6-foot-7, 205 pounds, Abdur-Ra’oof has the athleticism to run the floor and length to crash the boards as well as guard multiple positions in the paint. His powerful dunks often energize the Eagles and an improvement in his face-up ability as a post player led his recruitment to spike within the past year.
Abdur-Ra’oof also credits his evolving defensive skills to the daily task of guarding 2013 All-Met Player of the Year Kris Jenkins in practice.
“Kris was the toughest matchup in the WCAC and maybe the area, so that forced me to work on my speed, strength and agility,” Abdur-Ra’oof said of Jenkins, who is now a freshman at Villanova. “The Cornell coaches see me as an athletic wing forward that can guard multiple positions and that’s what I’ve been doing in high school, going up against a guy like Kris in practice.”
As the Eagles’ leading returning scorer, Abdur-Ra’oof will be looked upon to increase his production on both ends of the floor. In preparation for his elevated role, the senior said he put up 500 shots a day during the early portion of the summer and concentrated on improving his ball handling.
“Much of the nucleus from our team last year is gone, so we really need to remold together as a team and family,” Abur-Ra’oof said. “I’ve been working really hard on my game and as a leader to help us be successful.”

Eric Bossi of Rivals.com reported the commitment to Cornell as follows:

Down at Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga College High School, head coach Steve Turner runs one of the nation's top high school programs. Each year Gonzaga churns out division one talent and Monday night Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof became the first member of their 2014 class to commit.  An extremely athletic 6-foot-6 forward with great grades, Abdur-Ra'oof has given a commitment to play his ball at Cornell.  Not surprisingly, Turner said that academics played a big role in his senior's decision."Jordan is a big time student and has certainly valued the education he's gotten at Gonzaga," Turner told Rivals.com. "Along with the basketball it was important for him to continue in a strong academic setting like Cornell's."  A high end athlete -- particularly for the Ivy League -- who is capable of playing well above the rim, Abdur-Ra'oof is a sound player who gets after it on both ends.  He'll be able to play at both the small and power forward positions and should have the tools to help out right away at Cornell.  "I think his athleticism right off the bat is going to allow him an opportunity to be a factor early on both sides of the ball," said Turner. "He plays above the rim and is a high major athlete.  "What he does defensively being able to change shots and blocks shots at the rim will help him find his way on the court early.

Steve Turner said of Jordan,“He’s kind of made himself a more versatile face-up four right now, and he’s still trying to work towards maybe being more of a wing player. He’s shooting the ball really well, which is showing everybody he’s stepped to the next level.”

"Jordan is a great kid, really modest, smart," Turner told TerrapinTimes. "He is a great student at Gonzaga and is a terrific all-around kid. I could see him being voted the School Student Government President as a senior. As a basketball player, he has made great strides in his[first]  two years here. He is an exceptional athlete. He has missed some time with injuries, but he is a hard worker.  I'm really looking forward to seeing how good he can be ...He is actually more skilled than people realize, he can, for example, really pass the ball. He is a smart kid in the classroom and he also has a high 'Basketball IQ', so if he stays healthy, keeps working and improving, he could be pretty special.  He is a lot stronger, physically, than he looks. We really want him and need him to take it up a level this year. I don't know exactly what level he'll play in college, but he'll be a D-I player for sure and, with his academics, he can go anywhere he wants from that perspective."

Following his commitment, Abdur-Ra'off's high school newspaper published the following article:

Senior small-forward Jordan “J-Bot” Abdur-Ra’oof committed to Cornell University Tuesday night.  He is the tenth member of Gonzaga’s 2014 class to commit to an NCAA program.  The All-Met honorable mention and 2^nd team all WCAC superstar also had offers from Brown University, Princeton University, George Washington University, Sienna, and Holy Cross.
Jordan will play for 3^rd year coach Bill Courtney.  “They run a pretty fast-paced offense, and they have a lot of athletes just like myself.  So I think I’ll fit in great.”  Jordan will certainly fit in well with the system as he has played with Nate Britt and Tavon Blackmon as they were some of the fastest guards in the WCAC.
Interview with Jordan
Abdur-Ra’oof is a true student-athlete making sure that school does come first, “It’s a great education, you know, and that’s what I’ve always looked for, that’s why I came to Gonzaga, and I’m just trying to put myself in a good position to be successful in life.”  He will certainly continue to be successful as he has always been at Gonzaga and plans to finish his Gonzaga career strong.
When asked about the upcoming season, one thing was clearly important in his mind, “of course – of course a championship.”  The DC metro area will be watching and waiting to see the 6’6’’ senior lead the Eagles to a great season.

Below, a few highlight videos: