Recruiting List 2002
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This list, compiled by Ted Silary, appeared in the Feb. 6 edition of the Philadelphia Daily News.
We hope it benefits the coaches and, more important, the players.

   For the 25th consecutive season, the Daily News is attempting to give college basketball coaches a helping hand with recruiting.

   Our five categories for seniors are point guards, wing guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers. Players are categorized by the position we expect them to play in college. But remember, a player’s role can depend upon the level of school he attends.

   The players in "The Best" category are those we believe would be most capable of playing in Division I or the higher levels of Division II, or in a competitive junior-college program if there’s a need for academic strengthening. “Others” are Division IIs or IIIs.

   Our rating system: 1. big time; 2. midmajor; 3. low Division I; 4. high Division II.

   The notation “NCAA OK” means the player is qualified for freshman eligibility under NCAA academic guidelines. Those not qualified may become so later.

Point guards
   The Best: Raheem Scott, King, 6-2, lefty, crafty, coach’s qualities, plays for keeps, solid build, Temple sniffing, Rtg: 2-3; Mike Spadafora, Wood, 6-3, lefty, body control, penetrates, hits treys, playing through injuries, GPA: 3.8, SAT: 1,300, Ivy/Patriot interest, Rtg: 3-4; Sharif Bray, Central, 6-1, also WG, deep treys a specialty, much-improved passer, quiet confidence, NCAA OK, SAT: 1,070, Rtg: 3-4; David Watson, Furness, 6-foot, also WG, interesting possibilities, 3-inch growth in last year, dunks, poised/perceptive, Rtg: 3-4; Leroy Byrd, Bok, 5-11, strong with ball, gets into lane and to line, improving shooter, true grit, NCAA OK, Rtg: 3-4; Cameron Youngblood, Haverford School, 6-1, also WG, learning PG skills, unorthodox, deceptive, finds ways to score, Lafayette interested, GPA: 3.5, SAT: 1,130, Rtg: 3-4.

   Fifteen others: Labeeb Muhammad, Masterman; Murvin English, Overbrook; Justin Scott, Engineering and Science; Chris Kozole, Ryan; Mike McGarvey, Penn Charter; Donta Williams, West Phila.; Duane Campbell, Franklin; Neil Green, Olney; Isaiah Pinckney, McDevitt; Maurice Stennis, Strawberry Mansion; Tyree Wallace, Roman; Ronald Davis, Dobbins; Armond Saunders, Roxborough; Chris Blatt, Malvern; Isaiah Thomas, Frankford.

Wing guards<QA0>
   Matt Walsh, Germantown Academy, 6-6, Florida signee; Richard “Franchise” Francis, Bartram, 6-3, also SF, abundant skills, clutch, treys to high-flying dunks, has the big first step, likely headed for prep school, Rtg: 2; Rob Sullivan, La Salle, 6-2, out with broken wrist, relentless, solid mid-range game, up tempo no problem, GPA: 3.7, SAT: 1,100, Lehigh involved, Rtg: 3-4; Aaron Brown, Strawberry Mansion, 6-2, just turned 17, still growing, spidery, could explode, solid shooter with good feel for game, NCAA OK, may try prep school, Rtg: 3-4; Angelo Hernandez, Overbrook, 6-3, mad bomber, hits moon-ball treys from parking lot, overcoming tendency to rush, improved floor game, Rtg: 3-4; Ryan Rich, Kennedy-Kenrick, 5-11, explosive, hard to cover, creates space, deep shooting no sweat, GPA: 3.3, SAT: 1,070, Rtg: 3-4; Matt Kearney, Bonner, 6-4, also SF, athletic, quality shooter, steely-eyed but sometimes not authoritative, Ivy possibilities, SAT: 1,250, Rtg: 3-4; Chris Grandieri, O’Hara, 6-2, slender but gritty, quick shooter, maneuverability, will fill out, Ivy possibilities, GPA: 3.8, SAT: 1,210, Rtg: 3-4; Ryan Haigh, Judge, 6-3, gym rat, big strides in one year, calm/confident, still growing, Rtg: 3-4.

   Fifteen Others: Marvin Kilgore, Olney; Donnie Welte, North Catholic; Tim Smink, Dougherty; Augie Woodlin, Gratz; Nick Levine, Chestnut Hill; Khalif Leek, Central; Badir McCleary, Bonner; Chris Tucker, Lamberton; Demetrius Wilkerson, University City; Kevin Leonard, Mastbaum; Chris Del Brocco, Neumann; Miguel Mendez, Kensington; Andrew Hightower, Engineering and Science; Job Godino, Engineering and Science; Kevin Charles, Fels.

Small Forwards
   Lee Melchionni, Germantown Academy, 6-7, bound for Duke; Maurice “Mardy” Collins, Gratz, 6-5, deep sub in 2001, daily improvement, plays wide, gets on glass, sturdy scorer, Rtg: 2-3; Dahliek Powell, Roxborough, 6-5, high flier, best on baseline and near wing, must add bulk, prep/JC possible, Rtg: 3-4; Eugene Myatt, West Phila., 6-5, similar to Powell with wider wingspan, related to ex-Roman star Lari Ketner, many skills, prep possible, Rtg: 3-4; Akeem Wright, King, 6-5, young colt, still blossoming, arms and legs forever, could be awesome in time, Rtg: 3-4; Darron Bradley, King, 6-5, powerful inside leaper, fearless, has court smarts, NCAA OK, Rtg: 3-4.

   Fifteen Others: Anthony Harper, Penn; Andrew Holland, Conwell-Egan; Magen McNeil, University City; Shawn Ikokwu, Overbrook; Nick Martin, Lincoln; Roosevelt Brown, Southern; Stefan Brown, Frankford; Sean Brinson, Bok; Richard Campbell, Central; Andy MacDonald, Ryan; Marcus Johnson, Lamberton; Tim Dougherty, Wood; Michael Schieber, Northeast; Charlie Hook, North Catholic; Izeem Whitaker, Kensington.

Power forwards
   Terrence Mack, Episcopal, 6-6, Rhode Island signee; Micheal Blackshear, Gratz, 6-6, Temple signee; Chaz Crawford, Northeast, 6-7, ambidextrous, polished shot-blocker, other skills still developing, his father is huge, similar to Northeast grad Robert “Pug” Battle (Drexel) at same stage, low I’s sniffing hard, Rtg: 3; Matthew Jefferson, Engineering and Science, 6-5, inside presence, enforcer, mushrooming confidence, solid build, Rtg: 3-4; Rayheem Brown, King, 6-5, built similarly to teammate Akeem Wright, adding polish, loads of possibilities, Rtg: 4; Kristian Clarkson, Overbrook, 6-6, classic late bloomer, deep sub last year, big frame, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, runs well, Rtg: 4.

   Fifteen Others: Anthony Bennett, Bonner; Tyree Hankerson, Olney; Dawud Morris, Strawberry Mansion; Ihsan “Ish” Phillips, Olney; Keith Peel, Mastbaum; Donte Wood, Frankford; Tyreece Harris, Washington; Jon Duperon, Roman; Eric Moore, Malvern; Bryheem Bryant, Franklin; Pat Baylor, O’Hara; Daniel Jackson, Franklin; Patrick Grant, Dobbins; Tyree Draft, Frankford; Rodney “Coosa” Howard, Germantown.

Centers
   The Best: Ted Skuchas, Germantown Academy, 6-11, Vanderbilt signee.
   Three others: Vince Taraborrelli, Bonner; Dan Welch, Judge; Tim Forbes, Frankford.

Top Fifteen Juniors
   Maureece Rice, Strawberry Mansion, 6-foot, WG; Wayne “Gobby” Marshall, King, 6-10, PF-C; Jason Cain, Bartram, 6-9, PF-C; Kashif Payne, Carroll, 5-8, PG; Darnell Corbitt, Franklin, 6-foot, PG-WG; Tasheed Carr, University City, 6-3, PG-WG; Jordan Ingram, Carroll, 6-6, PF; Mark Zoller, St. Joseph’s Prep, 6-6, PF; Antwain Wynn, Neumann, 5-9, PG; Troy Roundtree, Northeast, 6-4, SF; Tyreek Byard, Franklin LC, 6-5, SF; Dontay Tabbs, Washington, 6-8, PF-C; Delton Morgan-Hines, F; Bryant Leach, Bartram, 6-2, WG; Omar Johnson, Gratz, 5-8, PG.<QA0>

Top 15 Sophomores
   Charron Fisher, Roman, 6-3, PF; Rob Kurz, Penn Charter, 6-8, WG; DeSean White, Dougherty, 6-7, PF-C; Shane Clark, Dougherty, 6-6, SF; Richard “Tabby” Cunningham, Neumann, 5-9, PG-WG; Antoine “Doo Dirty” Brown, Southern, 6-1, PG; Adon El, Neumann, 6-4, SF; Brian Grandieri, Malvern, 6-2, G; Matthew Walden, Gratz, 6-8, C; Amarildo Matos, Kennedy-Kenrick, 6-2, WG; Kyle Lowry, Northeast, 5-7, PG; Marshall Taylor, West Catholic, 6-4, SF; Andre Sloan-El, Roman, 6-3, WG; Shawn Sabb, Southern, 6-5, PF-C; Mark Tyndale,