DDN on Staten

[Long Island FLYER]

Nice piece from DDN on Staten:

Staten draws rave reviews, but sticking with UD
By Doug Harris

Staff Writer

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

DAYTON — Juwan Staten hasn't waffled since giving the University of Dayton a verbal commitment in March, but recruiters from other schools keep lurking just in case he does.

"I've had coaches talk to me from the Big Ten, Big East and ACC, but his verbal is definitely solid," said Bill Staten, Juwan's father. "When he made his decision, he knew this would happen. But he basically found the perfect fit in Dayton."

Staten's stock has skyrocketed this summer while pairing with Ohio State-bound Jared Sullinger to lead the All Ohio Red 16-under team to wins in 11 of 12 tournaments it entered, including a second straight AAU national crown in Orlando last week. The squad went 70-1 this season and is 134-3 over the last two years.

Rivals.com named the Thurgood Marshall High School junior-to-be the No. 1 player at the 16-and-under nationals.

John Stovall of PrepSpotlight.com lists the 5-foot-9 Staten among the top 10 point guards in the nation in the 2010 class, and the recruiting analyst said coaches from high-major schools are even asking him about Staten's availability.

"He's been fantastic, and, believe me, I've been one of his harshest critics," Stovall said. "I always thought he was more of a scoring point guard and I questioned his decision-making. But he's been playing a great floor game and still getting 17-to-20 points."

All Ohio Red has several other Division-I recruits, including Jefferson's Adreian Payne, and Staten said he's been tweaking his game to blend with them.

"On my AAU team, I'm on a team full of stars. It's like going to college," he said. "Everybody is a star from their high school team, and you're not called on to score as much as you are in high school. It lets me show more of my game, the creating side."

As for those overtures from marquee programs, Staten said: "It feels good to know you can be at any school in the country when you have all these schools talking to you and sending you letters, but I picked the University of Dayton because that's where I want to be and that's where I feel comfortable."


Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

[SCFlyer]

I love everything about that article.

They certainly seem steadfast in his commitment. I also like when the DDN gives props to kids that sign with us. I was talking with someone close to Adreian Payne and he was saying how, to a high school kid, having an article about you in the paper is about as good as it gets. Everyone in the town is reading about you. That's one huge advantage that we have with them being in town.

[MrFlyerFanatic]

I think I like the companion column even better.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/con...taten1web.html

It mentions taking part of the Wright STEPP program for advanced classes in engineering, science, and math as well as attending the NCAA mentoring program

No doubt the kid can play and knows the game, but he would seem to have his act together off the court and in the classroom as well.
BG likes to have a PG who is a coach on the floor. It looks like he's getting a good one in a couple years.

[Bill McPeek]

Thanks, guys. Both great articles. Now, if we can get Mr. Payne to sign on the dotted line..........

[San Diego Flyer]

As for those overtures from marquee programs, Staten said: "It feels good to know you can be at any school in the country when you have all these schools talking to you and sending you letters, but I picked the University of Dayton because that's where I want to be and that's where I feel comfortable."

I think I'm going to cry. Great talent, great kid.

So nice to see the kid eye to eye with the Huggin's, Patino's, and Calipari's and reject their sorry efforts to steal his integrity.

[The Fat Tuna]

I was worried when he was quoted as saying that people have been telling him left and right that BG is leaving before he gets there. Sounds like he is really strong on BG and UD right now though. I am now confident that Staten will be a Flyer as long as BG is here.

He sounds like an absolutely great kid as well. Has his head screwed on straight, grades together, and understands the game and team atmosphere. I am just envisioning us with a starting line-up of Staten, Williams, Wright, Searcy, and Benson. Obviously that is a long way away with a lot of question marks, but if it really works out we are going to have one heck of a team.

[hankj22]

You forgot Kavanaugh, I understand he is playing great this summer

[ud69]

Any maybe Payne - same class as Staten.

[Furio]

Originally Posted by The Fat Tuna I was worried when he was quoted as saying that people have been telling him left and right that BG is leaving before he gets there. Sounds like he is really strong on BG and UD right now though. I am now confident that Staten will be a Flyer as long as BG is here. .

It's called providing an excuse to call. Head coach calls him providing a public service of informing of a rumor that he "just heard."
The truth being he just heard it because he just said it to his assistant coach just before he called.

[Furio]

Originally Posted by hankj22 You forgot Kavanaugh, I understand he is playing great this summer

Was a nice article about him in the neighbors section of the DDN today.
His coach (Jim Staley) is quoted on his play this summer "Matt has just been a monster. I haven't seen him get outplayd by anybody. He's stronger, heavier, just a better player and a better shooter