August 3, 2008
COMMITMENT ALERT:
John Riek, 7-foot-2 C from IMG Academy
Mick Cronin and the Cincinnati Bearcats have added a third commitment for the spring signing period when Steven Toyloy committed to the Bearcats following a weekend visit to the Cincinnati campus. Today, when the spring signing period is set to begin, the Bearcats are expecting
2 Guards, Center to Sign With UC (Cincinnati Enquirer).
Projected 2008-2009 Roster:Seniors: Mike Williams (PF)
Juniors: Deonta Vaughn (PG), Steven Toyloy (C/BF)
Sophomores: Larry Davis (SG), Rashad Bishop (G/F), Kenny Belton (F/C), Alvin Mitchell (G/F), Anthony McClain (C), Darnell Wilks (F)
Freshmen: Yancy Gates (BF), Cashmere Wright (PG), Dion Dixon (G), Varez Ward (G), John Riek (C)
Mick Cronin adds another big man to his Bearcat program as
John Riek to Cincinnati was reported over the weekend by ZagsBlog.net. Riek, a 7-foot-2 center orginally from the Sudan, played this past season at the Winchendon School in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference after leaving Our Savior New American. Riek averaged about 9 points and 8 rebounds a game for Mike Byrnes squad. Riek has been at the IMG Academy since March where he was training for the NBA Draft, but injuries have slowed down his career path significantly. The hope is he can become eligible and join the UC program either this fall or in mid-semester over the winter.
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Since the end of the 2007-2008 season, Mick Cronin and the Bearcat staff have been very busy by gaining commitments for the 2008 class from Riek, Steven Toyloy, Varez Ward and Dion Dixon (committed in February, signed in April). Riek took the college basketball recruiting scene by storm about a year ago with a breakout performance at the Lebron James Skills Academy. Immediately following that performance the NBA Draft talk began to surface and a literal tug-of-war for his services began between those at Our Savior New American in Long Island and people trying to get him to the Winchendon School in New England. Eventually, Riek ended up at the Winchendon School where he played little late in the season due to injuries. The injuries also hampered him greatly at the Orlando Pre-Draft camp as Riek still pursued his goal of being drafted this past June in the NBA Draft, but he ended up pulling out prior to the draft.
Several things still cloud Riek's future with the Bearcats and when (or if) it will begin. First is the matter of the SAT test to become eligible for the Bearcats. At this point, Riek is expected to take the test September 13th. Those close to Riek believe the NCAA Clearinghouse will allow his transcripts, but he will still need a qualifying test score (remember, the Big East does not allow members to accept partial qualifiers) to enter UC on a scholarship. Coach Byrnes at Winchendon acknowledged that Riek's English had a ways to go for him to foresee Riek being able to tackle the SAT's successfully.
Secondly, and an area likely to see the NCAA look very closely at, is the state of his amateur status. Riek burst onto the scene in Akron last summer (a performance he has yet to duplicate since) and he seems to have been pulled in every direction since, with it always being the intention of finding the shortest route to the NBA. A Hoops on Hoops blog piece by Dick 'Hoops' Weiss in early July took a look at the Riek situation, calling it a 'cautionary' tale about a young 7-footer who "went to IMG in Florida to work out, signed with an agent and became a major disappointment at the Orlando pre-draft camp." So, you can see where the question in that story comes, as Weiss indicates Riek 'signed' with an agent. It is possible 'Hoops' was just assuming that the move to IMG and the declaration for the draft was a process lined up by an agent, but in any event, expect the NCAA to look closely into this.
Steven Toyloy was a player of definite need for the Bearcats and Mick Cronin to land in the spring period. With 10 freshman and sophomores expected on the roster next season, UC definitely could have used a veteran big man to add some muscle to the line-up next year. Toyloy averaged about 12 points and 12 rebounds a game as a JUCO sophomore for Miami-Dade CC. As a freshman, the 6'8, 265 lb Toyloy led the nation in rebounding with over 13/game. Toyloy is a big, physical presence that should be comfortable in the physical Big East, allowing Anthony McClain some help in the pivot.
On the strength of a big senior season, Crane Tech guard Dion Dixon has emerged as the top unsigned prospect in Illinois. With a scoring average of 25 points per game for Crane, Dixon can obviously score the basketball. Cincinnati definitely has a need for players who can put the ball in the basket and while on an official visit in early March the match was made and Dixon decided the Bearcats would be his future home.
Varez Ward is a strong defensive guard that could see time at either backcourt position in his career with the Bearcats. The Montogmery (AL) native played this past year at the Patterson (NC) school. The 6'2, 185 lbs guard is known as an athletic player willing to get after it on defense and atatck the basket offensively.
Toyloy, Ward and Dixon join Cashmere Wright, originally a Clemson Tiger commit, and local standout Yancy Gates of Withrow HS in the 2008 UC class. Wright will join a roster where Deonta Vaughn would be a junior and the only other point guard in the program, meaning Wright could have a chance to see some early playing time his first two years and have the chance to run the show in his final two seasons. With Jamaul Warren and Alvin Gentry being seniors this season, Wright and Dixon should have plenty of chances to see a lot of playing time as freshman with Vaughn and sophomore (to-be) Larry Davis. Gates is a 6'8 powerful post player expected to contribute rigth away on the frontline. Even before the situation with Riek is cleared up, that is a full 13-player roster for the 2008-2009 season. To add Riek in September (or even December), the Bearcats would have to open up a roster spot. Riek becoming a 2009 recruit is also a possibility, would he opt for another shot at the professional ranks at that time??
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Cincinnati a 200:1 shot for the Odds to Win the 2009 NCAA National Championship.
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With Riek and a pretty full roster of young players, the Bearcat recruiting for the Class of 2009 is pretty thin. Mike Williams is expected to petition the NCAA for a 6th season after missing last year with a torn Achilles, which would mean no seniors on the 2008-2009 squad. For now, we will keep a close eye on the John Riek situation to see when he looks to become part of the UC program. It will be an interesting case to follow on a few different issues with the NCAA, especially since the OJ Mayo case is so fresh in their minds.
Labels: Cincinnati recruiting
