by Alex Schwartz

While at the Prime Time Shootout this past weekend at Villanova, I talked to over 20 players, many of whom gave me school lists, yet my discussions with some of the other players were not all about who they are being recruited by. I'm posting this article to get the information from these players on the site as well; though I will have some quotes from players who I did get school lists from too. In addition, I conducted two full-fledged interviews at Villanova, and seven the previous weekend at Rutgers, and I will be posting these—and the ones I'll do at the Sovereign Bank Arena—throughout the month. Without further ado, here's some more info from players who participated in the 2009 Prime Time Shootout during the two days at Villanova:

- Villanova-bound senior point guard Maalik Wayns '09 of Roman Catholic (PA) sat out the Cahillites' loss to Chester (PA). I had a chance to briefly talk to the talented Philly star before the game, and he told me that he could return from his injury at the "end of [the] playoffs." The future Wildcat said, "I don't think I sprained it."

- Speaking of Wayns, fellow Roman Catholic Cahillite Koron Reed '09 shed some light on what it's like for the team adjusting to life without its star floor general: "It's way tougher. We need to [come] together as a team." Reed also mentione how Rakeem Brookins '10 is trying to take a lot of the burden, but that other players need to step up as well.

- Maurice Nelson '11 is an up-and-coming star for the Chester Clippers. It's not like this is a new thing though, as just a handful of years ago, his older brother was in the sam situation. Jameer Nelson went from Chester to St. Joseph's—where he led the team to a birth in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament during a two-loss season—to the Orlando Magic of the NBA. Nelson was a first round draft pick, and was selected to the All-Star game this season. So what's it like for Maurice having Jameer as an older brother? "It's good watching my brother play on TV and in the NBA." What does Maurice think about being known as "Jameer Nelson's little brother"? "It feels good to be looked at as Jameer's little brother because I have people looking at me and I [have] just got to keep doing what I [have] been doing." The sophomore, who was trying to reach his brother via telephone after the win but was unsuccessful, has "no schools" recruiting him as of now, but St. Joseph's does indeed have a leg up. "I would like to go to St. Joe's to follow in the footsteps of my brother," said Nelson.

- Eddie DiRugeris '09 "verbally committed [to] Philadelphia University" just a few days before the event. The senior guard from Pennsbury (PA) told me he picked the DII powerhouse because he "thought it would be fun, . . . [and it is] local." He went on to add, "[I felt it was] the best situation for me." What other schools did DiRugeris think about? "I was considering some Patriot League schools. I was talking to Holy Cross a little bit. . . . New Hampshire [of the America East conference] was another school that came in . . . late." I also asked Eddie what it felt like for him to win the MVP award in his team's PTS overtime win against Norristown (PA), and he said, "It's awesome . . . It means a lot."

- I learned after the game when I spoke to the man himself that Anthony D'Orazio '10 of Camden Catholic (NJ) is "verbally committed to Lehigh University." This has been pretty quiet, and Rivals doesn't even have the junior guard in its database. Although he is under the radar, D'Orazio is a very, very good player who is a nice get for the Patriot League school. So why did Anthony pick Lehigh? "[It has a] good combination of academics and athletics, . . . [and] I can go home whenever I want." Boston University was the only other school that the Garden State baller said he really considered.

- Dequann Walker '11 is a part of the talented sophomore class at Malvern Prep (PA) that also includes Lamon Church '11 and Tracy Peal '11. Walker was named MVP in the team's narrow defeat at the hands of Camden Catholic. The forward said that winning MVP "means a lot, but it [also] doesn’t mean anything because [Malvern Prep] didn't take home a win." Walker said that as of 1/31 the team was 19-7, adding, "We're doing [well]. We're a real young team."  Although as of now Walker is not getting any college interest, Florida and USC are his dream schools.

- Dajuan Coleman '12 may well be the next big thing from Jamesville-DeWitt (NY). The 6'8 freshman big man teams with Alshwan Hymes '09 and Syracuse-bound Brandon Triche '09 to form a big-time trio. Coleman told me after the Red Rams' victory over North Catholic (PA) that he is receiving college interest, but his coaches know the list, and informed me that he does not have a dream school. Coleman matched up with big-time sophomore Rakeem Christmas '11, a 6'9 center who is considered amongst the top 10 players in the class of 2011 by some. What did the freshman think about it? "It was good I didn't let it get to me." Commenting on what J-D needs to do the rest of the season, Dajuan said, "[We] just [need to] stay on track [and] I think we'll be good."

- The aforementioned Brandon Triche of Jamesville-DeWitt garnered MVP honors in the win over North Catholic, and I spoke to him after the victory about his college choice. The senior guard said he also considered Georgetown and UConn before picking Syracuse, which is just a few minutes from J-D. So why did Triche pick the Orange? "It being close [was a factor], and them having a great guard coach in Mike Hopkins and [Head Coach] Jim Boeheim being a Hall of Fame coach, it seemed like a great fit for me." Triche, who "signed in November," said the following when I asked him about what he thought his playing time situation would be as a freshman: "I think with Johnny Flynn leaving, it will leave [the] point guard [spot] open." Triche was not positive that the sophomore star would leave, but he mentioned the possibility of Flynn being a high draft choice in why he may well leave.