David Laury ’09, NIA Prep (NJ), Team Lucky NYC
It wasn’t expected that David Laury would be on the market right now, but he is. The 6’7 forward had inked with Western Kentucky during a post-grad year at NIA Prep. The versatile Garden State standout was even on campus at WKU. “When I got to Western Kentucky, I wasn’t really comfortable. . . . I withdrew and they gave me my release. . . I wasn’t interacting with the coaches and players enough. . . They asked me what was wrong and I told them I wasn’t comfortable.” He had no ill will towards the Hilltoppers though, and actually had nothing but positive things to say. “That’s a great school, the coaches, the fans, and the players, [but] . . . I didn’t want to be that far from home. . . . They want to do big things and that would have been selfish of me [to stay]. . . . It wasn’t for me, but like I said, it’s a great school.”
Laury, who stressed that he is still 19 and was granted a release from his NLI by Ken McDonald and Co., is unsure what his plans are for the upcoming year. “I haven’t really talked to any other prep schools yet [and I] might go back to NIA.” David told me that the junior college route is an option, but it is not something that he wants to do. “JuCo is a possibility, but I don’t want to go [to a] JuCo because I don’t want to lose any years of [NCAA eligibility].” Laury has another obstacle to get past before anything is finalized, and that is getting past the NCAA Clearinghouse. “I wasn’t cleared,” stated David. As of now, it looks as though he plans on doing another PG year, but that is not 100% certain. “I’m really leaning towards prep school, but if I get a [college for this year that] I like, I might just go, but I really have to like everything about it.” As of now, Southeastern Missouri State, Iona, and UMES are the schools showing interest in him. As for Iona, Laury stated, “I’ve always been close with [Assistant Coach] Shaheen [Holloway].” The skilled wing was “supposed to be visiting [UMES this] week,” but I have not had a chance to check with him and see if the visit did indeed take place.
I will do my best to keep you up to date on David Laury’s status.

Brandon Taylor ’12, Trenton Catholic (NJ), Team Philly: Temple and St. Joseph’s
                                       Offers: None
                                       Favorites: None

Jimmy Hall ’12, St. Anthony’s (NJ), New Heights: None
                            Offers: n/a
                            Favorites: n/a
                            Note- Hall, who said he “wants to go to Wake Forest,” had the following comments about what it’s like playing at St. Anthony’s: “It’s a good experience because hopefully I’ll playing with varsity for states [next year]. It’s a good experience to play with the big guys [and] . . . I lifted with the varsity [team] too, so it helps me out.”

Isaiah Epps ’10, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), Playaz, Pitt
Epps had to leave Plainfield HS (NJ) if he wanted to play high school basketball this year, as the future Pitt Panther is too old to play in the NJSIAA. A scoring point guard, Epps was deciding between Hargrave Military Academy (VA) and National Christian Academy (MD), and decided on the former. Isaiah informed me that he is definitely going to Hargrave next year. How did he reach that decision? “I talked to my coaches and they thought it would be the best fit for me because it would help me become a man, and I would mature and get stronger.”

Harold McBride ’11, undecided, New Heights
McBride, as of now, is not planning on returning to St. Raymond’s next year. “Most likely I won’t be. . . . I’m trying to change my game to be more of a point guard, so I’m trying to give colleges an extra year to see me as a point guard.” McBride already claims interest from Robert Morris (offer), Quinnipiac, Seton Hall, Auburn, Providence, and Vanderbilt, listing Auburn as his favorite. Currently in the class of 2010, Harold plans to transfer and reclassify to 2011. “My father and Jayon [James’] father are trying to get us as a package deal to go to the same prep school.” What is the connection between the two? “I knew Jayon when in seventh grade when I played with the Playaz. We [have] been close since [and our] fathers [have] kept in touch. The quartet is “supposed to be going to visit the schools soon.” Those schools would be Lawrence Academy (MA) and St. Thomas More (CT).

Corey Wright ’??, undecided, New Heights: Virginia Commonwealth, Fordham, Fairfield, Niagara, Providence, Vanderbilt, Rutgers, and St. Bonaventure
                                    Offers: Virginia Commonwealth, Fordham, Fairfield, and Niagara
                                    Favorites: “I’m waiting. I’m going to see at the end of the week what I really want to do. I’m wide open [and] . . . most of my offers are for 2010.”
                                    Note- Wright was originally in the class of 2010, but then was able to graduate high school early in the class of 2009. “I was in a situation at school where they gave me my diploma. I’m a qualifier. If a good school comes [my way for this year then] I’m [going to] probably take it.” Besides those that he listed, there are some others showing interest in him. If Corey does not go to college in 09, he will head to prep school. “We’ve got some prep schools in the mix. We’ll see what happens in the next week, [but] . . . I’m not going back to Marianapolis [Prep in CT, where I graduated from].”

Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/