by Alex Schwartz

Within the past hour, I had the opportunity to speak with two players who have committed to high-major programs in the past 24 hours, James McAdoo '11 from Norfolk Christian (VA) who pledged to North Carolina and Victor Oladipo '10 of DeMatha (MD) who picked Indiana. McAdoo is a consensus top five junior despite missing the whole summer circuit due to an injury, while Oladipo is another big-time talent coming from a traditional powerhouse high school program.

McAdoo, a 6'9 power forward and a part of the high-powered Boo Williams AAU program, informed me that he had narrowed his list down to North Carolina, Virginia, and Duke before committing to the Tar Heels. How did the best big man in the class of 2011 decide on the defending national champs? "Well, we went down there for the alumni game on Friday [and] I hadn't really talked to my parents about committing. [We] . . . went back Saturday to watch the guys play pickup and I talked with [Head] Coach Roy [Williams] for about an hour. He answered my questions and my parents' questions [and I knew] . . . that was the school for me."

Kendall Marshall '10, a teammate of James' with Boo Williams, had committed to UNC a long while back, and I inquired of the big man if Marshal impacted him at all. "Not really. Sure, I'd love to play with him. I guess he kind of gave me the inside look of the program, but I didn't really base my decision off him." Travis McKie '10 (Wake Forest) and Andre Dawkins '09 (Duke) were also a part of that squad and are bound for ACC rivals. Despite that, they were happy for McAdoo. "They're all my boys, so they're all proud of me. . . . Everyone pretty much thought I was a shoo-in for Carolina and they kind of knew I was going there." Was he really that much of a Tar Heel lean over the past few months? "I just pretty much had the best relationship with them. I didn't tell other schools I was going to Carolina. . . . I was going to Virginia this weekend, but there was no need." Speaking of other schools, I asked James how the UVA and Duke coaches took the decision and what talking to the coaches—UVA Head Coach Tony Bennett and Duke Assistant Coach Steve Wojciechowski—was like. "I had good relationships with them already, so they were proud and happy. [I just] . . . tried to end on a good note."

UNC clearly recruits elite talents and in some situations, players help the schools they're committed to by trying to push other to join them. Will McAdoo be doing that? "I mean, I'll try, but I don't really have names in mind, . . . but next year, I guess so." McAdoo is the second player in the class of 2011 to pledge to UNC, following PJ Hairston, who he already has a bit of a relationship with. "I know him, he knows me. We've played against each other a few times. . . . [We want to start] a good 2011 class [and I am] . . . looking forward to building a good relationship with him." The duo of future Tar Heels have already talked since McAdoo joined the fold.

"Overwhelming joy for what's ahead of me in the future. . . It's relief," said James when I inquired how it felt to have the decision behind him. Speaking of the future, has the athletic specimen thought about how long he plans to be in college for? "No. I don't think I'll be one of those one and done guys, . . . but I haven't really thought about it." As mentioned above, McAdoo missed the summer with an injury, which he said was a "torn labrum in my left shoulder". Fortunately, things are improving for the ACC-bound Virginian. "It's getting better. I'm just rehabbing three days a week. I could start running last week and I can shoot 25 free throws a day."

Victor Oladipo is not as highly regarded as James McAdoo and his commitment will not get as much attention, but he is a great coup for Tom Crean. In fact, it's been said that he is the type of player Crean won with at Marquette. What does that statement mean to the player himself? "That's a big compliment. . . . I just want to help Tom Crean win a national championship." Regarding why he picked the Hoosiers, Oladipo remarked, "When I went to visit I felt like that was the place for me. . . . They've seen the potential in me for a long time and they see what I can do."

When asked what his finalists were, Oladipo commented, "Indiana and Notre Dame. I setup a visit for Notre Dame. I'm not sure about the other three [visits, but] . . . North Carolina State, Charlotte, and Clemson would have [rounded out] my top five." Will Victor be recruiting player such as Kyrie Irving '10 and Jerian Grant '10 to join him in Bloomington? "Definitely Kyrie Irving. That's who they want. . . . I will be trying." The future IU Hoosier is happy to have his decision behind him. "It feels like a weight has been taken off my back. I have to get good grades and graduate. . . . My focus on what I have to do is even more precise."

Before getting to the Big Ten school next year, Oladipo will be a part of one of nation's top high school teams at DeMatha, and he feels the team has a chance to be special. "I definitely think we can win a national title with the team we have. We have team chemistry. . . . We have what it takes to win a national title and it's going to be up to us and how consistent we are." Before the end of the season last year, one of the best players in America—ranked #7 in Northstar Basketball's Class of 2010 Terrific 125—Josh Selby, transferred from DeMatha to Lake Clifton (MD). What are Victor's thoughts on not having the elite 6'2 combo guard in the fold for the whole season this time around? "He is a great player and he's gotten way better, but I don't think we need him. I think we proved that at the end of last year. . . . Josh is a great player and that's my man."

James McAdoo and Victor Oladipo are both off the board and have made two programs very happy. Meanwhile, many other squads will not like having to face them in the future.

Note- photos are from http://scouthoops.scout.com/