Adreian Payne Makes MSU Class Elite; Top Bigs All But Gone
by Alex Schwartz
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo got a good one in Adreian Payne '10 of Jefferson (OH) yesterday. The 6'10 center became the fourth member of the
Spartans' recruiting class, joining 6'2 combo guard Keith Appling of Pershing (MI), 6'7 wing Russell Byrd of Blackhawk Christian (IN), and 6'8 power forward Alex Gauna of Eaton Rapids (MI). Payne, who was a part of the nation's best AAU team, All-Ohio Red, selected the Big Ten powerhouse over West Virginia, and also considered Kentucky and Arizona.
Adreian is the second player ranked in the top 25 of Northstar Basketball's Class of 2010 Terrific 125 to commit to Michigan State. Payne is the #23 ranked player, while Appling checks in at #18. Both players are also top five at their position, with Payne as the third highest rated center and Appling as the #5 point guard on the list. The class also includes another player ranked in the top 100, in Byrd, who is slotted at #84 overall and #20 amongst small forwards. Alex Gauna is the lone unranked player of the group. Payne's commitment to MSU boosts the Spartans' class top five in the class of 2010 as of now.
With Payne off the board, just two of the 11 centers ranked in Northstar Basketball's Class of 2010 Terrific 125 are still available in #9 6'10 Josh Smith of Kentwood (WA) and #32 7'1 David Nyarsuk of Mountain State Academy (WV). Smith is our top rated center, while Nyarsuk is fourth. The center position in the class of 2010 is weak as a whole and with most of the top ones gone, programs searching for true big-time low post players will have trouble landing one at this point, which makes Payne's commitment to MSU that much more important.
In addition to the pair of centers still left, just six of the 26 ranked power forwards have yet to make the college decisions: #17 (#5 PF) 6'8 Tobias Harris of Half Hollow Hills West (NY), #24 (#7 PF) 6'8 CJ Leslie of Word of God Academy (NC), #26 (#8 PF) 6'8 Tarik Black of Ridgeway (TN), #34 (#9 PF) 6'7 Tony Mitchell of Pinkston (TX), #100 (#24 PF) 6'8 Jonathan Graham of Calvert Hall College HS (MD), and #118 (#26 PF) 6'7 Devon Collier of St. Anthony's (NJ). Although these players do not have the height or post presence of Smith and Nyarsuk, they are talented and would still be good gets.
Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo got a good one in Adreian Payne '10 of Jefferson (OH) yesterday. The 6'10 center became the fourth member of the
Spartans' recruiting class, joining 6'2 combo guard Keith Appling of Pershing (MI), 6'7 wing Russell Byrd of Blackhawk Christian (IN), and 6'8 power forward Alex Gauna of Eaton Rapids (MI). Payne, who was a part of the nation's best AAU team, All-Ohio Red, selected the Big Ten powerhouse over West Virginia, and also considered Kentucky and Arizona.Adreian is the second player ranked in the top 25 of Northstar Basketball's Class of 2010 Terrific 125 to commit to Michigan State. Payne is the #23 ranked player, while Appling checks in at #18. Both players are also top five at their position, with Payne as the third highest rated center and Appling as the #5 point guard on the list. The class also includes another player ranked in the top 100, in Byrd, who is slotted at #84 overall and #20 amongst small forwards. Alex Gauna is the lone unranked player of the group. Payne's commitment to MSU boosts the Spartans' class top five in the class of 2010 as of now.
With Payne off the board, just two of the 11 centers ranked in Northstar Basketball's Class of 2010 Terrific 125 are still available in #9 6'10 Josh Smith of Kentwood (WA) and #32 7'1 David Nyarsuk of Mountain State Academy (WV). Smith is our top rated center, while Nyarsuk is fourth. The center position in the class of 2010 is weak as a whole and with most of the top ones gone, programs searching for true big-time low post players will have trouble landing one at this point, which makes Payne's commitment to MSU that much more important.
In addition to the pair of centers still left, just six of the 26 ranked power forwards have yet to make the college decisions: #17 (#5 PF) 6'8 Tobias Harris of Half Hollow Hills West (NY), #24 (#7 PF) 6'8 CJ Leslie of Word of God Academy (NC), #26 (#8 PF) 6'8 Tarik Black of Ridgeway (TN), #34 (#9 PF) 6'7 Tony Mitchell of Pinkston (TX), #100 (#24 PF) 6'8 Jonathan Graham of Calvert Hall College HS (MD), and #118 (#26 PF) 6'7 Devon Collier of St. Anthony's (NJ). Although these players do not have the height or post presence of Smith and Nyarsuk, they are talented and would still be good gets.
Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/
Posted by northstarbball at 10/30/2009 3:26 PM 
Categories: Class of 2010
Tags: Keith Appling CJ Leslie Jonathan Graham Arizona West Virginia Josh Smith Tony Mitchell Tarik Black Alex Gauna Big Ten Tobias Harris Tom Izzo Kentucky David Nyarsuk Michigan State Devon Collier Russell Byrd Adreian Payne
Categories: Class of 2010
Tags: Keith Appling CJ Leslie Jonathan Graham Arizona West Virginia Josh Smith Tony Mitchell Tarik Black Alex Gauna Big Ten Tobias Harris Tom Izzo Kentucky David Nyarsuk Michigan State Devon Collier Russell Byrd Adreian Payne
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