by Alex Schwartz

Today is the first day of the early signing period for high school basketball recruits and it runs until November 18th. The first day is always the busiest, and I will be doing my best to keep you all posted on what is going on. This article will be updated throughout the day with news, and I will also be providing information via the Northstar Basketball Twitter page.

- According to Winchendon (MA) Assistant Coach Ross Convertino, four players at the NEPSAC Class A school have signed their LOIs. Markus Kennedy (Villanova), Devon Saddler (Delaware), Anthony Ireland (Loyola Marymount), and Eric Ferguson (Georgia Southern) have made their choices official. Marvin Dominique (Hofstra) will be signing this evening.

- Frantz Massenat of Trenton Catholic (NJ) has signed with Drexel.

- According to multiple sources close to the situation, Hippolyte Tsafack of The Miller School (VA) has selected Memphis over Maryland. Tsafack's AAU Coach with Albany City Rocks (NY) informed me that the big man will be signing with the Tigers during the early signing period.

- Other Memphis news: Joe Jackson of White Station (TN) and Chris Crawford of Sheffield (TN) are officially a part of the C-USA program, as they are signed, sealed, and delivered.

- In other Albany City Rocks news, Coach Hart stated, "Tobias [Harris] will decide next Thursday." The other two high-major commits, Will Regan (Virginia) and Taran Buie (Penn State) will be off the board soon. Asked if they have signed the dotted line yet, Hart replied, "Yes, or will so this week."

- Neumann-Goretti (PA) Assistant Coach John Mosco provided an update on when the four Division I-bound Saints will sign. Comcast will be in the house for an 11:00am ceremony on Thursday morning. Tony Chennault (Wake Forest), Tyreek Duren (La Salle), Danny Stewart (Rider), and Mustafa Jones (Hartford) are the quartet that will be signing.

- Travis McKie has inked with Wake Forest, per his Twitter page.

- Multiple reports indicate that Shawn Kemp, Jr. has picked Auburn over Georgia, that Luke Cothron will not be signing with North Carolina State during the early signing period, and that JJ Moore has popped to Pitt.

- Sagemont School (FL) Head Coach Adam Ross has informed me that "Fab [Melo] will sign over the weekend" with Syracuse. What about Will Sheehey? "Will is deciding on whether or not to sign in this period or wait until the spring."

- UMES-bound Devon Gibson will be signing his NLI during the early period, but not today, according to his head coach at NIA Prep (NJ), Vincent Robinson. The former University (NJ) star will be making it official after the team gets back from Maine on Saturday.

- Accrding to Paterson Catholic (NJ) Assistant Coach Donell Pauldo, Fuquan Edwin has signed the dotted line to become a Seton Hall Pirate.

- Old School Cavs (PA) AAU Coach Toomey Anderson stated that Kyheim Hall of Pocono Mountain East (PA) has officially signed with St. Francis (PA).

- "Khyle Marshall will sign his official LOI to Butler University today around 4:00pm or 5:00pm," wrote his AAU and high school coach Alberto Jempierre in a text message.

- Team Takeover DE Coach Mike Nalls informed me that Waverly Austin will be signing with South Florida today.

- Just got off the phone with Cecil Kirk Coach Anthony Lewis and he had some news to report. Raphael Akpejiori has his papers and should be signing with Miami at any second, and the same goes for Antonio Barton and Memphis. As for Cleveland Melvin of Notre Dame Prep, he said, "Cleveland Melvin is probably going to make a decision at the week's end." Who is he considering? "For Cleveland, it has boiled down to UConn, DePaul, Memphis, and Seton Hall, Those are the four finalists."

- Two Arkansas Wings players have made their decisions official, according to Carlos Conley, a coach with the program. Preston Purfioy is now a UAB Blazer and Keon McNeil is set for Nebraska.

- The loaded Grassroots Canada program has had three player sign today, according to Head Coach Ro Russell. "Tristan Thompson to Texas, DJ Wright to Louisiana Tech, Dwight Powell to Stanford." The coach added, "Cory [Joseph] may sign late." The point guard is still considering seven schools (UConn, Villanova, Texas, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Florida, and UNLV) according to Russell, who also informed me that "Brady [Heslip] to BC" is a done deal.

- On the topic of Thompson, Findlay Prep (NV) Assistant Coach Todd Simon said via text message of the future Longhorn, "He did [sign] this morning, first thing!" As for Cory Joseph and fellow Findlay senior Godwin Okonji, Coach Simon stated, "Neither have a timeframe for their decision. Godwin will likely wait and Cory will decide when he feels ready." What schools are on Okonji's list? "[He has] visited TCU, Hawaii, and New Mexico [and he] now has interest [from] Oklahoma, Colorado, San Diego State, and UConn."

- Brian Davis of the Rising Stars IL AAU program provided an update on six players. Ben Brust has inked with Iowa, Alex Rossi is now a Cal Golden Bear, and Fred Heldring is done for William & Mary. Jordan Threloff will make it official for Illinois State "today or tomorrow" and Ohio State-bound Lenzelle Smith will be penning his name on Friday. Future Drake Bulldog Rayvonte Rice will be signing at some point during the early period.

- New Heights NYC Head Coach Adam Berkowitz told me that Ashton Pankey is down to Maryland and Houston and that the big man will make his choice next week. It looks like he may well sign on Tuesday, which is when St. Anthony's (NJ) is having a ceremony for its signees—per Berkowitz—which inlcudes fellow New Heights baller, Oregon State-pledge Devon Collier.

- According to a source, Ryan McKeaney of Cherokee (NJ) will be signing with Vermont this week, but the exact day seems unknown as of now.

- The trio of Montverde Academy (FL) ballers have inked with their future schools, according to James Bell, one of the three. Bell is set for Villanova, Jamail Jones is officially a Marquette Golden Eagle, and Papa Samba Ndao is now a part of the Boston College program.

- Raphael Akpejiori is going to be a Miami Hurricane, it's just a matter of when. The big man from Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) had to fax his papers to his mother in Nigeria for her to sign in order for them to be legitimate. Thus, he is hoping that he gets it done during this period. In other Miami news, Rion Brown is signed, sealed, and delivered for the ACC school.

- Javon KcKay is officially a part of the Tennessee Tech basketball program.

- Indiana will only be inking one recruit this period—unless the aforementioned Will Sheehey decides to sign early with the Hoosiers—as reports indicate that the Big Ten school has parted ways with David Williams. Victor Oladipo of DeMatha (MD) has signed the dotted line though, and is set to play for Tom Crean next year.

- Georgia Tech will be receiving a signed Letter of Intent from its lone commit, Jason Morris, on Thursday.

- New Yorker Chris Manhertz is set for Canisius.

- Bryant has inked three players, in Australian native Corey Maynard, Troy Robinson, and Matthew Lee of Westtown School (PA).

- Charlotte will not be signing any one during the early signing period, as it stands right now at least.

- In addition to Ryan McKeaney sealing the deal with Vermont, Brian Voelkel of Iona Prep (NY) has done so too. His high school teammate, Sandro Carissimo, will be doing so Thursday. The sharpshooter pledged to the Catamounts on Wednesday.

- South Carolina Head Coach Darrin Horn is officially bringing in a top-notch recruiting class that includes Damontre Harris, RJ Slawson, Bruce Ellington, Brian Richardson, and Eric Smith.

- Josh Daniell of St. Patrick's (NJ) is a done deal for Wagner, as is Evan Pierce.

- Florida Atlantic will not be signing any players this November.

- Alex Kirk will be inking with in-state New Mexico on Thursday.

- Austin Carroll's papers will be signed on Thursday, and the son of former Boston Celtics Head Coach John Carroll will then officially be a Rutgers Scarlet Knight.

- Aaron Brown has made it official for Temple.

- Both Antonio Barton and Will Barton have signed their LOIs to go to Memphis, but their papers have yet to get to the C-USA powerhouse.

- New Alabama Head Coach Anthony Grant has officially locked up a good one in Charles "Junior" Hankerson, who stated that he "signed early this morning" with the Crimson Tide.

- Chase Plummer of St. Patrick's signed the dotted line for UMBC on Wednesday evening.

- Cedrick Lindsay is headed to Richmond, and will be inking with the Spiders soon. "[There is a] signing day [event] at my school [Thursday]," stated Lindsay. This means his teammates at Gonzaga (DC), Duke-pledge Tyler Thornton and Robert Morris-bound Malcolm Lemmons, will likely be penning their names then too.

- Georgia State officially has Devonta White in the fold for next year.

- Boston University will have to wait a few days to officially bring DJ Irving of Archbishop Carroll (PA) into the mix. The point guard said that he will be signing on "November 16th at my school" via text message.

- When will Dion Waiters officially become part of the Syracuse program after being committed for what seems like forever? "I'm supposed to sign tomorrow."

- Michigan has locked up Evan Smotrycz. "I signed earlier today [Wednesday]. I'm all good to go," stated the combo forward. He also informed me that Tim Hardaway, Jr. is officially a Wolverine.

- Big man Evan Anderson must be real happy to have inked with in-state Wisconsin, as he stated, "I signed [Wednesday] morning, so I'm in," and finished the text off with a smiley face. He also let me know that Josh Gasser and Dujan Dukkan have made it official for the Badgers as well.

- Wake Forest is set to add Carson Desrosiers to the program quite soon. "I'll be signing [Thursday] at 4 at my school. [There was] no school [Wednesday and] that's why it wasn't [then]."

- Dwight Powell will officially become a member of the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday, while Josh Huestis has already made it official.

- Ohio State-bound JD Weatherspoon was easily the most precise of the many, many players I was in touch with on Wednesday. "Yes, it is official. I signed at 7:29am." Oh, and his text message signature is "!!AIR BUCKEYE!!"

- Xavier has officially landed Jordan Latham.

- Jonathan Frye is ready to go for Buzz Peterson at Appalachian State next season.

- The best big man in America and the nation's top committed player, Jared Sullinger, informed me that he has officially become an Ohio State Buckeye.

- Matt Derenbecker not only told me that he has signed with LSU, but let me know that Ralston Turner, Andre Stringer, and Jalen Courtney have done so as well.

- Markel Starks will officially become a Georgetown Hoya on Friday.

- UConn has added Michael Bradley to the fold.

- Mardracus Wade will not be going all that far from his home in Memphis—though he is at Hargrave Military Academy (VA) now—for college and it is now official that he will be at Arkansas next year.

- Boston University will be officially getting Malik Thomas of Wadleigh (NY) later today.

- Jordan Sibert is ready to play for Thad Matta in Columbus and will sign with Ohio State today "at 6" he stated.

- Cameron Clark at first seemed unsure of when he will be signing with Oklahoma, but then stated that it would be Saturday at 10:00. He also let me know that TJ Taylor is now a Sooner.

- Patric Young is officially set to stay in-state and attend Florida, as has given the Gators his signature.

- Nate Lubick let me know that he is "sending [the LOI] in [Thursday]" to make it official for Georgetown.

- Pat Moore has inked to go to to Colgate.

- Vander Blue is a done deal for Marquette, after being committed to Wisconsin at one point.

- Keith Appling and Russell Byrd both told me that they have signed with Michigan State. What about Adreian Payne and Alex Gauna? Byrd said that are officially Spartans as well. The wing also stated that he is "getting bigger [and] stronger" and that he is "ready for the season to start" at Blackhawk Christian (IN).

- Scott Eatherton is set to stay in-state and play at St. Francis (PA).

- What's the story on Shane Southwell of Rice (NY) and Kansas State? "I signed it [Wednesday], but will send it back [Thursday]."

- Trae Golden is waiting a little bit to sign with Tennessee, but for good reason. "I sign Tuesday at 10:30am. I wanted to make sure my sister was there. She gets back from Australia [on] Friday."

- It's final for Kyle Collinsworth and BYU.

- Richard Solomon told me that he is now officially a Golden Bear, and added that Gary Franklin, Alex Rossi (mentioned above), and Allen Crabbe are too.

- It does not appear that Binghamton will have any early signees.

- Florida-bound Casey Prather will sign with the SEC school on Thursday.

- "All three of us signed a couple of minutes ago together," said HJ Gaskins of him and his fellow Boston University-bound high school teammates at Friends Central (PA), Travis Robinson and Dominic Morris. Robinson confirmed that he has signed too.

- Drexel is expected to sign officially sign Dartaye Ruffin on Thursday. The big man was originally part of the Dragons' class of 2009, but opted to do a year of prep school befoer heading to the CAA school.

- Bowling Green has added two new players in Craig Sealey and Cameron Black.

- After being committed to Texas for quite some time before decommitting and pledging to Arizona soon after, Daniel Bejarano is officially a Wildcat of the Pac-10 variety.

- George Mason has officially inked big man Jonathan Arledge.

- Lafayette has picked up one early signee in Leslie Smith.

- Mount St. Mary's has officially added Donte Morales to the program and is epxected to do the same with Justin Burrell and Jeff James on Thursday.

- Drake has signed a nice three-man class of Karl Madison, Rayvonte Rice, and Jeremy Jeffers.

- Scott Morris is the newest member of the New Hampshire basketball program.

- In addition to Waverly Austin, South Florida has picked up Lavonte Dority.

- Siena has signed both of its quality recruits in Melsahn Basabe and Trenity Burdine in what looks to be a great class for the Saints.

- Joining Fred Heldring as official William & Mary signees are Tim Rusthoven, Brandon Britt, and Julian Boatner.

- Penn State used its only available class of 2010 scholarship on Taran Buie and the point guard has sealed the deal with the Nittany Lions.

- Dave Coley has penned his name on an LOI to attend Stony Brook next year.

- Jarrel Eddie and Tyrone Garland have both offically become Virginia Tech Hokies.

- Western Carolina has picked up Brandon Boggs, Tawaski King, and Preston Ross.

- Ole Miss has signed its two commitments in Dundrecous Nelson and Demarco Cox, both of whom are in-state prospects.

- Rhode Island has signed Kyle Cain, but not Billy Baron. Why not? "I didn't sign because I don't use up a scholarship since my dad [Head Coach Jim Baron] works there," stated Billy. Rams fans, there is no need to fret.

- Wright State has already signed four players in the early signing period in Cory Stanton, Cole Darling, AJ Pacher, and Kegan Clark.

- Some people thought that Juwan Staten would not end up at Dayton after transferring to Oak Hill Academy (VA). That is no longer a question as the point guard is offically a part of the Atlantic-10 program. In addition, he informed me of the following: "We also had a game [today]. I had 28 points and 12 assists."

- As for fellow Oak Hill Academy ballers Doron Lamb and Roscoe Smith, Staten stated that he expects both of them to be spring signees.

- Quinnipiac will have to wait until the final day of the signing period, November 18th, to officially add Ike Azotam.

- Stacey Poole is signed, sealed, and delivered and is the newest Kentucky Wildcat.

- "I'm going to sign [on Thursday] around 4," stated Northeastern-bound Alex Bates.

- Jerian Grant has made it final for Notre Dame.

- Noah Cottrill will be signing with West Virginia this week, but the exact date seems unknown.

- Asked via text message if he has signed, New Jersey native Khalil Murphy replied, "Yes, I did!" The newest member of the San Francisco program added, "This is just the beginning of a LONG journey."