by Alex Schwartz

With the conclusion of the July Live Evaluation Period always comes a multitude of commitments from players to programs of all levels. This year has been no different, as dozens of players have come off the board in the nine days since the Live Period ended. As well, some players opted to make their commitments during the month of July.

Below, I rundown many of the commitments that have been made of late. While most have been from class of 2011 prospects, there have also been pledges from 2010, 2012, and 2013 players. Have a look at many of the players who ended their recruitment recently and where they are headed.

- Jordan Allen '11 of Bayshore (NY) informed Northstar Basketball that he will stay local for his college ball, opting to commit to play at Hofstra.

- Isaiah Austin '12 of Grace Prep (TX) made his college commitment tonight while at the adidas Nations, reportedly selecting Baylor over programs such as Arizona and Kentucky.

- Greenville (GA) wing Kentavious Caldwell '11 made his decision in the middle of July to stay in-state and go to Georgia, per reports. There have also been other reports that he plans to take official visits to others schools as well.

- Kyle Caudill '11 of Brea-Olinda (CA), a one-time Arizona State commitment, is now headed to the East Coast to play at Boston College, according to Scout.

- According to a pair of sources, Zach Chionuma '11 of Marianapolis Prep (CT) has committed to Boston University. Chionuma is entering a pos-grad year after graduating from Jamesville-DeWitt (NY).

- One of the best big men in the nation, Rakeem Christmas '11 of Academy of the New Church (PA), committed to Syracuse via Skype to Jeff Goodman. He also considered programs such as Florida, Florida International, Georgetown, Oklahoma, Rutgers, and Texas.

- Elite forward Branden Dawson '11 of Lew Wallace (IN) selected Michigan State, in news first reported by The Recruit Scoop. Indiana and Purdue were amongst the other programs that Dawson considered.

- Sagemont School (FL) wing Rod Days '11 was a huge pickup for an in-state program when he committed to Central Florida, according to reports. He also considered schools such as Alabama, Maryland, Richmond, and South Carolina.

- Tre Demps '11 of Ronald Reagan (TX) played quite well at the King City Classic and soon after he reportedly committed to Northwestern.

- Adrian Diaz '11 of Miami-Hialeah Lakes (FL) had a superb summer and boosted his stock a great deal. He then, according to reports, kickedoff the run of major commitments in August by pledging to Kansas State.

- Percy Gibson '11, a high school teammate or Michigan State-commit Brandan Kearney '11 at Detroit Southeastern (MI), pledged to Dayton.

- Kansas State added its second big man in the month of August when Thomas Gipson '11 of Cedar Hill (TX) popped for the Wildcats, accorinding to reports.

- Dayton made it two commitments in August as well, when LaDontae Henton of Lansing Eastern (MI) took his name off the board and pledged to the Flyers.

- The Nebraska Cornhuskers recently picked up a commitment from Corey Hilliard '11 out of Raytown South (MO), according to multiple reports.

- In news that was first reported by Northstar Basketball via our Twitter page, Darrun Hilliard '11 of Liberty (PA) committed to Villanova. Hilliard also considered Iowa, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Seton Hall and you can read more about his decision Here.

- Virginia added its first commitment in the crop of rising seniors when Merrill (WI) wing Paul Jesperson '11 reportedly committed to the Cavaliers.

- Peter Jurkin '12 of United Faith Christian Academy (NC) is another player who will anounced his decision at adidas Nations today. Jukin reportedly selected Indiana over schools such as Tennessee and Texas.

- On the final day of the Live Period, Kenny Kaminski '12 of Medina (OH) committed to Michigan State, according to reports. Kaminski had planned on announcing on the 31st for quite some time and picked the Spartans over Indiana and Ohio State.

- Breon Key '11 out of Phoebus (VA) will remain in-state for college, as the point guard made his commitment to Old Dominion, per reports.

- Marc Loving '13 of St. John's (OH) became the first player in the class of 2013 to make his college decision when he pledged to Ohio State, per reports.

- In news broken by Northstar Basketball via our Twitter page, Four McGlynn '11 of Dallastown (PA) made his college choice in mid-July and committed to Vermont.

- Eddie Mitchell '11 of La Salle (PA) will not be going far for his college ball, as Recruit Recon reported that the guard made his commitment to Rider.

- Warsaw (IN) guard Nic Moore '11 recently made his college commitment, opting to attend Illinois State, according to reports from multiple media outlets.

- Luke Piotrowski '11 of Atlantic Christian (NJ) capped off a solid spring and summer with a commitment to Richmond. The big man also considered schools such as Boston University and Oregon State, amongst others.

- Marshall Plumlee '11 of Christ School (NC) will follow in the footsteps of his older brothers Miles and Mason and attend Duke, according to reports.

- South Kent (CT) big man Derrick Randall '11, who attended Paterson Catholic (NJ) the past two years, picked Rutgers on the first day of August, per reports.

- David Sobolewski '11 of Benet Academy (IL) will not have to travel all that for his college ball, as multiple reports stated that he will head to Northwestern.

- Stevie Taylor '11 of Lincoln (OH) chose to stay in-state for his college years, making a commitment to Ohio University, according to reports.

- On the same day his AAU teammate Branden Dawson comitted to Michigan State, Travis Trice '11 of Wayne (OH) also pledged to the Spartans, per reports.

- According to a source, Robert Morris added a big man to its incoming class of freshman when Deion Turman '10 of Mount Lebanon (PA) selected the Colonials instead of going to prep school.

- Wisconsin added a number of players the last few months, inclduing Jared Uthoff '11 of Thomas Jefferson (IA), according to reports from multiple outlets.

- Michigan State added its fourth commitment in 10 days today when Denzel Valentine '12 of Sexton (MI) opted to follow in his father's footsteps and play for the Spartans, according to multiple media outlets.

- St. Joseph's made Chris Wilson '11 of Terry Sanford (NC) a priority and was rewarded when the point guard committed to the Hawks, according to reports. Old Dominion and Boston College were amongst the other programs considered.

- After being committed to VCU at one point, Kasey Wilson '11 of North Port (FL) will now be staying in-state for his college ball, as he reportedly committed to Central Florida.

- In news that was broken by Northstar Basketball via our Twitter page, Aquil Younger '11 of West Catholic (PA) made a verbal commitment to Drexel. The Philadelphia Inquirer has reported that Younger will transfer to Penn Wood (PA) for his senior year.

Note- photo is of Rakeem Christmas and is from http://www.courier-journal.com/