Coaches come to see Dyson at Peach Jam

Jerome Dyson was welcomed back to the United States and the AAU circuit this week at the Nike Peach Jam. After spending a couple of months abroad, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound shooting guard from Proctor Academy in New Hampshire is back on the hardwood in front of college recruiters and some of the nation's top programs were on hand to see him in action.

The D.C. area native spent a couple of months in Spain with a program through his school. Afraid he would lose his shooting touch, one of the best in the class of 2006, Dyson said he would look for anything to shoot on. He found a rustic gym and went to work.

"It's a lot different playing over there," Dyson said. "It's out of control. The kids over there all thought I was a celebrity. That was kind of funny."

He was a bit of a celebrity with the college coaches at the Peach Jam. Since he's not a big fixture on the summer circuit, coaches had a prime opportunity to see Dyson against the best players on the Nike circuit. Several of the schools that are recruiting him stopped by to see him in action.

Maryland's Gary Williams, Jim Calhoun of UConn, NC State head man Herb Sendek, Al Skinner of Boston College and assistants from Providence, Illinois and George Mason were all on hand when Dyson and his D.C. Blue Devils team played Friends of Hoop out of Seattle. All of the programs have offered him a scholarship.

The No. 65 ranked player in the country averaged 14.5 points a contest in North Augusta, S.C. and showed off his incredible range on his jump shot. Dyson said he thought he played well but still had room for improvement.

"The hardest thing for me has been getting back into shape and adjusting to the way we play over here," Dyson said. "I've been getting my wind back but it's great to get back out here and play again."

With a possible trip to Las Vegas for the Main Event, Dyson said he knows he will have to sit down and think about what lies ahead in his recruitment. Dyson said he'd like get the ball rolling when school starts in September and visits could be in the works then.