Decision Soon For Big Man

Grant Billmeier, a developing 6-10 235 pound center from St. Patrick H.S. in Elizabeth, N.J., has two schools atop his list as the busy July evaluation period approaches.

Billmeier, who helped St. Pat's win the 10th Annual Metro Classic this past weekend, told the Insiders Report/Rivalshoops.com that Pittsburgh and Seton Hall are his top two. He took an official visit to Pitt the weekend of June 2, and visited SHU officially the weekend of June 9.

"Both of the visits were good, they treated me very well -- I really liked the coaches as well as meeting the players," Billmeier said. "When I got out to Pittsburgh, I met Brandin Knight, another Jersey guy, and he was really cool, and it was a lot of fun out there because I was out there with Sean Banks, who also was there for a visit."

"Then when I went to Seton Hall, it was really nice to meet Coach Orr and spending some time here," Billmeier added. "I liked the campus a lot, I never knew it was this nice because all I did was just come to the basketball part, but if you go to the whole campus, it's real nice. It's similar to St. Pat's in that it's a small Catholic school, and I like that environment."

Seton Hall, Rutgers and Pitt have offered scholarships, and Billmeier said he is still actively considering Rhode Island, Purdue, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Washington, Tennessee, James Madison and Fairfield this summer.

"I see myself making a decision sometime between the Nike Camp and the end of the summer," he said. "So when I go back to school, it's all over with."

Billmeier averaged 10 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks per game this past season at St. Patrick. While he is still a work in progress offensively, Billmeier does many of the important things that big men don't always get lauded for -- be it rebounding, passing or defending.

Billmeier said he has a 2.9 GPA and missed a qualifying score on the SAT exam the first time he took it. He is slated to take the test again in the fall.

Billmeier has a busy summer planned, with pit stops expected at the Nike All-American Camp in Indianapolis, the Three Stripes Tournament in Long Island with the New Jersey Demons and the AAU Nationals in Florida with Sandy Pyonin's New Jersey Roadrunners squad.

Now that St. Patrick H.S. has qualified for the AND1 High School National Championship next month in Philadelphia, Billmeier might be playing there instead of the Three Stripes Tournament. The Three Stripes runs from July 12-14, while the HSNC will take place at the Palestra in Philly on July 13 and 14.

*Billmeier is expected to unofficially visit Seton Hall today with his family. We will give you an update after his possible visit...