Iowa State Emerges As Leader For PG

Eric Ferguson, a 6-1 point guard from Hempstead, N.Y., has yet to make a decision, but he does have a leader in his recruiting process.

According to a source familiar with Ferguson's process, Iowa State has emerged as the leader over Providence, Rutgers and N.C. State.

Ferguson, who is sitting out this fall trying to attain a qualifying SAT score, took an official visit to Iowa State and an unofficial trip to Rutgers this fall.

According to the source, Iowa State Asst. Coach Bob Sundvold has made two trips to Hempstead to evaluate Ferguson this fall.

"They've been up here twice already and they know what he can do," the source said. "Eric is a bit of a sleeper, and I think a lot of people don't know what they are getting."

Ferguson attended Milford Academy last year after enjoying a stellar career at Hempstead H.S. on Long Island. He had committed to Villanova after a terrific spring on the traveling circuit, but he could not enroll at the school this fall because they don't accept partial or non-qualifiers.

After mulling the prep school route, Ferguson decided to sit out this fall and take the test in the hopes of attaining a qualifying score (he has the core). To this point, the source said he had yet to attain the score, but he could enroll at many of the schools recruiting him in January as a partial qualifier.

Providence, Iowa State and Rutgers could all take him this winter as a partial qualifier.

"He is not going to play until next year whether he qualifies or not," the source said. "Providence, Rutgers and Iowa State have offered. I would think we will know something within the next few weeks."