Monday recruiting updates

Among the many elite basketball prospects who made official visits to college campuses this past weekend, two nationally rated players, reportedly, will likely announce by mid-week that they have chosen their future school. By our count 44 of the national Top 50, and 86 of the nation’s Top 100 senior boys basketball prospects have already made commitments to colleges. If these two players decide as expected, obviously, these numbers increase. We now project that at least ninety of the Top 100 seniors will sign with NCAA instiutions during the November 10-17 basketball recruiting period.

This past weekend 6-11, 280-pound center Andrew Bynum, Metuchen, N.J., St. Joseph’s High School, went to Storrs, Conn., for his official visit with Coach Jim Calhoun’s Connecticut Huskies. This was Bynum’s fourth and final recruiting visit. Earlier, he made official visits to Georgia (October 1), Georgia Tech (October 3), and North Carolina for the gala “Late Night With Roy Williams” opening practice on October 15-16.

According to sources close to Bynum family, the defending National Champion Connecticut Huskies may be the favorites to land this talented young “true center,” who just turned 17-years-old this past week. Reportedly, one family member wants him to pick Georgia Tech, another North Carolina, while Andrew, himself, may like UConn best.

Admittedly, this is all heresay, but Bynum is expected to announce his college choice on Wednesday evening, October 27. Rivals.com will keep you updated.

The other top prospect who may decide this week is Lithuanian standout, 6-4. 195-pound, wing guard Martynas Pocius, Plymouth, N.H., the Holderness School. Pocius made an official visit to Duke University this past weekend, after visiting Coach Bill Self’s Kansas Jayhawks for their “Late Night” opening practice on October 15-17.

Reportedly, Pocius really liked both visits, and is very interested in the two schools. He is not expected to make any other campus visits.

Holderness School coach Jamie Gallagher told Rivals.com that Pocius is now on fall break and will return to the school on Wednesday, October 27. “Martynas and I will meet to discuss his situation, and he will call his mother in Lithuania before making his final decision,” said Gallagher. “I do think that he will decide no later than Thursday, October 28.”

Pocius is a skilled, intelligent player, and an accurate three-point shooter. He had a very good junior season at the Holderness School, and is an outstanding student.

Our prediction is that Martynas Pocius will announce this week that he is a “future Duke Blue Devil.”

If our prediction is accurate, Pocius would become Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s fifth recruit this year, and would give the Blue Devils a complete five-man unit with a player at each position. Earlier, Duke received commitments from 6-2 point guard Greg Paulus,Syracuse, N.Y., Christian Brothers Academy; 6-7 wing forward Jamal Boykin, Los Angeles, Calif., Fairfax High School; highly rated 6-10 power forward Josh McRoberts, Carmel, Ind., High School; and 6-10 center Eric Boateng, Middletown, Del., St. Andrews School.

Again, stay tuned to Rivals.com for the latest recruiting updates.