Noah Has 7 Major Offers

Many recruiting services discovered how terrific a player Joakim Noah is after watching the thin prospect this summer at several major AAU events and camps. But for those who reside in the New York City area, they already knew how much improved the fast-rising 6-foot-10, 210-pound power forward/center from the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, N.J., was in the spring. For Noah, the summer was very good to him as many more high profile programs made offers.

Noah, who kicked off the July evaluation period three weeks ago with a tremendous adidas ABCD Camp, now finds himself as the focal point of an intense recruiting battle among high major programs. Currently, Noah's list sits at 11 schools this summer.

Noah told us on Monday at the Best of the Summer Tournament that he has been offered scholarships by several high major schools. "Maryland, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, St. John's, Villanova, UCLA and Florida have offered me," Noah said. "I am also interested in Indiana, Duke, UConn and Stanford."

Noah said he has roughly five schools that are at the top of his list right now, but he didn't want to divulge that information at this time. He said that discussions with his family over the next month or so will be a key factor in shaping his final list and determining what colleges he takes official visits to this fall.

"I feel I have time," he said. "I am waiting for my family to come home."

"After ABCD, things got crazy and my phone was ringing off the hook," he continued. "My Mom and sister are in Africa right now and my Dad is in Europe playing with his band."

Noah plans to visit with his father Yannick in August. The two will spend some time together in the Carribean, and Joakim said he doesn't anticipate many changes in his current list until he has the time to sit down and speak with his family members. The only thing he does expect to do for sure is take an unofficial visit to Maryland.

"The most important thing for me right now is to just play ball," Noah said. "I want my family to be a part of the [recruiting] process."

Noah averaged 24 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks per game last winter for Head Coach Billy McNally at Poly Prep H.S.

Following the adidas ABCD Camp, Noah attended the Three Stripes Classic, the adidas Big Time Tournament and is currently playing with the Long Island Panthers at the Best of the Summer Tournament.