PF From Minnesota Cuts List To 5

After a successful summer with the Howard Pulley Panthers AAU program, Everette Pedescleaux, a powerful 6-foot-6, 240-pound power forward from Armstrong High School in Robbinsdale, Minn., had a handful of offers to choose from. He has recently trimmed down his list of schools and is in the midst of his official visits.

"He's narrowed it down to five schools," said Armstrong head coach Greg Miller.

"Wisconsin-Green Bay, Tulsa, Southern Illinois, Dayton, and Northern Iowa. fifteen schools had offered him, but after that he's just been narrowing it down."

Some of the other schools that had offered Pedescleaux but are no longer in

the mix include Illinois State, Toledo, Creighton, and Montana State. Pedescleaux is currently in the midst of official and in-home visits which are going on this week. He recently returned from a trip to Wisconsin-Green Bay last weekend, and has official visits to Tulsa (this weekend) and Southern Illinois (next weekend) on the docket.

A fourth visit for the last weekend in September will be to either Dayton or Northern Iowa. Pedescleaux has already made a few unofficial visits to nearby Northern Iowa. One school that holds high interest for Pedescleaux is Dayton. While playing in a league such as the Atlantic-10 holds much intrigue, the other schools on Pedescleaux's list are also attractive -- and the feeling is mutual.

"Mid-majors want him bad," said Miller. "They feel he will make an impact and they're willing to wait. And he knows he can go in and play at that level right away."

Tulsa -- which recently hosted an in-home visit with Pedescleaux -- could be pushing for a commitment from Pedescleaux. "I think that they'll try to get him (to commit) this weekend," said Miller.

But according to Miller, Pedescleaux is not necessarily leaning any one way or another right now. "He's been very non-committal," said Miller. "He's going to take his visits

and then go from there."

Another remote factor is football jumping into the mix. Pedescleaux is a talented tight end and defensive lineman for the Armstrong football team and actually holds offers from Kansas State and Minnesota for his talents on the field. But while going that route could still be a possibility, Miller thinks that hoops will be the way his star power forward will go.

"He says he wants to play basketball," said Miller. "That's what he's been telling everyone."

As you might expect from someone who also excels on the gridiron, Pedescleaux does the majority of his damage down on the blocks. He effectively uses his massive frame and superior strength to post up, rebound, and defend. But recently Pedescleaux has been opening up his game.

"He's an athletic power forward who really developed his face-up skills this spring and summer," said Miller. "He can hit the 17 foot jumper. He's also a good rebounder and plays above the rim."

But what college coaches especially like about Pedescleaux, according to Miller, is his demeanor on the basketball floor. "Colleges like how he has a mean streak," said Miller. "He hates to lose and gets ornery on the court sometimes. He actually scares guys a bit in high school."

Miller noted that Pedescleaux will need to continue developing his jump shooting for college and it would not surprise him to see his star power forward become a three-point threat at the next level. Pedescleaux is fully academically qualified.

Jed Tai is a senior writer with Hoopville.com