SMU lands top ranked junior college prospect
New coach Larry Brown and the SMU Mustangs need help in plenty of areas. They addressed the need for a big man on Wednesday afternoon when they landed one of the nation's premier junior college players.
6-foot-10 Yanick Moreira of Levelland (Texas) South Plains made his choice and he'll run with the Mustangs.
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A four-star prospect who checks in at around 6-foot-10 and 225 pounds, Moreira's commitment was confirmed by South Plains assistant Hank Plona.
"Our season starts on Friday and Yanick is about as focused as a player on what he needs to do and didn't want this to drag out into the season," Plona told Rivals.com. "I think he knew everything he needed to know from his visits and he's very comfortable at SMU and is looking forward to joining them.
"I think he's excited about being able to help them build from the ground up. There's a hall of fame coach and he's excited to work on his game there."
Moreira has only been in the states for a few years and hails from Angola, but that hasn't stopped him from building a big reputation in a hurry after playing for the 2012 NJCAA national champions.
"I thought he was the best player in junior college last year," said Plona. "He understands the game so well. His basketball IQ is through the roof.
"He wants to do whatever it takes to help the team win."
Bret Swanson who runs jucojunction.com for the Rivals.com network agrees with Plona's assertion that Moreira is the best juco player in the country. When jucojunction releases their top 150 for the class of 2013, Moreira will rank No. 1.
"Yanick is a very long and skilled player," said Swanson. "He has the ability to knock down jumpers to 15 feet and great upside."
Big and swift, Moreira is a gifted athlete who runs the floor like a much smaller player. He has excellent hands, finishes around the rim, is a good shot blocker and has all of the tools to develop into a top level big man on the college level.
A four-star prospect who will merit five-star consideration this winter, Moreira joins what is looking like a solid recruiting effort. He joins Rivals150 shooting guard Sterling Brown and fast rising three-star power forward Ben Moore in the Mustangs early class.