Southern names five schools
6-foot-8, 238-pound power forward Joshua Southern is one of the hottest prospects in the class of 2007. The perpetual double-double threat has his Saginaw (Mich.) High School team sitting at the top of the state rankings with a 9-1 record, and he presently has interest in five schools.
"I'm interested in Michigan State, Kentucky, Miami and Pittsburgh," said Southern. "All four of those schools have offered. I'm also interested in UCLA, but I haven't heard much from them. At this point, though, I am wide open and don't have any leaders."
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Averaging 16 points and 16 rebounds per game, Southern is tough to deal with around the basket. He runs the floor well, positions for the ball, battles for the ball and has a soft touch in the point.
"Josh has lost most of his baby fat, and his body has really shaped up," said Saginaw head coach Lou Dawkins. "He's in the weight room three days a week, and he's playing great for us. He is a beast in the paint. Wherever he goes, he will help that team right away."
Ever focused on improving his game, Southern is working to improve his effectiveness away from the basket.
"I'm working hard on my ball handling," said Southern. "I'm also working on stepping out past 15-feet and shooting with consistency. And I always want to be more dominant in the paint."
Southern, who has a 3.3 GPA, doesn't plan on making a commitment until after the summer AAU season.