RECRUITING: Several basketball stars ponder D-I offers
The spring signing period for men’s college basketball didn’t make waves locally last year, with only two area seniors signing with Division I programs.
This year, however, locals figure to make a splash as the April 14-to-May 19 signing period approaches.
Cimarron-Memorial guard Kevin Olekaibe, Foothill guard Evan Roquemore, Coronado forward Brandon Glanz, Bishop Gorman guard Johnathan Loyd and at least three Findlay Prep seniors are considering Division I scholarship offers.
Olekaibe, a 6-foot-1-inch sharpshooter, said he has offers from Fresno State and San Francisco and is also drawing interest from Boise State, Florida International, St. Joseph’s and UCLA.
He made an official visit to Fresno State last weekend and has a trip scheduled to San Francisco the weekend of April 23.
“I’m hoping to go to a school where I’m comfortable and can help from the beginning,” said Olekaibe, who led Southern Nevada with a scoring average of 34.3 points as a senior.
Roquemore, a 6-3 point guard, said he has offers from Air Force and Eastern Washington. Ball State and Fairfield have also shown interest, though he might opt for a prep school.
“I want somewhere where I know I’ll fit in and do well,” said Roquemore, who took Southeast League Most Valuable Player honors as a senior.
Glanz recently landed an offer from Idaho State, Coronado assistant coach Jeff Kaufman said.
Loyd, who could not be reached for comment, said in early March he was weighing offers from Creighton, Northwestern, Oakland (Mich.), Southern Methodist, Texas Christian and Virginia.
Findlay Prep coach Michael Peck said guard Cory Joseph is eyeing all five schools he made official visits to: Connecticut, Minnesota, Texas, UNLV and Villanova.
Findlay Prep forward Godwin Okonji said he is thinking over offers from Hawaii, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas Tech, among others.
Peck said guard Marko Petrovic has an offer from San Francisco.
RECENT DECISIONS — Athletes to make recent commitments include Gorman junior safety Evan Zeger (Washington), Arbor View sophomore infielder Zachary Quintana (San Diego State), Desert Oasis senior girls soccer player Samantha Burneo (Mesa State, Colo.) and Shadow Ridge senior boys soccer player Cody Fitzhugh (Colorado State-Pueblo).