Heath adds point guard Leemow to class

After losing three signees to academic problems this summer, USF coach Stan Heath made a late addition to his recruiting class Tuesday, signing point guard Justin Leemow of Brooklyn, N.Y., to a grant-in-aid.

"He's a very competitive kid, and he believes he can play at this level," Heath said. "This late in the year, with school getting ready to start and us needing a little more help, it's a good fit. I know he's going to work hard and develop himself as a player."

Leemow, 6 foot 1 and 175 pounds, played last season at Mount Zion Christian Academy, a prep school in North Carolina. He averaged 13.5 points and four assists per game on the school's post-graduate team. He played two seasons at Xaverian High School in New York, then two more at The Patterson School in North Carolina.

"That's my dream right there, to play in the Big East," said Leemow (rhymes with "see now"), who made a campus visit two weeks ago.

USF found out about Leemow through forward Gus Gilchrist, who played AAU basketball with him with the D.C. Assault. Leemow had talked with small schools like LaSalle, Maryland-Baltimore County and Central Connecticut State, but said he was hoping for something at a major-conference school. He said N.C. State was interested but did not have a scholarship available.

"I just played my cards right and was very blessed to have this work out," Leemow said.

Leemow has played with Big East players before -- he was a teammate of Pittsburgh's Levance Fields and Providence's Brian McKenzie at Xaverian, and played with Seton Hall's Jeremy Hazell at Patterson, along with future Maryland point guard Bobby Maze.

He joins the Bulls after three signees were lost to academic problems, including point guard Dwan McMillan, also from Brooklyn. Leemow said he's confident that he has the academic requirements he'll need to attend and play at USF.

It's not often you see scholarships given out in August to players who have finished four years of high school and a year of prep school. You won't find Leemow on many recruiting lists -- back in '05, Hoopscooponline.com had him ranked as the No. 110 prospect in New York City in his class.

The Bulls have four experienced guards returning in Chris Howard, Dominique Jones, Jesus Verdejo and Mike Mercer, so there's a possibility that one of the true freshman guards, Gaby Belardo or Leemow, could redshirt this season.

Here's a four-minute highlight clip you can check out.

Comments

[The Champ]

USF is better then they were last season w/o question once Gilchrist gets eligible.Look at it this way, Mercer along is better and will be more productive then all the guys that was asked to look elsewhere.Gilchrist replaces Gransberry and no offense to him but it was just like a t/o everytime Grans went to the free throw line.Freshmen Gilchrist probably won't average as many points as a senior Gransberry, but Gus is a much more well rounded player even as a freshmen.

We are not short of bodies on the frontline like some are writing about.We have 2 centers in Ajayi and Sanchez and we have 2 PFs in Gilchrist and Espinosa with Williams as a 5th man if needed.Remember all we need is 1 guy that can provide offense in the post and that will be Gilchrist.Ajayi is a proven defender and rebounder and Sanchez can do much the same.Espinosa is a super athletic talent that we don't yet know what he brings to the table.According to what you hear he can do much, much more then jump over people for dunks.

This Leemow guy from my understanding will be a player that helps us in the future, is it now don't know.However the guy can pass, shoot, defend, and is quick.Look around there are some very high major schools picking up players late to come in and provide help in an area of need.We needed help at PG now, if we didn't we wouldn't have signed McMillan.

Getting this guy will once again allow us to play the style of ball that we must in order to have a real chance of winning games in the Big East.We may never be able to lineup man for man against most BE teams but we sure can play a certain style that gives this league trouble.

BTW I can't wait til we bring in those shooters for '09.Yes there is likely not going to be any postseason play for USF this season, but depending on who Stan gets to come in with the Jordan and Shaun, we could be postseason bound in Heath's 3rd year which will be very nice.Go Bulls!!!

[Reality]

Champ,

I am glad to hear you have learned so much about women at your age. It took many years for the rest of us to learn.

Has dad made any inroads lately in getting some 09 talent? Anyone to keep an eye on? I still have to think that Reggie Hanson has to be holding us back with his recruiting. What you say?

[Reality]

DJ, I was just asking, because both are similarly sized and I don't see DOJO playing the 4. Chris howard has the bulk, so maybe he makes the leap from PG to PF when the Bulls go small.

The lack of height on this team is ATROCIOUS!!!! and if USF had basketbull fans they should be outraged!

[DJ]

Reality,
Mercer is a better player than Jesus. Taking nothing away from Jesus because he is a good player, but Mercer is a better PF, PG, slasher, ball handler and play maker than Jesus.

[The Champ]

Honestly that manager wasn't what I thought she was.That's a problem I have, keep going by physical attractions instead of slowing things down and looking deeper.She(Vanessa)has a GREAT body but needs work in the area that counts.I've washed my hands of her.

[Reality]

NYC is a great place, when they can have a list of their top basketball players and they go all the way down to #105, and he ends up at a Big East school. I guess that settles the debate last year regarding getting NYC area guys versus players from other areas.

Champ has been quiet, I guess he is doing well with the manager......

I seen the kid play before in greensboro also aau and other top camps theirs very few people that could guard and his college list is a lot better those are jus schools that came off the head because at one he was going to cincinnati

[Dave W]

Desperate, Stan? Unless Greg meant to type 6'11" instead of 6'1," there is no point in bringing him on. And there probably was a JUCO of similar talent (the guy has been at big time programs and he had no big offers, so that's a big sign that he's not a Big East caliber player). A JUCO guy could give him a warm body that would be gone in two years. Maybe Stan will run Leemow off a la Chin.

If Leemow turns out to a great find, I'll be thrilled and the first to admit that I was wrong. I'm just saying that a PG was a less pressing need than a big and that this guy doesn't have an impressive offer list. Mt. Zion is obviously a well known school, so one would think that an ACC team would have offered him if he were a high-major player.

I really want the guy to succeed; I'm just not expecting it and I'm not sure it was the most prudent move for next season's team.

Speeking of Gus... when are we going to find out his fate

[Reality]

Greg,

You sure that was the post-graduate team? He was playing with Karron Johnson, who will be a Senior this coming year.

USF is better than going to prep school, so welcome aboard! Too bad he is a PG. Now we can play 5 guards at a time!

Champ, who is the better PF Mike Mercer or Jesus?