Update, 4:02 pm.: It’s starting to look like Darryl Smith, the supposed third commitment listed in at Scout.com is actually Dwayne Smith, the player who signed a National Letter of Intent with the Colonials last year but couldn’t come to Foggy Bottom because of academic issues caused by the Canadian school system.
Hatchet senior staff writer Dan Greene reached Dwayne Smith’s AAU coach, Ro Russell, on the phone a few minutes ago, who was able to confirm that Dwayne Smith is attending Bridgton Academy — the same school that “Darryl” Smith is said to be attending. Russell said he thought Dwayne Smith had verbally committed to GW, but wasn’t positive.
That information, coupled with a scouthoops.com insider article reporting that “Darryl” Smith was 6-foot-6 and a Toronto native — like Dwayne Smith — makes it seem likely that it’s Dwayne Smith who’s (re)commited to GW. Dwayne Smith has yet to return a phone call.
Confusing.
——-
There’s been a flurry of activity in the world of GW basketball in the last 24 hours.
Recruiting Web site Scout.com has posted three new verbal commitments to the men’s team for the 2009-2010 season since Monday, totaling four commitments already for next season. In addition to Kinley Branch, who committed to GW two weeks ago, Scout.com is reporting forwards Damon Warren (spelled Daymon Warren on some sites) and David Pellom will play for the Colonials next season. In addition, the site added shooting guard Darryl Smith to the list a few hours ago.
Some information on each new reported commit:
Warren: A quick search on Warren’s background shows he played for El Cerrito high school in California. Some Web sites list him as large as 6-foot-8 and 230 lbs. He’s prepping at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts this year.
Pellom: Listed as a small forward by Scout, Pellom is reported to be 6-foot-7, 190 lbs. According to the same site, he attends Charis Prep, a North Carolina school that was not cleared by the NCAA during an eligibility review earlier this year.
Smith: Information is scarce on Smith, but Scout reports him to be 6-foot-6 and attending Bridgton Academy in Maine this year.
Atlantic 10 coaches rankings and all-conference teams were also released this morning. On the men’s side, GW was picked to finish 11th out of 14 teams. Senior Rob Diggs was named a second team all-conference player.
GW’s women’s squad was chosen to finish second behind Xavier, and the women received one first place vote in that poll. Senior Jessica Adair was tabbed a first team all-conference player, while senior Antelia Parrish was named to the third team.
The women’s only exhibition game is Nov. 5. The men take on West Georgia in a preseason match-up Nov. 8.