VCU In The Lead For Wright Jr.
One cheetah-quick guard who has upped his stock this spring is Corey Wright Jr.
Wright Jr., he of the court vision beyond his years and penchant for rapidly changing speeds, has emerged into one of the most highly sought after guards in the New England basketball landscape.
The 5-foot-10 Wright, who operates offense for Mariapolis Prep, has received interest from Rutgers, Providence, Vanderbilt, Fordham, St. Bonaventure, Georgia Southern, and Delaware.
Derm Player, the Seton Hall assistant widely recognized for his New York area connections and sharp eye for talent, has also expressed interest in the tough-as-nails guard.
As of right now, however, Virginia Commonwealth University has been in the most active pursuit of Wright Jr., who plays for Expressions Elite on the AAU circuit.
"They have just come into the picture," said Corey Wright Sr., a former Providence guard.
"Everyone else is sort of just stopping by. VCU is going pretty hard right now, they're getting heavy."
Virginia Commonwealth got their first real taste of national visibility when they upset Duke in the 2007 NCAA tournament. They are scouring the land for a point guard, as graduation (and very likely, the 2009 NBA draft) will claim senior Eric Maynor.
Maynor averaged a sublime 22.4 points and 6.2 assists this season, surfacing as one of the top point guards in the country.
Behind young Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio and Brandon Jennings (who played over the pond this season), Maynor may the most coveted guard in this year's draft.
Wright hasn't developed into a superior scorer like Maynor, but he whips precision passes, dictates the tempo, and thrives in go-go, speedball system.
Wright Sr. was the point guard for Pete Gillen's Providence team back in the mid-90s.
That storied squad put the Friars on the map, advancing all the way to the elite eight before losing to Arizona.
It was one of the most prosperous seasons in PC history.
"Me, God Shammgod, Jamel Thomas, and Derrick Brown, Bobby G recruited us all," said Wright Sr., who like Shammgod, Thomas and Brown played his high school ball in New York City.
That team overcame personality management issues and communication/chemistry problems, eventually surrendering their individual interests for the betterment of the team.
They bought into Gillen's sophisticated system while learning to play cohesively, harmoniously and with a sense of fun on the court.
Providence had been recruiting the legacy, and Bobby Gonzalez and Wright Jr. still maintain a close relationship.
Both schools have yet to offer. If I had to bet, Providence is holding back because they already secured Notre Dame Prep PG Johnnie Lacy in the 2009 recruiting class, as well as Vincent Council.
The Friars have apparently looked in a different direction after originally expressing interest, an act they repeated with blossoming guard Denzel Brito. Brito was actively pursued but hasn't heard from the Friars as of late.
It's been an exciting spring for Wright, who will look to turn heads at the upcoming Rumble in the Bronx.