"They recruited me heavily and showed me a tremendous amount of love," Jenkins told SNY.tv. "Their campus is beautiful and I already know a player there."

Former Christ the King guard Corey Edwards was a freshman at George Mason last season.

"Anali is excited about playing for a coach who has coached in a high major college program, who is also a great teacher of the game and who has a good number of players in the NBA," said his high school coach, Wendell Saunders of Banneker. "He also would like to experience playing in the NCAA Tournament and he feels George Mason would have a better chance by the time he plays because Coach [Paul] Hewitt has a track record for recruiting talent."

Okoloji must sit out next season per NCAA transfer regulations and will suit up for the 2012-13 season.

On Sunday night, two very different -- but talented - players made their college decisions.

Erik Copes, a a 6-foot-8 2011 center out of Imhotep Charter in Pennsylvania, is headed to Geroge Mason.

The former Georgia Tech coach met Wednesday with both players and both will remain committed to George Mason.

"The meeting went well," June Gray, Vaughn's mother said by text. "Vaughn's excited to be under Coach Hewitt."

He also said, "In June I am goin to George Mason."

****

Georgia Tech fired Hewitt after 11 seasons, including five NCAA Tournament trips and an appearance in the 2004 national championship game. He was 190-162 during his tenure with the Jackets.

George Mason features several local products on its roster, including sophomore guard?Sherrod Wright of Mount Vernon, redshirt-freshman forward?Paris Bennett of Linden, N.J., and junior forward?Ryan Pearson of Christ the King.

Sophomore guard Sherrod Wright of Mount Vernon, redshirt-freshman forward Paris Bennett of Linden, N.J., and junior forward Ryan Pearson of Christ the King are all on the George Mason roster.

Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino and St. Patrick assistant Rae Miller said it was too early to comment on how the coach's departure may impact those players.

"We talked about it when we got down there," the 5-foot-10, 176-pound Edwards said by phone. "We felt mutual. I'm a pass-first point guard and he's a scorer. That would be a perfect situation for both of us."

Edwards chose George Mason over UNLV, Fordham and Hofstra.

After a couple of days at the Rumble in the Bronx at Fordham University, this much is clear: there is a lot of movement on the prep scene.

**Vaughn Gray, a 6-foot-5 off guard, is transferring to Newark (N.J.) St. Benedict's Prep from Don Bosco Prep and will play for first-year coach Roshown McLeod.

Three of those players -- Fisher, Stokes and Cheek -- played at New Jersey high schools.

Now, as Wright plans for the future, he has his gaze focused on yet another talented Garden State guard.

And when that Monday night comes around, the Heels hope somebody besides the Duke Blue Devils are raising the championship trophy.

"Ahhh, I want to see them lose because their Duke. I'd rather have West Virginia win," freshman point guard Dexter Strickland of Rahway, N.J. told me Monday afternoon in Manhattan.

"The schools I will visit?are Providence, Seton Hall, Oregon State, St. John's and?probably Maryland," the 6-foot-8, 210-pound Collier said Tuesday by phone from St. Anthony.

"I?don't have?any favorite. I'm still open," he added.

?I?m just trying to weigh everything,? Willard told the Worcester (Mass.) Telegram Monday night after meeting with his players. ?I?m trying to make the best decision for Holy Cross, for our kids, for the University of Louisville, and for Rick Pitino.

?I think that every one of those considerations will provide a very invigorating and challenging outcome for Ralph Willard. I?m trying to weigh all those things.?

USC-bound big man Renardo Sidney scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half for the White Team.

In the Regional Game, Russell Smith of Archbishop Molloy poured in 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting to earn Co-MVP honors and lead the City team to a 129-120 victory over the Suburban team.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound senior wing picked that school over Central Florida, Kansas State and South Carolina. He completes George Mason's six-man recruiting class.

Wright is an athletic, strong wing player who comes from the storied Mount Vernon (N.Y.) High School program that also produced Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls and Rutgers players Jonathan Mitchell and Mike Coburn. Wright should have an impact immediately at George Mason, where he visited a couple of weeks ago.

The 6-foot-10, 260-pound center from Oklahoma City (OK) Bishop McGuinness said Thursday at the Jordan Brand Classic practice that he would remain at Kentucky despite the recent coaching change.

"I'm still at Kentucky, I'm still at Kentucky," said Orton, the No. 4 center in the Class of 2009. "I'm going to stay here."

Josh Pastner, an assistant to former Memphis coach John Calipari, will be introduced as the Tigers new coach at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

It remains unclear what Pastner will be paid, but the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported that he earned a base salary of $200,000 last season as an assistant.

"Central Florida and George Mason are showing me the most," said Wright, the 6-foot-4 wing from Mount Vernon (N.Y.) High.

Wright said he wasn't certain whether he would take a visit to Central Florida April 9, or if he would visit any other schools.

"I was surprised to see him," Stephenson told the New York Post.

James Stukes, an uncommitted 6-5 small forward, had 22 points and Miami-bound guard Durand Scott added 16 as Rice crushed two-time defending State Federation champion Lincoln 77-50 in a Class AA boys semifinal in Glens Falls, N.Y. Rice will meet Newburgh Free Academy on Sunday for the state championship.

"I am very excited," Gonzalez told the Star-Ledger at last night's Tournament of Champions final, won by St. Patrick over Newark Science 73-57. "We finished strong this year and won seven of our last 12. I think we will be in the top six or eight teams in the Big East and a factor for the NCAA tournament. I'm excited, the sky's the limit.''

Gonzalez, Rutgers head coach Fred Hill and Iona assistant Shaheen Holloway attended the game in part to recruit St. Patrick's star underclassmen, junior guard Kyrie Irving and sophomore wing Michael Gilchrist.

George Mason, Seton Hall, South Florida, Central Florida, Manhattan, Fordham, Hofstra and Duquesne are all possibilities, according to Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino.

"Those are the main players for him now," Cimmino said Thursday. "I think he wants to sign in the April signing period."