Here's the latest in look at recruiting in the conference for the coming season. Each report includes a look at a school's incoming players for both men's and women's programs.
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MANHATTAN
MEN
Torgrim Sommerfeldt, 6-7 guard/forward, NTG Sports Academy, Oslo, Norway.
No statistics available, but Sommerfeldt has a reputation as a standout long-range shooter who can play the two-guard spot. Although Manhattan lists his height at 6-7, most other sites have him at 6-6. He originally committed to attend Wake Forest prior to the 2009-10 season, but never fulfilled that commitment after suffering a knee injury in March, 2009. It was his third knee injury in the past four years. He had surgery on both his knees late in 2008. He did also make a recruiting visit to Seton Hall and, reportedly, also considered Rutgers, Fairleigh Dickinson and Florida International although it is uncertain if any of those schools offered a scholarship before he opted to attend Manhattan.
"Torgrim provides good size and length for his position, and he has demonstrated a strong ability to shoot the ball," said Manhattan coach Barry Rohrssen.
Roberto Colonette, 6-7 forward, ASA Institute (Brooklyn).
Colonette was named the Junior College Region XV Division I Player of the Year at ASA Institute in Brooklyn this past season, averaging 12.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. He played two seasons at ASA Institute, and has two remaining years of eliibility.
Rhamel Brown, 6-6 forward, Transit Tech of Brooklyn.
Brown, a rugged 220-pounder, averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds per game this past season. He also has a reputation as a strong shot-blocker, with a single-game high of 12 and several other double-figure games of blocks.
Joel Wright, 6-5 forward, CJEOTO Academy, Somerset, N.J.
No stats available from his post-graduate season at CJEOTO. He is nicknamed "Air Jamaica" for his leaping prowess and electrifying dunks. He averaged 23 points and 17 rebounds per game in 2008-09 playing for Transit Tech School. He originally committed to Fordham before asking for a release after the Rams had a coaching change.
Robert Martina, 6-8 forward, Miami Dade Junior College.
Martina averaged 5.0 ponts and 3.0 rebounds per game this past season and still was named to the all-Southern League's second-team all-star squad.
Mike Alvarado, 6-2 point guard, All Hallows H.S.
No statistics available from his senior season. As a junior, he averaged 13.2 points per game. Most reports list his height at 6-1. A number of sources describe Alvarado as a "throwback" point guard, more concerned with passing than shooting, although he does have a nice outside touch. Reports also indicate Alvarado needs to add some bulk and strength to be more effective at the college level.
Kidani Brutus, 6-1 shooting guard, Carl Albert State JC (Oklahoma).
Brutus averaged 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and nearly one steal per game in his first year at Carl Albert State. Brutus, said to be a pure shooter with good range, shot 49% from the field, 42% from 3-point territory and converted 70% of his free-throw attempts in 25 games this past season while averaging 8.7 points per game. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining. His Carl Albert website is listed at 6-foot-0.
ANALYSIS: Manhattan lost plenty last year, including its top three guards. And, it wasn't real strong inside, although the majority of its inside players are returning. In short, Manhattan needed plenty during the recruiting season. Head coach Barry Rohrssen has a reputation for being a standout recruiter, but that skill hasn't been in strong evidence during his previous four seasons with the Jaspers. The best player he brought in was Rico Pickett, who played one year and, then, opted to pursue a professional career. While Pickett led the MAAC in scoring, he did not do much for Manhattan (10-19 last season), and appeared to be more trouble than he was worth. How much will the incoming players help? Hard to tell, but Rohrssen isn't bringing in a bunch of freshmen who need to develop. Three of his incoming players are from the junior college ranks and will be counted on to contribute immediately. The two direct-from-high school players, Alvarado and Brown, might also get into the playing group. Brown, according to sources, is the type player ... an undersized, but powerful forward ... who often has success at the mid-major level. And Alvarado is a true point guard, which Manhattan hasn't had in recent seasons. If Manhattan hopes to escape being around the bottom of the MAAC standings, at least three or four newcomers need to be significant contributors, and that's a lot to ask.
WOMEN
Allison Skrec, a 5-6 guard from Roselle (N.J.) Catholic H.S.
Skrec averaged 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists this past season. "Allison played for an outstanding championship school, and I feel that she can add plenty of important intangibles to our program,' said Manhattan coach John Olenowski. "She is a very fundamentally sound, versatile player who can really help us at multiple positions."
Jazmine Jarvis, a 5-8 point guard from Green Valley H.S. in Henderson (Nev.)
Jarvis averaged 22.1 points, 7.2 assists, 4.9 steals and 3.9 rebounds per game this past season. A four-year starter, she accumulated more than 2,000 points, 700 assists and 500 steals during her high school career. "Jazmine is an outstanding point guard who also has the versatility to play the shooting guard position," Olenowski said. "She has great court vision and makes really good decisions in transition. Defensively, Jazmine averaged nearly five steals per game, and we feel that she has the ability to excel in our full-court pressure defenses."
Brandone Roberts, a 6-3 center from Hammond H.S., Columbia, Md.
Roberts averaged 16.1 points and 15 rebounds per game this past season. 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks as a junior. "We are thrilled that Brandone will join (Manhattan)," said Olenowski. "She is a strong rebounder and shot-blocker, and also has great potential offensively."
Monica Roeder, a 6-0 guard/forward from Cherokee (Pa.) H.S.
Roder, a four-year starter, averaged 13.6 points and 5.0 rebounds this past year after averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds as a junior. "We are delighted to have Monica become a Lady Jasper," Olenowski said. "She is a strong inside/outside player who is fundamentally sound, both offensively and defensively. In addition, she is a top notch rebounder."
ANALYSIS: The Jaspers haven't have a winning overall record since the 2002-03 season, but if Manhattan can get some rebounding help and find a point guard, it could get there this season. It's hard to count on freshmen, but the 6-3 Roberts certainly adds some needed height, and Jarvis was a standout point guard at the high school level.
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