Double Duty: Elder, Griffin To Play Two Sports For UM

Head coach Jim Larrañaga has announced the signing of James Kelly and Manu LeComte to National Letters of Intent and Angel Rodriguez to a financial aid agreement to play men’s basketball for the University of Miami. The trio will join the UM class of 2013 along with early signing period commitments Deandre Burnett and Davon Reed and UM dual-sport athletes Corn Elder and Derrick Griffin.

“Our recruiting class in the spring has added a lot of versatility and much-needed skills to our program,” Larrañaga said. “We have graduated five outstanding seniors and lost Shane Larkin to the NBA Draft, so we have a lot of holes to fill.”

James Kelly, a 6-8, 240-pound JUCO power forward, played in the NJCAA Division II tournament semifinals with Owens Community College (Toledo, Ohio) this season. He shot 52.2 percent from the field and averaged 18.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game during his senior campaign and led the conference in scoring (21.1 ppg) and rebounding (11.4 rpg). In two seasons at Owens, Kelly averaged 17.9 points and 10.0 rebounds. He became the first player in program history to record 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 100 steals and 100 blocks in his career. He also added 70 career assists. Kelly, who is from Ann Arbor, Mich., attended Pioneer High School, where he averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 assist per game. Kelly was also recruited by Michigan State, New Mexico, West Virginia and Clemson.

“James Kelly will be a vital part of the team this season because he provides us a power forward/small forward who can contribute both inside and outside,” Larrañaga said. “He’s 6-7, 245 pounds and he’s big enough to battle the bigger teams in the ACC, but also quick enough to guard smaller players on the perimeter.”

Emmanuel “Manu” LeComte, a 5-9 point guard from Belgium, is currently playing for Dexia Mons-Hainaut in Mons, Wallonia (Belgium), where he has averaged 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. A true point guard who can also shoot the three or pull up for jumpers, the freshman will bring international basketball experience to the Canes. At just 17 years old, LeComte has competed in Belgium’s U16, U18 and U20 championships, most recently playing in the U18 European Championship, where he led his country in scoring with 12.0 ppg and 2.9 assists in eight outings. LeComte turned down offers from Gonzaga, Creighton and UAB to attend The U.

“Manu LeComte is a true point guard with outstanding ball skills and shooting ability,” Larrañaga said. “We love his speed, quickness and ability to create for other players.”

Angel Rodriguez, a 5-11, 180-pound point guard, returns home to Miami after two seasons at Kansas State University. A native of San Juan, P.R., Rodriguez played prep basketball at local Miami Krop High School, where he was named the 2009-10 Class 6A Player of the Year as well as first-team all-state. In two seasons with the K-State Wildcats, Rodriguez averaged 9.8 points, 4.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals in his 65 total games. Last season as a sophomore at Kansas State, Rodriguez helped the Wildcats to the Big 12 Championship, a 27-8 record and an appearance in the NCAA tournament. He started 33 games averaging 11.4 points, 5.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Rodriguez signed his financial aid agreement on May 1, and is seeking an NCAA waiver for permission to play in the 2013-2014 season.

“Angel Rodriguez is a point guard with outstanding college credentials,” Larrañaga said. “He was an all-conference player in the Big 12 and he was on the all-defensive team in the Big 12. He’s a great replacement for Shane Larkin.”

Despite being on football scholarships with the Canes, Cornelius Elder and Derrick Griffin will both play basketball for UM after football season is complete.

Cornelius Elder is a 5-11, 165-pound point guard from Ensworth High in Nashville, Tenn. Elder averaged 20.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.2 steals in his senior season, and ended his high school tenure with a career-high 41 points in the DII-AA finals game. He scored 1,521 career points and led the Tigers to a 97-20 record in his prep years. Elder was named both the 2013 boys basketball and football player of the year by The Tennessean and was the state tournament MVP three-straight years.

“Corn Edler is truly one of the great student-athletes in the country,” Larrañaga said. “He was the player of the year for both football and basketball in the state of Tennessee. He has remarkable speed and quickness and competitive spirit. We’ll look forward to when he can join our basketball program after the football season."

Derrick Griffin, from Rosenberg, Texas, is a 6-7, 217-pound dual-sport athlete who played forward and wide receiver in high school. Griffin averaged 18.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.7 blocks, 2.0 steals and 1.8 assists per game his senior campaign for Texas 4A state champion B.F. Terry High School. He is a 4-star basketball recruit rated the No. 26 small forward by ESPN, No. 74 nationally by Scout.com and No. 81 by Rivals.com. 

“We watched Derrick Griffin play and would have loved to recruit him for our basketball program because he is one of the great athletes in the nation,” Larrañaga said. “At 6-7, 220-pounds, he can do everything that DeQuan Jones did for us two years ago. He’s strong, he’s fast, and he can jump out of the gym.”

Guards Deandre Burnett (6-1, 190) and Davon Reed (6-6, 195) committed to the Canes during the early signing period. Burnett, a Parade All-American, averaged 36.2 points, six rebounds and four assists per game as a senior at Carol City High School in Miami Gardens, Fla. Reed, a 4-star recruit who averaged 27.0 points and 9.0 rebounds at Princeton Day School (N.J.), was ranked No. 77 in the class of 2013 by ESPN and No. 104 by Rivals.com.

Comments

[Ohio_Cane]

Is this the same kid Vincent Jackson was saying he wanted Bama to offer because they wanted to play together in college?

Posted by: UMike | May 16, 2013 at 01:31 PM
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Probably. They took visits to Bama and Auburn together

[UMike]

Ohio..I know I posted Jackson's tweet..something about "Bama needs to stop playin and offer my brother..we playing together in college man"..almost positive it was Wynn...not they can play together at Miami lol...although I still think Jackson ends up at Bama.

[UMike]

Sooo...since Miami actually takes their time and/or expects a recruit to work for an offer, University School players dont like Miami? Craziness!!!

[TonyCane]

Overall, there seems to be a lot more positive recruiting news right now. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember canespace being like this except for 2008. Lot of optimism.

[Ohio_Cane]

UMike, U-School kids are the most entitled kids I've EVER seen/heard in my life.

I'd love to know where it comes from. Parents? Coaches? Former Players? All of the above?

[UMike]

Like the guy from SOTU said..Feliciano meet with coaches at the team bus with tape in hand and EARNED his offer...these kids think they already deserve an offer.

[Ohio_Cane]

Dennis Dodd - Al Golden talks about waking up each day with an 800-pound Shapiro in the room. http://cbsprt.co/13ppkhz

[WWIN]

Thanks, Ohio Cane. To you, LB, UMike, Hanssan, Willie will in Nashville and a few others and of course soup for all that you do for this blog. Without you I would not know what's going on with our Canes.
I really want to thank all of you for what you do.

Posted by: Harry Miller | May 15, 2013 at 03:20 PM

Thanks but u don't have to thank me. Thank u for hooking us up with Ricky

[UMike]

I might be way off..but I think that U-School is only going to be a flash in the pan in terms of being a top talent. They just snatch kids from other schools..it wont last imo

[WWIN]

Thank you very much, *taking a bow* *taking a bow*

He's gon be a HUGE surprise for us this year!!! Trust me

Posted by: Willie Will in Nashville | May 15, 2013 at 02:15 PM

U DESERVE IT!

Miller got next.

Posted by: SOUP | May 15, 2013 at 11:37 PM

Not so fast my friend, Ricky is 2015 and 2014 is up next. I always got somethin up my sleeve ;)

[UMike]

Vincent Jackson Jr.
Miami offered my brother @iwynn77 now its ovaaa. Its all about the U

Still think he ends up at bama lol

[UMike]

Brad Kaaya recruiting WR Eric Lauderdale on Twitter lol

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Eric-Lauderdale-145257

[UMike]

Lauderdale asked Kaaya if he committed to The U and Kaaye replied with "yes sir! Just waiting for you to join the U family now"

[Ohio_Cane]

Good stuff on Larkin from the combine (video): http://www.hurricanesports.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=2452505&db_oem_id=28700

[Ohio_Cane]

Brad Kaaya recruiting WR Eric Lauderdale on Twitter lol

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Eric-Lauderdale-145257

Posted by: UMike | May 16, 2013 at 02:12 PM
------------------------------------------

We have a lot of young guys (HS and UM freshman and sophs) recruiting for us right now. Both publicly and quietly.

It's a beautiful thing.

[LB]

Duke Johnson's a hell of a recruiter, probably as valuable as Golden in his area.

[herbieibis]

Ah yes the Herb, likes all the scuttle butt, here on the space BUT it's good about Ricky Tee loving the Canes but lets not get ahead of our selves. The dudes got 2 more years of H.S. left and were're talking like he's going to be our savior and he's coming this year. I can remember not to long ago we were saying the same thing about Sony and how did that turn out? I tend to think in the here and now and now what we need are some big azz road grading, run stuffing, pocket collapsing Ox's on the DEE-Line, plain & simple. I see Big Al is finally getting the picture too, as he has offered half the DT's in the country a ship. The Herb says where was all this love last year, for the DT's?
Edouard will eventually drop because he doesn't want to play any other position but QB and to be honest, the Herb thinks he's to short. Now if we are going to be a spread option, maybe his height doesn't matter and to tell you the truth, with all the types of QB's we are offering, I don't think Coley has an idea either. I guess this is what you call, covering all bases!

[roachcane77]

I tend to think in the here and now and now what we need are some big azz road grading, run stuffing, pocket collapsing Ox's on the DEE-Line, plain & simple. I see Big Al is finally getting the picture too, as he has offered half the DT's in the country a ship.
Posted by: herbieibis | May 16, 2013 at 02:34 PM

I'm with you on THIS ONE, the Herb... been preaching this for YEARS! (Right SOUP?) LOL

[WWIN]

the Herb, lol

[roachcane77]

I figure why should HE be the only one able to refer to himself in the 3rd person, eh? The Herb is the Man!

Recruiting IS looking up right now. If only we could get this NCAA nonsense behind us!

[UMike]

Herb..I read somewhere that Coley hopes to run a "pro spread'..so maybe you need a pocket passer who has wheels..idk

[Ohio_Cane]

Recruiting IS looking up right now. If only we could get this NCAA nonsense behind us!

Posted by: roachcane77 | May 16, 2013 at 03:07 PM
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June, my friend. June.

[CaneRock]

I figure why should HE be the only one able to refer to himself in the 3rd person, eh? The Herb is the Man!

Posted by: roachcane77 | May 16, 2013 at 03:07 PM

LMAO!

[Ohio_Cane]

Jon Bastian ‏@Jon_Bastian 1m

Coach Franklin visits Northeast DT Thomas Holley http://www.caneinsider.com/?p=7538

[UMike]

Recruiting IS looking up right now. If only we could get this NCAA nonsense behind us!

Posted by: roachcane77 | May 16, 2013 at 03:07 PM
-----------------------------------------

June, my friend. June.

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | May 16, 2013 at 03:08 PM

We win 9 or 10 games and make a BCS bowl..we will get past this a lot quicker lol

[Ohio_Cane]

artie burns ‏@_audi8 22h

I'm getting #1 this season

[Ohio_Cane]

Carlos F. Pineda ‏@CarlosFPineda 8m

Miami QB Stephen Morris is poised to take the offense to the next level. http://bit.ly/14ssJ1g

[CaneRock]

Jon Bastian ‏@Jon_Bastian 1m

Coach Franklin visits Northeast DT Thomas Holley http://www.caneinsider.com/?p=7538

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | May 16, 2013 at 03:15 PM

BROOKLYN STAND UP!

[Harry Miller]

Can Ricky run? Can Ricky throw? CaneRock, can he slide? Hmmm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTTMQckl2kU

Keep in mind, Ricky is only in tenth grade in this highlight... So, what do you think?

[Harry Miller]

Lb, I live in the East Bay near S.F.

[Montreal-Cane]

U vs. them May 16, 2013 Dennis Dodd CBS Sports‏

ACC commissioner John Swofford told CBSSports.com that Miami's self-imposed penalties have "been strong. They dealt with the accusations straight up. In Al's case he's been able to rebuild a program even during the process itself."
But have those penalties been enough?

"In my opinion, yes," Swofford said. "When you couple what they self-imposed with the length of the investigation, I feel like it's a part of the penalty itself."

Swofford said the NCAA, in general, needs to address the length of investigations. The association advertises that the average length of investigations is down to 10 months. But Miami's has lasted more than two years. North Carolina's probe lingered as well.
"This has nothing to do with Miami but in the future we -- the NCAA -- have to find a way to bring closure to these kinds of situations much more quickly than we seem to be able to," he said.

Golden won't name names, but said those in the profession offering encouragement have eased his mind.
"Everywhere you turn you are faced by it," he said of the investigation. "The only thing that lent support and credence that we were doing it the right way were other coaches and administrators."

P.S. A very strong public statement from ACC commissioner John Swofford ( a press conference and a very strong letter to the NCAA) should settle the Miami-NCAA sistuation once and for all ...Just ask nothing to lose....

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/22256201/golden-continues-to-ride-out-storm-at-miami-but-probe-has-taken-its-toll

[Harry Miller]

Can Ricky run? Can Ricky throw? CaneRock, can Ricky slide? Hmm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTTMQckl2kU

Keep in mind, Ricky is only in tenth grade in this highlight... so, what do you think?

[Harry Miller]

I posted a great link about Ricky Town an hour ago that has not shown up yet. Actually I posted it twice. You will love it if it ever posts.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Between last night boner pill posts skating right through and now a full dinner of legit posts being eaten into the filter folder, it's safe to say the typepad filters have grown both sentient and into a mindset of a free market plutocracy.

[Harry Miller]

Sorry, it did show up.

This kid is going to be great.

[LB]

"Sorry, it did show up.

This kid is going to be great."

Even greater in the orange and green. Ricky Town!

#TownCane

[roachcane77]

Nice highlight reel for a high school sophomore... Good vision, pocket presence, good first step. Doesn't seem to be afraid to stand in until the last second to deliver a strike.

Me likey...

[Montreal-Cane]

Canes Baseball finally qualified to go to the ACC Tournament 2 days before the end of the season.

[LB]

#TownCane

[UpNorthCane27]

Hey penguin fans.... My Bruins are comin for ya!!!!!!!

[Canesteelers]

Up north the pens will be waiting.

[The Dude]

Town's game reminds me of Matt Leinart.

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Anybody else hear that Donnell Bennett was fired/forced to resign because Stacey Coley picked Miami and not FSU.....The principle of the school is a FSU grad. That's F..... up!!!!

[UMike]

Thirsty..I think Bennett said it himself on a radio interview yesterday. Principle is a FSU fan and when Coley "flipped" he lost his job

[UMike]

MUST READ...

http://canesinsight.com/content/1729-JUCO-DT-Campbell-has-a-story-to-tell?

[UMike]

BTW..Northeast hired a former FSU player lol.

Two weeks ago, Oakland Park Northeast’s Donnell Bennett officially resigned as its football coach. To replace him, the Hurricanes have chosen former Florida State wide receiver Kez McCorvey, according to Northeast assistant principal Allan Thompson.

From 1991-94 McCorvey caught 192 passes for the Seminoles and helped secure the school’s first national title. He also had a short run with the Detroit Lions from 1995-97.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/20/3295822/ex-fsu-star-kez-mccorvey-to-coach.html#storylink=cpy

[UMike]

More on Valentine from Tito at CIS

Miami Leading for Valentine

2014 DT Travonte Valentine is one of the best at his position in not only the state, but also the country. He is planning to use these spring practices to help take his game to another level, but is also using them to help his off the field skills.

“I’m actually working on being a better person and how to better myself.”

Valentine is currently playing for Bayside (Fla.) and is looking for his team to make great strides for next year.

“The spring is going wonderful, its really going great. Just, the team looking pretty good and we are going onto the field and working hard. We’re looking really focused and working hard each and every day.”

The 6’4, 297 pound defensive linemen has had no shortage of contact from nearly all the colleges around the country. While he maintains he enjoys the recruiting process, he does admit it can be tiring.

“It’s going well for me right now. It’s fun, but at the same time it is a little tiring.With all these coaches calling me, It’s gonna be a bumpy road until I sign those papers on signing day.”

The Bayside product has heard from dozens of schools including Miami, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Florida State and Georgia.

While all the schools may be pulling their hardest to get in good position with the nationally ranked tackle, there is one school that is leading for him.

“Miami is leading, Most definitely. “

When asked what draws him to Coral Gables, he almost ran short of breath

“Miami is wonderful, it’s basically a school that has people that really want to help you. Feels like home to me, the coaches show me love and I show love back. It’s really just a wonderful school.”

Another aspect that is drawing Valentine to Miami is the idea of possible early playing time.

Valentine recently was on the Miami campus for a visit about a weeks back and recapped what it was like.

“Wonderful, the coaches, as soon as I came on campus they came and they treated me like I was home. It’s the same feeling every time I’m there like I’m home.”

Valentine speaks with both coach Al Golden and coach Jethro Franklin when talking to Miami. He gave his thoughts on what coach Golden is like.

“Coach Golden , when he talks to you it’s amazing, because when he talks to you, he speaks the truth and thats what I like, when coaches speak the truth.”

Valentine will be paying close attention to how coaches recruit him, as that will be one of the main factors going into his decision.

“The way you recruit me and the way I feel like if I truly like you and if I can be the right fit on campus.”

[UMike]

Additional notes on Valentine..

Tennessee is behind Miami as #2, Also likes Alabama and their tradition and the players they churn out at DT.

Will try and visit Miami in the summer again

[UMike]

Via CIA and ITU

ATH TJ Harrell update

From ITU

6-0/6-1 200, RB/OLB/SS Tampa Catholic, 4.6 40, 4.34 shuttle, 30.9 vert

-On same team as Corey Martinez
-Former Mich St. Spartan Jeremy Ware is his cousin
-Miami recently offered
-Miami supposed to visit him next week
-Jethro has been in contact and told him no one plays both ways like him
-Has played DE, LB, DB, and RB
-Grew up a Cane, created players on NCAA football, had Canes stuff on his walls
-Has 30+ offers but won't decide until after his 5 OVs
-Has visited the FL schools and UGay
-Wants to visit the FL schools again, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Clemple, Michigan St., and some smaller schools
-Says he plays aggressive, versatile, fast, and pissed off
-Says he needs to get stronger
-Favorite players are Walter Payton and Sean Spence
-Compares himself to Spence and watched him since his freshman year at Miami
-As a Jr., TJ had 108 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 pick, 616 rush yards and 6 TDs

[UMike]

Can I get a roll call of who is going to be at the Florida game?