From the sound of the article it looks like he wants to go to Maryland, but this was a name I hadn't heard previously.
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Progressive Christian Academy forward Latay Darden got some good news late last week on the academic front.
Now the 2008 prospect is hoping for some good news regarding where he'll play college basketball.
"He has an unofficial visit to Maryland [Wednesday] morning. They really want him," said Progressive Christian head coach Russell Branch. "He just went through [the NCAA] clearinghouse and was cleared. Now Indiana wants him. Marquette is also talking really good right now. They're talking about the kid coming in and playing right away."
Branch said Darden, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds, 11 blocks and four steals per game this season for PCA, which played a schedule composed of some of the top prep school basketball teams in the country.
According to Branch, the clearinghouse issue, which involved a few classes Darden took at a school in Houston, slowed the PCA standout's recruitment. But Branch was always confident the issue would be resolved.
"It was nothing because [Darden] knew it was going to clear regardless," Branch said. "I've known the kid since he was 13 and I told him it was etched in stone [that he would get through the clearinghouse]. Sometimes it just takes awhile to clear certain kids."
Maryland hasn't presented Darden with an official offer just yet, but if the UM staff does tender a scholarship and Darden accepts, Branch predicts big things for the Terps.
"If they get Latay Darden, they should contend for a national championship," Branch said. "That's how good the kid is, and I'm not talking about offensive-wise, I'm talking about defensively. He's 6-8 and very athletic. With Gus Gilchrist on offense and Latay Darden on defense, they should make it to the Final Four."
After Wednesday's meeting with the Maryland staff, Darden and Branch will discuss Darden's options and come to a decision soon after.
"No more than three weeks," Branch said. "Hopefully it's Maryland."
• It's looking more likely that Terps commitment Jin Soo Kim will reclassify and join Maryland's 2008 recruiting class.
According to Owen Finberg, Kim's coach at South Kent (Conn.) School, the 6-foot-8 small forward has completed the necessary coursework to graduate from high school and be eligible to enroll as a college freshman for the 2008-09 academic year.
"[Kim's] been handling his own situation," Finberg said. "Once he decided what he wanted to do, I was there to support him, but I haven't had any direct contact [with the Maryland staff recently]. He just needs to get [his SAT results back] and then he's going to be all set."
So how likely is it that Kim joins Maryland for its upcoming season?
"I would say it's a very strong probability," Finberg said.
Marquette was also "talking really good" with Malik Story as well last week. Now, he's down to Oregon or Marquette. Spring recruiting is full of salt shakers.
If MU is going to talk really good to anyone this spring it should be the transfer from Iowa State.
Nola - I am in total agreement that Wesley Johnson would be a great get.
I wasn't advocating for Mr. Darden, only throwing his name out there.
Why are we discussing more forwards when it looks like we're pretty much set at the 3 and 4 for the next few years? My biggest concern is the 1. I just don't want to find ourselves stuck with only 1 true PG again. Remember the year that Fitz and Marcus Jackson were Diener's backups?
We are discussing forwards because Buzz and his staff appear to be offering to forwards.
I agree a PG is the first priority. However, we will still have two scholarships to offer even if one of these forwards does accept.
Plus we will stave have Mo and Cubes on the roster after this season. I don't think either of them is a bonafide starter, but they are certainly serviceable behind whatever upper echelon 1 we get.
Quote from: mosarsour on May 28, 2008, 12:09:17 PM
Why are we discussing more forwards when it looks like we're pretty much set at the 3 and 4 for the next few years? My biggest concern is the 1. I just don't want to find ourselves stuck with only 1 true PG again. Remember the year that Fitz and Marcus Jackson were Diener's backups?
MU is in on plenty of PG's for 2009, probably at least 10. But for 2008, there aren't any PG's worth looking at. There's a total of one top 150 PG prospect still unsigned....and that's because he's going to jail. That's why there is still talk about forwards, because that is what is available right now.
BMA, What ever happened to Varez Ward for 2008?
Darden average 11 blocks a game and you think we do not need him.
Quote from: 1990Warrior on May 28, 2008, 01:51:30 PM
BMA, What ever happened to Varez Ward for 2008?
From what I've read, it seems like he has either a Texas or Arkansas lean. There haven't really been any developments on the MU front that I've read beyond the initial reports of an offer.
Quote from: 1990Warrior on May 28, 2008, 01:51:30 PM
BMA, What ever happened to Varez Ward for 2008?
He hasn't committed anywhere yet, but I don't think MU is his top choice as mentioned by Wareagle. There haven't been any updates on him recently, other than the fact that he visited Texas two weeks ago and really like his visit.
But he's not a PG. At best he's a combo because of his size, but he hasn't played PG because of the talent around him. He plays his prep school and AAU ball with Courtney Fortson, one of the top PG's in the class of 2008(4-star top 60 according to Rivals) who will be attending Arkansas.
If he is not a PG then I don't care - thanks.
Just ran across this tidbit about Lataye Darden but cannot find any information on who he is. No results on the recruiting pages of our Wiki, Rivals, or Scout.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/maryland_terps/blog/2008/06/gilchrists_next_stop.html
Quote
one of [Gus] Gilchrist's former teammates at Progressive Christian Academy in Temple Hills is apparently back on the Terps' radar. Lataye Darden, a 6-foot-8, 190-pound forward, is down to choosing between Maryland, Marquette and Oklahoma State, according to his coach, Russell Branch.
a google search seems to indicate he's in the 08 class.
anyone know anything about him?
FYI - Gus Gilchrist is going to USF.
Also came across this summary on the maryland scout board:
QuoteLatay Darden (top 250), 6-8 fifth-year senior, Camp Springs (MD) Progressive Christian Academy: This wiry, 185-pound shotblocking machine is a native of Virginia Beach who played there for Green Run High through his junior season (2005-06), attended Houston (TX) Inner City Prep in 2006-07, and now is tallying 15 points, 12 rebounds and 10 rejects per contest for Progressive Christian.
sounds a lot like Blackledge. Bank the schollie.
He was first mentioned at the end of May:
http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=9236.0 (http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=9236.0)
good catch - merging.
I thought Ward committed to Texas, no?
Quote from: ATWizJr on June 13, 2008, 07:01:52 AM
I thought Ward committed to Texas, no?
Yeah, about two days after those posts about him.