Jordan Loveridge, (the No. 1 player in the state of Utah) Nick Emery, (No. 1 player in the class of 2013) and T.J. Haws (No. 1 player in the class of 2014) have all committed to play college basketball and stay in Utah.
Jordan Loveridge of West Jordan High School, Utah’s best high school basketball player according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com,Maxpreps.com, Scout.com, committed to the University of Utah on Friday. Loveridge chose the Utes over BYU, Arizona, Weber State, Colorado State, and Utah State.
Loveridge blew up this summer after he led his AAU basketball team, Utah Pump and Run, to the final four of the biggest AAU summer tournament, the Adidas Super 64. Loveridge will bring the Utes an offensive-minded forward who can step back and hit the three. Loveridge will also bring toughness to the Utes that has not been there the last few years. Loveridge joins transfers Aaron Dotson (LSU) and Glen Dean (Eastern Washington) as players that will be eligible to play for the Utes in the 2012-2013 season.
The Cougs swing right back at the Utes. Even though BYU lost out on Loveridge, the Cougars got a big boost on Monday evening. Nick Emery and T.J. Haws both made verbal commitments to BYU. If the last names look familiar it’s because both have brothers that played for the Cougars. Emery’s brother is ex-BYU star Jackson Emery and Haws’ brother is Tyler Haws, who played one year with the cougars and is currently on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Emery and Haws are teammates at Lone Peak High School and they made their decision together Sunday night, and met with BYU head coach Dave Rose on Monday. The teammates are coming off a 5A state championship in 2011 and have a great chance to add another one this year.
Emery, who was the Utah Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year as a sophomore said, “I signed to take the pressure off me a little bit. Now I don’t have to worry about anything but playing.”
Emery averaged 21.7 points, 3.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals. Emery had offers from Utah, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, and Utah State. He also received interest from Kansas, UCLA, and many others.
Haws averaged 13.8 points per game as a freshman. Utah and Utah State also offered Haws, who will suit up for the Cougars in the 2014-2015 season.
Copyright 2011 St. George News. This material may not be published or rewritten without written consent.
