Roscoe Smith Picks UConn

New England Recruiting Report | Friday, January 8th, 2010

The University of Connecticut got their most significant commitment of the year on Friday when Roscoe Smith picked the Huskies over Duke, Georgetown, West Virginia, and UCLA. 

Smith is a six-foot-eight small forward from Baltimore, Maryland who currently plays his high school basketball at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, one of the nation’s most prestigious schools which has also produced NBA players like Carmelo Anthony, Brandon Jennings, Josh Smith, Rajon Rondo, and Jerry Stackhouse.

UConn head coach JimCalhoun has longstanding recruiting ties in the Baltimore area dating back to when Reggie Lewis played for him at Northeastern and more recently Rudy Gay and Josh Boone at Connecticut.  Smith is the second Baltimore native to commit to the Huskies this year joining Notre Dame Prep big man Cleveland Melvin. 

A six-foot-eight combo-forward with long arms, good athleticism, and a silky smooth jumper, Roscoe has professional aspirations and was apparently attracted to UConn because of their history of developing NBA wing players.  

“There were no bad choices in my final three,” Smith told ESPN’s Chris Lawlor, “all have great coaches but UConn’s style of play appealed to me.  Coach Calhoun has a great legacy and puts players in the pros.” 

Smith is considered by most to be a virtual lock for this year’s McDonald’s All-American game and if that comes to fruition this would be the third consecutive year that UConn has been represented with Alex Oriakhi having been selected last year and Kemba Walker in 2008.