Dayshon “Scoochie” Smith’s commitment to Dayton was big enough news to get a write-up in the New York Post today. He’s ranked among the top 150 recruits in the nation and was drawing interest from high-major programs before landing at UD.

All along, Dayshon Smith said he was looking for the best fit, not the school with the biggest name or belonging to the best conference. When his recruitment exploded this summer and he drew interest from high-major programs such as Illinois and Providence, the general consensus was Smith would be swayed by the prestige of such programs.

He was true to his word.

On Friday, the talented 6-foot-2 point guard from The Bronx picked Dayton over Providence, Illinois, St. Bonaventure, and a host of others mid-major schools.

"It was the best fit," said Smith, ranked among the top players in the country by Rivals.com. "I felt like it was the best situation. I had a better feel on campus than my Providence and Duquesne visits. I just felt happy, felt comfortable, the coaching staff was awesome."

He chose head coach Archie Miller’s program for the reason he said he would pick a school. He felt comfortable during his Official Visit, the coaching staff led by Miller and assistant coach Allen Griffin developed a bond with Smith's family and he was drawn by the facilities and on-campus support the program is afforded.

"When I was there, the fans knew who I was, they treated me well, they were happy to see me, trying to convince me to come to Dayton," he said. "I was told they threw a party after my commitment. I wish I could be there."

"He’s the epitome of a nothing-to-something story and he wants to get better," one Division I coach familiar with Smith said. "What he can become is scary. He’s not your stereotypical New York City kid. He can play, has good grades and is respectful."

Another coach who recruited Smith said "he can score against anyone in the country."

Smith will have his opportunity starting next winter.

"I’m just happy to have this opportunity," he said.

Season   Head Coach      W-L   A10 W-L  Postseason
 
2003-04  Brian Gregory  24-9    12-4    NCAA 1st Round 
2004-05  Brian Gregory  18-11   10-6   
2005-06  Brian Gregory  14-17    6-10   
2006-07  Brian Gregory  19-12    8-8   
2007-08  Brian Gregory  23-11    8-8    NIT Quarterfinals  
2008-09  Brian Gregory  27-8    11-5    NCAA 2nd Round  
2009-10  Brian Gregory  25-12    8-8    NIT Champions  
2010-11  Brian Gregory  22-14    7-9    NIT 1st Round 
   
2011-12  Archie Miller  20-12    9-7    NIT 1st Round

4-Star SF # 26 - Chris Wright (Rivals HS Class of 2007 Profile - # 88 in Rivals 150)

4-Star PG # 13 - Juwan Staten (Rivals HS Class of 2010 Profile - # 49 in Rivals 150)



4-Star SF # 16 - Matt Derenbecker (Rivals HS Class of 2010 Profile - # 77 in Rivals 150)

4-Star SG # 7 - Jordan Sibert (Rivals HS Class of 2010 Profile - # 39 in Rivals 150)

4-Star PG # 24 - Kyle Davis (Rivals HS Class of 2013 Profile - # 109 in Rivals 150)

(1) Atlantic 10 Games Coaching Summaries:

Brian Gregory: 3 winning seasons, 3 break-even seasons, and 2 losing seasons.

Archie Miller: 1 winning season.

(2) Both of Brian Gregory’s 4-Star recruits were from Dayton.

(3) Archie Miller’s 4-Star recruits are from New Orleans, Cincinnati, and Chicago.

(4) The 2013-14 edition of the Dayton Flyers will be the first time ever that the Flyers feature three Rivals 4-Star players.

University of Dayton basketball coach Archie Miller has been looking to build some depth in the backcourt through recruiting, and he’s not only succeeded in beefing up the numbers at guard, but has landed a pair of Top 150 senior prospects nationally.

Kyle Davis, a 6-1 combo guard from Chicago, and Dayshon "Scoochie" Smith, a 6-2 point guard from the Bronx, have made verbal commitments to UD in the last month.

It's the first time the Flyers have landed two players in the same class in the Top 150 since recruiting rankings began online in the 1990s.

Those two will give the Flyers five legitimate guards in 2013-14 along with Ohio State transfer Jordan Sibert, Georgetown transfer Vee Sanford and freshman Khari Price of Louisiana.

Smith committed last week, picking the Flyers over offers from Illinois, Providence and Duquesne.

He’s got that New York City toughness, according to his AAU coach, Shandue McNeill, along with something else: "The one difference that separates Scoochie from a typical New York City guard is he can shoot the ball. He’s can makes shots and make them at a high rate."

Brian Snow said Smith also has some swagger that’s not uncommon among players from the Big Apple.

"These kids have been playing in big games — whether it’s in the park, or AAU or high school — since they were like 8 years old. No stage ever gets too big for them," Snow said. "That’s one thing I do think translates, this internal confidence that you have to have to be a point guard in New York City."

The Flyers have two scholarships left to give in the 2013 class. They’re pursuing 6-6 wing Kendall Pollard of Chicago, who has already made an official visit to UD and reportedly is visiting Rhode Island this weekend. He also has offers from Colorado State, Tulsa, and Virginia Tech.

The Flyers likely will hold at least one of their scholarships to look for developing players during the high school season.

"I think me and Kyle Davis will complement each other, and we’re looking forward to trying to sign Kendall Pollard so he can play on the wing with us and we can have a good freshman class," Smith said.

"I think we have him sold."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Harris It's the first time the Flyers have landed two players in the same class in the Top 150 since recruiting rankings began online in the 1990s.

# 49 - Juwan Staten

# 139 - Brandon Spearman

No matter how you slice it, Kendall Pollard will play his college basketball at an Atlantic Ten Conference school. That is because the 6'6 2013 wing forward from Simeon Career Academy has announced that he has cut his recruiting list down to two schools. The finalists are Dayton and Rhode Island.

Pollard has taken official visits to both campuses. His official to Dayton was two weekends ago while he completed his visit to Rhode Island today. He enjoys a strong relationship with both the Flyers and Rams coaching staffs.

It was previously thought that Pollard would visit Colorado State at the end of October, as he recently had an in-home visit with head coach Larry Eustachy. In addition, Bradley had also made a late push primarily due to the efforts of recently hired assistant coach Ronald "Chin" Coleman. But as it turns out, these two schools have now been eliminated from contention.

Pollard is one of the most unheralded players in Illinois from the 2013 class. He enhanced his stock tremendously with a number of strong performances during the Spring on the NIKE EYBL circuit while playing for the Meanstreets traveling team. With that being said, there is no question that either the Flyers or the Rams are going to be getting a good one. All indications are that a decision could be forthcoming at any time this week.

Editor's Note: Kendall Pollard informed us tonight that he will announce his college choice from amongst either Dayton or Rhode Island this coming Friday afternoon.

Kendall Pollard

Let the record show that when University Of Dayton head coach Archie Miller zooms in on a highly coveted recruit he usually gets his man. Sure enough, that is the case once again with respect to 6'-6" 2013 wing forward Kendall Pollard from Simeon Career Academy in Chicago. That is because Pollard committed to Dayton today and as a result Miller has landed his top recruiting priority amongst wings in the 2013 class. Pollard chose the Flyers over offers from Rhode Island, Colorado State, and Bradley.

Pollard had completed a series of in-home visits that included Dayton, Colorado State, Bradley, and Southern Illinois but there had been some confusion over when he would take official visits and who the beneficiaries would be. However, the Flyers had been a frontrunner for Pollard's services since Miller extended a scholarship offer after the first week of the July evaluation period. As it turned out, Pollard's only two officials were to Dayton (the weekend of September 28-30) and Rhode Island (this past weekend).

With that being said, there was never any doubt that Dayton would receive an official visit from Pollard. It resulted in Miller and his staff being able to close the deal. Not only did Pollard enjoy his visit, but he sees himself as a player who is an ideal fit for Miller's offensive system and someone who can be a key contributor in the Atlantic Ten Conference.

Pollard was outstanding during the Spring evaluation period this past April while competing on the traveling team circuit for the Meanstreets 17-Under squad. It was at that time that his stock began to catapult. He carried that play over into the summer and has not tapered off one bit. We see him as an ideal mid-major plus prospect.

Above all else, Pollard is a workhorse who is highly active around the basket. He has good instincts on the glass and a nice touch in the paint area which explains why he shoots at a high percentage. He also gets out on the break well, finishes strong and is a hard-nosed defender who doesn't take plays off.

While Pollard has often played the 4 spot at Simeon, he has successfully made the transition to the 3 and has shown that he has considerable wing skills which include the ability to shoot from 3-point range as well as put the ball on the floor. As a result, he figures to make an immediate impact as a wing forward at Dayton.

Pollard becomes the Flyers' second Chicago-based commitment from the class of 2013. He joins 6'0 combo guard Kyle Davis who verballed after his official visit in August. As was the case with Davis, considerable credit goes to Flyers assistant coach Tom Ostrom who was Pollard's lead recruiter. There is no question that the entire Dayton coaching staff continues to do an outstanding job of recruiting in the Windy City.

4-Star PG # 24 - Kyle Davis (Rivals HS Class of 2013 Profile - # 110 in Rivals 150)


3-Star PG # 28 - Dayshon "Scoochie" Smith (Rivals HS Class of 2013 Profile - # 122 in Rivals 150)


3-Star SF - Kendall Pollard (Rivals HS Class of 2013 Profile)

Quote:

Kendall Pollard is one of the most underrated players in the country. He started for the State Champ Simeon Wolverines and now plays a huge role in the success of the MeanStreets 17U basketball team this spring and summer.

Playing on one of the most talented high school basketball teams in the nation it is easy for Kendall Pollard to fly under the radar. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye is here to fix that. That is because the 6'5 2013 forward from Simeon Career Academy in Chicago enhanced his stock tremendously this past weekend at the opening NIKE EYBL session in Minneapolis. As a result, he is a prospect who is definitely on the rise.

Pollard was absolutely outstanding when we watched his Meanstreets traveling team in action versus a loaded Spiece Indy Heat squad. In fact, we will go as far as to say that in that contest Pollard may have been his team's best player on the floor. He finished with 17 points on 6-7 shooting including 3-3 from beyond the 3-point stripe. He followed that performance up with a 16 point and 5 rebound effort in a 68-60 win over Team Takeover later that evening.

Pollard is a workhorse who is highly active around the basket. He has good instincts on the glass and a nice shooting touch in the paint area which explains why he shoots at a high percentage. In addition, he gets out on the break well and is a hard-nosed defender who doesn't take plays off.

When you combine the development of Simeon's Kendall Pollard, along with new opportunities for him as a player, there are few prospects -- if any -- in the Class of 2013 who have made a bigger jump since the conclusion of this past season. It's not inconceivable to say that Simeon could have three players among the top eight players in the senior class when the season tips off next November if Pollard's rapid ascent continues.

During fall open gyms last September and October when Pollard was just a blip on the radar, college coaches would regularly check on the kid who was guarding the star, Jabari Parker. Typically, it was always Pollard, a strong, barrel-chested 6’-5” wing who possesses that defensive dog mentality. Pollard went head-to-head with the nation's No. 1 player for the past year. You better believe it made a difference.

The questions with Pollard were always about what position he would play at the next level and his jump shot. Even with those concerns, Pollard always had something to hang his hat on: toughness, competitiveness and a willingness to really guard. He's ultra-tough and competitive, which has helped him become one of the elite defenders in high school basketball. At the high school level he can guard any one of five positions; at the next level, Pollard will easily be able to guard three different positions, maybe four if necessary. That's a luxury.

He's quiet, doesn't cause a ruckus. But a kid doesn't have to be a thug to prove he's Ron Artest-like. Pollard brings the classic blue-collar-type mentality.

But now Pollard, with more opportunities and expectations placed upon him, is rising to the challenge. His game and role have expanded. As he continues to morph into a true 3-man and showcase a much-improved jumper, his stock is climbing. He's now a legit mid-major plus/high-major bubble guy because his shooting and offensive abilities have made such considerable strides. Yes, you read that right. And in July he will show that to college coaches.

Over the course of the spring and again this past weekend at the R-B Shootout, Pollard continues to show better mechanics with his jumper and range out to the three-point line. Now he has to polish up his ball skills and understanding of when and where to create off the dribble. Plus, he's a higher level athlete with more pop than the Hoops Report originally thought.

"He's so much more confident in his game and takes on challenges," says Smith. "I'm proud of the strides he's made. More people are starting to talk about him, but he's still in the gym working on his game."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy Waters on August 28, 2012 Chicago Metro Area Top 25 Players - HS Class of 2013 (Chicago Sun-Times - August 17, 2012) 7. Kendall Pollard, 6-5, WF, Chicago (Simeon) He's now more than just a tough, physical lockdown defender. He's expanded his offensive game and is more athletic. Pollard jumped into the top 10 after a sterling month of June while playing with his high school team, which college coaches didn't get to see. Now he has a surplus of schools courting him. 8. Kyle Davis, 6-0, PG/2G, Chicago (Morgan Park) The high-scoring guard put up some impressive performances over the course of the summer. With his lightning quickness and explosiveness, he will grab your attention and turn your head in a gym. In the open court and in transition, he's a fabulous get-to-the-rim finisher. The playmaking ability and decision-making is still a work in progress. Davis could excel in the right type of system and style in college. An official visit to Dayton is on tap this weekend.

• Kendall Pollard, Chicago (Simeon)

THEN: (from Hoops Report's "July Forecast" blog): There isn't a player in the senior class who has raised his stock in the eyes of the Hoops Report more since the conclusion of the regular season than Pollard. In the last four or five months he's made a huge jump. There has been a transformation for the 6-5 wing, who has climbed his way into the Hoops Report's top 10 players in the class. But he's yet to grab much attention from college programs in the way of official offers. That will change. When it's all said and done and August rolls around, we'll look back and say Kendall Pollard was the hottest new name in the Class of 2013 in Illinois.

Of all the players on this list, Pollard probably does have the most interest surrounding him, even after playing with Simeon, Meanstreets and his rise profiled in a Hoops Report blog this past June. But he's going to be hit a lot harder and by some bigger programs, including maybe a few in high-major leagues, after coaches get a look of his reshaped body and how his skill level further along. Plus Pollard has something to hang his hat on: He just goes out and plays, defends and competes. He brings his lunch bucket and goes to work every day.

AND NOW: Pollard's recruitment clearly picked up. He's sorting out his final list that includes Dayton, where he visited this past weekend, Virginia Tech, Colorado State, and Rhode Island.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy Waters on October 10, 2012 Flyers Solidify Backcourt in Recruiting (Doug Harris, DDN - October 10, 2012) The Flyers have two scholarships left to give in the 2013 class. They’re pursuing 6’-6” wing Kendall Pollard of Chicago, who has already made an official visit to UD and reportedly is visiting Rhode Island this weekend. He also has offers from Colorado State, Tulsa, and Virginia Tech. The Flyers likely will hold at least one of their scholarships to look for developing players during the high school season. "I think me and Kyle Davis will complement each other, and we’re looking forward to trying to sign Kendall Pollard so he can play on the wing with us and we can have a good freshman class," Smith said. "I think we have him sold."