Negedu to visit UT on June 10

Emmanuel Negedu

Emmanuel Negedu

The Tennessee men’s basketball team will take its best shot at landing yet another top prospect in this year’s signing class over the next two weeks.

Emmanuel Negedu, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound power forward from Brewster (N.H.) Academy, said he’ll visit UT June 10.

“Tennessee plays the same game, I play,’’ Negedu said. “They are uptempo. And, they recruited me before I went to Arizona.’’

Negedu signed with the Wildcats in November, but asked for and received a release after Arizona had turnover on its coaching staff.

Negedu said he will also visit Indiana (Tuesday), Georgia Tech (June 8) and Memphis (June 12) before deciding on a school.

“I’m going to get it all done in a week,’’ Negedu said.

Negedu is rated 40th overall in the Class of 2008 by Rivals.com and is 13th among power forwards.

Not bad considering he didn’t start playing organized basketball until he was 15.

“I used to hate basketball; I was born playing soccer,’’ said Negedu, a native Nigerian. “I played for two years at my (Brewster) school. I played forward (in soccer); I won’t play any sport where I won’t try to score.’’

Negedu said the constant urging of friends convinced him to keep returning to the basketball court, and eventually, groom his skills and learn the rules.

“At first when I would rebound, I would not move,’’ Negedu said. “Because of traveling, I would just try to throw it to somebody nearby.’’

Negedu’s production and like for the sport grew as his knowledge of the game increased, and he was discovered at the NBA-sponsored “Basketball Without Borders’’ camp in Africa.

That led to a scholarship to Brewster Academy, which plays in one of the most talent-rich prep leagues in the nation.

Brewster coach Jason Smith said Negedu averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and nearly four blocks per game in the New England Prep School League. Smith said teams in the league feature no fewer than five Division I signees apiece.

Negedu’s ability to run the floor and jump stands out, Smith said, as does his footwork – no doubt, a product of his soccer background.

Negedu said he wants to go to a basketball program where he can win a championship

“I don’t worry about starting; I just want to go and play my role,’’ Negedu said. “I want to win, so I won’t go to a place that loses just to play a lot of minutes.’’

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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