Bona lands verbal from St. Anthony's guard

Elijah Carter, a 6-foot-1 point guard from St. Anthony's in New Jersey, has given a verbal commitment to St. Bonaventure. Carter plays for the legendary Bob Hurley.

Earlier today, Carter wrote on his Twitter page that he narrowed his schools down to Bona, Robert Morris and LaSalle. At about 3 p.m., today he wrote, "I decided that I will take my game to St. Bonaventure next year...=)...let's go!"

"The deciding factor was that I wanted to go to a school at the highest level that was recruiting me so I can be challenged," Carter told The Buffalo News. "Another deciding factor was that there's a lot of (Bona) alumni in the New York and New Jersey area so this will help me get a good job when I come back."

The Bonnies have two juniors in Ogo Adegboye and Malcolm Eleby running the point so Carter will come in next season and learn behind two seniors before taking over the team for the next three seasons.

“He’s very athletic and can get to the basket,’’ Hurley said. “”He’s a natural scorer and he’s really had some very impressive games in the last season and some good camps last summer where he made a name for himself.’’

He attended the Five Star camp at the end of last June and was named MVP of a camp at Fordham that include over 400 players. Carter also attended the Eastern Invitational Camp at in Pennsylvania and made the top 25 all-star team out of a group of over 700 players. Hurley estimates that there were 50-75 Division I prospects at the camp.

“St. Bonaventure saw him during the Eastern Invitational and began the (recruiting) process,’’ Hurley said. “They did a good job in recruiting. There was definitely a comfort level when Elijah went to visit. They got themselves a good player.’’

Hurley said Carter should lead St. Anthony’s leading scorer on what should be a nationally ranked team.

“I have three other kids one is being recruited by the ACC, the other by the Big East and one committed to Richmond and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Elijah led us in scoring this year,’’ Hurley said. “He’s going to put some big numbers up. He could have wound up making the recruiting process very complicated. He is a good get for them in the early period.’’

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Comments

[John T]

e,how many insults? names? another of your immaterial,non-factual,irrelevant postings.
how's lower main st today?

[John T]

e,If you live in a glass house,don't throw stones. Sorry you can dish out irrelevant statments and cannot take the results. Your obvious a BONA basher and your ip may just have proved your background.
REILLY CENTER in the last 5 years has undergone extensive renovations and a new 7 million fitness center was constructed next door.
The R.C. now has state of the art home and visitor's locker rooms,medical facilities,a new weight room,a beautiful study and up to date study,library areas for all teams.
The attendance for home games is in the middle of the A-10 and the league is very satisfied with both the competive and academic standards of the school.
Check the facilities at SBU.EDU OR THE BAF.COM..
PLAY BALL!

[John T]

e,your ip says otherwise.
I thought Bona played ken tucky into triple ot in the early '90s,challenged West Va. on their home court for the EASTERN EIGHT crown and there were earlier and subsequent NIT appearances. Your a BONA basher but enjoy it. Your comments and lack of facts are now being enjoyed by both BONA AND NIAGARA fans.
How's the alleged baseball and hockey plagarazing field world?
Live a good life.

[RecoveringHillbilly]

Opps, meant potential TOP 5 Purdue.

[RecoveringHillbilly]

Buff State needs the $, and UB was looking to spend for a home game. 9 out of 12 MAC teams have home games against sub D-1 teams this year so it's not out of the ordinary. MAC teams have the cash, they don't have to return the game like we would against a D-1 opponent (leaving flexibilty for future schedules), and it does not count in a team's RPI. How about also looking at UB playing at Top 5 Purdue this year too?

[jon,Amherst]

Clearly, David is a fan of UB as he looks at their basketball program through rose colored glasses. He is not crazy. His grammar and spelling could use some improvement though...

He says UB and Bona are showing renewal and a growing level of attention.

UB is playing a DIII school on its official schedule. How embarrassing. They beat Buff State by over 50 a few years ago. Don't give me any talk about how its good for the area. Buff State is not currently the cream of the local DIII schools. It has the potential to be another lopsided and unnecessary game. I would love to see Turner Gill schedule a game against a DIII football school. He never would do that.

And it is better to be consistently one of the best teams in the MAAC than a bottom dweller in the A-10.

[David,Amherst]

dic, all you've shown is you're happy to be a little fish, like the poeple and mindset you run with. What is 'crazy' is blabbing about it. That's the reason John Beilein left for greener pastures. You can have the brown, dry stalks to graze on in the winter of your discontent. For UB, as its football program, it is up to the alumni and the university president. They set the mission and tone. If they are paying attention, coaches and AD's will come and go, but the program continues. Both UB and St. Bona are showing that renewal and growing level of attention. Their future is optimistic....which, yes, means being at the level of Xavier (O.) and Dayton. Right now, it's moving from the possible to the probable stage. Players talk to one another. Their reported talk is on the high side at UB and St. Bona. Remember the lesson they didn't teach you at your school: If you build it, they will come.

[RecoveringHillbilly]

I can't agree that Bona's BB facilities could make them solid in the A-10. I know the main floor is always tough when the joint is packed, and the visitors' facilities are known to make things less-than-comfortable. But while the capacity is big for the MAAC, it's small for the high-major A-10. There is only 2,200 sq. feet of weight room space, and no separate practice facility. Bona's recruiting has to comes down to having a good coach and support staff.

As for UB, slightly bigger and more modern arena, 18,000 sq. feet of weight room space, and a practice facility completed this fall.

http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/becomeabull/mensbasketball/index.html

[david is crazy]

Really? Better to be bottom in A-10 than top in MAAC? I'm sure Siena and Niagara would happily give up national television exposure via NCAA tournament games to be mediocre in a conference with higher dues and expensive requirements...

As for UB moving up, UB is reaping the rewards of college football success. The question is how the college will maintain that success after Turner Gill, and if the basketball Bulls will have similar success. Seeing as they are consistently mediocre at best in the MAC since 2005, one wonders, but hopes.

As for Bona, they have the facilities to be solid in the A-10 if their coach can bring in some talent to go with Nicholson. Even if they maximized their talent and potential, they are still over-matched compared to Dayton and Xavier.

[David,Amherst]

Fran Dunphy coming in took a recalibration, but not by much. Sporting News has the Owls right with Richmond in the A-10 Top 4. They say
"...Temple is in good shape,
which is a tribute to Dunphy's recruiting."
It's always good to beat a program like Temple. The Owls will be getting better.
When I got my MBA at UB, a fellow student who as a Villanova grad always had a Philly chip on his shoulder.
He's still smug about Philly b-ball, especially Villanova. That's why I aim high. He was right.

[RecoveringHillbilly]

The question should be can Temple play on UB's level; We've beaten them home and away the last 2 contests, including beating Temple's '08-'09 A-10 Championship team.

[David,Amherst]

There is enough information here to go on for a long time about respective merits. The state of major college basketball here has been nationally borderline, at best. It depends on how you parse "competitive." I'm sure Liberty and Belmont feel good about their teams in their conferences.
I aim higher. The local schools have not had any "blue chip" athletes. Maybe Mike Gansey was one.
I don't know if Turner Battle was really a "blue chip" athlete, maybe close.
No one else.
They talk about the Big Five in Philadelphia, but it's maybe a Big Two in Villanova and Temple. St. Joseph had a couple in Jameer Nelson and Donte West, but has regressed some. Penn and LaSalle are just hopefuls.
Niagara probably fits in with the latter two, at its best. UB and St. Bona maybe are closer to St. Joseph in potential. Canisius no longer fits the billing.
Until St. Bona and UB show they can play Villanova and Temple on fairly even terms, it's still the Little Four here. Belmont, Liberty, Weber State and San Antonio (U-Tex) can claim their conference crowns, and be dropped in the first round of the NCAA's. We'll see what develops.

[E]

I wasn't at Hubie's dinner, no. I need to work for a living and have a family to take care of. That doesn't make me less of a fan.

The disagreement started over David's comment that it's better to finish at the bottom of the A-10 than it is to win the MAAC. I find that comment to be ridiculous. If you agree with David, enjoy finishing at the bottom of the A-10 every year, and disagree with me, more power to you. I personally enjoy seeing NU win alot of games and appear regularly in big events, including 2 NCAA appearances since 2005.

I'm not a journalist, but it doesn't take journalistic skills to add up St. Bona's record since 2001. Both NU and St. Bona have storied histories. I'm clearly not as old as you must be as I was less than 2 years old when St. Bona and NU were in their Lanier/Murphy years.

I didn't knock any school on any level, as you have w/ NU. I have merely spoken facts: NU has had spectacular success since Mihalich has arrived; St. Bona has had a decade to forget. I have also stated my opinion: it is far better to be a winner in the MAAC than a loser in the A-10 (and I am quite confident NU would be far more competitive in the A-10 than St. Bona has proven to be).

Take it for what it's worth, but tone down the insults toward me as they are inappropriate. You and I have every right to disagree w/o you calling me insulting, derogatory names.

[John T.]

to add.- how many ST BONA fans attack the Niagara program? Our emphasis is the MIGHTY A-10 and our new rivals,academics and maintaining our marquee name. It's still a pleasant/exciting evening to play in the BIG 4.
We've been fairly successful for 151 years.
Again,just the facts.

e,where did you get your journalism degee from?

[John T.]

e,you have it all wrong as you fired the first shots. I cited facts about the hire,the brawl as the bar's employees were interviewed by the authorities and your false impression of the hire.That's it.
I've had relatives and friends,co-workers graduate from there and wish the Purple birds the best except when they play BROWN.
I also was in SO.Carolina at the NCAA EASTERN REGIONALS in 1970,cheering for the Eagles but they were destroyed by Villanova. In fact,fans from both schools partied and had a great time until both wildcat games.
Joe M. has done a remakable job but has critics. I work in N.Falls and hear it at the end of every season. I'm not one of them but listen.
As I stated in the past,I was also at Hubie Browns'welcome back luncheon hosted by the Purple and Brown fans. Were you?

[E]

John, you clearly have some anger issues.

If you think that a 65-164 cumulative record since 2001 while competing in the A-10 is better than 2 NCAA Big Dance appearances, a couple of NIT appearances, and significant recruiting class after significant recruiting class, more power to you.

I don't really see why St. Bona fans in particular feel the need to denigrate the Niagara program. I'm all for St. Bona getting better and competing- it can only help WNY college hoops. I'm someone who "loves to hate" St. Bonaventure, but in the A-10 I root for them, and if they ever are able to return to the Big Dance I'll root for them.

I just find it silly to feel a need to attack NU- their success is spectacular this decade.

[John T,]

E,no where close to NIAGARA or UB? Check the talk on who is in what ranked top 10 league.
I wonder what would've happened if the players involved in the assault on the baseball team were truely brought to justice up on the Cathlic campus of Monteagle Ridge. This was a disgusting and violent act and not a recruiting incident as Memphis,kentucky,Usc,Ohio st,U Conn,Baylor,Bona all have gone through. The Griffs had their share of fun with a NCAA violation.
And Einstein,Joe M. was never interviewed for the BONA job on or off campus. Ask him. He used the moment to secure a good contract in the MAAC.

[E]

No need to call me a name- it shows your character. You should know better, especially if you went to a Catholic university.

St. Bona was a true bottom feeder following the "welding-gate" scandal, for several seasons. Anyone following basketball knows that. Obviously you must be aware of that.

And while St. Bona had an ok season last year, surely you have to concede that the program is nowhere near Niagara or UB.

Duncan is rated #18 overall in the nation among high school senior centers for a reason. Certainly you must be able to comprehend that.

Nicholson is a great player- but certainly you have to understand that Niagara's team has had consistently great results and is improving, right? That's why St. Bona wanted to poach Mihalich, sir- and I'm glad he stayed at NU where he can produce.

[John T.]

e,Bona was 15-15 vs top div 1 competition last year and finished a respectable 9th in a highly rated conference. They are from being the joke you and only you refer to. They are competitive in all of the A-10 sports and have several graduates from baseball and basketball playing in minor and professional leagues.
If you want to check academics,review US NEWS AND MONEY magazines.
If duncan is half the player,DOC NICHOLSON is, than you can talk moron.

[E]

David- while as you know I agree that Niagara can and should go to the A-10, I disagree that it's better to be at the bottom of the A-10 than at the top of the MAAC.

That makes no sense.

Do you really believe that St. Bona has benefitted from being a joke the past 7 or 8 years in the A-10 more than Niagar has by creating a perennial MAAC power? If so, how do you explain Niagara's shocking improvement in quality of recruits the past 4 years or so (from Tyrone Lewis, to landing Benn and Garrison on transfer, to now getting a true Blue Chip recruit in Shaquille Duncan)?

Your point is a bit illogical, don't you think?

[David,Amherst]

Psst, jon....it's better to be in the bottom of the A-10 than in the top of the MAAC.
And even better to be in the bottom of the Big East than in the top of the A-10.
Ask George Washington and DePaul players, fans, and administrators. It's about television, ratings, advertisers, and those green things we call money.
If a big state university schedules a small state college, it helps a "brother" in need, especially in a year of still a developmental phase in building a program.

[jon,Amherst]

Sorry, my bad.

The recruit from Tulsa is not listed in ESPN College Basketball Recruiting or Rivals.com.
The Bona recruit is listed on both.

Sorry for the error.

[jon,Amherst]

I am not sure why David persists that Bona and UB are "going to the head of the class". He implies the other local schools are not.

Lets see whats moving them to the top. UB can't get enough home games, so they are playing a DIII team at home. That will accomplish alot to move them "ahead". .

As for Bona, their recent recruit is listed in neither ESPN college basketball recruiting nor in Rivals.com as a prospect, so he must be a real sleeper.

Is it better to consistently be in the top of the MAAC or consistently be in the bottom of the A-10?

[Larry]

Rodney appreciate all the recruiting info. Can we expect a blog entry or report in the paper anytime soon about the current rosters and prospects for the Big 4 teams? Particularly interested in some of our local kids, like Kelvin Agee from Niagara Falls and Jake Housknecht from Olean who if I'm not mistaken red-shirted last year.

PS. One gripe I hear about the News in the community is that local kids graduate and aren't heard from again. Obviously the News does an excellent job covering the local teams, so I was hoping we might see something on the local kids playing locally. UB football has done a great job landing local kids.

[bc]

This is a big pick up for Bonnas. they have some good young bigs, turnover from backcourt have been a huge problem. If this kid is steady...Look out!