6-11 Nigerian set to choose St. Joseph's

With experience and proper coaching, Temidayo Adebayo, a 6-foot-11 Nigerian who played sparingly last season at Montrose Christian Academy in Rockville, Md., should develop into a frontcourt contributor at St. Joseph's after Ahmad Nivins graduates following next season.

That's the assessment of longtime Montrose coach Stu Vetter.

"Timmy has great potential," Vetter said last night. "Once he gets some experience and learns how to play the game, I think he'll become a very significant recruit for St. Joe's - maybe sooner than later."

Adebayo will sign a letter of intent with St. Joe's and is expected to be eligible to play next season.

Vetter said Adebayo's development was slowed by an undisclosed medical condition. He said that Louisville and UCLA were among the schools that showed interest because of his athleticism and shot-blocking, but that they backed off because he didn't get much playing time.

Next season, St. Joe's also will have a walk-on with a familiar name when point guard Michael Auriemma, son of Connecticut women's coach Geno Auriemma, joins the Hawks. Auriemma began his coaching career at Bishop Kenrick High as an assistant to current St. Joe's coach Phil Martelli.

- Ray Parrillo