Villanova will benefit from signing day

Neshaminy's Ryan Arcidiacono and Westtown School's Daniel Ochefu, two of the area's most sought-after boys' basketball recruits, are set to officially make Villanova their college destination.

Arcidiacono, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound point guard, and Ochefu, a 6-10, 240-pound forward, are expected to sign binding letters of intent Wednesday, the first day of the one-week November period for most winter- and spring-sports athletes to sign national letters of intent with NCAA Division I or II schools.

Last season, Arcidiacono, a long-range sharpshooter and terrific ball-handler, averaged 20.4 points and hit 65 three-pointers in helping lead Neshaminy to a 22-7 record and its first trip to the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA semifinals.

Ochefu, a solid rebounder and shot blocker, averaged about 16 points and 12 rebounds as Westtown went 17-10 and qualified for the Friends Schools League playoffs.

Arcidiacono and Ochefu (pronounced oh-CHAY-fu) were ranked 34th and 40th, respectively, in ESPN.com's "Super 60" for the Class of 2012.

For his career, Arcidiacano has totaled 1,498 points, 449 rebounds, 378 assists, 178 steals, and 160 three-pointers. His father, Joe, played football at Villanova.

Born in Baltimore, Ochefu moved with his family to Nigeria when he was 11 and lived there for three years. His parents, Hassan and Elizabeth, are from Nigeria and Cameroon, respectively.

Chestnut Hill Academy's Malik Garner, a 6-5 forward, and Council Rock North point guard Aaron Morgan are both bound for Maryland-Baltimore County.

In girls' basketball, Council Rock South's Alex Wheatley, who averaged an area-best 20.1 points last season, will take her skills to Princeton.

Ciara Andrews, a high-scoring guard from Cheltenham, will play at St. Joseph's. Andrews averaged 19.8 points for the Panthers last season.

Next Wednesday, Neumann-Goretti will have a signing ceremony for four Division I recruits: Derrick Stewart, to Rider for basketball; Jimmy Kerrigan and Joey Gorman, to Temple and St. Joseph's, respectively, for baseball; and 6-2 forward Omowumi Rafiu, who is expected to commit to play hoops at Georgetown or Seton Hall.

Friends' Central standout Amile Jefferson, the area's most prized boys' basketball recruit, has yet to make an oral commitment. The Inquirer's all-Southeastern Pennsylvania player of the year in 2010-11 is scheduled to visit Stanford this weekend.

Also in the running for the services of the 6-8, 190-pounder are North Carolina State, Kentucky, Ohio State, Connecticut, Temple, and Villanova. His trip to Stanford will be his fifth and final official visit.

Kahleah Copper, a quick and high-leaping guard for Prep Charter, is deciding among DePaul, Rutgers, St. John's, and Syracuse. The 6-foot senior, who averaged 17 points last season, might announce her choice Thursday, coach Paul Rieser said.

Athletes who will compete in a winter or spring sport in college (except for track and field) may begin signing national letters of intent on Wednesday. Here are some of the local student-athletes who have committed to NCAA Division I colleges in those sports.

Boys' Basketball

Jerome Alexander   Hill School   Navy

Ryan Arcidiacono   Neshaminy   Villanova

Isaiah Baker   Shipley   Holy Cross

Hans Brase   Hill School   Princeton

Billy Dooley   Chestnut Hill Acad.   American

Eric Fanning   Perkiomen School   Wagner

Malik Garner   Chestnut Hill Acad.   Maryland-Balt. Co.

Marcus Gilbert   Acad. New Church   Fairfield

Brendan Kilpatrick   Malvern Prep   Vermont

Aaron Morgan   Council Rock North   Maryland-Balt. Co.

Daniel Ochefu   Westtown   Villanova

Derrick Stewart   Neumann-Goretti   Rider

Shawn Valentine   Phelps School   Rider

Maurice Watson   Boys' Latin   Boston U.

Girls' Basketball

Ciara Andrews   Cheltenham   St. Joseph's

Meghan Creighton   Archbishop Carroll   Drexel

Jaryn Garner   Germantown Acad.   Virginia

Maureen Leahy   Cardinal O'Hara   Bryant

Rachel Pearson   Archbishop Carroll   Drexel

D. Thomas-Palmer   Penn Charter   Hofstra

Alex Wheatley   Council Rock South   Princeton

Wrestling

Chuck Boddy   Germantown Acad.   Bucknell

Matt Cimato   La Salle   Drexel

Chris Yankowich   Germantown Acad.   Virginia

Baseball

Jake Drossner   Council Rock North   Maryland

Demetrius Jennings   Penn Charter   Wofford

Joey Gorman   Neumann-Goretti   St. Joseph's

Jimmy Kerrigan   Neumann-Goretti   Temple

Kenny Koplove   Penn Charter   Duke

Dan Rosenbaum   Plym. Whitemarsh   Louisville

Scott Williams   Conestoga   Virginia

Softball

Nicole D'Andrea   Hatboro-Horsham   New Haven

Jackie DiPietro   Hatboro Horsham   Seton Hall

Val Sadowl   Hatboro-Horsham   Connecticut

Boys' Lacrosse

Ryan Ambler   Abington   Princeton

Connor Bailey   Haverford School   Georgetown

Warner Bailey   Haverford School   Georgetown

Henry Blynn   Haverford School   Brown

Tyler Brooke   Conestoga   Maryland

Chris Duffy   Abington   Hartford

Casey Eidenshink   La Salle   Lehigh

Brendan Fabian   Avon Grove   Drexel

P.J. Finley   Malvern Prep   Notre Dame

Blaine Fleming   St. Joseph's Prep   Marquette

Connor Frisina   Conestoga   Delaware

Mac Gallagher   Shipley   Lafayette

Adam Goins   Conestoga   Notre Dame

Zack Gregory   Conestoga   Towson

Ryan Guittare   Garnet Valley   Penn State

Will Gural   Haverford School   Brown

Jamie Ikeda   Conestoga   Duke

Jordan Klunder   Conestoga   Drexel

Ryan Lehman   Garnet Valley   Maryland

Bradlee Lord   Conestoga   Maryland

Mike McGregor   Conestoga   Drexel

Will McNamara   Haverford School   Virginia

Paxton Moore   Haverford School   Michigan

Zach Rego   Haverford School   Georgetown

Sam Rohr   Haverford School   Penn

Miles Thomas   Conestoga   Drexel

Chris Vetter   Central Bucks East   Towson

Girls' Lacrosse

Alyssa Andress   Archbishop Wood   North Carolina

Kristen Bandos   Notre Dame   Georgetown

Halley Barnes   Garnet Valley   Rutgers

Katie Boyle   Archbishop Carroll   Holy Cross

Burke Brabson   Mount St. Joseph   La Salle

Lizzy Carr   Hatboro-Horsham   Drexel

Taylor Clark   West Chester East   La Salle

Campbell Crochiere   Agnes Irwin   Richmond

Kelly Cross   Upper Dublin   Syracuse

Becca Dahle   Friends' Central   Brown

Cortnee Daley   Hatboro-Horsham   Louisville

Michele DeVincent   Upper Dublin   California

Gabbi Hull   Archbishop Carroll   G. Washington

Allyson Heavens   Garnet Valley   Penn State

Maddy Lesher   Archbishop Carroll   Loyola (Md.)

Elizabeth Lowry   Radnor   Duquesne

Brenda McDermott   North Penn   Temple

Julie McKay   Hatboro-Horsham   American

Bonnie McShane   Merion Mercy   St. Joseph's

Maddie McTigue   Villa Maria Acad.   Temple

Jenna Mertz   Villa Maria Acad.   James Madison

Natalie Miller   Radnor   Georgetown

Jackie Moccia   Great Valley   Oregon

Kelly Molloy   Strath Haven   Vermont

Kristen Norden   Radnor   Colgate

Colleen Packer   Radnor   Columbia

Kathryn Skahan   Bishop Shanahan   Temple

Iris Williamson   Germantown Frds.   Penn

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