Cards Among Nation's Elite Classes with Seven Signees
November 12, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2004
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Seven impressive high school products have each signed a national letter-of-intent to continue their basketball playing careers at the University of Louisville, ranking this Cardinal recruiting class as the best in the nation to date by The Hoop Scoop.
The list of stellar signees includes: Bryan Harvey, a 6-5, 210-pound guard from Dominguez High School in Compton (Ca.); Clarence Holloway, a 7-0, 270-pound center from Harlan High School in Chicago, Ill.; Jonathan Huffman , a 7-0, 215-pound forward from Central Park Christian School in Birmingham, Ala.; Amir Johnson, a 6-10, 215-pound forward from Westchester High School in Los Angeles, Ca.; Andre McGee, a 5-10, 190-pound guard from Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, Ca.; Chad Millard, a 6-8, 210-pound forward from Goffstown, N.H. who will play his senior season at Brewster Academy in N.H.; and Terrence Williams, a 6-5, 225-pound forward from Ranier Beach High School in Seattle, Wash.
"This is the best class I've recruited in terms of sheer numbers." said U of L Men's Basketball Coach Rick Pitino. "When you add to this equation that David Padgett (Kansas transfer that is sitting out this season) is coming in at the same time, it's a very deep and talented class. One thing we were looking for was that every one of these players have a hunger to improve and a great passion for basketball. Everyone in this group loves to play the game and are willing to pay the price to make it."
Brian Harvey
Harvey averaged 18.4 points and nine rebounds as a junior last season in helping Dominguez High School to the Division II state championship. "Losing Francisco Garcia and Larry O'Bannon after this season, we definitely need to add good outside shooting in this class," said Pitino. "Brian gives us a great perimeter threat. He's the perfect spot-up shooter on the perimeter in relieving double-downs in trapping the post. He's a good athlete, runs the floor well and has great range on his jump shot."
The Co-Player of the Year in the CIF Southern Section Division IIA, Harvey is rated No. 32 nationally by The Hoop Scoop, 37th overall by RivalsHoops (10th among shooting guards), No. 62 by Prep Basketball Magazine and is among The Sporting News Top 100 players.
"You won't find a harder worker than Bryan," said Dominguez High School Coach Russell Otis. "He gets after it, especially defensively. Offensively he is versatile and athletic. He's one of the nicest kids you will meet."
Harvey also considered Kansas, Arizona State and Connecticut before signing with the Cardinals.
Clarence Holloway
Holloway averaged 13 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as a junior last season for Harlan High School before a wrist injury sidelined him.
"Clarence looks to be the next Nazr Mohammed (who Pitino coached at Kentucky and is now with the NBA New York Knicks) for me, although he's much more advanced at this stage of his career," said Pitino. "He has the same characteristics as Nazr had. He's extremely hungry to improve, has great size, terrific hands and the sky's the limit to how good he can become. The first thing we'll do is alter his body to that of a Louisville basketball player and get his body fat below 10 percent."
Holloway is rated as the No. 67 prospect by The Hoop Scoop, No. 69 overall and fourth among centers by RivalsHoops, and is among the top 100 prospects by Prep Basketball Magazine. He averaged 5 points and 4.3 rebounds for the silver medal winning North squad in the 2004 USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival.
"Clarence is a true center that's a very good offensive player," said Harlan Head Coach Andre Peavy. "He can really post you up, has a nice jump hook and is a good passer. He wants to play around the basket and loves to play basketball."
Holloway also considered Florida, Illinois, Marquette and Purdue before signing with the Cardinals.
Jonathan Huffman
A broken foot kept Huffman sidelined for much of last season at Central Park Christian, but his size and outside shooting prowess did not go unnoticed by the U of L coaching staff.
"Jonathan is the most intriguing recruit I've had in some time," said Pitino. "He's seven feet tall with a Taquan Dean jump shot. Any time you recruit a big man with that good of an outside shooting touch, it opens up your offense and makes it difficult to help off big men. He's someone who's going to greatly benefit from our strength and conditioning program. To me, he's the most underrated big man in the country in high school basketball."
Rated 38th among power forwards by RivalsHoops, Huffman is listed among the top 300 seniors nationally by The Hoop Scoop. His Central Park Christian team will play in Louisville on Nov. 13 at Pleasure Ridge Park in the final game of the American Chiropractic Super Hoops Classic preseason tournament.
Huffman also considered UAB, Florida State and Minnesota before signing with the Cardinals.
Amir Johnson
Johnson sat out last season after transferring to Westchester High School, where he will play his senior year. He averaged 13.0 points and 4.2 rebounds for the West squad in the 2004 USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival.
"Amir is one of the premier frontcourt players in high school basketball," said Pitino. "He has as much potential as any young man I've recruited. He's extremely quick, can close out on the perimeter and defend guards, and is an excellent passer, tough rebounder and good shot blocker. The areas we'll work on immediately with Amir is improving his body and his jump shot."
Johnson is the most highly-rated member of the Cardinals's current recruiting class, ranking ninth nationally among high school seniors by both The Hoop Scoop and Prep Star Basketball, 18th overall by RivalsHoops and No. 20 by The Sporting News. He had games of 37 and 32 points at the 2004 Reebok Big Time tourney.
Johnson chose U of L over North Carolina, Syracuse and Connecticut.
Andre McGee
McGee averaged 25.9 points, 6.1 assists and 3.2 steals in leading Canyon Springs High School to a 14-10 record last season and their third straight Ivy League championship. He made 113 three-point shots as a junior.
"Andre is one of the favorite players that I've ever recruited," said Pitino. "He's lightning quick and is a good athlete. He can get in the lane and create shots for others as well as for himself. He's a tremendous floor leader and has unbelievable charisma as a person."
He was the league MVP and county player of the year last season. He is a three-time all-league, all-county and All CIF-Southern Section Division IA selection. He averaged 16.5 points as a freshman and 18.1 as a sophomore when Canyon Springs lost in the state Division I championship game. McGee is rated No. 21 among the nation's top seniors by The Hoop Scoop, No. 29 by Prep Basketball Magazine, No. 46 by The Sporting News, and No. 87 overall by RivalsHoops. He averaged 16 points and six assists for the West squad in the 2004 USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival.
"Andre is very coachable," said Canyon Springs Head Coach John Stoval. "He has a great amount of talent, but doesn't settle for that. He works hard to get better and has gotten stronger physically. He's very unselfish, is very athletic and plays hard all the time. He has a knack for getting on a good roll and can take it to another level."
McGee signed with the Cardinals after also considering Arizona State, Washington, UNLV and USC.
Chad Millard
Millard averaged 17.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists last season at Manchester (N.H.) Trinity High School and will play his senior year at Brewster Academy.
"Chad is a multi-dimensional basketball player," said Pitino. "He can play inside and outside. He can handle the ball and pass like a backcourt player, and plays the baseline like a small forward. He has an unbelievable passion for the game of basketball."
A three-time all-state selection, Millard is ranked No. 53 overall by RivalsHoops (12th among small forwards) and was a Top 20 All-Star selection as the 2004 adidas Superstar Camp. Four of his Brewster Academy teammates are expected to sign with Division I universities.
"At his size, Chad is very skilled" said Brewster Academy Coach Jason Smith. "He shoots it well and that is one of his strengths. He's working on his strength everyday."
Millard also considered Iowa State, North Carolina State, Providence and Vanderbilt before signing with the Cardinals.
Terrence Williams
"Terrence is a Dominique Wilkins type athlete," said Pitino. "He's a good passer and is a very physical wing player that will only get better. He's an athletic phenom."
Williams averaged 18.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists as a junior in helping Ranier Beach High School to a 27-2 record before falling in the state championship game in double overtime. He is a three-year starter at Ranier Beach, helping his team win the state title in 2003 with a 26-3 mark.
An all-city and first team all state selections, Williams is rated No. 39 in the nation by The Hoop Scoop and is among the top 100 overall by RivalsHoops. He also plays football for Ranier Beach as a wide receiver and free safety.
"Terrence is a slasher and jumps so high," said Ranier Beach Coach Mike Bethea. "He doesn't necessarily try to do the fancy thing; he just jumps over you. He's a freak of nature. He's got nice moves, passes the ball well, is a great competitor and has a great will to win."
Williams had narrowed his collegiate choices to Indiana and Kansas before signing with the Cardinals.
University of Louisville 2004-05 Men's Basketball SigneesName Pos Ht. Wt. Hometown Current SchoolBryan Harvey G 6-5 210 Compton, Ca. Dominguez HSClarence Holloway C 7-0 270 Chicago, Ill. Harlan HSJonathan Huffman F 7-0 215 Birmingham, Ala. Central Park ChristianAmir Johnson C 6-9 215 Los Angeles, Ca. Westchester HSAndre McGee G 5-10 190 Moreno Valley, Ca. Canyon Springs HSChad Millard F 6-8 210 Goffstown, N.H. Brewster AcademyTerrence Williams G 6-5 225 Seattle, Wa. Ranier Beach HS
