Lawhorn to UConn?; Coleman to Louisville

Late last week, the Facebook and Twitter accounts for high school senior Danny Lawhorn sent shockwaves through the recruiting world: it was posted that he was committing to Connecticut.

However, shortly after, it was apparent that someone had hacked into Lawhorn’s social networks and posted the commitment messages.

“I don’t even know,” Lawhorn told the NBE Basketball Report last week. “Like, a few people have my password so I’m assuming that was it. I’m going to see who did it.”

While the commitment announcement might have been premature, the fact that Connecticut is Lawhorn’s favorite is no secret.

“I’m high on them,” Lawhorn said. “A few family members went there. That’s where everyone wants me to go, even my cousin A.J. Price.”

“We speak about it when he has time here and there,” Lawhorn added when asked about his relation to Price. “He wants to the best fit for me, but he would like UConn.”

He also said that he needs to clear up his grades and academics before he thinks about officially committing to the Huskies.

In addition to UConn, Lawhorn is considering Providence, Georgia Southern, Baylor, UCLA, Nevada, Houston, Rutgers, Montana State and DePaul.

“I want to go somewhere close and that’s the right fit for me and [somehere] I’m going to get playing time,” Lawhorn said. “Wherever I go, I’m redshirting my first year depending on what they talking about, so I can get [used] to the system and learn more about coaches.”

That’s not something you hear every day – a highly-recruited prospect volunteering to sit out during his first season in college in order to understand the team and staff better.

“If I go to UConn, yes,” Lawhorn added. “Any high-major [for the most part] but [with] UConn, [it is] so I can wait to see what Kemba [Walker decides] to do. But I want him to stay, to learn by him.

“Then the next year, I’m gonna be a starter anyway, with more experience.”

Another interesting bit of information gleaned from NBE’s conversation with Lawhorn was his decision to be a 2010 prospect. When we spoke in November, he mentioned that he would likely prep and graduate in 2011.

“[I] changed my mind,” Lawhorn said, before clarifying what he needed in order to finish high school on time. “Nothing really, just want a higher score. So I don’t have to worry about anything.

“I’m going to just have the same schools, but a little different ones.”

Lawhorn runs the show for a loaded South Kent Prep (Conn.) team, a club that features Big East signees J.J. Moore (Pittsburgh) and Russell Smith (Louisville).

“I like playing with Chris Johnson, Mike Buffalo and Ronnie Mack,” he said. “Everyone knows their role.”

Lawhorn’s defensive tenacity is unparalleled, but he needs to cut down on his turnovers at the offensive end.

“I’m working on my jump shot and getting a little stronger, which I have already gotten,” he said.

For a player willing to sit out his first year at his eventual college, it is not surprising that his biggest goal this season is to try to lead South Kent to the title.

Said Lawhorn: “Nothing really, but try to get my team in the ‘ship.”

Coleman commits to Louisville

One of the more difficult recruitments to predict in the 2010 class belonged to Justin Coleman. Given his close-to-the-vest approach and his rumored academic troubles, it was long thought that Coleman would need to prep another season and reclass to 2011, or even go to junior college.

However, those projections were proven wrong on Friday, when the five-star swingman committed to Louisville.

“They have spots open at my position plus coach P[itino] knows how to get players to the next level,” Coleman told NBE Basketball Report.

He chose the Cardinals over Connecticut, Marquette, Kentucky and South Florida.

When asked about his academic situation, Coleman said he was just focused on doing well in school.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “My coach is handling it; I’m just trying my best on all my school work.”

For those that haven’t seen Coleman play very often, he offered his description of his game: “Well, I’m a big guard that knows how to get to the hole and I can also hit deep threes.”

The confident Coleman is sure he will make a major player at the next level, giving a warning when asked what sort of impact he will make in the Big East.

“You’ll see,” he said.