PennStateInMD wrote: Lavon Long is a solid 6-6 Forward at Mount Saint Joe's in Baltimore, one of the top programs. Won the Baltimore Catholic League last season. 

The kid is a good citizen and works hard. He's 17, not one of those 19 year olders still playing HS ball (which is common in Maryland). Solid frame, good fundamentals, good ball handling skills, unselfish team player. No head-case. Left handed.

Kid has been brought up well. Only getting mid-Major interest right now because he's not a scoring machine, but his team has plenty of scorers. He seems to still be growing (size 17+ shoe) and has flashes of big potential.

Mom loves the Big Ten - Lisa Long was All-BigTen at Iowa under Coach Vivian Stringer and played professionally so he's got some good genes. I've been kidding Mom for years that he'll be wearing Blue&White one day.

I'm just throwing his name out there because I know there's a million kids to evaluate each year. This one has no baggage! I repeat, no baggage. Mom has posted Youtube highlights the last couple years as well.

Good for him.

Your post here makes it sound like you're trying to make his name known to the PSU coaching staff.  If that's your objective, this isn't the way to do it.  Have his coach contact the Penn State coaches.  Putting a post up here won't do anything.

That was clearer than what Sara Linden told Stan Larson.  And her advice was useful and prophetic.

Dont worry, Coach Clatchey at MSJ has contacted plenty of people and the fact that his starting backcourt are getting looks from tons of big time schools, Im sure that Long has gotten plenty of looks from those same coaches too.

MD,

Your recruit Lavon appears to be a legit D1 college ball player  but the rankings indicate that he may be more of a mid major talent  than a talent for the Big Ten or like top conference.

Scout, ESPN and Rivals all indicate that a number of programs have interest in Lavon.  With a solid summer of play Lavon step up his play and garner offers from high level conferences.

Your observations are correct. The reason I'm addressing this is because I know the kid and his mom very well. I've also been around a number of the top ranked players in Baltimore for many years. While a few may at first glance appear better prospects, and I don't necessarily deny they are slightly better ballers at this point, Lavon does not come with the educational, emotional, and family baggage that I know will cause many of them to fail at the college level. That's something not necessarily apparent when a coach is sitting courtside evaluating the talent pool.

While Clatchey is definitely promoting his very good 1 and 2 players, it's my opinion he's also a bit old school and more inclined to simply use Lavon as a post player. Doing so gives him little opportunity to showcase his ball handling abilities on the HS stage. He has to do his thing in the summer leagues. Having seen both Jonathan Graham and Lavon play in the same MIAA league, Lavon has better ball handling and shooting skills. For that reason I think he's worth a thorough look. The following is a realistic ranking of the position amongst the Baltimore/DC prospects...

2013 Rankings: Top 25 Wing Forwards

WRITTEN BY EDGAR WALKER

I'm sure the staff is aware of him

I coach against many of these kids, the 3 North point kids are great athletes but can not shoot outside of 10 feet, they will be awesome d3 post guys or need a year of prep to play the wing somewhere.  Their team was awesome this past year but that was due to their backcourt. Their little pg is fantastic.

My opinion is Jenkins is the best of the group from the DMV