http://w3.nbebasketball.com/2009/06/08/shane-southwell-ready-to-rumble/SHANE SOUTHWELL: READY TO RUMBLE
June 8, 2009 by NBE Blogger ·
NY Gaucho small forward looks to continue impressive spring this weekend
The Rumble in the Bronx is like a rite of passage for basketball players from New York City and up and down the east coast. A strong weekend on the courts at Fordham University can propel a player forward into the key summer recruiting period with some new confidence and swagger. It is not your ordinary AAU showcase event, there are no Division 1-A coaches in the stands watching, instead, this game is about pride and defending your turf. This one means something and often it can be personal.
Despite being a New York City stalwart in the class of 2010, this will be the first ‘Rumble’ for Rice High School small forward Shane Southwell, who wil suit up for one of the event’s favorites, the NY Gauchos.
“This rumble is big for me for many reasons,†Southwell told the NBE Basketball Report today. “One is because its another showcase tournament for me and I have never played in [the] Rumble in the Bronx. Also I have something to prove in New York because I rarely get to play in New York.â€
Southwell has been a player turning some heads this spring with his play for the Gauchos, and he will look to continue that impressive play this weekend. The long and athletic forward has a very diverse game that includes very strong ball-handling and passing skills that allow him to use his outstanding court vision and awareness. He also has the tools to be an outstanding defender at the high-major level. With an improving offensive reportoire, it is no wonder while many high-major schools have been following Southwell closely for several months and will look to see more of him in July.
Back at the beginning of the travel season at the Playaz Spring Fling (Phase II), Southwell informed NBE that he has scholarship offers from St. John’s, Xavier, South Carolina, Marquette and Providence. He is also receiving interest from schools such as Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Arkansas, Miami, Seton Hall, West Virginia and Georgia Tech. The strong spring to date has not hurt in the recruiting department at all.
“I still have offers from [the] same schools,†said Southwell. “But I have gained interest from Kentucky and Georgetown.â€
Kentucky just made their inquiry recently, before Southwell made a trip to Marquette last weekend for their elite camp. Even with the offers, emerging interest from other high profile schools and a couple trip to see Marquette under his belt, the 6-foot-6 small forward is still open in his recruitment as nobody currently stands out, although his trips to Milwaukee have both been very good.
“I was at Marquette [and] the experience was nice again,†said Southwell, who also visited Milwaukee for the Golden Eagles Midnight Madness last October. “The coaching staff shows a lot of love. The campus and dorm rooms are nice too.â€
So, Big East fans checking out the Rumble this weekend at Fordham should make it a point to take a look at the Gauchos and Southwell. There is a good chance that the college coaching staff of their favorite team will be doing so this July as well.