weaver to fsu

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Eric Prisbell: Omar Weaver Ready To
Commit To Fresno State--(Oct. 16, 2001)

Sometimes our recruiting stuff comes from friends, sometimes directly from recruits we talk to, and other times, reporters tip us off about stories they're writing or have recently published that we might have overlooked. That's what happened a few days ago with a story which someone alerted us to which was written by Eric Prisbell, who covers Fresno State men's basketball for the Fresno Bee. This one is about Omar Weaver, the very talented 6'-7" power forward who played at Compton Centennial two seasons ago, and who also was either ineligible or didn't turn in some paperwork to the school, which wound up costing them 9 games forfeited that season. Omar went on to Riverside City College where he is now playing, and according to a story published in this past Sunday's Fresno Bee, Omar has given a verbal commitment to Bulldog head coach Jerry Tarkanian, conditioned upon Tarkanian staying on as head coach. Here's the story:

Prize recruit will sign if Tark stays

By Eric Prisbell
The Fresno Bee
(Published Sunday, October, 14, 2001 5:10AM)

If Jerry Tarkanian returns as Fresno State's coach next season, the Bulldogs will land their most heralded recruit since Melvin Ely.

Before Fresno State's initial three-hour practice Saturday, standout Omar Weaver pledged that he will sign with the Bulldogs in November. But it was an oral commitment with an asterisk.

A 6-foot-7 shooting guard from Riverside City College, Weaver said he will ask Tarkanian in November if he will return as coach for the 2002-2003 season.

"If Tark comes back," Weaver said, "I guarantee I'll come."

As of now, Tarkanian says he probably won't return for an eighth season at his alma mater. If Tarkanian does retire, Weaver said he would sign with the Bulldogs only if assistants John Welch or Danny Tarkanian are promoted to head coach or retained.

"If not, I might just follow Coach Welch wherever he goes," Weaver said. "He's helped me a lot with becoming a better player."

This was Weaver's first and final official visit. No other schools are in contention. Miami visited Weaver recently, but he conceded Saturday he is not interested.

The NBA also has been mentioned as a possible destination for the 210-pound Weaver. But he maintains that the league can wait. He also refuted notions that friend, schoolmate and former Bulldog Tito Maddox -- who attends Riverside but does not possess enough units to play this season -- could sway him to the pros.

"Tito's my guy," Weaver said. "But he's his own man. I have a plan, and I want to play one year of Division 1 basketball unless I'm a guaranteed lottery pick. I want to show what I can do here."

In spring pickup games at Fresno State, Weaver -- equipped with a silky outside shot as well as solid post moves -- dominated such talents as DeShawn Stevenson (Utah Jazz) and Brandon Armstrong (New Jersey Nets). He's a versatile, sinewy guard who most resembles Missouri's Kareem Rush.

"I get the best of whoever is guarding me," he said.

Weaver has not played organized basketball in two years. In his last full season, he averaged 27 points a game at Coolidge High in Washington, D.C., as a junior. He transferred to Compton's Centennial High for his senior season, but said he was ruled ineligible after a "team-involved" altercation during a game against Dominguez High.

Rated a top 20 national recruit in the Class of 2000 by "The Recruiting Beat," Weaver signed with Missouri as a senior, but opted to go the junior-college route after not registering a qualifying SAT score. Last season he redshirted at College of Sequoias after transferring from Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior College in the fall. Weaver can sign a letter-of-intent with Fresno State during the early signing period, Nov. 14-21.

"I like the system here a lot," Weaver said. "But if these guys aren't the coach, who's it going to be? They'd bring in a whole new staff."

The reporter can be reached at eprisbell@fresnobee.com or 441-6625.