Jameel Warney could become the most significant basketball recruit in the Division I era at Stony Brook University. The 6-7 power forward from Roselle Catholic High School (N.J.) turned down bigger schools, including Iowa, and yesterday signed a national letter of intent to play for Stony Brook.
"He's the best big man that will ever play here, absolutely," Seawolves coach Steve Pikiell said. "The big schools just gobble those guys up; it's so hard to get a big guy. Jameel is a low-post scorer; give him the ball he's going to score points. There's not many of those guys."
Warney, who averaged 17.5 points, 13.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocked shots as a junior, said he simply "loved the campus and the coaching staff" at Stony Brook. He also gave an assist to Stony Brook senior guard Bryan Dougher, who played AAU ball with Warney. "He told me Stony Brook would be a good decision," Warney said. "He's like a living example of how Stony Brook will help you succeed in life."
Edward Butler, who runs EKB Scouting Services in New Jersey, listed Warney as the fifth-best recruit nationally in the class of 2012. Butler said Warney is "a major impact player. He's a guy who can take you off the dribble, but he can post up inside and, surprisingly, he's probably going to be one of their better passers."
Dave Boff, Warney's coach at Roselle, said, "He is hands down the best rebounder-shot blocker in the state of New Jersey. He has tremendous timing and he keeps great space when people are attacking the basket."
Boff said many in the sport compare Warney to Kenneth Faried of Morehead State, a Newark native who was a first-round pick of the Denver Nuggets in June. "That's a good thing, being compared to somebody in the NBA," Warney said. "I'm really anxious to get going . This is probably one of the best decisions I've made in my life. I just want to do a good job there."
Stony Brook also received national letters of intent from Carson Puriefoy, a 6-foot point guard from Bishop Eustace High School (N.J.) who averaged 21.4 points last season and is expected to replace Dougher at the point next season, and 6-4 swingman Ryan Burnett, who is attending Benedictine College Prep (Va.).
