Wake Forest lands two major recruits
Top-ranked small forward Aminu joins Deacs in hoops
Published: Fri, Jul. 13, 2007 12:30AM
Modified Fri, Jul. 13, 2007 05:42AM
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closeWake Forest won two important recruiting battles Thursday when it received commitments from two of the top high school boys basketball players in the country.
Al-Farouq Aminu, who is ranked the No. 3 prospect in the country by Scout.com, and Tony Woods, who is No. 55, committed to the Demon Deacons.
The two standouts announced their decisions Thursday to their Georgia Stars club teammates during the Peach Jam tournament in Atlanta.
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"This is the biggest recruiting day for Wake Forest since Chris Paul announced," said Dave Telep, national recruiting analyst for Scout.com.
"There are two programs out in front of everyone with the Class of 2008 -- Wake Forest and UCLA. Wake Forest has the big men, and UCLA has the guards.
"This is a major development in the ACC for Wake Forest to bring in this kind of class."
The Deacons already had a commitment from New Hanover's 7-foot Ty Walker, who is ranked No. 14 by Telep.
"Wake Forest has a class that anybody -- Kentucky, Duke, Connecticut, UCLA, UNC -- would like to have," Telep said.
Jeff Goodman, a national basketball writer for FoxSports.com, said Aminu is so talented that he might play only one year in college.
"He is a huge get for Wake Forest," Goodman said. "Woods has a ways to go, but he is one of the top 50 talents in the country."
Aminu, a 195-pound forward at Norcross, Ga., is Scout.com's top- ranked small forward.
He is the brother of Georgia Tech junior Alade Aminu. Tech and North Carolina were among Aminu's final three.
"Aminu is an extremely versatile player, but he is going to be a small forward for the rest of his college career and when he plays for pay," Telep said.
Woods, a teammate of Aminu with the Georgia Stars club, will team with Aminu again in college.
Woods, ranked No. 18 by Rivals.com, chose Wake over Alabama, Georgia and defending national champion Florida.
The commitments are not binding on the players or the schools. Players may sign binding national letters of intent in November.
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