Boys' basketball: Polee to visit Oregon after postponing announcement

Dwayne Polee Jr., the City Section player of the year from state Division I champion Westchester, was scheduled to announce his college choice Saturday night at halftime of the Collision all-star game, but he said prior to the game he would not make an announcement after speaking to Oregon officials earlier in the day. He has set up a recruiting visit for Oregon on Friday.

Oregon has apparently selected Creighton Coach Dana Altman to be its new coach, and he has gotten immediately involved in a last-minute bid for Polee.

The 6-foot-7 Polee originally committed to USC four years ago as a freshman but opened up his recruiting after the resignation of Tim Floyd as Trojans coach last year.

Georgia and Coach Mark Fox have made a strong bid for Polee, as have St. John's after the hiring of former UCLA Coach Steve Lavin. Polee said Saturday night UNLV is the other school that he continues to consider.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Comments

[SD Dawg]

I think Georgia is a great place for him to develop. True, the Georgia program has not been to the NCAA for a few years, but that was the fault of Jim Harrick and the "gift" he left to the program after he was let go. However, Mark Fox has turned the corner is a major way, and he is regarded as one of the best coaches in the nation. He has a strong team returning, and Polee will get to start right away. As for a "culture shock" to a California boy, I think he can handle it. If being around great academics, cool music, beautiful women and an excellent college town is a shock, then Athens won't be the place for him and he should go study in the woods in OR.

[the dude]

Come to Georgia. We have 2 lottery picks on the team right now. Next year could be amazing!

[Patrick]

I hope Dwayne picks UGA. He would fit perfectly into Mark Fox's system. We need him to win the SEC and make a serious run in the NCAA tourney. See you in Athens!

[Mike]

I'm a USC alum, so I would love to see Polee recommit, but if he doesn't, I think going to Oregon would be a solid choice. The Ducks have some of the best facilities in the nation and have a new $250 million arena opening up this year. From what I've seen from the few times that I have been up there for a football game, Eugene seems like a great college town.

Georgia is in a nice college town, but it could being a culture shock for someone from LA. Also the basketball program hasn't made it to the sweet sixteen since the mid-90's. Georgia is a bottom tier program in one of the strongest conferences in the country.

UNLV has quite a bit of basketball history, though much of it occurred under Tark the Shark (the Calipari of the 70's and 80's). Lon Kruger has had some success in Vegas. The main negatives about UNLV are the commuter school aspect (poor social scene) and subpar academics. A UNLV degree is a small step up from one distributed by University of Phoenix. While, the MWC is pretty strong right now, they don't get the exposure of the major conferences.

I have heard that Polee is also considering St. John's. St. John's has historically been a very good program. It's going to be tough for the program to rebound, playing in the tough Big East. Lavin is a great recruiter, but a so-so coach...just ask Baron Davis about him.

Polee's father works in the USC athletic department, so I am still hoping that he'll reconsider. Best of luck to the young man wherever he ends up.

Fight on!

[LADAWG]

Georgia is hands down the best school of all that he is considering. Great Academics, fantastic coach, and a town that is unlike any other. Hopefully he becomes a dawg!

[Matt]

Come on Dwayne! Be a Rebel!

Close to home yet far enough away. Your family and friends can come watch you play. Come light up the T&M, enjoy our new multi-million dollar practice facility, and feel the energy that you felt when we lit up Louisville last year!

Don't play for a project team. Come make a run in the tourney with us.