With the first signing of the 2011 recruiting season for Bill Self, winning is still the most important thing. Brewster Academy's Naadir Tharpe was the point guard on last year's national prep championship team, giving Self's program a proven winner to lead next season's incoming class.
Tharpe is a smallish guard at 6'0", 170 lbs., but his vision at the point and on-court instincts have Self's team excited. Self told the KC Star yesterday, "He reminds me so much of Aaron Miles. He’s a good solid point guard, quick, athletic and has become a very good shooter." ESPN has Tharpe as the #72 player overall and #12 PG recruit in the country. In addition, their scouting report notes:
Tharpe is an excellent play making point guard. He is a true point with a tight handle and excellent court vision. He ca drive, draw and kick or penetrate and drop off with ease. Tharpe can run the offense and break or apply intense ball pressure. He can finish at the rim or with floaters or stop and pop.
Originally Tharpe was committed to Providence in the spring, but backed out after an assistant coach left for Pittsburgh. He opened up new possibilities in June and now signed with Self. Other teams rumored to be in the running include NC State, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Rutgers and St. John's.
You can check out some of Tharpe's highlight reel yourself:
