NEW HAVEN, Con. – Another National Prep Showcase is in the books and a number of standouts displayed their long-term value in Connecticut. The name of Tre Mitchell is beginning to heat up along the East Coast and Keenan Fitzmorris looks like another building block piece for Stanford, but it was all eyes on Simi Shittu as the five-star big man remains one of the top available prospects heading into the winter.

SIMI SHITTU'S STANCE

One of the elite producers in high school basketball, Simi Shittu has never shied away from the spotlight. Whether it has been on the travel circuit, at the top camp stops during the summer months, or on the prep circuit, Shittu has played very well and that was the case again on Sunday.

He is strong, he is tough, he is skilled and he continues to get better and better while playing all over the frontcourt.

While there isn’t much trouble deciphering of Shittu’s current and long-term value, could the end be near for his college search?

“Right now, I am still talking to my family. I am going to make a decision in a few weeks,” he said before discussing the Vanderbilt basketball program. “It is a great school and I had a great visit. It was good. I am still in contact with UNC a little bit. We are still just talking about when I am going to make my decision.” After securing the commitment of top-15 guard Darius Garland last week -- Vanderbilt’s first five-star commitment since John Jenkins -- the Commodores are hoping for their best ever class if they add Shittu.

“They just say they haven’t had many players of our caliber before and that we could change the program and the city in general,” Shittu said. Vanderbilt remains the only school that Shittu has visited officially and unless he sets another visit, there remains great reason for optimism in Nashville.



TRE MITCHELL GATHERS OFFERS

The Pittsburgh area hasn’t been known for producing high-level basketball prospects at a heavy clip but there does look to be a surge of talent in the Steel City. Tre Mitchell could be the guy to help get things headed in the right direction. The big man who attends Woodstock Academy, showed just why programs such as Georgia Tech, Pitt and Wake Forest have already offered. What really stands out about Mitchell is just how good his hands are, his ability to play angles in the post and his high-low abilities when played in bigger lineups. Following his team’s contest on Sunday, where he finished with 15 points and eight boards, Mitchell talked about the recent uptick within his recruitment. “Wake Forest talks to me pretty often, St. Joseph’s talks to me pretty consistently and half of the Ivy League programs,” he said. “Georgia Tech just offered me, too, yesterday.” Mitchell is one the better high-major options that programs along the East Coast should track. His ability to score, pass and defend is traits that will earn him a number of scholarship offers moving ahead.

NOTES FROM THE SIDELINES