So I talked to Joe Boncore tonight …
I got ahold of Joe Boncore, Moses Abraham’s adviser, this evening and we chatted for a good 15 minutes on Moses’ recruitment and eventual decision to commit to Georgetown. Essentially, what it boils down to, according to Boncore, is this:
Abraham loved Indiana. He loved everything about it — facilities, players, coaches, tradition, the works. And when Abraham talked to Boncore about it, Boncore said he essentially asked Abraham, “So you want to commit to Indiana, then?”
But Abraham chose Georgetown because, Boncore said, the player simply felt more comfortable staying in D.C., the only place in America he’s ever lived and closer to the few friends he’s made while he’s lived here.
“It’s a smaller school,” Boncore said, “and he doesn’t know a lot of people.”
Boncore also admitted that Abraham’s uncle, who essentially raised the player after his father died, “had the biggest influence” in the four-star forward’s decision.
“He’s more upset than anybody,” Boncore said of Abraham, who, his adviser said, felt terrible having to tell Tom Crean no. “But the kid can’t play two places.”
Boncore also refuted a Washington Post report saying that he met with both John Thompson III, Georgetown’s current coach, and his father, John Thompson II, Georgetown’s former coach, (confusing much?) after Abraham returned from Indiana but before the player made his decision. Boncore said the last time he spoke with anyone from Georgetown was before Abraham left for his visit to Bloomington, although it should also be pointed out, in fairness to the Post report, that Boncore is quoted.
Boncore said that Moses’ interest in Indiana at all had brought on “a whole lot of (stuff) from Georgetown.”
To Indiana’s credit, Boncore said Abraham was ready to commit to Georgetown when Tom Crean offered the 2010 prospect. Crean’s hard work and Abraham’s rapid interest in Indiana ballooned such that the Hoosiers made up ground rapidly on a player some believed Georgetown had all but closed.
Getting him to visit the campus, Boncore said, was a huge win for Indiana, because Abraham “doesn’t like to visit schools.”
Questions have also been raised about the legality of Abraham’s recruitment, at least in the eyes of the NCAA. For his part, Boncore was adamant that he was not involved in any wrongdoing.
“All I do is train the kids,” he said by phone. “I’m not going to defend myself.”
My guess is that this saga is finally winding down. I haven’t yet talked to Abraham — he called me back tonight, but I didn’t get the chance to answer. I’ll work on touching base with him tomorrow, the one thing I haven’t actually been able to do yet in this whole dance.
Boncore said knew the IU coaches were disappointed not to get Abraham after such a strong impression during his visit. Still, he hoped there were no hard feelings or burned bridges, and he would have no problem recommending Indiana to any future players.
Filed to: Moses Abraham