It's obvious that Steve Addazio doesn't seek analysts' input when it comes to recruiting.
"They don't really have a character meter," the Temple football coach said of recruiting analysts at Temple's national signing day news conference Wednesday.
"All they do is have some guy running around, looking at some highlight tape. Maybe a guy goes to a combine and runs real fast. That's great. I'm not knocking it."
To prove that evaluations can be inaccurate, Addazio sought out Eagles safety Jaiquawn Jarrett, who was in attendance.
Jarrett played at Temple after the Owls were the only school to offer him a scholarship out of high school.
"For some reason at the end of the day, Jaiquawn," he said to Jarrett, "they just didn't think you could make it! Right!
"But now he's a starter for the Eagles."
Phoebus (Va.) wideout Romond Deloatch, North Marion (Fla.) running back Jamie Gilmore, Rancocas Valley offensive tackle Ray Korang, Archbishop Wood safety Nate Smith, and Neshaminy defensive end Kiser Terry are the only three-star recruits in the Owls recruiting class, according to Rivals.com.
The rest of Temple's recruits received two stars. The most stars a recruit can receive are five.
"We are a Jaiquawn program," Addazio said. "We want to bring guys in and develop them."
Jefferson's decision. Don't be surprised if Amile Jefferson ends up at Duke.
While Jefferson remains quiet, a source close to the situation confirmed an SNY.tv report that the 6-foot-8 senior Friends' Central forward will likely choose between Duke and North Carolina State. The source added that Duke is the front-runner.
Jefferson is expected to make his decision soon.
The West Philadelphia resident is regarded as the nation's 18th-best college basketball prospect in the Class of 2012 by ESPN. He's listed as the 21st-best prospect by Scout.com.
The Inquirer's all-Southeastern Pennsylvania player of the year is a candidate to receive an invitation to play in the McDonald's All-American Game in Chicago on March 28. This year's participants will be announced Tuesday.
Jordan to visit Maryland. Vaux basketball player Rysheed Jordan will attend Saturday's North Carolina vs. Maryland game in College Park, Md.
The 6-4 junior guard has narrowed his list of scholarship offers to Maryland, Temple, Rutgers, Villanova, Drexel, and La Salle. He'll pick this summer.
Like Jefferson, the North Philly resident is one of the nation's top college prospects. Scout.com lists him as 24th best in the Class of 2013. Rivals.com ranks him 25th.
Temple has company. Math, Civics and Sciences' Jeremiah "Lump" Worthem is still considering a scholarship to play basketball at Temple.
But ...
"I like Temple and St. Joe's," the 6-6 junior swingman said Saturday.
Last summer, Worthem was leaning heavily toward the Owls.
Contact staff writer Keith Pompey at 215-854-2939, kpompey@phillynews.com, or @pompeysgridlock on Twitter. Read his blog "Owls Inq," at www.philly.com/owlsinq
View the videos "Owls Insider With Steve Addazio" at www.philly.com/owlsinsider
