Leading off today: James Southerland, Benjamin Cardozo's 6-foot-6 wing player, has transferred to Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., to continue his basketball career,
The Post-Standard in Syracuse reported Tuesday.
Southerland, who has given an oral commitment to Syracuse, averaged 17.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game as a junior. His father told the newspaper the smaller class sizes at Notre Dame prompted the move.
"Cardozo High School is an excellent academic school, one of the top in the city, but like most city schools it's overcrowded," Jim Southerland said.
Southerland helped Cardozo to a 23-6 record last winter.
Southerland is already enrolled and taking classes at Notre Dame, a national prep powerhouse. Last year's team included the acclaimed Michael Beasley, a freshman at Kansas State. Syracuse freshman Sean Williams attended Notre Dame Prep last year, and soph Paul Harris went to Notre Dame after graduating from Niagara Falls High School.
Southerland just turned 17, and the newspaper reported that there are rumors he would try to reclassify as a junior and come to Syracuse in the Class of 2009.
