Recruiting Central: Switch to the Big East would make Temple a major recruiting force

Temple will become a major player when it comes to recruiting elite basketball talent.

Of course, that's assuming the Owls find a way to leave the Atlantic Ten and join the Big East as an all-sports member.

Discussions between the Big East and Temple regarding the Owls are hitting the final stages.

Temple could join the conference for all sports as early as next season.

"If Temple goes to the Big East, I think the landscape for it will change, instantly," said Kamal Yard, the director for the Under Armour-sponsored Philly Pride AAU team and the Under Armour grassroots representative for the Philadelphia area.

"I think you will see more big-time local kids going to Temple. Think about it. Guys like [Syracuse's] Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters, those guys would have probably gone to Temple."

Lamont Peterson, who mentors area basketball players including Waiters and La Salle's Tyreek Duren, agrees - sort of.

"It would boost their profile instantly and give them tremendous creditability, assuming the Big East remains a [Bowl Championship Series] conference school," said Peterson, who added that he thinks the league's basketball success will be linked to its football status.

While some think a move would elevate Temple over Big East member Villanova in the recruiting pecking order, Peterson is not so sure.

"In my opinion, it doesn't affect them at all, because their recruiting bases are different," he said. "But it will make Temple more appealing for its recruiting base."

Overton attracting attention. Things are starting to pick up for Miles Overton.

The St. Joseph's Prep junior combo guard has scholarship offers from St. Joseph's, Seton Hall, Drexel, La Salle, and San Francisco, among others.

"Wake Forest is coming on strong," said Overton, a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder, whose father, Doug, played at La Salle and had an 11-year NBA career. "Their coach [Jeff Bzdelik] was at the practice [Monday]. So it's a lot of schools."

Kansas is also expressing interest.

"It's probably going to grow a lot," Overton said of his recruitment. "Just in the last two weeks it's been growing."

In addition to Wake Forest, he has been contacted by Rutgers, Maryland, and St. John's in the last two weeks.

In Owls' sights: Temple has offered scholarships to four Red Lion Christian Academy (Del.) juniors: defensive tackle Kenny Bigelow, cornerback Jahmere Irvin-Sills, and wideouts Dhameer Bradley and Neiko Creamer.

Bigelow, a 6-3, 280-pound defensive tackle, has already committed to Southern California.

Irvin-Sills, a 5-10, 175-pounder, also has offers from Connecticut, Maryland, Southern Mississippi, and West Virginia. In addition to Temple, Bradley, a 5-9, 165-pound wideout, has a scholarship from Connecticut. The Owls are the only team to offer Creamer, but the 6-4, 196-pounder is receiving interest from Tennessee, Rutgers, Oregon, Maryland, Illinois, and Connecticut.

 From Chargers to Lions? Timber Creek teammates Dajaun Drennon and Greg Webb received scholarship offers while attending Penn State's junior day Saturday.

Drennon, a 6-4, 238-pound defensive end, also has offers from 20 other schools, including Temple, Florida, and Alabama.

Webb, a 6-2, 290-pound defensive tackle, has offers from 24 other schools, including Temple, Alabama, Ohio State, and Oklahoma.