Ghana native Aflakpui commits to Temple

ERNEST AFLAKPUI might be a native of Ghana, but the 6-8, 225-pound forward for Archbishop Carroll will remain in his home away from home to play college basketball.

Yesterday, Aflakpui committed to Temple University, joining an already talented duo of local players who have pledged allegiance to the Owls.

"I just felt like I saw everything I needed to see and I felt like this was the right time to make the decision," Aflakpui said via phone from his home in Collegeville.

At the end of last month, Haverford School senior guard Levan "Shawn" Alston followed in his dad's footsteps (Shawn Alston) and committed to Temple while wearing his father's No. 10 jersey. Alston is a versatile scoring threat and was third-team Daily News all-city as a junior. Nationally, he is four-star recruit rated No. 104 overall by Rivals.

The Owls previously landed 6-6 Ewing High swingman Trey Lowe, a three-star recruit rated No. 121 overall also by Rivals. Lowe averaged 27 a game last season en route to the NJSIAA Group 3 state title game.

Aflakpui, a three-star recruit (Rivals) but not rated overall, was a first-team all-Catholic League selection by league coaches last season.

"He's got physicality and energy," said Norm Eavanson, a scout for Bob Gibbons All Star Sports. "He'll be a good player in the AAC . . . They got three guys who are really going to help the program. It's a nice reward, because they worked real hard and did a good job with focusing in on all three."

Aflakpui, who lives with a host family, said his decision wasn't influenced heavily by staying in the area or by Carroll head coach Paul Romanczuk, who played at Penn under Dunphy from 1996-99. Temple assistant Shawn Trice was his main recruiting contact, said Aflakpui, who narrowed his choices down to St. Louis, Virginia Commonwealth (who was also hot on Alston), Saint Joseph's and Rhode Island.

"I just went with my gut," Aflakpui said, "because the other coaches were also great guys, so I just went with my gut and what was the right fit for me right now."

Mike Kern contributed to this report.