'12 SF DeJuan Marrero (DePaul Signee)

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Small forward
Gary (IN) Bowman Academy

Ht: 6-foot-5
Wt: 200 lbs
AAU: Spiece Indy Heat

Ohio State, Indiana and Purdue have offered. Also listing Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Wake.

Indiana

Marrero adds OSU to list
* Buckeyes give Bowman standout scholarship offer.

June 24, 2009
By David Robb, Post-Tribune staff writer

Barnstorming across two states to play 19 games in a matter of four days, the Bowman Academy boys basketball team picked up two team camp titles last week. Along the way, sophomore forward DeJuan Marrero also picked up a scholarship offer.

On Friday, the Eagles played three games on the campus of Ohio State. That's when Buckeyes coach Thad Matta offered Marrero a scholarship.

"It was a surprise," said Marrero, who helped the Eagles win the Purdue Team Camp on Thursday and the Valparaiso University Big School Division on Saturday.

"I didn't expect it when I went down there. He said he usually doesn't offer kids without talking to their parents or getting to know them very well. He just saw something in me. He said I've got a quick first step."

Marrero, who also holds offers from Indiana, Purdue and Valparaiso, was impressed by his first visit to Ohio State.

"The gym was awesome," Marrero said. "I'm going back down later to visit with my mom. I didn't get to see (the campus) much because I was in a rush. What I saw I enjoyed."

Marrero has also heard good things about Ohio State from AAU teammate Deshaun Thomas, an OSU recruit from Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.

"They treat him like family," Marrero said. "That's one thing I like."

Counting Purdue, Ohio State is the second Big Ten school to offer Marrero in roughly the past month. Not that he's letting the attention go to his head.

"Just keep working hard, that's all I can do, staying humble," Marrero said. "I've been working on my jump shot mostly. My defense, my rebounding, just getting stronger and quicker."

Scout.com$

Peach Jam: Day 2, Part A................Illinois, Ohio State, Indiana, Purdue and Virginia have offered with Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Michigan, Kentucky and Wake Forest also being schools of interest.

Real quick.............

Meeting Mr. Marrero

Just in case the many college coaches watching his game Tuesday night at Warren Central were snoozing, DeJuan Marrero followed his powerful two-handed dunk with a shout that could be heard across the fieldhouse.

With plays like that, the 6-5 Marrero, who is from Bowman Academy in Gary, has established himself as one of the top players in the state's talented 2012 class. Marrero said he has offers from IU, Ohio State, Purdue and Valparaiso and is receiving interest from Arizona, Butler, Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Wake Forest.

A college decision isn't likely to come until next year.

"First of all, I'm looking at the academics," Marrero said. "And then I'm looking for the up-and-down style that I like to play. I'm trying to find which is the offense that fits me and which facilities are the best."

Because he'll likely play shooting guard or small forward in college, Marrero has been developing his perimeter game.

"I'm working my agility, trying to play fast," he said. "I have a couple more years, but I need to work on my ballhandling and jump shot."

Rivals.com$

Marrero talks offers...................Ohio State, Indiana, Illinois and Purdue have offered.

IndyStar

Cincinnati offers Marrero

Sophomore standout DeJuan Marrero added Cincinnati to a list of reported offers that includes Illinois, Indiana, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue and Valparaiso. The 6-5 forward from Gary Bowman Academy played up two levels this summer with the Spiece Indy Heat, a team that includes Deshaun Thomas of Fort Wayne Luers and Marquis Teague of Pike.

"He just has to keep developing his guard skills," said Spiece Indy Heat coach Jared Quarles. "He has to play mostly inside for his high school team, so we worked on that this summer."

Marrero is visiting for the Illinois game.............

Indiana

Bowman Academy 89, Broad Ripple 72:

If not Country Day, Bowman Academy was the most impressive team Tuesday. It will take a super human effort for a Class A team to eliminate the Eagles in the tournament. Sophomore DeJuan Marrero had 13 points, 16 rebounds and 6 blocked shots. But this is far from a one-man team. Senior point guard Tyrae Robinson led five players in double figures with 18 points. Class A No. 1 Bowman Academy gets likes to get out and press and generally make life miserable for the opposition. Broad Ripple didn't do much to help its cause, committing 14 first-half turnovers. Bowman led by 30 points in the third quarter. Steven Jamison scored 29 points for Broad Ripple, but 15 were in the fourth quarter when the game was long decided. This was another game were the difference in the physical toughness of the teams was quite apparent.

Scout.com$

DeJuan Marrero Impresses Illini At Shootout...................Valpo, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, Illinois and Cincinnati have offered.

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Marrero, Bowman rolling along......................

Indiana

Boys Basketball

Bowman edges Kentucky champ

Bowman 60, Covington (Ky.) Holmes 58 | Christopher Bond and KeVan Ford each hit a free throw down the stretch as the Times No. 2 and Class A No. 1 Eagles (5-0) beat the Bulldogs (0-2), who were ranked No. 26 nationally in the ESPN Fab 50 Preseason Poll.

DeJuan Marrero stole the inbounds pass to end the game as Bowman hung on to beat the defending Kentucky state champions at Marshall County's Hoopfest.

The Eagles trailed by 10 points, but tied it at 54 with 1:50 left. Holmes went up 56-54, but Tyrae Robinson stole the ball and scored to tie it 56-56. After a foul, the Bulldogs hit one of two free throws to go up 57-56 when Robinson stole a pass and fed Bond for a basket to put Bowman up 58-57 with 28 seconds left. Six seconds later, he hit one of two free throws. Ford made his free throw with 2.8 seconds left.