Both of the state's major newspapers' websites were gushing over the prospect of an Angolan native that has orally committed to play basketball for the Huskers as the team's first recruit for the 2009-2010 school year.
Vander Joaquim was sponsored by the Shadow Mountain Chruch and is a senior this year at Christina High in El Cajon, Calif. He had originally given a verbal commitment to the University of San Diego assistant coach Walter Roese, but Roese has since become an assistant for Doc Sadler at Nebraska and it appears Joaquim will follow Roese to Lincoln after graduating from high school next year.
Roese was hired by Sadler because of his international connections, and that seems to be paying some immediate dividends. Joaquim speaks Portugese and is learning English, and he certainly will have help from Roese, who is a Brazilian native and speaks three languages, including Portugese.
Joaquim, still growing at 6-foot-9, has a ton of potential, according to college basketball experts. Last year, he averaged 21 points and 17 rebounds a game at Christian High, according to coach Kelvin Starr. He also has this assessment of his talents on ESPN's Top 100 list of 2009 recruits, where he is tabbed at No. 94:
"In a nutshell, Joaquim oozes upside. He has the ideal length, athleticism and savvy to be a high-major 4 (power forward). His back-to-the-basket game is raw, but he has great hands and appears to be very coachable."
Joaquim came to America on the recommendation of his uncle after showing his talent as a member of the Angolan national team at a tournament in Brazil. His uncle played college basketball at Wayland (Texas) Baptist College, and after searching for schools in America that offer English as a second language, his family selected Christian High in California.
Nebraska has three scholarships available for the 2009-2010 season. Joaquim is the team's first commitment for that season.
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