'12 IN SF DeJuan "Rico" Marrero (DePaul Verbal)

[Buckskin86]

Small forward
Gary (IN) Bowman Academy
AAU: Spiece Indy Heat

Ht: 6-foot-5
Wt: 200 lbs
Class: 2012 (High School)

Rivals.com
Scout.com

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."

Marrero adds OSU to list :: Sports :: Post-Tribune

 

[LitlBuck]

Nice offer to an Indiana kid but way too early IMO Thad will really have to work his Indiana magic to get this kid to be a Buckeye but it is so early.

 

[brodybuck21]

Kid looks like a baller and he must be for Thad to offer so quickly. I like it and good luck DeJuan

 

[Buckskin86]

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."

Pike's Teague keeps No. 2 ranking in perspective | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

 

[Buckskin86]

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."

Lawrence Central's Hollowell gets recruiting tips from Oden | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

 

[Buckskin86]

Marrero is visiting this weekend....

Marrero already was here once this year, with his high school teammates, for Ohio State's team camp in June. He was offered a scholarship then by Matta.

Six (and 106,000 more) in the 'Shoe on Saturday (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)

 

[Buckskin86]

The sophomore class in the state isn?t as attractive as the junior and freshman classes, said Chicago-based recruiting analyst Joe Henricksen of City/Suburban Hoops Report, so expect Illini recruiters to work hard in Indiana where the class of 2012 is loaded.

One player attracting attention from Illinois is sophomore guard DeJuan Marrero of Gary (Ind.) Bowman Academy. Marrero had 20 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in a 69-50 win over Peoria Manual.

?When you think of Indiana kids, you think more of the Indianapolis area,?? said Bowman coach Marvin Rea. ?We?re not the Indianapolis area. He doesn?t get the fanfare, the mainstream attention that some of the Indianapolis kids get.??

Illinois, Ohio State and Purdue remain at the top of the list for Marrero, who also has some interest in Indiana, Cincinnati and Kentucky, but he doesn?t plan to make a college commitment until closer to his senior year. He already looks like a senior.

?I?m just a growing boy,?? Marrero said.

Illini recruiting prospect feels rightat home at the Hall - Peoria, IL - pjstar.com

Potential Illini recruit Marrero impresses
December 12, 2009
By Chris Hine

CHAMPAIGN -- He's only a sophomore, but it's easy to see why DeJuan Marrero has already attracted scholarship offers from some top Division I programs.

The 6-5 Marrero, from Bowman Academy in Gary, Ind., had a monster game in the Deron Williams shootout at Assembly Hall in Bowman's 69-50 win over Peoria Manual. Marrero had 20 points on 9-for-12 shooting and had 13 rebounds.

Marrero has already received scholarship offers from Valparaiso, Cincinnati, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State and Illinois, and he's looking attending five schools -- the four Big Ten schools and Kentucky.

But don't expect Marrero to make a decision anytime soon.

"Those are the schools I'm looking towards right now. I'm taking it serious, but not as serious as when I commit. I have a long way to go, I'm only a sophomore," Marrero said.

For now, he's enjoying the recruiting process, but likely won't make a commitment until he enters his senior year.

"I'm just worried about games coming up and leave the recruiting stuff on the side right now until the time comes," Marrero said.

Potential Illini recruit Marrero impresses - Chicago Breaking Sports

 

[Buckskin86]

Marrero on display

Bowman Academy's DeJuan Marrero, one of the state's top sophomore prospects, was impressive in front of several college coaches Tuesday at Howe.

Marrero had 12 points, 16 rebounds and six blocked shots in the Class A top-ranked Eagles' 89-72 win over Broad Ripple.

Marrero has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue and Valparaiso, but said he is putting that aside during the season and probably won't make a commitment until he is a senior.

"Rebounding and blocking shots is probably the best part of my game now," Marrero said. "I still need to work on ballhandling and scoring, but I also try to get my teammates involved when I don't have my shot.

Munster's toughness pays dividends | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdtGV2eScl4]YouTube - DeJuan Marrero: "Got all of Gary on my back" 2012 clips & chat w/ Dan Poneman[/ame]

 

[shock3]

Marrero is very good right now. The problem I see is that he is only 6'5 and seems to be done growing. He is a good jumper, but not a freak. He has very limited ball handling skills and a very inconsistent shot. For him to be a 3 at Ohio State, he will have to develop tremendously! His natural position right now is PF.

 

[buckeydoptimist]

Marrero is very good right now. The problem I see is that he is only 6'5 and seems to be done growing. He is a good jumper, but not a freak. He has very limited ball handling skills and a very inconsistent shot. For him to be a 3 at Ohio State, he will have to develop tremendously! His natural position right now is PF.

So is he powerful and strong and athletic enough to play PF at the next level then at only 6-5 and not growing still?

 

[shock3]

So is he powerful and strong and athletic enough to play PF at the next level then at only 6-5 and not growing still?

Possibly athletic enough but he really just needs to be a 3. For a sophomore he has decent strength just not huge. His jumper is improving, but I think his ball handling skills have the most work to be done. He is used to playing the post that steps out once in a while for a jumper.

 

[Buckskin86]

May 1, 2010
Marrero's position may change in college
Posted by Kyle Neddenriep

At 6-5 and 190 pounds, Bowman Academy sophomore DeJuan Marrero is hardly the prototype power forward in college. He knows his outside shot and ballhanding must improve in the next two years.

"Most coaches think I can play quite a few positions," Marrero said. "Probably a small forward or '2' guard mostly. I'm working on my jump shot instead of going to the rim all the time."

Marrero can get to the rim, though, and is quicker off the floor than most players who guard him. Many of his points come on putbacks. His role will likely change next year with several of his Bowman Academy teammates gone to graduation. Bowman won the Class A state championship this season.

Marrero said coaches from Illinois and Ohio State made it to Bowman for the April evaluation period. He said he plans to visit Ohio State, Xavier and Illinois some time this summer, but doesn't plan to decide anything until the beginning of senior year. His offer list includes Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue and Ohio State; Florida, Michigan and Xavier have recently started to recruit him.

Outside of playing basketball and going to school, you can usually find Marrero "tweeting."

"Oh yeah," he said. "I enjoy being on twitter. I deleted by first account, but I got back into it and now I'm up over 200 followers."

IndyStar.com | Recruiting Central | The Indianapolis Star

 

[Buckskin86]

2012 Intro: DeJuan Marrero
by Alex Bozich in Recruiting | June 3rd, 2010

The Essentials: 6-5, 205-lb forward for Bowman Academy and Spiece Indy Heat

The Schools: Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State and Purdue have offered scholarships. Florida, Kentucky, Marquette, Michigan and Xavier have expressed interest.

The Numbers: 17.0 ppg and 12.0 rpg for Bowman Academy, which won the Class A state championship.

The Leaders: Long considered to be a Purdue-lean, the Boilermakers, Illinois and Ohio State are believed to be the three schools in the best shape with Marrero, who has not named a leader publicly.

The Quote: ?It is cool. I know they are two big rival schools, and knowing I have Indiana and Purdue shows me that my hard work has paid off. It is great to have two great schools recruiting me.? ? Marrero to Brian Snow of Rivals.com on being recruited by Indiana and Purdue.

The Ranking: The Hoop Scoop ranks Marrero the 38th best prospect in the 2012 class.

2012 Intro: DeJuan Marrero | Inside the Hall | An Indiana Hoosiers basketball blog

 

[Buckskin86]

Friday, June 4, 2010
Player Profile: 2012 Dejuan Marrero

Name: Dejuan "Rico" Marrero
Graduation Year: 2012, Rising Junior
Height & Weight: 6'5 200
High School/AAU: Thea Bowman Academy/Spiece Indy Heat
Position: Small Forward/Power Forward
2009-2010 Season Stats: 14 ppg, 12 rpg
Schools Considering: Offers from Indiana, Purdue, Cincinnati, Ohio State, Illinois,
Timetable for Decision: No timetable has been set for Marrero's decision.

Scouting Report:
Marrero is a combo forward who plays with an extremely high motor. Marrero has great athleticism, and when you combine that with his motor, he is a great rebounder even at 6'5. Marrero scores a lot of points on put backs and offensive rebounds, but continues to work on his perimeter game. Marrero needs to continue to improve his ball-handling and shooting to help him transition to the college game. Defensively, he is strong and will block some shots using length and great athleticism. He helped lead his high school team to a state championship while averaging 14 points and 12 rebounds per contest this past season.

Indy Hoops: Player Profile: 2012 Dejuan Marrero