Jerome Habel

Offered per Rivals

April 2006 - going to San Diego State

04/18/04: "On Sunday forward Jerome Habel and his parents signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) so he can play for Leonard Hamilton and the Seminoles. The paperwork is being sent via FedEx and should arrive at FSU by Tuesday. The task would have been completed sooner but NCAA rules require a parent to sign the LOI before it is considered valid. At the present time Habel does not live with his parents. Contrary to another report, the Rivals.com No. 8 rated center prospect never wavered in his decision to sign with the Seminoles." - WarChant.com


04/07/04: Insiders Reports that Habel may re-open his recruitment for various reasons.


01/28/04: Habel verballed to FSU.

01/18/04: Dropped from 4 - 1 based on tip.

01/13/04: "The No. 9 center and No. 51 player in the Rivals150, Jerome Habel, informed RivalsHoops.com last night that he did not get the score that he needed to qualify on his SAT. “I am not worried,” said the 6-foot-9, 196-pound shot blocker. “I will take it again. It was the first time I have taken it, and I took it without any tutoring. Next time I will get some help getting ready for it.”

Habel said he that he was planning to retake the test on Jan. 24th, but that is the weekend that he is visiting Florida State. Sometime in February, he will try it again. Besides Florida State, Habel said he would visit Cincinnati, Houston, and USC. All four of these schools have extended offers according to Habel. Habel also indicated that Florida State and Cincinnati are his clear favorites going into his visits." - http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/


01/12/04: ". . .has two favorites according to his high school coach Lonnie Brooks. The 6-foot-9, 196-pound Habel just recently visited one school and will soon visit his two leaders now that he has taken the SAT. "Jerome took the SAT on one of the make up dates, but I don’t know yet what he scored," said Coach Brooks of Marriott hospitality Public Charter High School in D.C. "So he is ready to start taking his visits. He just had an official visit to GW [George Washington]. He is going down to Florida State on the 24th of this month. I believe. And Cincinnati is trying to work it out, so he can go there soon.... From talking to Jerome, those two are high on his list. Right now it would be between those two, but he still needs to take his visits. We will see how it is then." - RivalsHoops.com

12/30/03: "Marriott Charter (D.C.) 6-8, 205-pound senior forward Jerome Habel’s reputation hasn’t helped his cause of getting a big-time college scholarship and he knows it. Admittedly, the athletic shot-blocker didn’t respond well to constructive criticism in the past, but he’s changed his ways and is hoping it will translate into a scholarship to either Cincinnati or Florida State – his top two schools.

Habel has only played basketball for three years after making the transition from football. He figured that he’d be working right now if not for a strong performance at the Peach Jam this past summer that helped him decide to do another year of school in hopes of playing college basketball. "It’s hard to have the reputation of being uncoachable," Habel said. "But I’m trying to show people that I’ve changed. I hear it all the time and there’s really nothing I can do about it except play hard." In addition to Cincinnati and FSU, Habel also said that Houston has remained involved." - theInsidersHoops.com

12/29/03: "Jerome Habel is a stud! He has been real impressive here at the "Slam!" The 6-8, 210-pound combo forward from Marriott Charter School is also awaiting his ACT scores, but he has Cincinnati, Florida State, Houston, and Providence on his short list." - HoopMasters.com

12/27/03: "6'9 Jerome Habel from Washington (Marriott Charter) DC picked where he left off yesterday as he finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three blocked shots..." - HoopScoop

12/26/03: "Jerome Habel gets more out of his 6-8 body than most kids bigger than him. He’s long, blocks a ton of shots and nabs tough, traffic rebounds. Schools have been hesitant to go hard after him but from what we’ve seen on the court the last two years, he’s high-major." - theInsidersHoops.com

11/27/03: Listed as the 41th best 5th year player in his class. - HoopScoop

11/12/03: "we didn’t realize he’s a fifth-year guy so he doesn’t belong on our high school Top 100 but he’s a player. Back in October he (was) waiting for his test results and said Cincinnati led. Still, we don’t expect him to sign until late." (Rank - 80) - theInsidersHoops.com

11/10/03: "Jerome Habel from Marriott Hospitality Public Charter High School in Washington, D.C. will not take the SAT until December 13. Do not expect much activity in the recruitment of the No. 9 center and No. 51 player in the Rivals150 until he receives his score.

Other than Randolph Morris, the No. 3 center in the Rivals150, The 6-foot-9, 196-pound Habel is the top uncommitted center in the country.

Right now he lists six schools that he is considering. "I like Cincinnati, Florida, Florida State, Houston, St. John’s, and Nebraska," Habel said. "Right now I am focused on this season and my academics. Practice is going well, and we have a scrimmage with Georgetown Prep coming up." - RivalsHoops.com

10/20/03: "Jerome Habel from Marriott Hospitality Public Charter High School in Washington, D.C. has a list of six schools. It is very likely, however, that this list for the 6-foot-9, 196-pound center will change since he plans on signing in the spring. "I like Cincinnati, Florida, Florida State, Houston, Nebraska, and St. John’s,” said Habel, the No. 9 center and No. 51 player in the Rivals150. “But I am planning on signing late because I don’t want to put too much stress on myself trying to choose between these schools. I want to focus on school work and make sure I am eligible. Then I cam concentrate on where I want to go to school.”

Another item pushing back the recruiting process for Habel is that he has still not taken the SAT. "I don’t have any visits scheduled because I need to take the SAT first,” he said. “I take it next month. Later during the year, I will figure out who I want to visit and will take my time with it." Habel is one of the top big men in the country who is still uncommitted. He should have plenty of options available this spring." - RivalsHoops.com


10/13/03: "Jerome Habel, a 6-9, 200-pound forward who transferred from Walt Whitman (Md.) to nearby Marriott Charter School, just took the SAT this past weekend and will begin setting up official visit dates. Habel said that Cincinnati is his leader, but he also mentioned St. John's, Houston, Marshall and Florida State. "I like Cincinnati a lot," Habel said. "I like their style of play and the fact that they are going to be in the Big East." - Insiders (2 to 4)

10/01/03: "Before his in-home visit with St. John’s, Jerome Habel, out of Marriot Hospitality Public Charter High School in Washington, D.C., said St. John’s was not on his list of schools. Now that the visit is over, they are on his growing list. "It was alright," said Habel, a 6-foot-9, 196-pound center. “They just came by and talked to my mom and me and explained how I would fit in if I went there. They moved into my list. I am considering them."

In fact, Habel is considering a number of schools, more than he would like to name. "I am really not thinking much about schools," he said. "I am focusing on doing well in school and getting ready for this season."

Habel, the No. 9 center and No. 51 player in the Rivals150, will not set up any visits until after he takes the SAT on Oct.11.

He is entertaining offers from Arizona, CINCINNATI, Florida, Charlotte, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Commonwealth. Recently, Habel declared Florida as his leader, but he is certain to have more offers come his way as interest in Habel and his teammate Anthony Ivory increases. Marshall, East Carolina, and Nebraska will be in D.C. today to watch Habel and Ivory workout.

This new interest and his waiting to take his visits may push Habel to make a decision after the early signing period. "It is up in the air right now,” he said. “But chances are I will sign late." - RivalsHoops.com

09/25/03: Listed as the 148th best player in his class. - PrepStars (Oettinger)

09/24/03: "High rising prospect Jerome Habel from Silver Spring, Maryland has declared a leader out of his list of six schools. "My favorite would be Florida," said Habel, the No. 9 center in the Rivals150. “I want to be a marine biologist, and I have heard they have a strong program." The 6-foot-9, 196-pound Habel is also considering Arizona, Houston, Florida State, Cincinnati, and Marshall. Everyone in his top six have offered scholarships." - RivalsHoops.com

From his former school's website -
Favorites -
Author: Shakespeare
Musician:Eminem
Team: Spurs
Movie: Men of Honor
http://www.waltwhitman.edu/athletics/basketball/21a.jpg

http://www.sportsshooter.com/port_popup.html?mem_id=1461&i_id=49743

http://volball.com/volball_images/Edited_Peach03_Pictures/JeromeHabel.jpg

09/04/03: "Every year a player comes out of obscurity during the evaluation period, shooting the once unknown to the elite. This year it was Jerome Habel, a 6-foot-8, 210 pound forward out of Maryland. Now he’s looking at several high major schools as he enters into his last year of prep basketball.

The lefty dominated the competition at the Nike Peach Jam in June. Habel demonstrated relentless rebounding skills as well as a complete defensive game on top of a respectable outside shot.

Virginia Commonwealth and UNC Charlotte were recruiting him before the summer but after proving his worth against the nation’s best, his school list now had the likes of Florida, Arizona, CINCINNATI, St. Johns “and a whole lot of others,” Habel said.

All of the schools have offered, he said. The overnight success isn’t something most teenagers get experience. Right now, the Silver Spring, MD native is just taking it all in. "It’s hard getting used to this,” Habel said. “Nobody expects to get calls from those types of schools but it’s pretty fun. I think I’m handling it pretty well."

Like many other student athletes waiting to take the SAT, which he will on October 11th, Habel plays the waiting game. In the meantime, he and his family will visit Virginia and Virginia Tech on unofficial trips in the coming weeks. Both schools have also offered. After he takes the SAT, he’ll start to set up the official visits. On those trips, he’ll be looking for a school where he can use his versatility, back to the basketball skills as well as his dribble penetration and most of all his defensive mindset. Off the court Habel wants to check out the campus life as well as the overall academics. Don’t expect an early decision though. He plans on weighing all of his options first. "It all depends. I probably will make a late decision. I just want to make sure I don’t make a wrong choice. I want to be positive before I make any commitment,” Habel said. Last year at Hargrave Military Academy, Habel averaged a triple double last season at scoring 20 points, pulling 12 rebounds and blocking 11 blocks a game. This year he plans on showing off his outside range and will take more three pointers." - RivalsHoops.com

08/25/03: Listed as the 41st best 5th year player in the country (Swann #5; VBanks #19) - HoopScoop

07/07/03: "The most impressive player in Sunday's evening session is on nobody's top 100 list and is a strong rising sleeper in this class. Jerome Habel, a 6-foot-9 lefty from Whitman in Silver Spring, Md., started out looking pretty nasty. Listed at only 196 pounds, Habel, who looks much older than 18, played soft at the start. But that didn't last. He gathered himself and played a great game. Habel grabbed a lot of rebounds, finished two nice plays in traffic, hit a long jumper, really ran the floor and contested a lot of shots. Although he doesn't look the part, Habel could end up a member of our top 100. Barring academic problems, he should be announcing for a high major at some point." - ESPN.com

In a look at his stats from Whitman for the 02-03 season, Habel finished with 18.5 ppg, 11 rpg and 7.5 bpg. He had four triple doubles.

04/01/03: Named first team all city by the Washington Post (included Linus Kleiza) "Transfer transformed program that was 62-136 since last winning season (1992-93). Had six triple-doubles and averaged 20.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 7.4 blocks for 18-5 Vikings." - Washington Post



04/23/03: "Although he has played basketball since an early age, Jerome Habel had good reason to feel like he was starting from scratch entering the 2002-03 season. Following a tumultuous stint at Paint Branch High, where he was dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons during his junior season, Habel transferred to Whitman last fall hoping to find a fresh start and make a name for himself on the court. He succeeded in doing both.

Habel helped the Vikings enjoy their first winning season since 1992, leading his squad to an 18-5 record by averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots per game. His stellar efforts were rewarded last Thursday when he took part in the Jordan Capital Classic Regional All-Star Game at MCI Center. Habel scored eight points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked three shots in the annual matchup of some of the area's top players, helping the White Team cruise to a 108-86 victory.

The 6-foot-10 center finished with three dunks in the contest but it was his final slam that drew the largest reaction from the boisterous audience. With less than 20 seconds remaining in the game, Habel swiped a pass near midcourt and found himself alone as he sprinted toward the basket. He finished the play with thunderous right-handed windmill that electrified the crowd and proved to be the final points of the contest. "That was beautiful," Habel said of the dunk. "I didn't know what I was going to do with it, so I tried the windmill and it went down for me. I just wanted to win tonight. I couldn't let my team lose in front of all these people."

After dominating Montgomery County competition throughout the winter with his intimidating size and low-post abilities, Habel met a new challenge at the Capital Classic. For the first time all year, he faced players of equal and even greater height. Despite being in an unfamiliar situation and playing on the hallowed hardwood where some of the game's greatest names play, Habel showed few signs of distraction.

While trying to score and defend against University of Maryland-bound Will Bowers, a 7-foot, 250-pound center from Archbishop Spalding in Severn, Habel held his own at both ends of the floor. In his 17 minutes of playing time, Habel converted 4 of 10 shots and redirected several Blue Team penetrations with his imposing disposition in the paint. "It was a lot of fun out there," Habel said of his first experience playing at MCI Center. "I thought I'd be more nervous than I was, but I wasn't really all that nervous. Playing with the big guys makes me play harder and helps me play more physical. There's nobody with that kind of size in Montgomery County, so that was a very new experience for me. It was a little tough to concentrate at first, but I didn't let it bother me. I just wanted to win tonight."

Although Habel is currently undecided about where he will play and attend school next year, he said he will likely go to a prep school in order to fine-tune his skills and gain further recognition. Habel said he is leaning toward Hargrave Military or Fork Union Military academies. "I want to go to a place where I can get more discipline and more instruction to keep my head straight," Habel said. "Since I'm not real well-known, I thought I'd give myself another year to prepare myself for college. I like to dunk and block shots, so if I put some more weight on I don't think anybody can stop me." - Gazette.net