Kelvin Torbert

3/21/01: "Senior Player of the Year


By Luciana Chavez
The Sporting News



Senior teams
Kelvin Torbert's face is the newest one attached to the legacy.

So how does Torbert hope to build on an already formidable Flint, Mich., basketball history?

The Sporting News' high school senior player of the year will start by heading to Michigan State next fall, following in the footsteps of other Flint stars like Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell and Glen Rice.

His name is already next to Bell's in the local record books. Torbert , who attends Northwestern, just missed breaking Bell's Flint city record for points (52) in a game. Torbert scored 50 in a win over Bay City Central in December to break former New York Knick Trent Tucker's old Northwestern school record.

"It's like a thing, every (basketball player) that comes from Flint is doing good or has done good," says Torbert, who will likely replace Bell in the MSU lineup next season. "It's a reputation we want to live up to."

The nation's best senior shooting guard entering the season, Torbert lived up to the hype when he averaged 27 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.5 steals and shot 52 percent from the field.

A four-year starter and Michigan's Mr. Basketball for 2001, Torbert led Northwestern in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and dunks and improved his passing enough to finish second in assists.

TSN's best senior is also a McDonald's All-American and one of 10 finalists for the 2001 Naismith Prep Basketball Player of the Year award.

"One of the things Kelvin improved was his leadership," says legendary Flint Northwestern coach Grover Kirkland. "He has been able to sustain team stability. He's just been tremendous, really taking it up on his own and carrying this team."

Leading by example and taking responsibility comes naturally to Torbert. He has grown up fast, losing his mother at age 5 and becoming a regular caretaker for his father, Climmie, who has kidney problems and currently is in the hospital.

That maturity shows easily on the court, too. Playing on a bum ankle in the state regionals last week, he scored 24 points in a loss to rival Flint Northern and finished his prep career with 1,978 points. That is second only to Bell's 2,299 on the all-time Flint list.

But Torbert did fall short in his personal quest to bring another state title to Northwestern, something its been without for 16 years and counting. He is bummed about that but hopes to make up for it with an NCAA Division I title during his Michigan State career.

Still that's a successful four years of high school by anyone's standards, even the reserved Torbert. You're talking about a young man who ended his recruitment early and chose Michigan State last October because the noise, the phone calls and the pressure were too strongly invading his personal space.

He wanted to live a relatively normal life as a high school senior, to continue his school activities besides basketball, and have enough time and energy left over to maintain his 3.1 grade point average.

Now, while Torbert waits to graduate, the rest of the basketball world waits to see what he might add to an already loaded Spartans' roster.

Kirkland praises Torbert's awareness on the court above his other considerable skills. Add that to his athleticism and toughness and Torbert will fit right in. Also incredibly strong, he uses his football physique to power past slimmer wings when he slashes to the hoop.

His other option is to elevate. And I mean, elevate and hang before popping off a smooth fadeaway jumper. It's this ability that invites remembrances of Michael Jordan. "I take that as a real compliment," Torbert says. "That's a real nice thing to hear. I guess I do see where people are coming from. You know how it is, everyone has their opinion of what type of player I am." Fans itching to catch a whiff of Torbert can tune into the McDonald's All-American game on March 28 (ESPN) at 9 p.m. ET. Despite the ankle injury in the regional playoff he says he will be ready to play in the showcase of the nation's best prep players." - The Sporting News

2/13/01: "Despite speculation to the contrary, All Star Report's No. 2 senior, Kelvin Torbert, recently told reporters that he will not enter the 2001 NBA Draft. After speaking with family members, Torbert stated that his focus is on school and attending Michigan State this fall." - AllStar Report

11/00: excellent article about Flint bball featuring Kelvin.
http://www.sportingnews.com/cbasketball/hotbeds/flint.html

10/31:
http://www.greenandwhite.com/basketball/KT26.TXT.html


10/26: "DETROIT (AP) -- Flint Northwestern senior guard Kelvin Torbert said Wednesday he will attend Michigan State on a basketball scholarship. Torbert, who is regarded as one of the best high school players in the country, chose the defending national champions over Michigan, Cincinnati and Connecticut. "My family and I sat down and talked about this, and it was really the best decision for me," Torbert said. "It's close to home so I can come home to be with my family, and they can also come watch me play a lot. I relate with the players really well and Coach (Tom) Izzo is a nice guy who I like being around." - Assoc Press/Yahoo

10/25: Numerous newspapers and websites report that Torbert will announce for Michigan State today. This includes ther Detroit Free Press, CBS Sportsline(Meich), AllStar Report and other Rivals sites and The Flint Journal.

10/25: Torbert: "My family and I sat down and talked about it this week," he said. "We felt that Michigan State - the players, Coach Izzo and the school - was just the best situation for me." Cincinnati made a strong push for the top-rated shooting guard, but in the end Torbert decided to stay at his state school. - FastBreak

10/24: "In a rather surprising turn of events I am receiving word out of Flint, MI that 6'4 All American Kelvin Torbert may be close to making a decision. I have also heard that he may make an announcement on his decision as soon as tomorrow. I now appears that 6'4 Kelvin Torbert may surprise everyone and make an announcement much sooner than he had stated earlier. In fact, Torbert may call a press conference as soon as tomorrow to announce his plans for college." - MidWest Hoops 6:30pm

10/20: Torbert visits UConn this weekend.

10/19: "Had a Kelvin Torbert sighting tonight at the 'Bres' for the Pistons-Jazz preseason game. He was with a few friends and sat with, surprise, the MSU basketball team. I also saw him out on the concourse hanging out with all the players (who were getting mobbed, by the way) and having an in-depth conversation with Anagonye which was highlighted by alot of laughing and joking around. I don't think its much of a stretch to say this kid will be in the green and white next year." - unknown post-er on the MSU.rivals site.

10/19: "said Wednesday night that he is moving his official recruiting visit to UC to the weekend of Nov.4 instead of Oct.28, when he will be taking the ACT. Torbert said he also is considering Michigan State and Connecticut." — Michael Perry, Enquirer

10/11: "Kelvin Torbert isn't ready to make a verbal commitment to Michigan State. He plans to reschedule official visits to Connecticut and Cincinnati over the next four weeks to be free for his school's Homecoming weekend and an ACT exam date. But when the nation's top high school shooting guard announces his college choice in early November when the early signing period begins, all signs point to the Flint Northwestern-Edison star staying in-state and playing for the Spartans.

"I have a pretty good handle on it," he said. "But I still have to check out a couple of things. It's really about having a good feel for the program - for your teammates, your playing time and the coach's personality." Torbert is a frequent visitor to the MSU campus. He also participates in MSU's "Open Gym" - the summer pickup games of Spartan basketball players.

Torbert, one of the top five seniors at any position in the eyes of the nation's recruiting analysts, would step in and start immediately for most teams. The sturdy, 6-foot-4, 200-pounder averaged roughly 26 points, 6 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals as a junior.

"Not only is he the No. 1 big guard in the class, he ranks with any player I've seen at that position in the 20-or-so years I've been following this," said national recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. "He has size. He's a gifted athlete, a deadly perimeter shooter and a great defender. He's the total package." MSU coach Tom Izzo can't comment on Torbert because of NCAA regulations.

Torbert has roughly a 3.2 GPA in his required core courses and should be eligible after receiving his test score. The toughest question he has wrestled with is where to play the next few seasons, with the NBA a longshot possibility. "Michigan State has been recruiting me the longest - for three years now," Torbert said. "I know the players and the coaching staff. And its system is really built around guards. But Connecticut has had great success with wing players. And (Bob) Huggins at Cincinnati is a great teacher."

When all the recruiting pitches are through, it would be a major surprise if Torbert didn't wind up in the Breslin Center, 45 minutes from home - and not because he feels obligated to follow in the Flintstone tradition of former Spartans Antonio Smith, Morris Peterson and Mateen Cleaves. Current Spartan Charlie Bell is also from Flint. "It looks like Michigan State has an excellent chance," Gibbons said. "He'd be able to step right in and match up with any guard in the Big Ten. With Marcus Taylor and Zach Randolph coming in this year, Torbert would give Tom Izzo the makings of another NCAA champ." - Lansing State Journal

10/8: "For as high-profile a prospect as he is, the recruitment of MI WG Kelvin Torbert (No. 3) has been relatively quiet. For sometime, we've known Cincinnati, UConn and Michigan State were the primary players. While Torbert remains stuck on three schools, he's not sure if he'll decide in the spring or end the speculation this fall. In fact, his timetable is probably moving backward rather than forward. He's going to have to cancel a few official visits. On Oct. 14, he was to have made an official trip to UConn. However, that's the same weekend he'll be attending homecoming at his high school. Cincinnati is also going to be the victim of a scheduling conflict. Instead of visiting the Bearcats the weekend of Oct. 28, he'll be taking the SAT. Still, there exists a real pressure to stay at home and attend Michigan State. "There's a whole bunch of pressure [to stay home]. It really comes down to doing what I think is going to be best for me." Torbert isn't against deciding in the fall, though he doesn't see any real benefits for himself either. One thing is for certain, he won't be rushed. Like many of his peers ranked among the best players in this class, thoughts of the NBA do enter his mind. However, he sounds more likely to play collegiately than some of his peers. "[Skipping college] is a real slim possibility. I would have to be guaranteed a Top Five, Top 10 pick," Torbert said." - Rivals100 Hoops

10/4: "No. 1 offensive and defensive off-guard in the country." - Steve Wacaser, Sporting News

10/2: "This weekend, while at the U of Michigan Football game Kelvin Torbert stopped to talk to Midwest Hoops and keep us up to date on his recruiting. Torbert said "really not all that much has changed right now, I still like the same four schools: Michigan, Michigan St., Cincinnati, and UConn. The only real news right now is that I think I will wait until the spring to make a decision. I'm not in a hurry so I'll take my time. I also asked Torbert the question everyone has been asking me. Is the NBA really an option for you? Torbert replied "well, lets just say that I'm not going to shut the door on anything until I have all the details. I dream about the NBA but that doesn't mean I will go after high school. I just have a lot of things to look at right now." - MidWest Hoops

9/27: "It looks like Kelvin will make his decision right after his visits have been completed! He is not scheduled for an official visit with MSU. I believe he'll schedule one if he commits to the school. I assume that the fact that he's been there on so many occasions, it isn't as important for him to schedule an official visit, because he already knows what they have to offer! Lastly, I honestly think he has a true interest in MSU, Cinci and UCONN! I'm sure there is a leader, and I'm sure alot will depend on these visits to UCONN and Cinci next month." - Chris Grier, Kelvin's AAU Coach

9/28: "If Eddy Curry weren't around, Torbert would be the consensus choice as the most impressive specimen in the high school Class of 2001. He's been so dominating for so long — think back to the 1998 Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, when he was the best player on the floor in a championship game that also included Jason Richardson and Jason Parker — that he's almost taken for granted. The hunch is he will pick Michigan State over Cincinnati, Connecticut and — for at least a season — the NBA." Torbert is Burlison's #1 ranked SG. - Frank Burlison, FoxSports

9/24: "I was lucky enough to sit 3 rows behind Peeper (Anthony Roberson) and Torbert on Saturday (at the MSU FBall game). I payed special attention to the reactions of those two, during the game and during halftime. Peeper was sitting with Stan Heath and KT was with (AAU Coach) Chris Grier, and sat next to Zach (Randolph) and Mateen for a large part of the game. All were having a great time. KT more than once broke into a dance when the band was playing the fight song. When Izzo was on the field at halftime both KT and Roberson were jumping up and down, pumping their fists. That was a nice sign. Bottom line is I think we are in very good shape with both of these players." - unknown post-er on MSU.rivals board.

9/22: "They (Cincinnati) really are coming on strong for Torbert."

9/21:
Q: Dear AllStar Report: Is your feeling that Kelvin will end up at MSU based on the fact he is from Flint and wants to stay "homegrown" ?
A: Yes.

9/21: "is scheduled to visit the University of Cincinnati next month, his summer basketball coach said Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard from Flint, Mich., will visit UC the weekend of Oct. 27, said Chris Greer, who also said that Torbert has narrowed his choices to Cincinnati, Connecticut and Michigan State. He will make an official visit to Connecticut Oct. 13 and will set up a visit to Michigan State. Torbert is the latest in a line of outstanding players from basketball fertile Flint, Mich., which has produced Glen Rice, Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson, among others. Greer said Torbert likes UC because of its hard-nosed style, the fact that former Bearcat DerMarr Johnson enjoyed instant success and the school's proximity to his home. "Their kind of play fits Kelvin's personality,'' Greer said. ''He wills his way through and I think he can relate to that. Knowing that you can go somewhere and be an impact as a freshman definitely helps. He wants to be involved in the offense from that onset. And if he wants to go out of state, Cincinnati is close enough where family members would be able to get to see him as well. And the fact that Cincinnati has done a good job recruiting him makes Cincinnati's chances look pretty bright." Greer said the fact that UConn and Michigan State have received recent oral commitments from wing players will have no effect on Torbert's decision. The Huskies have a commitment from Ben Gordon of Mount Vernon, N.Y., and Alan Anderson from Minneapolis committed to the Spartans on Monday. "Kelvin is one of the top one percent of the guys in the country who can go anywhere,'' Greer said. ''I don't care who you have on that roster, Kelvin Torbert is going to play." Torbert dazzled observers last weekend in the Prep Spotlight Shootout in Detroit, where he was clearly the best player. His signing would be another coup for Bob Huggins and his staff. "With the gym packed with colleges coaches, Kelvin Torbert just was amazing," wrote Vince Baldwin of Midwest Hoops. ''He hit jumper after jumper, made super dunk after super dunk, and basically was just unstoppable. His performance has to rank with one of the best all time in an event like this." As a junior, Torbert averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds for Northwestern High School, the same school that produced Peterson. - Cincy Post


9/20: "According to Tim Staudt, the high school coach of Alan Anderson, Dave Thorson answered (on a radio talk show) Staudt's question about why Alan chose MSU: Thorson told Staudt because Alan wants to play in college with Kelvin Torbert and Alan KNOWS that Torbert is going to MSU." - unknown post-er on the Rivals/Mich St site (grain of salt. . . )

9/19: "UC is also heavily recruiting Kelvin Torbert, a 6-4, 200-pound guard from Northwestern High in Flint, Mich., who is being recruited by Michigan State and Connecticut. Torbert is rated the No. 3 prospect in this year's senior class by Telep. Last weekend, Torbert's stock rose as he dazzled coaches in the 7th annual Prep Spotlight Shootout in Michigan." - Cincy Post

9/18: Torbert was named Tournament MVP of the Prep Spotlight Shootout. - MidWest Hoops

9/18: "Alan Anderson, a solidly built 6-5, 210 pound swingman told us he has committed to Michigan State." - Insiders Report
Its not clear how this could affect Mich State's recruitment of Torbert. It may not affect it at all.

9/17: "In an event which featured 250 of the top basketball players in the Midwest, 6'4 Wing Guard Kelvin Torbert more than lived up to his top billing and put and a Vince Carter-Michael Jordan type performance that the people who saw this display may never forget. The 7th annual Prep Spotlight Shootout was headlined by top players like Kelvin Torbert, Anthony Roberson, Dion Harris, Chuck Bailey, Dion Sherrell, Herb Goliday, Rickey Willis and several other top local players. On this day, Kelvin Torbert was the star of stars!
With the gym packed with colleges coaches, Kelvin Torbert just was amazing. He hit jumper after jumper, made super dunk after super dunk, and basically was just unstoppable. His performance has to rank with one of the best all time in an event like this. In the past years, players like Jason Richardson, Lavell Blanchard, Corey Hightower, Terrell Riggs, Maurice Searight, Rickey Paulding, and James Theus, all made their mark with impressive outings. But none can match what I saw today. The 51 college coaches that were there, including the very watchful eyes of Michigan State, Cincinnati, Uconn, and Michigan, all were shaking there heads in disbelief at the amazing things Torbert can do.
The comments ranged from "he's good but I still think Michael Jordan is better," to a simple "there aren't 5 guards better than him in the United States and I mean college too." - MidWest Hoops

9/13: "I have spoken to several people very close to the recruitment of 6'4 All-American Wing Guard Kelvin Torbert of Flint, MI. Torbert has a final 4 list of Michigan St., Cincinnati, UConn, and Michigan. Here is the latest news on KT and his home visits thus far. Michigan State had the first in home on Friday and all reports say that the visit was outstanding, and that KT and his family were impressed with Coach Izzo and his presentation. One of the people I talked to said they thought he almost committed to the Spartans that night, but didn't. On Sunday he had an In home with Coach Bob Huggins and Cincinnati. Cincinnati has long been regarded as the wild card in the recruitment of Torbert because I know he likes their style of play, and he was also impressed with Coach Huggins. Plus the fact that Dermarr Johnson was a lottery pick after only one year at Cincinnati doesn't hurt either. The visit was so good that some of the people I talked to thought Cincinnati might have even moved into a tie for the lead with MSU. Next up is a visit with UConn this weekend, who despite rumors that they have fallen back are still very much in the picture. My people tell me that Torbert is very excited about the upcoming visit with Jim Calhoun and the Uconn staff. They told me that although UConn has signed several quality players in the backcourt, KT isn't really worried about that. In essence, Torbert knows he can compete with anyone. The final piece to the puzzle is the Michigan Wolverines, who weren't even in the picture a few months ago. They reported to me that while Michigan can't be considered a leader, Brian Ellerbe has really done a great job to get into the picture with KT. They also told me that the longer the recrutiment goes, U of M could make up even more ground. A official in home with Michigan hadn't been finalized at this time." - MidWest Hoops

9/12: Veteran Recruiting expert, Van Coleman, ranks Kelvin Torbert as player "1A", just ahead of Curry ("1B") as the best player in the country.

9/10: Huggins visited Flint MI today for an in-home with Torbert.

9/7: Named best SG in the USA by the consensus of Rivals Recruiting sites. (AllStar Report, Insiders Report, PacWest Hoops, MidWest Hoops, Rivals100 Hoops, etc)

9/7: Named to High Major Hoops Sept 00 All American First Team

9/1: "will likely wait until the spring to make a collegiate decision, according to his AAU coach Chris Grier. Michigan State will be the first school to come into his home on Sept. 8. The in-home visit will have to feel like a relief for Tom Izzo who probably never thought this day would come. Izzo's been actively recruiting Torbert for a long, long time. Cincinnati gets the second crack at Kelvin on Sept. 10. Bob Huggins' troops have already had Torbert on campus and used the spring to position themselves as a player in the race to land this future star. Like Cincinnati and Michigan, UConn has also hosted Torbert unofficially on campus. The Huskies in-home visit with Torbert is set for Sept. 13. Interestingly, the Michigan Wolverines do not have an in-home set up to date, and it's no guarantee the Wolverines receive and in-home or official visit. Right now, the above-mentioned three schools have the inside track and the Wolverines don't appear to be a player. Torbert is likely to visit UConn for its Midnight Madness celebration. An Oct. 27 visit to Cincinnati could be in the works, but that date has not been confirmed yet. Michigan State hasn't set up the official visit either. Right now, the strategy for Torbert is to sign late and make the visits early." - Rivals100 Hoops

8/24: "No one, not even James White can match the pure explosion of Kelvin Torbert when he takes flight. He gets up so high it's frightening and dunks with so much power I'm afraid one day someone will break their arm trying to block his dunks. The high school version of Vince Carter." - MidWest Hoops 'Best Dunkers' article

8/22: "Torbert a star on the rise"
By Weldon B. Johnson, JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER
One thing's for sure, they're not calling him Kevin Tolbert anymore.
Kelvin Torbert, a senior at Northwestern High School, has established himself as perhaps the top shooting guard prospect in the nation. As a result, this summer has been hectic as he has traveled across the country playing in tournaments and participating in camps. While people used to mix up his name, everyone knows who he is now. College recruiting publications track his every movement and college coaches have been calling him since they were first allowed contact this summer. While such attention could be overwhelming for some teenagers, Torbert seems levelheaded enough to handle it. It's not always easy, though. "The phone is ringing every 30 minutes," said Torbert. "You've got coaches calling and calling. Then they'll ask you why you were on the phone talking to other coaches. I mean, it gets to be a drag. But it's something you have to get used to. "When I decide, it will be a real relief. There won't be so many phone calls every day." But there are drawbacks to all the tournaments and camps he has participated in this summer. Despite being a two-time All-City wide receiver, he isn't playing football this fall. "I've been traveling so much I'm just tired right now," said Torbert. "By the end of the summer you get real tired. You don't feel like doing much." That gives him more time to ponder his basketball future. Seniors are allowed to sign scholarship offers in November, Torbert said he probably won't decide which college he will attend until the spring signing period next April. He said he is seriously considering Cincinnati, Connecticut, Michigan, Michigan State and North Carolina. - Michigan Live, Flint edition
http://fl.mlive.com/preps/index.ssf?/preps/stories/20000822fkelvin$02.frm

8/12: "Sources close to Torbert have informed HMH that "he will go through the whole process, in home visits, official visits and all." We feel that Torbert may be down to Michigan State, Cincinnati and UConn but reports are in that the Michigan Wolverines are pushing hard. The UConn Huskies recently accepted a verbal commitment from 6'2 SG-PG Ben Gordon, but that did not sway Torbert and he remains interested in Jim Calhoun's program. We don't expect Torbert to make a decision anytime soon. " - High Major Hoops

http://www.foxsports.com/highschool/basketball/players/kelvin_torbert.sml

8/10: "his present list of college choices reads Michigan State, Cincinnati, UConn and Michigan. On Aug. 9, he was at Michigan State for an unofficial visit. On Aug. 11, he'll make a trip to Ann Arbor for an unofficial. Michigan head coach Brian Ellerbe recently hired a new assistant who hails from Flint and that seems to have helped get the Wolverines back in the race. Torbert said that he will take official visits to all four schools. He has yet to set up those visits and does not have visit dates for the in-homes set up yet either." - Rivals100Hoops

8/8: "told us that Michigan St., Cincinnati, Michigan, and Connecticut have OFFERED him scholarships. He said that he is also interested in North Carolina and Duke, but in light of recent commitments, it is unclear whether they are actively pursuing him. Further, Connecticut received a verbal commitment from Ben Gordon yesterday, so they may also be conceding the race for Torbert to the schools that appeared to be the real players for him from the beginning: Michigan State and Cincinnati. Michigan is believed to be a long shot at best. Torbert told us that he sees himself as "a four year player", which could be good news for the Spartans." - All Star Report

8/6: "will make an unofficial visit to Michigan this week. Torbert is among the Wolverines' top wing targets, along with players such as Keith Jackson of Cincinnati, JaQuan Hart of Flint Northern, Andre Patterson of Los Angeles Washington Prep, and Chuck Bailey of Detroit King. U-M has some ground to make up in Torbert's recruitment, as schools such as Michigan State, Cincinnati, and Connecticut currently top his list." TheWolverine.com

8/3: I just found this article dated Jan 18, 2000
http://detnews.com/2000/highschools/0001/18/01180167.htm
...and this one dated May 16th, 2000
http://www.sportsuniversity.com/sports/basketball_men/000516_torbert.shtml
- Mike


8/1: "I just called Kelvin and he said that no decision is coming anytime soon. Right now, as of five minutes ago, his top three schools are Michigan State, Cincinnati and UConn. He will call me when he makes his decsision." - Kevin Foley, Fastbreak Recruiting
(this may have been a line to get a recruiting guy off the phone though. . .)

8/1: "Sportscaster Tim Staudt (Michigan) says he is hearing from his Flint sources that Torbert "is very close" to giving the green light to MSU in the form of verbal. Maybe that explains why Huggins was in Flint yesterday trying to pull out all the stops in order to sway Kelvin. Interestingly Cleaves has stated to Staudt that in Mateen's opinion Kelvin is the best prospect EVER to come out of Flint. Wow now talk about high praise. Also noteworthy that Keith Langlois from Oakland Press a couple months ago indicated he thinks Torbert is best prospect out of Michigan since Chris Webber." - MichState Rivals >mssg board<

8/1: "Throughout Monday (July 31st), Huggins wasn't behaving like a future NBA coach as he pondered the Clippers' offer. Huggins traveled with assistant coach Mick Cronin to Flint, Mich., to watch recruit Kelvin Torbert in an individual workout. He later made a telephone call to Torbert, considered the nation's top shooting guard prospect." - Cincinnati Enquirer

8/1: 3rd best player in the USA.
3. Kelvin Torbert, SG, 6-4/196, Flint, Mich./Northwestern: Averaged 34 ppg, 8 rpg, 6 apg at ABCD. Very unselfish offensively, to a fault. Best defender among guards. Very mature. Clearly the best in the class." - Steve Wacaser, Sporting News

7/29: - Best SG in the USA.
"Torbert looks like a young Larry Johnson when he is on the floor. He is probably the strongest player at his position, but he also has a smooth shooting touch. He rebounds, passes the ball well and has a decent outside shot. (Michigan State, Cincinnati, Connecticut, North Carolina, Duke, Michigan): - FastBreak

7/20: "Shooting guard Kelvin Torbert has decided to save his football body for basketball. Torbert, who credits his muscular frame to playing football and not lifting weights, has decided not to play football during his senior season at Northwestern/Edison Community High School in Flint, Mich., to concentrate on hoops instead." - Sporting News

7/20: "6'3 Dom Ingerson deserves his place against the elite guards in the 2001 class. Ingerson defended the "unguardable" 6'4 SG Kelvin Torbert pretty well. Ingerson lit up the Mustangs for 32 points, driving in the lane strongly, torching the nets from the perimeter and driving by Torbert and super junior guard Anthony Roberson on many occasions." High Major Hoops

7/20: "In an effort to reverse the tide, Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe has hired Terence Greene to be an assistant. Greene is a former high school All-America from Flint, which sent Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and others to Michigan State. Greene may help Ellerbe in the future, but he won't make a difference in the current recruiting cycle. Missouri coach Quin Snyder has already received verbal commitments from two of Michigan's top high school seniors, and the next great player from Flint, guard Kelvin Torbert, isn't even considering UM and will probably end up signing with the Spartans."
Sports Illustrated

7/19: "Could have solidified his status as the pre-season National Player of the Year by leading team to a championship in this event but the Mustangs played erratically throughout Wednesday morning before being ousted by the NY Ravens. Contrary to what has been written elsewhere, Michigan State's toughest opposition for the 6-4 guard won't be Connecticut or Cincinnati; it will be the NBA Draft." - Frank Burlison, FoxSports

7/19: Torbert's Michigan Mustang team lost this morning in the semi's of the Big Time Tourney in Vegas. He scored 20 points.

http://www.hoopstv.com/HTV871.html

7/19: "I was coming home from las vegas last night on the 11:30 p.m. flight arriving in cincinnati at 6:15. sitting right across the aisle was former uc assistant larry harrison and next to him a coach for southern alabama or something. I congratulated him on his new job and told him I heard he recently signed a pretty good player that many considered a steal, and he said the kid is from springfield. I then asked him if he believed uc would get jawad and he said no, then I asked if he thought we would go to maryland and he said yes. I said what about torbert and he said he doubts uc will get him as well. I said do you think he'll go to msu and he by now was probably sick of the questions and he said that he didn't know." someone on Brad's mssg board: "kdog002@yahoo.com"

7/19: "The most important rule when guarding Torbert is to never show him the baseline because he will slide right by so quickly that the entire defense will freeze. At that point, Torbert has pass it like a point guard or take it to the rim like a 6-11 power forward." - adidasbigtime.com

7/19: "Torbert's Jordan-like elevation on his jump shot has become the talk of the tournament. He is a consensus top five player nationally. Michigan State, Michigan, Connecticut and Cincinnati continue to be his favorites. He says there is no leader." - michiganstate.rivals

7/18: "The Green Valley Gym was packed to see the Mustangs take on Brandon Bender's USA Players, but Michigan put Bender and Co. away very quickly, 77-60. Kelvin Torbert led the way with 28 points for the Mustangs and junior standout Anthony Roberson added 18. So what makes the Mustangs so dominant thus far? Maybe it's the fact that the Michigan State Spartans won the National Championship last year and basketball has finally zeroed in on the Midwest. Or even it might be the suave recruiting style of Mustang coach Terry Carson who seems to be best friends with every Division I coaching staff in the country.
This year's team especially seems to be a future pipeline to the Spartans as Torbert and Roberson, in particular, both list State very high. "State is getting the local recruits over (the University of) Michigan because State looks in-state first," says Roberson. "We respect the fact that (head coach) Tom Izzo looks at us while Michigan starts recruiting on a national level." Torbert, who is a senior (this fall), is keying in on Michigan State and unless other schools turn up the heat on him, he will probably go with Izzo. At the Mustang's earlier game today, Duke assistant Steve Wojciekowski was very prominent, but then disappeared later in the day. With a talent like Torbert, who is No. 3 in the current Fastbreak rankings, they need to put out the red carpet. They have not made any impression so far though as Duke was the fifth school out of Torbert's mouth in an exclusive conversation with Fastbreak this afternoon." - adidasbigtime.rivals

7/18: "Top PF Dijon Thompson said that the most impressive player he's faced this year was Kelvin Torbert, the 6-3 SR SG from Flint (Mich.) Northwestern." - PacWest Hoops

7/18: "Torbert has the Michigan Mustangs in the final 16 at the adidas Big Time. Chris Grier's bunch rolled in its first game and will face the USA Players later in the day. That should be a great Round of 16 matchup. The Michigan Mustangs made it look easy as Kelvin Torbert tallied 24 points and led the Mustangs in a route over the Arkansas Angels. Call it a tune up as the Mustangs have their sights set on the big prize. Anthony Roberson's trio of three-pointers accounted for nine of his 23 points. Impressive? Sure, bet it's going to get tougher each time out for the Mustangs." Michigan Mustangs 86, Arkansas Angels 60 - Rivals100Hoops

7/18: "Coaches in attendance for recent Michigan Mustangs games include: Gene Keady - Purdue, Seth Greenberg, Bob Huggins - Cincy,
Steve Cleveland - BYU and Brian Ellerby - Michigan. - adidasbigtime.rivals

7/18: "The Michigan Mustangs, which features 6'4 Kelvin Torbert from Flint (Northwestern) MI, 6'2 Jr Anthony Roberson from Saginaw (H.S.) MI, and 6'9 Robert Whaley from Benton Harbor (H.S.) MI, are the team to beat. However, the Mustangs have not played well and, as a result, it would not be a surprise if somebody pulls off the upsets, like maybe The USA Players, which is who they will likely meet in the next round. (You) have to keep winning to earn tournament MVP honors and, unless something unforeseen happens and the Mustangs get beat, Torbert will be the likely choice. He is the model of consistency, as is evident by the fact that he has shot the lights out every time we've seen him during the last three days, plus he ranks among the top dozen players in the tournament in scoring. As a result, he's our early favorite for player of the summer honors." - HoopScoop

7/17: "Years from now, when his days as a basketball recruit are far behind him, Kelvin Torbert will probably still have a warm place in his heart for Las Vegas' adidas Big Time Tournament. After all, it's the 312-team event that catapulted the player many consider the top guard in the class of 2001 into the national spotlight. Three years ago, as a sophomore on the 1998 Michigan Mustangs, Torbert helped his squad capture the Big Time title, earning a spot on the all-tournament team. "It's what propelled him to that high level," Michigan Mustangs coach Chris Grier said. "It was his first major national exposure." Last year, the standout from Flint's Northwestern High returned for his second Big Time go-round with the Mustangs, this time as one of the clear-cut stars of the team. Michigan advanced to the semifinals, losing to the eventual champion New Orleans Jazz. "He's the best player in this tournament, and the best guard in the country," said All-Star Scouting Service's Bob Gibbons. Torbert was ranked No. 5 in the nation on Gibbons' pre-summer list of prospects, and the scouting guru said Torbert is likely to move into the top three after this tournament. - Las Vegas Sun

7/17: "Add Kelvin Torbert (Michigan Mustangs) to a list that includes the 6-10 and above Tyson Chandler (Compton, Ca.), Eddy Curry (South Holland, Ill.) and Kwame Brown (Brunswick, Ga.) as players we could see in the 2001 NBA draft. The 6-4 Torbert is probably the most complete player in the class. His ballhandling skills are still a long way from being NBA caliber for a guard, but a couple of NBA player personnel directors who've watched him over the past couple of days think he's already a better player than Deshawn Stevenson. And the Fresno, Calif., player — about the same size as Torbert — recently signed a contract with the Utah Jazz after being the 23rd pick in the first round of the draft last month. Here's saying, though, that if Torbert were to spend at least a year in college — say, at Michigan State, where most believe he is leaning — it would do wonders for his draft status. Instead of being a mid to late first round choice (as is likely if he were to turn pro next spring), chances are a year or two of seasoning under some solid coaching would make him the best guard his size range available in a draft." - Frank Burlison, FoxSports

7/17: "The Mustangs only sport perhaps the best player in this tournament in Flint, Mich., native Kelvin Torbert, who says it isn't a sure thing that he'll attend Michigan State to continue the Flintstones tradition." - Rob Meich, CBS Sportsline

7/17: "The Michigan Mustangs finished pool play at the Adidas Big Time basketball tournament with a 3-0 record after edging Belmont Shores (Calif.), 90-87 on Sunday. In winning its pool, the high-seeded Mustangs receive a bye in the first round of elimination play. The Mustangs will begin the knockout portion of the tournament at 6:20 p.m. pacific time on Monday. The Mustangs will begin elimination play against either the Indy Metros or Santa Barbara 805 in the round of 64. The Mustangs wrapped up pool play with a nail-biter against Belmont Shores. Belmont, led by highly-ranked swingman Dijon Thompson, trailed by one with :08 remaining after Matt Trannon missed two foul shots. But an Anthony Roberson steal and lay-up with :03 remaining closed out the scoring. Flint sensation Kelvin Torbert led the Mustangs in scoring for the third straight game with 27. Roberson had his best game of the tournament with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. He had two awesome field goals in the first half. Both came off the hesitation dribble. One ended with a floating 4-footer along the baseline after he switched hands in mid-air to get the shot off. Later, he went between the legs with the dribble and again penetrated with the hesitation move. This time he hit a glasser while getting fouled. "I think it was good that we had a close game early in pool play," said Mustangs coach Chris Grier. The Mustangs beat teams from Colorado and Delaware on Saturday. "Kelvin is playing real good. Anthony (Roberson) is playing real solid in every game." MSU assistant coaches Stan Heath and Brian Gregory attended the game. Head coach Tom Izzo attended games on Saturday but was back in Michigan for Gus Ganakas' retirement dinner on Sunday; Izzo will be back in Vegas today. Others attending this game included Utah's Rick Majerus, North Carolina's Matt Daugherty and Kentucky's Tubby Smith." - michiganstate.rivals

7/17: "Wow, this one was worth the price of admission! CA WF Kirk Snyder's NBA three-pointer put Belmont Shore within a point of the Mustangs at 88-87 but the Long Beach-based club couldn't get any closer in the end and dropped a thriller to the Mustangs by three points. Belmont Shore had its chances in this one. For instance, it botched an in-bounds play that resulted in an Anthony Roberson steal and bucket, which sealed their fate. Prior to that, Kelvin Torbert left Long Beach a window of opportunity by missing a pair of free throws with 14 seconds remaining. The highlight of the game was a late second half stretch, which featured Kelvin Torbert scoring eight straight points only to be topped by a pair of threes from Dijon Thompson. Torbert finished with a game-high 27 points and teammates Anthony Roberson and Paul Davis each scored 17." - Rivals100hoops

7/17: "On hand for Kelvin Torbert's performance was Cincy's Bob Huggins, two Michigan State assistants and an UConn assistant." - Rivals100hoops

7/16: "The play of the afternoon came from Kelvin Torbert, a highly coveted wing guard with crazy athleticism and soft, soft touch on his jumper. Torbert, playing for the stacked Michigan Mustangs team, made a strong baseline move, then elevated and seemed to float up and over Belmont Shore's (CA) Lionel Davis for a huge dunk." - Sporting News

7/16: "Torbert has tremendous hang time. He finishes strong and dunks with gusto. His 15' fadeaway off the dribble is reminiscent of Michael Jordan. Kelvin makes crisp, smart passes in transition, and is an awesome athlete. Good defender who can sky for blocked shots. Surprisingly quick. Lists Michigan St., Cincinnati, Connecticut, Syracuse, Michigan, and Duke. He visited Connecticut on 7-6. Already qualified academically." - AllStar report, ABCD Report Card

7/15: "Kelvin Torbert, a 6-4 guard from Northwestern Edison High in Flint, Mich., said he'll sign late because he's concerned about coaching changes. "I want to wait and see what happens," said Torbert, who is a candidate to leave early for the NBA draft. "You can't go with a coach you're not familiar with." - Andy Katz, ESPN

7/15: "LAS VEGAS - Kelvin Torbert scored 25 points for the second time in eight hours in helping the Michigan Mustangs to an 84-67 victory over Stormin's Classic of Delaware. Michigan improved to 2-0 in pool play at the 312-team Adidas Big Time Tournament. Torbert had 18 first-half points against the Delaware squad as the Mustangs rallied from a sluggish start for the second time in two games. The Mustangs, a summer basketball organization which has reached the finals or semifinals of this tournament four straight years, trailed 14-7 against Stormin's Classic when Torbert took over. Stormin's Classic utilized a zone defense to slow down the Mustangs in the first half, causing the Mustangs to launch an ill-advised number of contestested perimeter bombs. Torbert, of Flint Northwestern, changed the flow of the game by attacking off the dribble. He penetrated with a hesitation dribble and crossover move, hung in the air and nailed a floating one-hand suspension shot to cut the lead to 16-15. Torbert then hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, giving the Mustangs the lead for good at 21-18. Torbert then thrilled college coaches and NBA scouts with a wonderful tip-in to make it 25-20. "We were just trying to spread it out and have everybody get to the open spots and keep moving," Torbert said. "We were standing still too much at the beginning." Torbert unveils a new way to score each night out. In the second half of this game, he converted a picturesque half hook with heavy hang time from three feet. (snip) Torbert, who was part of the Mustangs' Big Time Tournament title in 1998 along with Jason Richardson (Michigan State) and Brent Darby (Ohio State), likes the way the cast is coming together. "We are playing as a team, we have good chemistry going with everybody playing together," Torbert said. "And I feel like I'm playing pretty good right now." Torbert was 3-of-3 from 3-point range. The Michigan Mustangs and Belmont Shore (Calif.) have emerged as the two unbeaten teams in Pool C. The Mustangs and Belmont Shore will meet on Sunday. The winner will get a bye into the round of 64. - Michiganstate.rivals

7/14: "Number 1 rated SG in the USA. Kelvin Torbert, 6-4/196, Flint, Mich./Northwestern -- Michigan State, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Michigan, Marquette: Inch-for-inch, he's the nation's No. 1 prep. Gets separation on his Jordan-like jumper." - Steve Wacaser, Sporting News

7/14: "We are going to the adidas Big Time tournament in Las Vegas next weekend, then Los Angeles after that. (My top 5 schools are) Michigan State, Cincinnati, UConn, Duke, North Carolina and Michigan" - Kelvin Torbert

7/14: Best SG at ABCD Camp. - All Star Report

7/13: Third best player at ABCD Camp. - HoopScoop

7/12: "The national champion Spartans, who have owned Flint in recruiting in past, may lead for Torbert-- who is best wing shooter in the class-- but they are hardly a lock. The 6-5 Torbert, who is close friends with UConn recruit Johnnie Selvie from SW Iowa JC, visited Storrs the day before camp. Cincinnati is also a player. We think the deciding factor will be the fact that Torbert's father is on dialysis and his son may want to stay close to home." - Dick Weiss at ABCD's official site

7/12: "The guest list for Brett Bearup's two week European tour in August includes Kelvin Torbert, James White, Eddy Curry, 6-9 David Lee of St. Louis Chaminade, guard Maurice Williams of Jackson, Miss., Indiana recruit Jared Jeffries of Bloomington South, Chad Moore of Huntsville, Ala. and David Lee. Bearup is still working on Kwame Brown. This Dream Team will play series of games against Division II pro teams in Nice, Lake Lagono, Switzerland, Heidelburg and Paris. Toronto Raptors' assistant Craig Neal will coach." - ABCD official site

7/12: Listed as the best SG at the ABCD Camp, ahead of Dan Ewing (8th). - MidWest Hoops

7/11: "Kelvin Torbert is a beast. KY=T had 26 points in only 11 minutes of run." - HoopsTV

7/11: Averaged 15.4 PPG at the ABCD Camp

Some recent rankings for Kelvin:
Hoop Scoop #2
Prep Stars #4
Rivals 100 Hoops #4
Prep Spotlight #5
FOX Sports #6
FastBreak #4
CNN/SI #3
AllStar Report #5

7/11: "Julius Hodge (6-5, The Bronx, N.Y.) was particularly impressive against Kelvin Torbert last night, and Torbert is, any way you cut it, certainly one of the best 10 seniors in the country. Both of their teams were undefeated and as good as Torbert is, Hodge ended up with 20 points and Torbert five, and Hodge's team won the ballgame. He certainly stood out." - Brick O. / CNNSI

7/10: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/recruiting/news/2000/07/10/torbert_feature/
- - "As lethal as his jumper is, he says his strength is his ability to get to the basket. His tank-like build –- which he developed when he started playing football as a sophomore -- allows him to post up (and to help on the boards), but he can also finesse a score if needed, throwing up a variety of scoops, one-handed floaters and turnarounds."

- - He wants to go to a school where he can make an immediate impact, which means an uptempo team built around its guards. “It depends on the coaching staffs, the systems,” he says. “You try to find a system that best fits you.” - - from the article listed.

7/10: "This explosive and physical guard can just flat out play! He has more than adequate consistency on his jumper beyond the arc to set up his quick slashing drives to the basket, which he finishes with a vengeance. He balances that with a solid intermediate game with the tools to create opportunities for his teammates. Because of his strength and ability to finish plays, the NBA scouts are going to be watching him a lot this summer, but college still looks like his first stop with Michigan State, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Duke, and North Carolina among his leaders." - Van Coleman

7/6: "He is a tremendous athlete with great skills and an unbelievable work ethic, but what separates him from his peers is his consistency. Did you know that I’ve seen him play close to 50 times and he has never had a bad game? Everybody assumes that he’s a lock for Michigan State, but right now it’s a war among the Spartans, Cincinnati, and Connecticut." - Clark Francis

7/10: 33 pts, 8 rebs in todays Quarterfinals.

7/10: "Another impressive senior was 6-4 Kelvin Torbert (Northwestern H.S./Flint, Mich.). Torbert is no worse than top five in the class and might be the second-best player behind Dajuan Wagner. He can do some Jordanesque things in the air, and when healthy can dominate the opposition (he is still recovering from the effects of mononucleosis)." - ESPN/Recruiting USA

7/10: "selected for the Senior All Star Game, but was unable to play due to Michigan state rules" - FastBreak recruiting

7/8: "Based on his performance while leading the Michigan Mustangs to a championship of the Pump-N-Run Spring Tournament in Southern California, as well as his effort in the first two days at adidas, it's difficult to imagine that I'll see a better high school player this month than Kelvin Torbert (6-foot-4, Flint, Mich., Northwestern).
There isn't going to be a high school guard who can match his combination of strength, quickness and vertical explosiveness. And now that he is knocking in three-pointers regularly (after spotting up or off of a dribble move), how can anyone on the high school level guard the guy ? The most underrated part of his game? His vision and willingness to deliver the ball to a teammate in a hurry. He made three or four of the best passes I saw Friday at Rothman Gymnasium at Fairleigh Dickinson University. - Frank Burlison, FoxSports

7/8: "Kelvin Torbert, 6-4 SR SG, Flint (Mich.) Northwestern. Looking like the best player here after the first day. He has that inhuman ability to float in the air, but has also hit his jumper and thrown great passes. - PacWest Hoops

7/7: "Michigan WG Kelvin Torbert is still working himself into shape after being laid up mononucleosis. However, he made it clear that he intends to leave his mark on adidas Camp. He was outstanding in both the afternoon and evening sessions. Kwame Brown and Eddy Curry both have big names and reputations like Torbert, but neither could muster up the same type of performances as Torbert." - Rivals 100Hoops

7/6: "The results are in from the first day of the adidas ABCD Camp and the best player in camp, in what was an extremely close call, was 6'4 Kelvin Torbert from Flint (Northwestern) MI, who currently ranks #4 nationally in the rising senior class nationally by the HOOP SCOOP. - HoopScoop

7/6: "Torbert made an unofficial visit to UConn July 6. Torbert is down to UConn, Cincinnati and Michigan State - some even say in that order. Regardless, it's incorrect to refer to him as a lock for MSU, as originally thought. In other Torbert news, the WG wasn't too happy that we gave the edge to Dajaun Wagner over himself in a head-to-head matchup. Torbert appears healthy and look for him to have a HUGE camp. - Rivals100Hoops

7/6: "Torbert is a special player; from what I can tell, more special than DerMarr. What he could accomplish in just one year at UC probably depends more on others than on him....I'd *really* like to see Kelvin in red and black." - Randy Shinkle

7/6: "Kelvin Torbert, one of the best players in America, visited UConn’s campus the day before the start of play at the adidas ABCD Camp. Torbert has narrowed his school list to Connecticut, Cincinnati and Michigan State. Don’t think for a second the Huskies and Bearcats aren’t strong, despite the proximity to Michigan State. Sources say UConn has made its move." - Rivals 100Hoops

7/6: "To this point, the coaching staff has done well in getting the attention of some key recruits. Kelvin Torbert, a 6-foot-4 swingman from Northwestern High in Flint, Mich., one of the top four players in the country, has already visited UC unofficially and is scheduled to attend the adidas camp. Still, the Bearcats will have to beat out Michigan State, Michigan Connecticut, Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse. - McKissic, Cincy Post

7/2: "Chris Grier (Kelvin's AAU coach) tells us that Michigan State is not the lock that everybody believes for 6'4 Jr Kelvin Torbert from Flint MI, who ranks #4 in his class nationally by the HOOP SCOOP. As a matter of fact, it looks like an all out war among Cincinnati, Connecticut, and Michigan State for Torbert's services. Grier also mentions Duke and Syracuse for Torbert, but they appear to be a distant fourth and fifth." - HoopScoop

http://foxsports.com/highschool/basketball/players/kelvin_torbert.sml
includes picture

7/3: QUOTES FROM KELVINS MSSG BOARD
Q: Do you have a leader at this stage of your recruiting ? A: I don't have a leader right now though some people are reporting that I do. I have a lot of great schools on my list. It is going to be tough decision. Q: What do you like about the Cincinnati program ? A: They have a winning tradition. Their players make it to the NBA. They have a great style of play and always have a chance to win a national championship. They always seem to have a chance to win it all. They allow their players to create offensively. I like the coaches there too. - Insiders Report

6/30: "Kelvin Torbert, of Flint, Mich., made an unofficial visit to Syracuse last week. Torbert is currently recovering from mononucleosis." - Columbia, MO Daily Tribune

6/23: "Top 10 player in the country Kevin Torbert is visiting University of Cincinnati. The 6'4 senior to be wing guard will attend ABCD camp and play in Adidas Bigtime and Best/Best with Michigan Mustangs. Torbert also, has Michigan State and Connectuit on his short list." - CASS Ohio

6/17: "The defending National Champion Spartans are playing host to 50 of the top high school teams in Michigan this weekend and the action couldn't be better. 6'4 WG Kelvin Torbert of Flint Michigan looked like he hasn't missed a beat after missing a month of AAU play with mono. Torbert flew all over the gym grabbing rebounds, blocking shots, and doing his best Vince Carter dunk impressions. Torbert had 34 pts and 12 rebs in a one opening round game. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Kelvin Torbert is the best H.S. player under 6'10 in America." - Midwest Hoops

6/00: "HOOPSTV TOP 100 #24 Kelvin Torbert. School ('99-'00 record): Northwestern - Michigan (20-3). Class: Junior. Vitals (Ht, Wt, Pos): 6’-4", 206, WG. Jersey: #23. The reason: MJ. Kicks: Nike or Adidas. AKA: "K". Season Story: 25 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3 BPG, FG=56%. All-City. All-Valley. All-State. Summer Ball: Kelvin will attend the Nike Camp and play AAU ball for the Michigan Mustangs before returning for his Senior year of high school. Up Next: Undecided. Kelvin has interest in attending Michigan State, UNC, Duke, UCONN, Missouri, Michigan and Cincinnati. The Skinny: A superior athlete who excels in all facets of the game. Can be overpowering inside and demonstrates high intelligence on the court. The Word: "Kelvin is the type of kid who excels in everything he does. He stars for our track, football and baseball teams in addition to the stuff he does on the court. In terms of basketball, Kelvin has been dunking since the 6th grade, so he’s a tremendous athlete. No matter how big the guy is, Kelvin will jam in his face. " - Coach Grover Kirkland, Northwestern High School" HoopsTv top 100 HS Players 6/00

6/4:(Mike DeCourcy) "If you thought the Cincinnati Bearcats would get nothing more from DerMarr Johnson after he left to enter the NBA draft, you might have to re-think that. They might get Kelvin Torbert. Torbert is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Flint, Mich., who is rated the No.4 prospect in next year's senior class by recruiting analyst Dave Telep of Rivals.com. Torbert's high school, Northwestern, sent shooting guard Morris Peterson to Michigan State's national championship team. But Torbert is attracted to UC because of Johnson's experience. Johnson was able to move directly into the starting lineup and on to the NBA after a single season.
“They are doing very, very well. I would say they are closing in on being pretty much the leader,” said Chris Greer, Torbert's coach with the Michigan Mustangs club team. “DerMarr Johnson goes there, plays one year and is going to be a first-round pick. That's what Kelvin is looking for. He wants to go somewhere he can go and excel right away. He wants to get in, do his damage and go about his business.” Torbert is one of UC's key targets in recruiting for next year's class. Greer said it has been suggested to Torbert he does not need to play college basketball to be drafted in the first round, but Torbert does not want to skip a step. “He wants to go to college, but, at the same time, he doesn't want to be there four years if he doesn't have to be,” Greer said. “He feels like he could go somewhere, play four years and go on to the NBA. That's basically what has made Cincinnati such a positive. “If you go to Cincinnati and perform, it answers a lot of questions. If you can play for Coach (Huggins), you're pretty tough. You're going to have to hit the weights and get stronger. It answered a lot of questions for DerMarr. Torbert is a different sort of player. He is a physical guard but also is a proficient long-range shooter. He was the MVP at the recent Show-Me Shootout club tournament, ahead of top-10 prospects David Lee of St.Louis and Eddy Curry of South Holland, Ill. Torbert was diagnosed last week with mononucleosis but is expected to make an unofficial visit to UC in June, then play at the adidas ABCD Camp in Teaneck, N.J., and the adidas Big-Time Tournament in Las Vegas during the July recruiting period. " - Mike DeCourcy

5/31: "told us last night that he expects to be back in action in about 2-3 weeks time. Torbert has been fighting mononucleosis for the past week, and was unable to attend the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tournament of Champions this past weekend. Kelvin added that there's nothing new to report on the recruiting front, and that he will take the SAT again this fall. All Star Sports rates Torbert as one of the Top 10 players out of the Class of 2001, and we wish him a full recovery. - All Star Report

5/24: "me and Marcus Taylor (Michigan signee) see each other at alot of MSU games and speak. We were at the NIKE camp a few years ago also. We've played in open gyms before as well. Peeper (ARoberson) and Myself play together on the Michigan Mustangs basketball team. We talk quite a bit. He's come to Flint and hung out with me as well. We are very close." - Kelvin Torbert

THE BEST MID-RANGE PULL-UP JUMPSHOOTER, Class of '00 :
1. 6-6 Columbia (S.C.) Keenan WG Jerome Harper (juco) is a dangerous three-point marksman yet even deadlier on mid-range pull-ups off the dribble (but wait until you see junior Kelvin Torbert!).

5/12: "Is he a great candidate for the McDonald's All American game next year? Likely. Kelvin Torbert is a high-flying 6-3, 205 pound off guard/swingman from Northwestern High School in Flint, Michigan. Torbert has three top three schools -- Michigan State, Ohio State and Cincinnati. In addition to those three programs, Torbert said he is also looking at Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, Connecticut and Missouri. - FastBreak Recruiting

5/8: "the #2 Shooting Guard in the class of 2001" - MidWest Hoops

5/5: "a high-flying 6-3, 205 pound off guard/swingman from Northwestern H.S. in Flint, Mich., is one of the top prospects in the Class of 2001. An amazing athlete who explodes to the basket, finishes inside and steps out to nail the three pointer, Torbert told the Insiders Report his early top three schools are Michigan State, Ohio State and Cincinnati. In addition to those three programs, Torbert said he is also looking at Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, Connecticut and Missouri. Torbert averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks per game this past season at Northwestern. He says he has a 3.1 GPA and scored a 17 on the ACT. A suprisingly unselfish player for his ability, Torbert will attend the adidas ABCD camp in July and tour the spring and summer circuits with Chris Greer's Michigan Mustang program." - Insiders Report

5/4: "At the Show-Me Shootout, Curry wasn't able to lead Illinois Gold to the championship, because the Michigan Mustangs also have a future superstar, 6-4 junior wing guard Kelvin Torbert of Flint (Mich.) Northwestern. The only backcourt scorer in the Class of 2001 who rates with Torbert is the remarkable 6-3 Camden (N.J.) High combination guard Dajuan Wagner, who wasn't at the Columbia (Mo.) tournament. Torbert has it all; he's physically strong, quite intense, a great leaper who hangs on his pullup jumpshot a la Michael Jordan, dangerous three-point shooter, good ballhandler (though not a point guard), and hustling defender most of the time. In the title game at Missouri, Torbert broke out of a temporary shooting slump (he missed his final nine shots in the semifinals) to tally 27 points on 10-for-17 field goals (including a trio of three-pointers) and 4-of-5 free throws, while adding six rebounds and three blocked shots. If he goes to college rather than entering the 2001 NBA draft, Michigan State (with its publicized Flint connection) is the team to beat, although Michigan, Missouri and others haven't given up." - Brick Oettinger

5/1: "With all due respect to Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, who may be the top long term prospects in the class, I'm not so sure at this point that 6'4 Wing Guard Kelvin Torbert isn't the best player pound for pound in the country. Torbert is a 6'4 chiseled piece of muscle that can do things on the basketball court that even the other elite players in the country can only dream of. He is the one player that the other top players all agree is special. St. Louis star player David Lee on Torbert: "That kid is very good. I was surprised at how quick he jumps and how strong he is. He went for a layup and I thought I was going to block it, he just kept going up and up and the dunked it. A lot of times I am disappointed in what I see after hearing a lot about a player, but I was impressed with him. He's one of the best I've seen." In the championship game at the Show-Me Shootout against a loaded Illinois Gold team, Torbert put on a display that had media writers searching for adjectives to describe his abilities. Torbert had 27 points 8 rebounds and several unbelievable plays that made one writer ask "have you ever seen him and Vince Carter in the same place at the same time?" He was named the MVP of the star studded event. and was unofficially named the favorite player of media writers around the country." - MidWest Hoops

4/13: Named the 4th best player in the class of 2001 by Dave Telep of Rivals 100.
- Named the 5th best player in the class of 2001 by MidWest Hoops

4/11: "The Michigan Mustangs, predominately made up of players from Flint and Saginaw, won the 48-team Pump event for the second consecutive spring. Six-four junior Kelvin Torbert (Northern in Flint) was the best player over the event's three days and scored 22 points Sunday evening in the Mustangs' 83-71 championship game victory." - Frank Burlison, Orange County Register

4/4: "Mich St is the heavy favorite for 6'4 Jr Kelvin Torbert from Flint MI, who currently is ranked as the #2 junior in the nation by the HOOP SCOOP. Torbert is a tremendous athlete, great outside shooter, and a model of consistency. That's right! I've probably seen him close to 50 times and I have yet to see him have a bad game, which is why we rank him over 7'0 Jr Tyson Chandler from Compton (Dominguez) CA and 6'11 Jr Eddy Curry from South Holland (Thornwood) IL, both of whom are potential future NBA All-Stars. - HoopScoop

3/31: "Named Third Team All American by Rivals.com at the Rivals100 website....as a Junior. Kelvin was one of only 3 juniors out of the first three teams named."

3/30: "Named the best SG in his class of 2001. We're particularly high on the junior wing guard quintet of 6-4 Kelvin Torbert, who hangs on his jumpshot ala Michael Jordan." - Brick Oettinger

3/30: Attending MSU