Abdul Herrera

10/28/05: Moved to inactive since he is no longer a 'recruit'.

Verballed Sept 28th. Signed Nov 2004.

08/25/05: "Fred Jones, high school coach of incoming freshman center Abdul Herrera, said he already got several calls from his former player Tuesday. "He called me two or three times today and he was hysterical and upset," Jones said. "I tried to explain to him that the best thing was to be patient and see what happens." - CincyPost.com

08/23/05: Huggins is fired.

06/30/05: Listed as the 266th best player in his class. - HoopScoop

06/08/05: Listed as the 107th best player in his class. www.HoopMasters.com

05/17/05: "Incoming 6-foot-11 freshman Abdul Herrera from South Miami Senior High School said he is still coming to Cincinnati because Huggins will be the coach for at least two more years. After that, though, Huggins' contract situation is uncertain because the school announced Monday that discussions concerning his contract have stopped without restoring the rollover provision or extending the contract beyond the remaining two years. "But if Coach Huggins has to leave after two years, I won't play for Cincinnati anymore," Herrera said. "If he was to leave after two years, I would follow him. I really want to play for Coach Huggins. He can take me to the next level." - Enquirer.com

05/12/05: Listed as the 87th best player in the country, in his class. - ScoutHoops.com

04/11/05: Named Honorable Mention All State by the Florida Sportswriters Association.

03/20/05: "Abdul has a lot of ability, a lot of potential. He is 6-9 or 6-10 and 250 pounds. There are not many guys like him. We have a bunch of 6-6 and 6-7 guys. Abdul just needs to do two things: get stronger and understand how to defend and compete on a higher level. But the good thing about Abdul is that he improves every year, and he wants to get better. That's important." - Frank Martin Interview, hooprap.com

03/15/05: Herrera will play in the 10th annual Dade-Broward All-Star basketball game.

03/06/05: Had 10 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in a overtime playoff loss to Miami High.

03/02/05: "Herrera finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and five blocks, and he threw down a couple of bone-rattling slams on alley-oops. . . " - Miami Herald

02/25/05: Herrera again had 23 points, this time in a win over South Dade.

02/20/05: "Abdul Herrera had 23 points and 15 rebounds for South Miami over Columbus in the District 15-6A final." - Miami Herald

02/19/05: "After overcoming first-half foul trouble, Abdul Herrera was just as big for his Cobras, as he scored 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to help South Miami pull away. His team up 40-35, Herrera scored seven points during a 13-3 run as the Cobras took a 53-38 lead with three minutes to play." - Miami Herald

02/16/05: Listed 4th team all state. - HoopScooponline.com

02/06/05: "I love the way they play especially," Herrera responded. They are always good and I like the coach a lot. My high school coach, he was the first one that said to me that Cincinnati is a good place for me, and they need a tough big guy. So I was like okay." - Scout.com

01/24/05: "Herrera is currently averaging 21.3 points, 14.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks for the Cobras, who are 11-5." - Hoopmasters.com

01/19/05: "Herrera, in his first game since his eligibility was reinstated, recorded a double double to lead the Cobras." - Miami Herald

01/15/05: "South Miami center Abdul Herrera will meet with FHSAA officials this morning in Fort Lauderdale to find out if he will be allowed to play again this season. The 6-10 center, who signed with Cincinnati in November, received an extension on his eligibility of one year in December 2003. Herrera is seeking a similar extension." - Miami Herald

01/10/05: "Herrera had been ruled ineligible to play a few days before I got down there but they cleared up before Friday night's game and he did indeed play. His South Miami team rallied to defeat rival Christopher Columbus high school 57-47.

Herrera finished with 17 points and enjoyed a height advantage of several inches on whoever was defending him. However, Brian Asbury, his teammate on South Miami really dominated the game and finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 blocks (as per Miami Herald write up of the game, I didn't get rebound or block totals for Abdul because I got there late).

What I saw is that Herrera is as tall as advertised (maybe even 6-11 as opposed to his listed 6-10, but I can't be certain obviously). He will definitely be able to contribute as a freshman next year because he has good post moves, legit size and good hands. Also, he doesn't do anything he shouldn't like jacking up 3 pointers and refusing to bang.

He would benefit from the Bearcat weight training program to add more muscle and reshape his body like Kareem Johnson did between his junior and senior years. He has a lot of potential and will add another low post threat for next year's team." – from BearcatNews tipster, Brett S. Thanks Brett !


01/06/04: "Making matters worse, Cincinnati-bound 6-10 center Abdul Herrera is again being forced to sit out and await clearance from the FHSAA to finish his senior season. Last year, Herrera missed several games before an appeal allowed him a one-year eligibility extension. "We expect it to be [resolved] by Friday," Jones said. "There's nothing that makes me anticipate Abdul won't be playing for us again after that." - Miami Herald

12/21/04: ". . . Two of those points came on a dunk by 6-foot-10 center Abdul Herrera, who has signed with Cincinnati. Herrera finished the game with a double-double by putting up 21 points and 12 rebounds. "We try our best to use our height to our advantage, but we never play against anyone with the size we have," Herrera said. - Savannah Morning News

12/19/04: "Hard work is the word to describe Abdul Herrera's play against IMG. The 6-10 C struggled offensively and finished with just eight points, but he played harder inside than we've seen from him sometimes in the past and pulled down 11 rebounds." - PrepStars

12/18/04: Abdul Herrera had 11 points, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots in a win.

12/16/04: Will play in the City of Palms Classic in Ft Myers FLA. South Miami was pre-season ranked #1 in the state of FLorida, but is now 2-2 on the year.

12/10/04: Listed as the 24th best senior in Florida. - Galaxy-of-stars.net

12/09/04: "South Miami center Abdul Herrera was selected as this month's featured athlete for StudentSports magazine's basketball preview cover. The Cobras (2-0) and Herrera, who signed with Cincinnati, will be among the featured teams to compete in this weekend's A-Rod Classic beginning tonight at Columbus.
- also -
Abdul Herrera 24 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks in a win over Braddock HS." - Miami Herald

11/30/04: "Prior to the season opener as he waited with his teammates to start warming up, he proudly wore a Cincinnati hat." - CanesTimes.com

11/24/04: "Herrera boasts an impressive arsenal, including both a left- and right-handed jump hook, a tough-to-handle drop step, and an explosive ability to turn, face and drive. In fact, he's gotten so good so fast that it's hard to believe four years ago he was just a freakishly tall kid running around some Panamanian soccer field.

"I'm ready for anything. I'm going to Cincinnati, and I'm going to work my behind off. That's the way I grew up. I learned that nothing in life is easy. I don't promise anything. All I promise is I will work hard." - SchoolSports.com

11/24/04: South Miami 81, Homestead 54. Abdul Herrera 14 points and 7 rebounds.

11/23/04: "...it is the state title (Coach)Jones and South Miami covet. "I just want to get that sick feeling out of my system," said 6-10 senior center Abdul Herrera, who signed with Cincinnati. "As soon as we lost last year, Brian [Asbury] and I made a promise to each other we were going to go back to Lakeland to get the trophy. Nobody is going to stop us." (Herrera chipped in 15 points and 13 rebounds in their first game of the year) - Miami Herald

11/15/04: Signed per RivalsHoops.com

11/11/04: "UC was waiting for a signed letter from 6-10, 245-pound center Abdul Herrera from Miami. "Herrera is a big, strong, physical kid, that rarest of breeds, a vanishing species, a true post player," said Bob Gibbons of Rivals.com. "He's got to rank among the top five true post players in this class." Herrera averaged 17.5 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots last season as a junior at South Miami Senior High School." - Enquirer.com

10/20/04: Abdul Herrera, South Miami High's 6-10, 250-pound center, says a big reason he settled on Conference USA powerhouse University of Cincinnati at the end of September was his distaste for the recruiting process endgame. "Coaches were calling me every five minutes," says Herrera, who turned 19 this past September 12 and didn’t play organized basketball until his freshman year with the Cobras. "I was getting tired of the harassment. Guys were supposed to call me once a week and they were calling me three or four times a week. They were breaking the rules." - InsidersHoops.com

10/15/04: Listed as the 81st best player in his class. - Recruiting Nation

10/06/04: Herrera commits to Cincinnati -
When it has come to recruiting basketball players in South Florida, lately no one has been able to say no to University of Miami first-year coach Frank Haith. In the past month and half, South Miami forward Brian Asbury, Calusa Prep guard Denis Clemente and Pembroke Pines Flanagan forward Adrian Thomas, three of South Florida's highly recruited players, all gave Haith and UM oral commitments.

One player finally got away Tuesday when 6-11, 245-pound center Adbul Herrera, a senior at South Miami, decided to pass on the Hurricanes to head to Cincinnati. "Playing for UM and continuing to play with Brian and some of the other guys would have been nice, but I really like the opportunity I have with Cincinnati," said Herrera, rated the No. 9 center in the country by Insiders.com. "Coach [Bob] Huggins came to my house a couple of weeks ago and really made me feel at home. I'm really happy and excited. Cincinnati has always been a big-time school, and he is a big-time coach."

Herrera, who averaged 17.3 points and 15 rebounds for South Miami last season, said former Miami High coach Frank Martin had a lot to do with his signing.

Martin, who led Miami High to three consecutive state titles in the late 1990s, was hired as an assistant at Cincinnati last month. Herrera said Martin called him immediately after taking the job and eventually helped convince him to pass on offers from Miami, Illinois, Kansas State, Xavier, UTEP and Ohio State. "I really think Abdul could get some quality minutes as soon as he goes up there," South Miami coach Fred Jones said. "Nowadays, there are very few big men who play the post with their back to the basket. In a lot of ways, Cincinnati is getting a throwback player."

South Miami, which lost to Orlando Edgewater in last year's Class 6A state final, is expected to contend for the state title again this season.

Herrera, a native of Panama, was deemed ineligible by the FHSAA for two weeks last season after his age and eligibility were questioned. Herrera said Tuesday he expects to play the entire season without interruption. "I just want everybody to stop complaining and let me play," he said. "We've got a really good team this year, and I'm telling you we can win it all." - Miami Herald

09/29/04: "Herrera was visited by St. John's on Monday but once the Bearcats came strong, he wasted little time in committing. A true center, his stock is undervalued nationally, especially for a guy who can score with his back-to-the-basket. "It's going to be tough [as a freshman] but I'm going to go work on it. It's the only chance that I got. To improve, I got to start running a little bit better and get my jumpshot better. I need to work on my jump hook, get stronger and get in shape." - TheInsidersHoops.com

09/29/04: University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins landed the center the Bearcats have been seeking to take them into the Big East Conference next season when Abdul Herrera, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound senior at South Miami Senior High, said Tuesday that he will attend UC. Herrera visited UC last weekend. Fred Jones, his coach at South Miami Senior, said Sunday night that Herrera had put UC at the top of his list but had not made an oral commitment.

On Tuesday, Herrera made his decision and was canceling visits to Illinois, Kent State, UTEP and Ohio State. "I liked the coach and the team," Herrera said. "The visit was good. I liked the town and the people. That's it."

Said Jones: "He had a visit with Coach Huggins a week before he went on the official visit. His parents were there and I was there. He was impressed with the opportunity to go there and be assured he would get a college degree and an education. The program speaks for itself."

Herrera averaged 17.5 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots last year as a junior and is ranked anywhere from No. 70 to No. 100 in his high school class by most recruiting services. He's ranked No. 74 by TheInsiders.com, which rates him as the ninth-best center in his class. Jones describes him as "one of those throwback guys who plays with his back to the basket completely. He has a variety of post-up moves, can drop-step and shoot the jump hook with the right or left hand."

A native of Panama, Herrera said he moved to Miami three years ago. He was recruited by Huggins and new UC assistant coach Frank Martin, a former high school coach in the Miami area." - Enquirer.com

09/29/04: Bob Huggins was in Miami on Tuesday and came home with a big commitment -- big as in 6 feet 10. Center Abdul Herrera of South Miami High School committed to the University of Cincinnati on Tuesday after Huggins visited his home in Miami.

Herrera is ranked by theinsiders.com as the ninth-best center in this year's recruiting class. He is considered a true, post-up center and has bulked up to 260 pounds. He visited Cincinnati last weekend, and told UC coaches that he was coming here, but wanted to wait until he got back home to officially commit. Huggins visited him Tuesday and Herrera committed to the Bearcats.

Herrera was also recruited by Ohio State, Miami (Fla.) and Kansas State, among others. Herrera, a native of Panama, is the third commitment for the Bearcats' 2005 recruiting class and the first frontcourt player to commit to UC. Point guard Devan Downey and shooting guard Tyree Evans have already committed to UC." - CincyPost.com

09/28/04: Listed as the 83rd best player in his class. - PrepStars.com

09/28/04: "Abdul Herrera pledged to Cincinnati, giving the Bearcats a dangerous face-up weapon in the frontcourt. Herrera, a 6-11 C at Miami (FL) South, has shooting range to 18 feet and the body to put on plenty of muscle for the Big East. Herrera had strongly considered both the Bearcats and Ohio State, along with Illinois, Boston College, St. John's and others, but after the Buckeyes received a pledge from Brayden Bell, that made his decision easier.

Herrera obviously must trim down and redistribute the 250 pounds he does carry into muscle, but his shooting and activity level have improved. He's also a pretty decent shot-blocker who uses good timing to make his presence felt despite just-fair leaping ability (see above about the weight). His outlet passing also is solid." - PrepStars.com

09/28/04: "He was the first one to call me," Hererra said of the Cincinnati staff. "He was just there one day and he wanted make sure he called me first. Then when he and Coach (Bob) Huggins met my family, that was where I wanted to go." - RivalsHoops.com

09/28/04: "Bob Huggins, head coach at Cincinnati, was in Miami today checking up on No. 74 prospect Abdul Herrera. According to a source close to the situation, Herrera picked the Bearcats on Tuesday and made his commitment the same day the coach stopped by to see him.
Herrera, an extremely underrated prospect nationally, was looking at Florida State, Miami, Illinois, UTEP and a host of other programs." - TheInsidersHoops.com

09/23/04: "Abdul Herrera, a 6-foot-10 center from South Miami (FL) High, will visit Cincinnati this weekend. Herrera, who played for the Tallahassee Wildcats AAU team, averaged 17.5 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots per game last year. It will be Herrera's first visit and he is also hearing from schools like Ohio State, Kansas State and Illinois." - theInsidersHoops.com

09/21/04: "Abdul Herrera, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound center from South Miami (Fla.) Senior High School and Joe Wolfinger, a 7-foot, 225-pound center from Northfield Mt. Herman, a prep school in Massachusetts, are scheduled to visit the UC campus this weekend. Herrera averaged 17.5 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots last year as a junior and is ranked anywhere from No. 70 to No. 100 in his high school class by most recruiting services. "The best way I can describe him," said South Miami Senior coach Fred Jones, "is that he's a low-post player, but he's one of those throwback guys who plays with his back to the basket completely. He has a variety of post-up moves, can drop-step and shoot the jump hook with the right or left hand." UC is the first school that Herrera will visit. Jones said he's also interested in Ohio State, Kansas State and Illinois." - Enquirer.com (4 to 5)

09/20/04: "(Illinois) calls me every day, but right now I have three schools that are interested in me the most, and they’re Illinois, Ohio St. and Cincinnati." - IlliniBoard.com

09/13/04: "There are so many schools. There are a lot. I do like Illinois, Cincinnati, and Ohio St. I like a lot of other ones too. I just can't mention them all."

"Illinois, Cincinnati, Ohio St., Miami, Kansas St., South Florida, UTEP, St. John's, Auburn, and Alabama are some of the ones I know that have offered. There are other ones too, but I can't remember right now." - RivalsHoops.com

08/30/04: Listed as the 74th best player in his class. (Tyree Evans, 70; DDowney, 37) - theInsidersHoops.com

08/16/04: Listed as the 93rd best player in his class. (Tyree Evans, 33rd; DDowney, 51st) - HoopAlliance

08/02/04: "Bucknuts spoke with Herrera, the 6-foot-10 senior post player from Miami, Florida on Monday afternoon, and Herrera was very blunt on where he currently stood. "As of right now, I'd say like about 90 percent sure I'm going to Ohio State," he said. "You know things can change, but I really like them a lot." - BuckNuts.com

07/13/04: Listed as the 13th best player in Florida. - Galaxy of Stars Prep Basketball Magazine

Feb 2004: "South Miami (13-8), a top 10 Class 6A team before losing 6-11 center Abdul Herrera to an ineligibility ruling, has its big guy again. According to the Miami Herald, the Greater Miami Athletic Conference has determined that school records for Panama indicate that Herrera has eligibility through December 2004. FHSAA rules dictate that an athletic eligibility expires four years after he completes the eighth grade. Herrera was sidelined for a month." - Sunshine Network

12/04/03: "South Miami's 6'10 junior center Abdul Herrera had 30 points and 21 rebounds in a win over (GA) St Francis. Herrera is under the radar because he only played in one tournament with Team Breakdown this past spring and summer. He spent most of his time working out with his high school coach, Fred Jones. He did collect all star honors at Breakdown's Battle for the Rankings camp in October." - BreakDown.com

04/01/03: Named second team, all city, as a sophomore by the Miami Herald

unknown date - "Big man has a measure of skill to his game. Will go to the hook in the paint and is one of the only centers in the class that scores well with his back to the basket. Native of Panama." - DwightHoward.com