Seton Hall has signed its two recruits in the Class of 2020.
Jahari Long, a 6-foot-4 point guard from Episcopal High School (Texas), and 6-6 wing Dimingus Stevens of Bishop Walsh (Md.), signed their National Letters of Intent last week, as reported by NJ Advance Media.
Seton Hall remains involved for other Class of 2020 recruits, including 6-7 Canadian wing Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe,who recently took an official visit to the Big East school.
Due to the NCAA punishment handed out in the Taurean Thompson tampering case, Seton Hall will be down to 12 scholarships for the 2020-21 season instead of the traditional 13.
The Pirates will lose three seniors this season in All-America guard Myles Powell, point guard Quincy McKnight and big man Romaro Gill. Assuming the remaining 10 players (including Thompson) all return, Seton Hall would have no more scholarships to hand out. But rosters are always fluid and players often transfer in the spring.
Long and Stevens become part of a Seton Hall men’s basketball program that is currently No. 13 in the country and one of only 13 Division 1 programs to have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons.
Long was a 2018-19 finalist for the Guy V. Lewis Award, given to the top high school player in the city of Houston. He also is a two-time All-Southwest Preparatory Conference selection as named by the Dallas Morning News. Long also plays AAU ball with Cooz Elite.
“Jahari possesses exceptional ballhandling skills and is an elite-level passer,” head coach Kevin Willard said in a statement. “He can score the basketball, and he’s an unselfish player who makes plays for his teammates. All of our players will benefit from playing with Jahari, and we’re excited to welcome him and his family to the program.”
Stevens is in his first year attending Bishop Walsh High School in Cumberland, Md., after transferring from Woodrow Wilson High School. At Woodrow Wilson, he helped the Tigers win the 2018 D.C. State Athletic Association (DCSAA) championship, and he was a 2018 District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic association (DCIAA) second-team All-Conference selection, 2019 DCSAA second-team All-State selection and 2019 Washington Post All-Met fourth team selection. Stevens also made an impact on the AAU circuit with Team Takeover.
“Dimingus is a very athletic wing with sharpshooting abilities,” Willard said. “His athleticism and toughness will allow him to defend at a high level for us. He competes with intensity every time he steps on the floor, which means he will fit in perfectly with the program. We’re thrilled to have Dimingus and his family join the Pirates.”
The No. 13-ranked Pirates face Florida A&M this Saturday at Prudential Center at noon before heading to the prestigious Battle 4 Atlantis, where The Hall will face No. 11 Oregon in the quarterfinals Nov. 27 at 9:30 p.m. The tournament also features two other nationally ranked programs in No. 5 North Carolina and No. 8 Gonzaga, which looms as a second-day opponent.
Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media.