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Houston lands rare elite recruits

Written by ESPN Eamonn Brennan

Houston is not a modern recruiting powerhouse. Since the early 1980s, when Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon did their Phi Slama Jama thing, the Cougars have mostly existed outside the margins of elite basketball and elite recruiting. That has been especially true in recent years. Frankly, Houston is not a school you expect to announce big or impressive recruiting news -- it just doesn't ever happen.

A recruiting coup for UH basketball

The Houston Cougars men’s basketball program got better on Sunday.

A lot better.

With its 2011 recruiting class coming in and the eligibility of Joseph Young beginning this coming fall, the Cougars are already on the cusp of beginning an upward movement.

Danuel House is heading to UH. (Thomas B. Shea/For the Chronicle)

But that movement might be accelerated significantly come the fall of 2012 when forwards Danuel House and Danrad “Chicken” Knowles suit up for UH. The pair of 2012 prospects — both of which are consensus national top 100 players — verbally committed to the Cougars together on Sunday during the RCS Sports “Rucker on Wood” event at Fallbrook Church.

First, things first, it’s not official yet, because as we all know, verbal commitments aren’t binding. House and Knowles can’t make it official until the first day prospects in the 2012 basketball class can sign letters of intent, which is Nov. 9.

Skinny frame with a big game

Danrad Knowles is called "Chicken," but he's definitely not afraid of dunking

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- At 6-foot-9, 180 pounds, it's easy to see why Danrad Knowles' nickname is "Chicken."

But behind Knowles' lean frame lies a big game and a ceiling that continues to get higher every time he steps on the floor.

"He's improved so much since he's gotten here," said Texas Pro coach Marland Lowe. "He's got his shooting range up to 21 to 22 feet. He's gotten better with his individual ballhandling and he's got a very good feel for the game."

Davide De PasDanrad Knowles is always looking to finish strong at the rim.

Knowles will have his game tested Tuesday night when Texas Pro takes on the Georgia Stars on ESPNU (7 p.m. ET).

"I really don't know what to expect," Knowles said about his national television debut. "I just want to play hard, play my game and do the things I'm supposed to do."

Danuel House building his reputation

Written by Dave Telep ESPN Recruiting

reflection effect Before the spring, Houston native Danuel House was far from a big-name prospect. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find his name -- which is pronounced "Daniel" -- on any top 100 lists and only local schools TCU and Houston offered him during his junior year. Now, after playing his way into the NBPA Top 100 Camp, House has a foundation for the future and should be a fixture on every top 100 list.

"I've been telling people about him for two years in Houston, but it's a slow process and everything couldn't happen at one time," said Marland Lowe, coach of House's Houston Pro traveling team. "His window is just starting to open and it's so huge."

Danuel House's stock soaring

IMG_2066x It was just eight months ago that Danuel House(Houston/ Hightower) didn't have a single scholarship offer to his name, but that almost seems like a distant memory now as he's one of the hottest prospects in the country.

The 6-foot-6 small forward now claims 10 offers with Louisville and Arizona being the latest to join Baylor, USC, Missouri, and California.

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