A source close to Maurice Shaw has indicated Shaw's recent comments in the Pittsburgh media about Purdue were just a "convenient tale".On Saturday, chatter began floating around that a 2004 player had made a commitment to Purdue. Sources pointed to a 6'9 center from Bridgton Academy named Maurice Shaw.
Before anyone could contact Shaw to confirm his oral commitment to Purdue, he was already in a Pittsburgh newspaper stating he had opened his recruitment back up. Part of the reason for opening his recruitment back up, as published by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, was due to coaching changes at Purdue.
Old Gold Free Press contacted a source close to Maurice Shaw and got a different picture of the recruitment of Shaw. Our source confirmed Purdue's interest in Shaw, but also stated some of Purdue's recruitment "has been in his head".
What is known is Maurice Shaw is not academically qualified to accept any scholarship offer extended to him from Purdue, due to a low SAT score and his inability to bring it up to the level to become a full-qualifier. Barring a change in the NCAA academic requirements for student-athletes, qualification for Shaw is said to be a longshot.
It is also confirmed that several programs have been keeping contact with Shaw. Purdue is one of those programs, through the efforts of assistant coach Cuonzo Martin. Georgia was also named as a program very interested in his ability to qualify.
Now, back to Shaw's comments in the Pittsburgh media. Shaw has not been placed in a position to commit to Purdue, as a scholarship offer has not been extended to him according to our source. Without an offer on the table, there would be no offer to reconsider due to any coaching change.
Shaw is the type of player that would receive offers from major college programs if he were qualified, but at this point, is not believed to be of the type that a program would roll the academic dice and take him as a partial-qualifier. Junior college was mentioned as a potential option.
And the package deal with his first cousin Drew Schifino? The family relationship, our source added, is about the limit of what the two players have in common.
Our attempts to find Maurice Shaw were unsuccessful this weekend, as he is believed to be either with his father in Arizona, or with his mother in Washington state.
