To get a sense of the kind of players new basketball assistant Eric Skeeters might be able to lure to USF, first consider the players he's been able to lure away from USF in the past two seasons while working as an assistant at Towson.

In Stan Heath's first summer at USF, he sought depth at point guard and targeted a junior college prospect named Vernon Carr, from Heath's hometown of Detroit no less, only to see Carr choose Towson over a scholarship offer from the Bulls.

Carr didn't play much at Towson, limited by injuries, but last fall, when Heath sought a small forward for his recruiting class, he targeted a Baltimore standout named Isaiah Philmore and again found himself battling Towson. Skeeters, himself a Baltimore native, helped Towson land Philmore, beating out offers from USF and Marquette.

Now, as Heath sought a recruiter to help him raise the level of talent at USF, he has turned to Skeeters, who he has known since his first year as a head coach, at Kent State. Heath lost just six games that season, but one was to a Youngstown State team that had Skeeters as an assistant coach.

"I think he's an up and coming guy who's been at the mid-major level, similar to what I had to do," Heath said. "When I talked to several guys I know, guys who run successful programs, they gave him the highest recommendations."

Heath has one more assistant spot open, though he said he isn't necessarily done interviewing candidates and may bring in one more before making a decision.

-- USF's draft picks are moving quickly -- signee Chase Greene, the speedy prospect from West Boca, had already gotten an offer Wednesday night after being drafted in the 16th round by the Mets. Greene had hoped to go between the third and sixth rounds, but said the Mets have offered him "fifth-round money." He said last week it would take a signing bonus of at least $150,000 to keep him from going to USF -- he'd be draft-eligible after his sophomore year. The Mets have already offered that $150,000, plus more than $50,000 toward college tuition, but Greene said he hasn't made a decision. "I'm still deciding," Greene said, but it doesn't hurt the Mets that he'd open his pro career in Port St. Lucie, less than two hours from home.

-- Junior right-hander Shawn Sanford met with the Giants on Wednesday night, just hours after he was picked in the 13th round. "I had my hopes up. I was expecting to go a lot higher," Sanford said. "I'm disappointed, but I'm 20 and I've been drafted twice." It's not about the draft position so much as the offer -- a college junior has the leverage of threatening to go back to school, so next year, he could be drafted higher but actually command a lower bonus. "The decision is definitely not made," said Sanford, who would like to find a summer-league spot, ideally in the Cape Cod League, hoping he can show the Giants more and land a higher offer. "I'm going to take my time and enjoy this as a blessing," said Sanford.