Recruiting Report: Deon Savage (2017)

<h2>November 3, 2015</h2><p>There’s been a lot of changes with 6-foot-6 forward <strong>Deon Savage</strong> since we last spoke with him in May.</p> <p>His recruitment had not yet started in the spring, but has started to gain some traction of late, and he will be playing with a new high school team this season as well.</p> <p>Savage says there have been two Division I programs that have a least inquired about him, also a Division III and Division II school.</p> <p>“The other day Howard and UMBC asked my coach about me, they were showing interest through my high school coach, they saw me play in a couple fall league games,” said Savage. “And then I’ve heard from Medaille (NY), they came to one of our practices and saw me play. Then the St.Thomas Aquinas (NY) coach called me on the phone, he said he saw me play at a tournament in New Jersey.”</p> <p>The versatile power forward was able to be seen last offseason while playing with Team Takeover, and a coach who encouraged him to develop his perimeter skills.</p> <p>“This summer I was able to play on the perimeter a lot more, I think my ball-handling and shooting both got much better,” said Savage. “My AAU coach was a really big help to me this summer, and he encouraged me a lot too.”</p> <p>It was a family move that prompted Savage’s transfer from Riverdale Baptist to Roosevelt High School (Washington DC), where he’ll play his junior season this fall and winter.</p> <p>“I played fall league with them (Roosevelt), and summer league, it’s a really good fit. And I’ll probably be playing more power forward with that team. The coach says he&#39;ll give me freedom to play on the perimeter and play some small forward,” said Savage.</p> <p>“I think I’m going to drive and attack to the basket a little bit more, and I’m still working all the time on my ball-handling. I’m still improving on many parts of my game.”</p> <h2>May 12, 2015</h2><p>After spending most of his season honing his skills with the Riverdale Baptist JV squad, while practicing and playing a small role on the varsity team, 6-foot-6 power forward <strong>Deon Savage</strong> says he saw some real improvement in his game</p> <p>“My coach thought it was a good idea for me to play both JV and varsity, I could really work on my game and my weaknesses at JV, and when I came back up to varsity I would be on point with that stuff,” said Savage.</p> <p>“I did win defensive player of the year with JV -- defense, rebounding and blocks I think are the strong points of my game, and just playing hard all the time.”</p> <p>Still largely unexposed, Savage has yet to see his recruitment get off the ground, but he has had chance conversations with a couple college coaches -- Siena and Winston-Salem State.</p> <p>“I’ve talked to a couple college coaches but I haven’t really gotten any interest with letters yet or anything like that,” said Savage.</p> <p>After playing with DC Premiere last offseason, the defensive-minded post is spending his 16U season with Team Takeover, and says developing some guard skills is his top priority.</p> <p>“I’m trying to really improve on my ball-handling and shooting because I know at the next level if I don’t grow anymore I’m going to be a guard,” said Savage,<em> PHM’s</em> 14th-ranked 2017. “But if I do (grow) it still would be great to have those ball-handling and shooting skills.”</p>