reasonablyill89
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Greivis Vasquez POY!
You heard it here first!
You heard it here first!
College Basketball "off-season" Thread (players leaving/coaching changes/recruiting)
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by wildkycat,
- Start date
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He ain't getting ACC POY, Let alone NPOY.
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That you Greivis?
reasonablyill89
Banned
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Originally Posted by dreClark
He ain't getting ACC POY, Let alone NPOY.
Just watch me friend!
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Ok. So, explain how he's gonna win POY?
ACC and/or NPOY?
Come on Grevis....Do tell how you're gonna pull this one off....
ACC and/or NPOY?
Come on Grevis....Do tell how you're gonna pull this one off....
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Top prospect Wall sets visit schedule
[h1]Top prospect Wall sets visit schedule[/h1]
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst
Talk about it in Basketball Recruiting Board
After a brilliant campaign on the summer travel circuit, John Wall, the No. 1 prospect in the Rivals150, will begin a series of visits in a couple weeks.
Dates for visits to Memphis, Kansas and Oregon have been set, and there is a tentative date for a trip to Kentucky. Baylor will be Wall's last official visit, while N.C. State and Oklahoma State may get unofficial looks.
[table][tr][td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr][tr][td][/td] [/tr][tr][td]John Wall could be a one-year difference maker.[/td] [/tr][/table]According to Wall's travel team coach Brian Clifton of D-One Sports, a Sept. 12 official visit to Memphis is first on the docket followed by a Sept. 19 trip to Kansas. Then Wall will travel to Oregon on Oct. 3 and likely will be at Kentucky one week later. A date has not yet been set for teh final official visit to Baylor.
Aside from these five schools, a couple others are still in the mix. Wall, who attends Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Christian Academy, might spend some time at North Carolina State on an unofficial visit. Oklahoma State, which Wall has already previously visited, is also in the running for either an unofficial or official visit.
"We aren't getting caught up in the semantics of it being an official or unofficial visit," said Clifton. "Obviously North Carolina State is ten minutes away, and John has already spent significant time on Kentucky's and Oklahoma State's campuses."
So with Baylor's hiring of Brian Clifton's brother Dwon Clifton, who is also a coach for D-One Sports, is it a forgone conclusion that Wall will eventually choose Baylor?
"Baylor's situation in hiring Dwon gives John a comfort level that doesn't exist anywhere else," Brian Clifton said. "But there are some schools that John is interested in because of style of play or the incoming recruiting class. Those factors and others might have as much to do with where John goes to school as anything.
"John doesn't owe anyone anything. If he wants to go to Baylor or if he wants to go to Memphis, he is going to do what he thinks is best for himself. Dwon did what was best for himself, and that does have some impact on John because his comfort level is the most important factor. But it doesn't obligate John to go to Baylor."
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i like his game, though.
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College sports fans will pack their cars, spark up the grill, man the tailgate and dive head first into the college football season.
So will a number of basketball prospects as they hit the road for the first loaded visit weekend of the fall recruiting period.
Rivals.com takes a coast-to-coast look at who is visiting where in this week's edition of Fastbreak Friday.
ACC
VISITOR OF THE WEEKEND
Georgia gets the first shot at Derrick Favors, the top in-state prospect since Dwight Howard. [table][tr][td]
[/td] [td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Derrick Favors[/td] [/tr][/table]The five-star prospect from South Atlanta High School is the highest-ranked player to visit Georgia in basketball. The Bulldogs are very strong in the race for the 6-foot-9 center.
The last recruit with such national acclaim to make a visit to Athens was Louis Williams, who committed to UGA in 2005 but opted for the NBA Draft.
Favors won't be in Athens alone. He'll be joined by AAU teammate and close friend Terrance Shannon, also a Rivals150 prospect. The two have manned the front line for the Atlanta Celtics since eighth grade.
The Bulldogs could also be receiving good news from local center Daniel Miller. The 6-foot-10 spring and summer surprise is in the final stages of his recruitment, according to sources close to the situation, and a decision could come soon.
Georgia Tech commitments Glen Rice and Kammeon Holsey enjoyed summer in Atlanta on Thursday night for a visit totheir future college home. The trio caught the Jackets' home opener against Jacksonville State.
Also making it in for the game was Jason Morris, a five-starprospect from the class of 2010. The Augusta, Ga., native leaves for Connecticut next week to return to the Hotchkiss School.
Morris told Rivals.com he is still recovering from a brutal string of injuries in July. He has had seven surgeries on his mouth since a nasty spill at thePeach Jam that broke two teeth and cut his mouth. He also split his hand open in a freak accident at the Peach Jam.
BIG 12
Class of 2010 standout Harrison Barnes made the easy trip IowaState to see the Cyclones football season opener. The five-star prospect will be popular wherever he goes this fall for visits. He's one of the mostrecruited players in the nation regardless of class.
BIG EAST
Louisville will play host to a pair of class of 2010 standouts, JoshSelby and Tobias Harris, for unofficial visits. Each is amongthe top 35 players in the class of 2010.
Durand Scott and Doron Lamb will make it down for the weekend. Both will be on hand for theLouisville-Kentucky football game.
Pittsburgh will play host to local product Tom Droney, a bigguard from the class of 2010, and Houston forward J.J. Richardson,a class of 2009 prospect.
[table][tr][td]
[/td] [td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Class of 2010 guard Josh Selby is set to check out Louisville.[/td] [/tr][/table]Droney is looking hard at the Panthers along with Wake Forest, where he'll visit in September. Richardson is a big-bodied,blue-collar guy who emerged nationally in July with Houston Elite in Las Vegas.
Big man Sam Dower will be at Marquette for an unofficial visit.The Minnesota post player was one of the fast risers from the summer. Another Minnesotan, Ethan Wragge, was also on campus earlier in the week.
Jim Calhoun will welcome longtime Connecticut pledges JamalCoombs and Alex Oriakhi for their official visit.
Georgetown will play host to Nate Lubick, a top 2010 target inthe post, for an unofficial visit.
PAC-10
Three of the top prospects in California will be at UCLA for visits. Five-star guard Michael Snaer will be joined by Tyler Honeycutt and Anthony Stover, both Rivals150 prospects.
Juniors Tyler Lamb, Anthony Brown and Allen Crabbe will also take in the campus.
The Bruins may have the best collection of big-timers coming to town for a visit this weekend. All three seniors are high on the wish list in 2009. It willbe interesting to see if the visit weekend equates into commitments.
The Bay Area will be bustling with big-timers. Both Cal and Stanford have some of their top targets on campus for the weekend.
Matt Vogrich of Illinois will be at Stanford. He starts hisvisit tour in California and ends it in September at UCLA. Cal will play host to New Orleans forward Eddie Ludwig and Clarence Trent of Washington/Nevada for official visits.
It looks like the two programs will be back at it in recruiting once again.
SEC
[table][tr][td]
[/td] [td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Ryan Kelly is part of a big weekend at Vanderbilt.[/td] [/tr][/table]Vanderbilt will welcome its most important recruit on the 2009 board this weekend when North Carolina forward Ryan Kelly comes to town. The Commodores will also have John Jenkins, the most important commitment in the class of 2009 so far, intown for his official visit.
Junior point guard Eric Smith visited South Carolina on Thursdayand will leave Columbia a committed man, according to three sources close to the situation. The Gamecocks hope the good recruiting luck carries over to thisweekend. New Yorker James Padgett and North Carolina wing Garrius Adams will be on campus for visits.
North Carolina wing Earnest Ross will make an official visit toAuburn. There will also be a host of top underclassmen on Auburn's campus this weekend for a camp sponsored by Under Amour.
Florida loves a flair for the dramatic when it comes to visits. That's why top 2010 target Patric Young is on campus. He'll be there along with 2011 commitmentand newly anointed five-star guard Austin Rivers, an early Floridapledge.
LSU will play host to hot junior college prospect Brad Reese.He's a big target for several SEC programs.
OTHER NOTABLES NATIONWIDE
Xavier has a pair of Rivals150 underclassmen on campus this weekend for unofficial visits. In-state prospect J.D. Weatherspoon and Indiana wing Justin Martin will visit the Atlantic 10 powerhouse.
Up state, Kent State is bringing in a pair of Cincinnati big men. Class of 2009 prospects Marquis Horne and Danny McElroy will take official visits to the MAC school.
UAB is the first visit for Florida combo guard Dexter Fieldsthis weekend. Central Florida will play host to Emarri Bailey andcommitment R.J. Scott.
Down in Boca Raton, Fla., Mike Jarvis will start off his fall period with a pair of good-looking, in-state prospects on campus. Greg Gantt and Sheldon Cooley will make official visits.
Sleeper Jerome Hamilton will leave rural South Georgia for theweekend to see Wichita State. He made an unofficial visit earlier in the summer to the Missouri Valley school.
Virginia Commonwealth continues to mine the state of Florida for players. Point guard Ben Eblen will be in Richmond for a visit.
New Mexico will play host to in-state prospect Chad Adams.
Evansville has Kentucky shooter Jacob Jenkins in town.
Junior college prospects Kashiff Carr and Ervin Spuriel will be on the road, too. Carr will visit Houston. Spurielwill be at Arkansas-Little Rock.
So will a number of basketball prospects as they hit the road for the first loaded visit weekend of the fall recruiting period.
Rivals.com takes a coast-to-coast look at who is visiting where in this week's edition of Fastbreak Friday.
ACC
VISITOR OF THE WEEKEND
Georgia gets the first shot at Derrick Favors, the top in-state prospect since Dwight Howard. [table][tr][td]
The last recruit with such national acclaim to make a visit to Athens was Louis Williams, who committed to UGA in 2005 but opted for the NBA Draft.
Favors won't be in Athens alone. He'll be joined by AAU teammate and close friend Terrance Shannon, also a Rivals150 prospect. The two have manned the front line for the Atlanta Celtics since eighth grade.
The Bulldogs could also be receiving good news from local center Daniel Miller. The 6-foot-10 spring and summer surprise is in the final stages of his recruitment, according to sources close to the situation, and a decision could come soon.
Georgia Tech commitments Glen Rice and Kammeon Holsey enjoyed summer in Atlanta on Thursday night for a visit totheir future college home. The trio caught the Jackets' home opener against Jacksonville State.
Also making it in for the game was Jason Morris, a five-starprospect from the class of 2010. The Augusta, Ga., native leaves for Connecticut next week to return to the Hotchkiss School.
Morris told Rivals.com he is still recovering from a brutal string of injuries in July. He has had seven surgeries on his mouth since a nasty spill at thePeach Jam that broke two teeth and cut his mouth. He also split his hand open in a freak accident at the Peach Jam.
BIG 12
Class of 2010 standout Harrison Barnes made the easy trip IowaState to see the Cyclones football season opener. The five-star prospect will be popular wherever he goes this fall for visits. He's one of the mostrecruited players in the nation regardless of class.
BIG EAST
Louisville will play host to a pair of class of 2010 standouts, JoshSelby and Tobias Harris, for unofficial visits. Each is amongthe top 35 players in the class of 2010.
Durand Scott and Doron Lamb will make it down for the weekend. Both will be on hand for theLouisville-Kentucky football game.
Pittsburgh will play host to local product Tom Droney, a bigguard from the class of 2010, and Houston forward J.J. Richardson,a class of 2009 prospect.
[table][tr][td]
Big man Sam Dower will be at Marquette for an unofficial visit.The Minnesota post player was one of the fast risers from the summer. Another Minnesotan, Ethan Wragge, was also on campus earlier in the week.
Jim Calhoun will welcome longtime Connecticut pledges JamalCoombs and Alex Oriakhi for their official visit.
Georgetown will play host to Nate Lubick, a top 2010 target inthe post, for an unofficial visit.
PAC-10
Three of the top prospects in California will be at UCLA for visits. Five-star guard Michael Snaer will be joined by Tyler Honeycutt and Anthony Stover, both Rivals150 prospects.
Juniors Tyler Lamb, Anthony Brown and Allen Crabbe will also take in the campus.
The Bruins may have the best collection of big-timers coming to town for a visit this weekend. All three seniors are high on the wish list in 2009. It willbe interesting to see if the visit weekend equates into commitments.
The Bay Area will be bustling with big-timers. Both Cal and Stanford have some of their top targets on campus for the weekend.
Matt Vogrich of Illinois will be at Stanford. He starts hisvisit tour in California and ends it in September at UCLA. Cal will play host to New Orleans forward Eddie Ludwig and Clarence Trent of Washington/Nevada for official visits.
It looks like the two programs will be back at it in recruiting once again.
SEC
[table][tr][td]
Junior point guard Eric Smith visited South Carolina on Thursdayand will leave Columbia a committed man, according to three sources close to the situation. The Gamecocks hope the good recruiting luck carries over to thisweekend. New Yorker James Padgett and North Carolina wing Garrius Adams will be on campus for visits.
North Carolina wing Earnest Ross will make an official visit toAuburn. There will also be a host of top underclassmen on Auburn's campus this weekend for a camp sponsored by Under Amour.
Florida loves a flair for the dramatic when it comes to visits. That's why top 2010 target Patric Young is on campus. He'll be there along with 2011 commitmentand newly anointed five-star guard Austin Rivers, an early Floridapledge.
LSU will play host to hot junior college prospect Brad Reese.He's a big target for several SEC programs.
OTHER NOTABLES NATIONWIDE
Xavier has a pair of Rivals150 underclassmen on campus this weekend for unofficial visits. In-state prospect J.D. Weatherspoon and Indiana wing Justin Martin will visit the Atlantic 10 powerhouse.
Up state, Kent State is bringing in a pair of Cincinnati big men. Class of 2009 prospects Marquis Horne and Danny McElroy will take official visits to the MAC school.
UAB is the first visit for Florida combo guard Dexter Fieldsthis weekend. Central Florida will play host to Emarri Bailey andcommitment R.J. Scott.
Down in Boca Raton, Fla., Mike Jarvis will start off his fall period with a pair of good-looking, in-state prospects on campus. Greg Gantt and Sheldon Cooley will make official visits.
Sleeper Jerome Hamilton will leave rural South Georgia for theweekend to see Wichita State. He made an unofficial visit earlier in the summer to the Missouri Valley school.
Virginia Commonwealth continues to mine the state of Florida for players. Point guard Ben Eblen will be in Richmond for a visit.
New Mexico will play host to in-state prospect Chad Adams.
Evansville has Kentucky shooter Jacob Jenkins in town.
Junior college prospects Kashiff Carr and Ervin Spuriel will be on the road, too. Carr will visit Houston. Spurielwill be at Arkansas-Little Rock.
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Scheduled sites for College GameDay and Saturday Primetime
Jan. 17___________ Chapel Hill, N.C._______________________________ Miami (Fla.) at North Carolina
Jan. 24___________ South Bend, Ind._______________________________ Connecticut at Notre Dame
Jan. 31___________ Knoxville, Tenn.________________________________ Florida at Tennessee
Feb. 7____________ Spokane, Wash._______________________________ Memphis at Gonzaga
Feb. 14___________ Madison, Wis._________________________________ Ohio State at Wisconsin
Feb. 21___________ Austin, Texas_________________________________ Oklahoma at Texas
Feb. 28___________ Berkeley, Calif.________________________________ UCLA at California
Mar. 7____________ Morgantown, W.V.______________________________ Louisville at West Virginia
Jan. 17___________ Chapel Hill, N.C._______________________________ Miami (Fla.) at North Carolina
Jan. 24___________ South Bend, Ind._______________________________ Connecticut at Notre Dame
Jan. 31___________ Knoxville, Tenn.________________________________ Florida at Tennessee
Feb. 7____________ Spokane, Wash._______________________________ Memphis at Gonzaga
Feb. 14___________ Madison, Wis._________________________________ Ohio State at Wisconsin
Feb. 21___________ Austin, Texas_________________________________ Oklahoma at Texas
Feb. 28___________ Berkeley, Calif.________________________________ UCLA at California
Mar. 7____________ Morgantown, W.V.______________________________ Louisville at West Virginia
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[h1]Summer story lines: Henson and Bradley break out, Jennings goes overseas[/h1]
By Antonio Williams
Scouts Inc.
(Archive)
Updated: August 28, 2008
The summer evaluation period offers a chance for the best prospects to play against one another multiple times. And because these marquee matchupsundoubtedly offer players a chance to make substantial leaps in the individual rankings, the summer makes for some interesting twists and turns on therecruiting trail.
Also, the summer evaluation period has significant impact on college programs that may have been scrambling to fill last-second roster spots in preparationfor the upcoming season. Late bloomers, late qualifiers and other 2008 prospects who have gone unsigned can make an impact on the summer circuit andoccasionally land a scholarship with one of these scrambling programs. Likewise, after watching strong showings from various 2009-and-beyond prospects,colleges also use the summer evaluation period to solicit commitments from coveted players.
These 10 events during the summer evaluation period have significantly impacted college basketball and recruiting:
1. When in Rome
All-world point guard Brandon Jennings, the No. 1 player in the 2008ESPNU 100, struggled in his attempts to score high enough on standardized tests to be eligible to play at Arizona for the upcoming season. Instead of waitingfor the results of his last attempt at the test, Jennings elected to pursue a professional career overseas with an eye on the 2009 NBA draft. Many people willpay attention to how Jennings fares with his professional team, Pallacanestro Virtus Roma, based in Rome, Italy. He could start a trend of talented high schoolprospects spending a year in Europe before taking their games to the NBA. Jennings' decision capped off a tumultuous period at Arizona, during which theWildcats endured a number of dramatic changes on the coaching staff. The Jennings saga even led legendary Arizona coach Lute Olson to swear off recruiting thevaunted one-and-done player.
The Wildcats saw a number of changes on their coaching staff, starting most notably with the tumultuous relationship between Olson and assistant coach KevinO'Neill, who took over last season for Olson when he took time off to deal with personal issues. As Olson returned to the helm, the Wildcats announced thatO'Neill would not return. O'Neill has since taken a job with the Memphis Grizzlies. Former Olson players and longtime assistants Miles Simon and JoshPastner both left the program while another former player, Reggie Geary, returned to the fold.
These changes had significant impact on the Wildcats' recruiting: Top 2009 prospects Abdul Gaddy and Greg Smith both decommitted from the Wildcats and talented 2008 prospectEmmanuel Negedu asked for a release from his scholarship and ultimatelyended up at Tennessee. Furthermore, some Wildcats, including point guard Nic Wise, flirted with transferring. The Wildcats rebounded in a big way during thesummer evaluation period with commitments from talented 2009 prospects MikeMoser, Solomon Hill and Reger Dowell, and in the 2008 class with Garland Junkins and Darnell Shumpert.
2. Bradley blossoms
Reebok
Avery Bradley has steadily improved over the course of 2008.
No player used the summer AAU circuit to catapult in the national player rankings more effectively than the electrifying Avery Bradley, a native of Tacoma, Wash. He started the summer as a top-50prospect, but a number of dominant performances against highly-regarded competition propelled him into the top 15. Bradley used his impressive athletic abilityand scoring prowess to wreak havoc on opposing defenses, producing a number of highlight-reel plays in the process. He used these same gifts to compete at ahigh level defensively.
3. Youth movement
Every year, a number of underclassmen make a name for themselves on the national scene. This summer, three 2011 prospects -- Anthony Wroten, LaQuinton Ross and Michael Gilchrist -- busted out. All three players displayedmaturity beyond their years, with the play and poise typically reserved for grizzled upperclassmen, not guys who just completed their freshman year of highschool.
Ross has the ability to score in a variety of ways, making him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, buthe also has enough range on his jumper to connect consistently from 3-point range. Gilchrist has the versatility that allows him to play a number of perimeterpositions including the point guard slot. He scores very well in the midrange area in addition to his ability to get to the rim. Gilchrist also plays defensewith great effort. Wroten has the versatility to play multiple positions, including the lead guard. He also gets to the rim with relative ease and will connectfrom the perimeter. As they mature, these players will have to continue to challenge themselves to improve and fight complacency.
4. Ascension to Blue Heaven
Similar to Avery Bradley, John Henson, a 2009 prospect committed towear the Carolina blue, also used strong, consistent play throughout the summer to ascend to a top-3 prospect in the ESPNU 100. Henson has very impressiveathleticism that allows him to dominate the game above the rim for long stretches. Although he does not rank as a dead-eye perimeter shooter, Henson has theability to connect on jumpers from 3-point territory. He uses impeccable timing, great length and good leaping ability to block shots effectively. Henson alsopasses the ball and handles it well for his size. Henson's upside may outrank his impressive ability at this point in his career. Added strength, muscleand improved skills will make Henson a very good player at North Carolina.
5. The Crean rises
After taking over in Bloomington under less than ideal circumstances, Indiana coach Tom Crean built an impressive wave of momentum during the summer.Following multiple player defections, Crean found himself with a number of available scholarships, and he has done an effective job of filling the open slotson his roster. During the summer evaluation period, Indiana had the wherewithal to snare commitments from two very talented 2008 guards in Verdell Jones and Malik Story. The Hoosiers also gained a pledge from talented 2009 guard Maurice Creek and 2011 guard Matt Carlino. Crean also inked a new 10-year deal, which should provide thestability that Crean will need as he restores order and honor at Indiana.
6. Wolves' den in Georgia
[+] http://sports.espn.go.com...3557722&story=3557577','Popup','width=440,height=750,scrollbars=no,noresize'); return false;">Enlarge
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Jason O Watson/ESPN.com
Richard Howell is one of two Georgia prospects heading to N.C. State.
North Carolina State coach Sidney Lowe has established a recruiting presence for his Wolfpack in the talent-rich Atlanta metro area. Lowe went to Wheeler,Ga., last year and came out with talented power forward J.J. Hickson. Hickson went on to play one season at N.C. State before becoming a first-round pick inthe 2008 NBA draft. For his 2009 recruiting class, Lowe returned to Wheeler to secure a commitment from another power forward, coming out of Georgia this timewith Richard Howell. Both Howell and Hickson played their AAU basketballwith the nationally known Worldwide Renegades organization, based in Georgia. North Carolina State also got a verbal promise from another Georgia guard andWorldwide Renegades player, Lorenzo Brown.
7. Wreckin' shop on the recruiting trail
Coach Paul Hewitt and his Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech have as many as seven scholarships open for the 2009 class, and Hewitt has done a very goodjob in rounding out his roster with talented players. During the summer evaluation period, the Yellow Jackets racked up a formidable stable of commits fortheir 2009 class. Hewitt has one of the more impressive early hauls, with pledges coming from four 2009 prospects, including ESPNU 100 prospects Kammeon Holsey and Mfon Udofia. Talented perimeter prospects Glen Rice Jr. and Brian Oliver join the two top-50 players. If Rice Jr. and Oliver can come closeto duplicating the success of their namesakes (Oliver's father formed Lethal Weapon 3 with Kenny Anderson and Dennis Scott at Georgia Tech in the 1990s) inconjunction with the highly regarded ESPNU 100 players, the Yellow Jackets could return to elite status in the ACC.
8. Up and down the mountain
West Virginia Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins has had some recruiting successes mixed in with some slight setbacks during the summer evaluation period. Onthe negative side of the ledger, West Virginia lost one of its 2008 recruits, Roscoe Davis, to academic difficulties. Davis will spend another season in prepschool with his sights set on gaining admission to West Virginia in time for the 2009-10 season. One-time Mountaineer commit Keith DeWitt reneged on his verbal pledge to West Virginia and ultimately endedup committing to Missouri and coach Mike Anderson.
Huggins, never one to remain at the foot of the mountain for long, started to make his way back up to the peak by securing commitments in the 2009 class. Hereceived one pledge from Dalton Pepper, a guard who will mesh perfectlywith Huggins' intense style of play. Rugged inside player DanJennings, another perfect match for Huggins' brand of ball, also made Morgantown his destination of choice during the summer evaluation period. Withother highly coveted players such as Chris Braswell and Aaric Murray considering West Virginia, Huggins could have his team at the apexof the Big East soon.
9. Green(berg) pastures in Blacksburg
Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg enjoyed a very productive summer evaluation period on the recruiting trail. He corralled commitments from three top-notchprospects -- two coming from the Class of 2009, and one who will enroll at Virginia Tech in 2010. The 2009 players -- Cadarian Raines and Manny Atkins -- provide the Hokies with outstanding athleticism and length,which should help Greenberg in his intense defensive style of play. Both players, with their aforementioned athletic ability, should excel in open-courtscoring opportunities created by good defense. The 2010 player, guard Jarrell Eddie, has the chance to develop into a special scorer from theperimeter. His offensive versatility and elite athleticism make him a very tough cover for opposing defenses. With these solid recruits in the fold, Greenberghas the ammunition to convince other talented studs that greener pastures do reside in Blacksburg.
10. Trouble in paradise?
During the summer evaluation period, South Florida coach Stan Heath found out just how hot paradise could get when he lost three recruits from his 2008class in Teeng Akol, Dwan McMillan and Eugene Teague. Heath recovered by signing the talented but nomadic Augustus Gilchrist -- South Florida was the third East Coast school he flirtedwith, after decommitting from Maryland and Virginia Tech -- for the 2008 season. Heath also added Justin Leemow as part of his 2008 recruiting group to help ease the loss of thethree departed recruits. The Bulls also went to Michigan and came away with Jordan Dumars for their 2009 class.
Antonio Williams is a recruiting coordinator for Scouts Inc. He previously worked as an NBA scout for Marty Blake Associates.
By Antonio Williams
Scouts Inc.
(Archive)
Updated: August 28, 2008
- Comment
- http://sendtofriend.espn....e%20summer&id=3557577','sendtofriend','noresizable,noscrollbars,width=400,height=500');return false;">Email
The summer evaluation period offers a chance for the best prospects to play against one another multiple times. And because these marquee matchupsundoubtedly offer players a chance to make substantial leaps in the individual rankings, the summer makes for some interesting twists and turns on therecruiting trail.
Also, the summer evaluation period has significant impact on college programs that may have been scrambling to fill last-second roster spots in preparationfor the upcoming season. Late bloomers, late qualifiers and other 2008 prospects who have gone unsigned can make an impact on the summer circuit andoccasionally land a scholarship with one of these scrambling programs. Likewise, after watching strong showings from various 2009-and-beyond prospects,colleges also use the summer evaluation period to solicit commitments from coveted players.
These 10 events during the summer evaluation period have significantly impacted college basketball and recruiting:
1. When in Rome
All-world point guard Brandon Jennings, the No. 1 player in the 2008ESPNU 100, struggled in his attempts to score high enough on standardized tests to be eligible to play at Arizona for the upcoming season. Instead of waitingfor the results of his last attempt at the test, Jennings elected to pursue a professional career overseas with an eye on the 2009 NBA draft. Many people willpay attention to how Jennings fares with his professional team, Pallacanestro Virtus Roma, based in Rome, Italy. He could start a trend of talented high schoolprospects spending a year in Europe before taking their games to the NBA. Jennings' decision capped off a tumultuous period at Arizona, during which theWildcats endured a number of dramatic changes on the coaching staff. The Jennings saga even led legendary Arizona coach Lute Olson to swear off recruiting thevaunted one-and-done player.
The Wildcats saw a number of changes on their coaching staff, starting most notably with the tumultuous relationship between Olson and assistant coach KevinO'Neill, who took over last season for Olson when he took time off to deal with personal issues. As Olson returned to the helm, the Wildcats announced thatO'Neill would not return. O'Neill has since taken a job with the Memphis Grizzlies. Former Olson players and longtime assistants Miles Simon and JoshPastner both left the program while another former player, Reggie Geary, returned to the fold.
These changes had significant impact on the Wildcats' recruiting: Top 2009 prospects Abdul Gaddy and Greg Smith both decommitted from the Wildcats and talented 2008 prospectEmmanuel Negedu asked for a release from his scholarship and ultimatelyended up at Tennessee. Furthermore, some Wildcats, including point guard Nic Wise, flirted with transferring. The Wildcats rebounded in a big way during thesummer evaluation period with commitments from talented 2009 prospects MikeMoser, Solomon Hill and Reger Dowell, and in the 2008 class with Garland Junkins and Darnell Shumpert.
2. Bradley blossoms
Reebok
Avery Bradley has steadily improved over the course of 2008.
No player used the summer AAU circuit to catapult in the national player rankings more effectively than the electrifying Avery Bradley, a native of Tacoma, Wash. He started the summer as a top-50prospect, but a number of dominant performances against highly-regarded competition propelled him into the top 15. Bradley used his impressive athletic abilityand scoring prowess to wreak havoc on opposing defenses, producing a number of highlight-reel plays in the process. He used these same gifts to compete at ahigh level defensively.
3. Youth movement
Every year, a number of underclassmen make a name for themselves on the national scene. This summer, three 2011 prospects -- Anthony Wroten, LaQuinton Ross and Michael Gilchrist -- busted out. All three players displayedmaturity beyond their years, with the play and poise typically reserved for grizzled upperclassmen, not guys who just completed their freshman year of highschool.
Ross has the ability to score in a variety of ways, making him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, buthe also has enough range on his jumper to connect consistently from 3-point range. Gilchrist has the versatility that allows him to play a number of perimeterpositions including the point guard slot. He scores very well in the midrange area in addition to his ability to get to the rim. Gilchrist also plays defensewith great effort. Wroten has the versatility to play multiple positions, including the lead guard. He also gets to the rim with relative ease and will connectfrom the perimeter. As they mature, these players will have to continue to challenge themselves to improve and fight complacency.
4. Ascension to Blue Heaven
Similar to Avery Bradley, John Henson, a 2009 prospect committed towear the Carolina blue, also used strong, consistent play throughout the summer to ascend to a top-3 prospect in the ESPNU 100. Henson has very impressiveathleticism that allows him to dominate the game above the rim for long stretches. Although he does not rank as a dead-eye perimeter shooter, Henson has theability to connect on jumpers from 3-point territory. He uses impeccable timing, great length and good leaping ability to block shots effectively. Henson alsopasses the ball and handles it well for his size. Henson's upside may outrank his impressive ability at this point in his career. Added strength, muscleand improved skills will make Henson a very good player at North Carolina.
5. The Crean rises
After taking over in Bloomington under less than ideal circumstances, Indiana coach Tom Crean built an impressive wave of momentum during the summer.Following multiple player defections, Crean found himself with a number of available scholarships, and he has done an effective job of filling the open slotson his roster. During the summer evaluation period, Indiana had the wherewithal to snare commitments from two very talented 2008 guards in Verdell Jones and Malik Story. The Hoosiers also gained a pledge from talented 2009 guard Maurice Creek and 2011 guard Matt Carlino. Crean also inked a new 10-year deal, which should provide thestability that Crean will need as he restores order and honor at Indiana.
6. Wolves' den in Georgia
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Richard Howell is one of two Georgia prospects heading to N.C. State.
North Carolina State coach Sidney Lowe has established a recruiting presence for his Wolfpack in the talent-rich Atlanta metro area. Lowe went to Wheeler,Ga., last year and came out with talented power forward J.J. Hickson. Hickson went on to play one season at N.C. State before becoming a first-round pick inthe 2008 NBA draft. For his 2009 recruiting class, Lowe returned to Wheeler to secure a commitment from another power forward, coming out of Georgia this timewith Richard Howell. Both Howell and Hickson played their AAU basketballwith the nationally known Worldwide Renegades organization, based in Georgia. North Carolina State also got a verbal promise from another Georgia guard andWorldwide Renegades player, Lorenzo Brown.
7. Wreckin' shop on the recruiting trail
Coach Paul Hewitt and his Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech have as many as seven scholarships open for the 2009 class, and Hewitt has done a very goodjob in rounding out his roster with talented players. During the summer evaluation period, the Yellow Jackets racked up a formidable stable of commits fortheir 2009 class. Hewitt has one of the more impressive early hauls, with pledges coming from four 2009 prospects, including ESPNU 100 prospects Kammeon Holsey and Mfon Udofia. Talented perimeter prospects Glen Rice Jr. and Brian Oliver join the two top-50 players. If Rice Jr. and Oliver can come closeto duplicating the success of their namesakes (Oliver's father formed Lethal Weapon 3 with Kenny Anderson and Dennis Scott at Georgia Tech in the 1990s) inconjunction with the highly regarded ESPNU 100 players, the Yellow Jackets could return to elite status in the ACC.
8. Up and down the mountain
West Virginia Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins has had some recruiting successes mixed in with some slight setbacks during the summer evaluation period. Onthe negative side of the ledger, West Virginia lost one of its 2008 recruits, Roscoe Davis, to academic difficulties. Davis will spend another season in prepschool with his sights set on gaining admission to West Virginia in time for the 2009-10 season. One-time Mountaineer commit Keith DeWitt reneged on his verbal pledge to West Virginia and ultimately endedup committing to Missouri and coach Mike Anderson.
Huggins, never one to remain at the foot of the mountain for long, started to make his way back up to the peak by securing commitments in the 2009 class. Hereceived one pledge from Dalton Pepper, a guard who will mesh perfectlywith Huggins' intense style of play. Rugged inside player DanJennings, another perfect match for Huggins' brand of ball, also made Morgantown his destination of choice during the summer evaluation period. Withother highly coveted players such as Chris Braswell and Aaric Murray considering West Virginia, Huggins could have his team at the apexof the Big East soon.
9. Green(berg) pastures in Blacksburg
Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg enjoyed a very productive summer evaluation period on the recruiting trail. He corralled commitments from three top-notchprospects -- two coming from the Class of 2009, and one who will enroll at Virginia Tech in 2010. The 2009 players -- Cadarian Raines and Manny Atkins -- provide the Hokies with outstanding athleticism and length,which should help Greenberg in his intense defensive style of play. Both players, with their aforementioned athletic ability, should excel in open-courtscoring opportunities created by good defense. The 2010 player, guard Jarrell Eddie, has the chance to develop into a special scorer from theperimeter. His offensive versatility and elite athleticism make him a very tough cover for opposing defenses. With these solid recruits in the fold, Greenberghas the ammunition to convince other talented studs that greener pastures do reside in Blacksburg.
10. Trouble in paradise?
During the summer evaluation period, South Florida coach Stan Heath found out just how hot paradise could get when he lost three recruits from his 2008class in Teeng Akol, Dwan McMillan and Eugene Teague. Heath recovered by signing the talented but nomadic Augustus Gilchrist -- South Florida was the third East Coast school he flirtedwith, after decommitting from Maryland and Virginia Tech -- for the 2008 season. Heath also added Justin Leemow as part of his 2008 recruiting group to help ease the loss of thethree departed recruits. The Bulls also went to Michigan and came away with Jordan Dumars for their 2009 class.
Antonio Williams is a recruiting coordinator for Scouts Inc. He previously worked as an NBA scout for Marty Blake Associates.
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I really hope Wall ends up in Kansas or Oregon
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My man Tobias Harris is really blowing up .. LI!!!
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I hope he waits till the spring or summer to decide..
Then I can send him on the right path.
Then I can send him on the right path.
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I'm friends with someone on Team Breakdown, hes say Boynton wants to go to Duke
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:57 mark
Can't embed this one but look were the fool took off from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEZ96AGBftk&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/wa...Z96AGBftk&feature=related
Can't embed this one but look were the fool took off from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEZ96AGBftk&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/wa...Z96AGBftk&feature=related
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That boy got a whole 'nother gear and some long *$# arms
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He's not going to Siena allen....
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Wall seems like a classic Callipari player to me. Really wouldn't be surprised if he ended up there.
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I would like to say that while not satisfied with Bruce Weber's recruiting im happy hes improved.
I think he is great as a coach and its nice to have more talent to coach. Illinois is hopefully back on track.
I think he is great as a coach and its nice to have more talent to coach. Illinois is hopefully back on track.
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in my mind,
tell your boy jr. to send some tix out to long island.
tell your boy jr. to send some tix out to long island.
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We will gladly take him at UK....09 is already looking great as long as pat stays....
dacomeup
Supporter
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I think he is pulling in quite a class of guards really. DJ Richardson is going to be verrry nice. Then with guys like Jereme Richmond and Crandall Head. Howcould you not be satisfied? You see what he did in the past with the 3 guard set. Locking down the state is the first step in maintaining a top program,especially a state full of talent like Illinois. He could compete for the Big Ten Title year in and out just by making sure he gets the best players out of thestate.
