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Recruiting News

Most recent coverage

TAYLOR KING: LESSONS LEARNED
June 22, 2010

There was a time when Taylor King was one of the most highly prized young prospects in American basketball. He wasn’t merely a local hero, he was considered a foil for the other established young superstar in the Class of 2007, O.J. Mayo.

But now, his basketball career may be finished. King’s future on the hardwood remains uncertain after he quit Villanova’s team under mysterious circumstances. Read story

IF SCORING IS WRONG, DON'T SIGN BOATRIGHT
June 21, 2010

One of last weekend’s most explosive backcourt scorers was IL PG Ryan Boatright. Boatright at times was a dominant presence on the floor, and in three of his five camp games he scored at least 18 points, and his points per game average placed him at No. 6 at the camp.

Boatright is a smallish guard who nevertheless succeeds based on his quickness and ability to shoot the ball effectively to three-point territory. Though not a classic playmaker, he definitely handles and passes plenty well enough to spend his college years at point guard. Read story

NBA CAMP: DAY TWO REPORT
June 19, 2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The second day of the NBA Top 100 Camp brought into view the four teams we hadn’t seen yet, and included among that group were some players who will be factors in our next set of rankings, both in the classes of 2011 and 2012.

The camp concludes on Sunday, and certainly there have been some guys who have struggled against the high-profile competition — and that’s precisely the value of the experience for both players and scouts. Read story

NBA CAMP: DAY ONE REPORT
June 17, 2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The loaded NBA Top 100 Camp tipped off Thursday morning at the University of Virginia, and approximately 100 players will compete over the next few days for pre-July jockeying position in the national rankings.

There were a strong number of intriguing matchups on day one, particularly at point guard. We also were able to get a look at some fast-rising players for the first time to gauged where they stand among their peers. College coaches aren’t allowed to be in attendance, but they obviously are following the proceedings here with keen interest. Read story

NBA CAMP ON TAP
June 16, 2010

Over the next several days, the grassroots nation’s full attention will turn toward Charlottesville, Va. The NBAPA’s Top 100 Camp has become arguably the most talented event of the entire spring and summer, and understandably its impact weighs very heavily in the minds of scouts.

This year the camp is getting thinned somewhat by the simultaneous operation of USA Basketball — which is utilizing the services of most elite seniors — but there nevertheless will be loads of talent on hand at UVa’s John Paul Jones Arena. Read story

JONES PREPARED FOR BIG SUMMER
June 15, 2010

Jalen Jones didn’t enter the recent Pangos All-American Camp as one of the bigger stars at the event. In fact, many had never seen or heard of him at all. But after three days of solid play against a variety of established high-major prospects, Jones is now set to make a big statement over the next six weeks.

A 6-6 WF at Mansfield (TX) Timberview, Jones is a big-time athlete who — as we noted from the event — attacks the rim violently for slams. He’s a one-footed leaper who excels in transition yet also possesses the early makings of a halfcourt offensive game. On the whole, he had the look of a potential top-100 prospect. Read story

SCARLET KNIGHTS MAKE SOLID PICKUP
June 14, 2010

Rutgers gained a Class of 2012 commitment, picking up the services of Jordan Goodman, a 6-8 BF at Camp Springs (MD) Progressive Christian. Previously a Georgetown pledge, Goodman backed off and now is headed to one of the Hoyas’ Big East rivals.

We most recently watched Goodman at the Pangos All-American Camp, and he has a versatile game that includes strong ball skills on the perimeter and well as good size for playing closer to the rim. He’ll need to get stronger and to become more consistent, but without question he’s a fine pickup for first-year Rutgers coach Mike Rice. Read story

KANSAS AND THE STATE OF COLLEGE HOOPS
June 10, 2010

By now you’ve seen the reports: Nebraska is expected to leave the Big 12 in favor of the Big Ten, and it’s considered likely by many that Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will depart the Big 12 for the Pac-10. Already, Colorado has announced its intention to move to the Pac-10.

While conference allegiances were expected to shift, the changes were expected to unfold more gradually. Colorado, which was considered marginal for the Pac-10 due to the possibility that Baylor would be invited instead, practically leapt out the window to announce its departure. Read story

GRAY CONTINUES TO COLLECT OFFERS
June 9, 2010

NJ WG Vaughn Gray has been a solid performer during the spring and early summer for the Playaz Basketball Club — which has been outstanding on the Nike circuit this year — and carried that momentum into the Pangos All-American Camp last weekend.

Gray tends not score prolifically, but rather has a balanced game that in sum gives him the ability to make an impact at the high-major college level. He doesn’t excel in any one area, but he handles, shoots, defends and scores in transition well enough to assist the Big East and other major schools presently on his trail. Read story

PANGOS CAMP: FINAL RECAP
June 8, 2010

We’re back on the East Coast and ready to move into more summer action, but prior to scooting ahead let’s revisit last weekend’s Pangos All-American Camp once more to discuss a few players we didn’t get to mention during our coverage from Long Beach.

As a general rule all-star games tend not to be worth much as predictive tools, but there were some highlight moments as well as additional action in regular camp games prior to the final contests. Read story

PANGOS CAMP: DAY TWO REPORT
June 6, 2010

LONG BEACH, Calif. — After an abbreviated schedule on the first day of the event, the Pangos All-American Camp set into full swing on Saturday. As has been the case at several events this year, some of the best players in attendance were underclassmen rather than seniors, as one typically would expect.

That said, there were some pretty good seniors as well, including a few we haven’t covered previously. Read story

PANGOS CAMP: DAY ONE REPORT
June 5, 2010

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Pangos All-American Camp once is again is loaded this year, and Friday night — during the graveyard shift for these East Coast native eyes — loads of talent rolled into Cabrillo High School.

One of the defining characteristics of this year’s camp is the amount of size on hand. There are many of the top 100 campers who are 6-6 or taller, an impressive feat for the camp given the lack of size generally in the Class of 2011. Read story

FARRELL HAS RAPIDLY EXPANDING LIST
June 3, 2010

Among the most entertaining floor generals in the Class of 2012 is Yogi Farrell, the 5-10 PG at Indianapolis (IN) Tudor. Farrell competes with the Indiana Elite and was a dynamic penetrator, scorer and playmaker at last weekend’s Tournament of Champions.

Though somewhat undersized for the college level, Farrell possesses a solid frame and has the explosive quickness to compensate for his lack of height. In addition to his raw physical gifts, he also is a clever scorer and capable long-distance shooter. Read story

JOHNSON MAKING MOVE TOWARD TOP 100
June 3, 2010

One of last weekend’s success stories at the Tournament of Champions was Durand Johnson, the 6-5 WG/WF from Baltimore who put up big numbers for Cecil Kirk throughout the weekend.

Johnson is a good athlete with explosive shooting ability who, despite a tendency to force some shots, still manages to produce points at a reasonably efficient clip. Not only that, he can put the ball on the floor and either finish or draw free throw opportunities. Read story

TOC RECAP: BRICK'S TAKE
June 1, 2010

We placed ourselves in UNC’s Smith Center throughout last weekend’s Tournament of Champions, watching parts of a total of 43 games. Below our focus will be upon the best performances we witnessed. Interestingly, some of the very best prospects were also disappointing performers, at times.

To our surprise (and probably everybody else’s too), arguably the most consistently dominant player was Derrick Gordon, a 6-4, 195-pound rising senior (Class of 2011) WG from Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick who led the Long Island Lightning to the championship of the 17-under National bracket, which was for the first-place finishers in all of the pools. Read story

TOC: FINAL REPORT
May 31, 2010

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Tournament of Champions concluded on Sunday with the Long Island Lightning standing victorious in the final against the Michigan Hurricanes, two unlikely contenders to face off in the championship contest.

Meanwhile, there were some surprises in the underclass divisions as well, and here we’re taking a final look at some guys who warrant attention based on both Sunday and during the course of the weekend. Read story

UPDATED 2012 RANKINGS, 2013 WATCH LIST

Heading into this weekend's huge events, we've made early summer rankings for the Class of 2012 and expanded our watch list of rising sophomores (Class of 2013). Much has been written and said about the strength of the frontcourt prospects in the rising junior class, and we definitely agree.

The top of the class is dominated by big men, and throughout the spring and early summer events we saw more big men in the 2012 class who, though not yet elite, boast high-major potential as well. Click on either link below to see the latest, with the understanding that these rankings and lists will change and expand rapidly the next two months. Class of 2012 - Class of 2013.

CLASS OF 2011: NEW RANKINGS

Rankings for underclassmen obviously will be very fluid throughout the remainder of the spring and summer, but it's time to update the Class of 2011 prior to the heat of summer play. Our look at rising seniors includes all that happened during the high school season as well as major spring events that have occurred since April.

There's no longer a consensus No. 1 in the class, but Michael Gilchrist remains our choice for the top spot — at least for now. Check out the full top 100 and new players to watch, plus updated school lists, below! Class of 2011: New Rankings

CLASS OF 2010: FINAL RANKINGS

We've fully tabulated our information gathered throughout the 2009-10 high school season as well as utilized input from the various postseason games, and the result is our final set of rankings for the Class of 2010.

Harrison Barnes remains the No. 1 player in the class, but there is substantial movement elsewhere in the top 25. Meanwhile, some new faces emerged in the top 200, and we've make comprehensive updates to the latest signings and school lists as well. Enjoy! Final Senior Class Rankings

TOC: DAY TWO REPORT
May 29, 2010

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In our first look at this year’s Tournament of Champions we mentioned that the strength of the day was the performance of underclassmen, and that point was driven home further on day two.

To be sure, there was some very good play by guys in the rising senior Class of 2011 — still, the greatest impression was made by those who are at least a couple years away from their high school graduation. We spent our day in Raleigh and Durham, focusing on some off-the-beaten-path matchups that occasionally proved to be tremendous. Read story

TOC: DAY ONE REPORT
May 28, 2010

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Tournament of Champions once again is taking place at the home of UNC, Duke and N.C. State, and this year’s field may be the best in several years for underclass talent. Last year, guys such as Kyrie Irving launched big summers thanks in part to this event, and this year we expect something similar.

There were some monstrous performances from monstrous prospects on day one, some underachievers, with a few surprises as well. Read story

TRANSFER WIRE GETS HOT
May 25, 2010

There was major transfer news at some elite programs. North Carolina was involved in each move, the good news coming in the form of Alabama transfer center Justin Knox. The 6-9, 240-pound big man finished his junior season with the Crimson Tide in 2009-10 and, in an uncommon move for a junior, opted to transfer.

Adding to the intrigue was that he is on track to graduate from ‘Bama this summer, and if he does he’ll be eligible next season. He isn’t a big scorer but is a solid athlete and does possess the ability to plug UNC’s interior thinness. Read story

JONES PICKS KENTUCKY
May 20, 2010

Let the controversy rage. All-American senior Terrence Jones, who a couple weeks ago announced for Washington at an emotional press conference and then backed off that pledge immediately thereafter, now has changed his allegiance to Kentucky.

The Wildcats, desperately needing frontcourt help, were able to win out over the hometown school and many other major programs. Read story

ROUNDUP: NIKE TAKE TWO, AND TRAGEDY
May 17, 2010

As part of Nike’s new format for league play, the company hosted an event in Houston this past weekend, featuring the same teams that played at the first leg (formerly known as the Boo Williams Invitational) in April.

But first, some bad news. Class of 2010 prospect and Texas A&M recruit Tobi Oyedeji died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident over the weekend, following his senior prom. There’s not much more to add, but obviously the loss to the Aggies family extends well beyond basketball. Read story

MID-MAY RUMINATIONS
May 11, 2010

This spring has been like a lot of other springs. We’ve seen all the head coaching changes, assistant coaching changes, and lots of commitments from both the 2010 and 2011 classes.

Along with that, a slew of events continue to take place throughout the country, and big weekends are upcoming at the end of the month over Memorial Day and with the beginning of the major individual camps in early June. Read story

TIGERS, OTHERS GET PICKUPS
May 5, 2010

Auburn will receive the services of homegrown big man Luke Cothron. Formerly an N.C. State commitment who prepped in North Carolina, Cothron is a signature recruit for new Tigers coach Tony Barbee.

Cothron is a very good athlete and someone who, when going full tilt, is one of the best rebounders in the Class of 2010. He’s definitely the kind of player Barbee can build around as he shapes the roster to his preference. Read story

CARSON HAS GROWING LIST OF SCHOOLS
May 5, 2010

Jahii Carson is one of the fastest-rising names on the travel circuit this spring. The 5-10 PG at Mesa (AZ) High proved last weekend at the Jayhawk Invitational to be both an outstanding scorer and an improved playmaker.

Carson played better and better as the event progressed, and now he appears to be a potential top-50 national prospect in the Class of 2011. Carson’s recruitment has begun to take shape as well, and he’s sporting several scholarship offers as we begin heading toward the summer period. Read story

SPIECE RUN 'N SLAM UPDATE
May 3, 2010

We spent this past weekend covering the Jayhawk Invitational in Kansas, and another significant event took place in the Midwest: the Spiece Run ‘N Slam Classic in Fort Wayne, Ind.

There were some excellent prospects in attendance there as well, and one new name to emerge was that of Anthony Davis, a 6-9 junior C at Chicago (IL) Perspectives Charter. Given the dearth of big men in the Class of 2011, Davis already is becoming a very hot commodity. Read story

JAYHAWK INVITATIONAL: DAY TWO REPORT
May 1, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Our second look at the Jayhawk Invitational yielded outstanding returns. We spent much of our time focusing on underclass prospects, while still maintaining contact with the Class of 2011 as well.

There was no one player who dominated on day two, but there were a lot of guys who caught our attention. New names emerged in the 2012, 2013 and even 2014 classes. Read story

JAYHAWK INVITATIONAL: DAY ONE REPORT
April. 30, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Our travels this weekend take us to home city of the University of Kansas and the Jayhawk Invitational, where a healthy number of strong Midwestern teams will battle of the tournament championship.

But the event can claim a national draw as well, and the marquee team in attendance on Friday was California’s Dream Vision squad. Read story

JONES (SORT OF) CHOOSES HUSKIES
April 30, 2010

We’re at the Jayhawk Invitational this weekend, but in a bit of breaking news, top-15 BF Terrence Jones committed to Washington on Friday. Committed, but not signed. Jones did not ink his letter of intent and reportedly spoke to Kentucky coach John Calipari for an extended period following his emotional press conference. At this point, he is technically committed to U-W yet also considering the Wildcats (and others?) in addition to Washington. Make sense?

Jones’ list of finalists also included Kansas, Washington, Oregon, UCLA and Oklahoma. He enjoyed a terrific postseason and certainly deserved his status as a McDonald’s All-American. He has been a consistent winner as well, so there's no reason to believe his excellence will do anything but continue at the next level, wherever that is. Read story

LESLIE CHOOSES WOLFPACK
April 28, 2010

N.C. State landed yet another terrific Class of 2010 talent in NC BF C.J. Leslie, a hometown native who chose the Wolfpack over Kentucky and many others.

Leslie made an early commitment to the ‘Pack a couple summers ago, but he backed off that pledge to reconsider his options. Leslie is a wondrous athlete and earned a spot in the McDonald’s All-American Game thanks to his immense talent, and in addition to hops and length he also has blossoming skills. Read story

MORE PLEDGES, NEWS
April 27, 2010

As the spring rolls on, the number of commitments — made from both the senior and junior classes — continues to pour forth. Starting at Gonzaga, 6-2 WG/PG Gary Bell of Kent (WA) Kentridge gave the Bulldogs a very nice early pledge.

Bell is a smooth scorer who impressed us at the recent Boo Williams Invitational playing with Seattle Rotary Select. Here’s a look at what we wrote: Read story

BLUE DEVILS, OTHERS GET COMMITS
April 26, 2010

Duke added big man help from the Class of 2011, getting a commitment from Tyler Adams, a 6-9 C at Brandon (MS) High. Though not widely considered an elite talent in the junior class, the Blue Devils like every other program is dealing with the lack of high-major big men available.

To that end, Adams gives Duke a legitimate center and enables the Devils to focus on other recruiting needs.

JOHNSON HAS GROWING NUMBER OF ADMIRERS
April 23, 2010

Kedren Johnson is one of the more intriguing backcourt prospects in the Class of 2011. Though not a huge name nationally, he is leading the charge for the Georgia Stars and recently played well at the Boo Williams Invitational.

Johnson, a 6-3 PG/WG at Lewisburg (TN) Marshall County, has excellent size for the backcourt if you think he’s a point guard, and if not then he has reasonable size for the wing. He has a solid frame (that he needs to tone) so he should develop into powerful driver and defender, and his offense is better than many of his peers. Read story

'CATS GET ANOTHER STUD
April 22, 2010

It’s pretty clear you don’t want to bet against John Calipari in the recruitment of big-time guards. Kentucky’s coach in recent years has successfully brought in Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall, star 2010 recruit Brandon Knight and now another: No. 1 junior PG Marquis Teague.

Teague serves two purposes for UK: 1) He continues the extraordinary lineage of elite guards making the procession to Calipari; and 2) His decision smacks rival Louisville with vicious effect. Read story

JAYHAWKS GET YOUNG BIG
April 21, 2010

Kansas landed its first Class of 2012 commitment, getting the nod from Zach Peters. A 6-9 BF at Plano (TX) Prestonwood Christian, Peters chose the Jayhawks over Texas and interest from several other elite programs.

We most recently watched Peters at the Boo Williams Invitational with Team Texas earlier this month. He’s a muscular big man who possesses outstanding mobility and a very solid foundation of ball skills and fundamentals. He isn’t a power player nor a true face-up four as a scorer, but he does a lot of things well and obviously has lots of time to improve. Read story

WHITE'S STOCK CONTINUES TO CLIMB
April 20, 2010

Virginia wing Andrew White continues his rise up the national charts. Playing last weekend for victorious Team Loaded at the Pittsburgh Jam Fest, White was a consistent scorer in transition, off the bounce and from long-range.

What we like about White is his ability to step into spaces and fire off medium-range jumpers comfortably, even if his release is somewhat off his shoulder. He’s a good, not great athlete who lacks a big-time first step but nevertheless makes some nice scoring moves thanks to timing and a solid handle. Read story

PITT JAM FEST: DAY TWO REPORT
April 18, 2010

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The second day of competition at the Pittsburgh Jam Fest picked up where the first left off, and we were treated to an excellent session of players and teams advancing through pool play and into the playoff rounds.

As has become a tradition at this event, some talented young players emerged on day two. Without question, Sunday’s finale is shaping up to be very competitive as well. Read story

PITT JAM FEST: DAY ONE REPORT
April 17, 2010

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The beautiful city of Pittsburgh is playing host to the Hoopgroup’s Jam Fest this weekend, and day one’s abbreviated schedule produced more fireworks than we’d expected.

The obvious focus here is on players from the Northeast, South and Upper Midwest, and certainly each of those elements is represented in full force. Read story

PITT JAM FEST SET FOR WEEKEND
April 16, 2010

Last weekend was the Boo Williams Invitational, and this weekend we travel to the Hoopgroup’s Pittsburgh Jam Fest. This will be our third consecutive year attending this event, and in previous years players such as Thomas Robinson (a freshman at Kansas this past season) and Justin Coleman (a top-35 senior this year) have emerged.

There will be more touted players there as well, but discovery is what this weekend will be about. For that reason we can’t handicap what matchups will or won’t be great, but that’s all part of the fun! Be sure to stop by during the weekend to see our coverage. Read story

COMMITS GALORE! 'CATS WIN BIG
April 14, 2010

With the possible exception of championship-reveling Duke, there’s no one you’d rather be today in college basketball than Kentucky during the opening of the spring signing period. The Wildcats received a pair of top-five commitments, setting them up for continued dominance in the SEC and nationally.

The first guy to announce was sensational FL combo guard Brandon Knight, who picked UK over UConn, Miami, Kansas, Syracuse and many others. Knight is a consensus top-five talent with blazing speed and dominant scoring ability both from the perimeter and on drives. UK also picked up a pledge from the nation's top junior, Michael Gilchrist. Read story

BOO WRAPUP: A LOOK BACK
April 14, 2010

We covered a lot of the big lights of the Boo Williams Invitational last weekend, but there are other high- and mid-majors we also want to analyze for readers prior to advancing to next weekend’s slate of games.

For sure, there were mixed opinions about the event’s structure and format — as mentioned previously, Nike nixed the tournament setup at individual events in favor of a points system that leads to July’s Peach Jam title — but the event gained steam as the weekend progressed. On the final day we were treated to a magnificent individual matchup, and there are loads of other guys to discuss as well. Read story

RATLIFFE, PRESSEY CHOOSE TIGERS
April 12, 2010

Much of the time, junior college prospects seemingly emerge from the woodwork to land at major-conference schools. Occasionally, however, the situation is different. Missouri’s most recent additions fall into the latter category, a pair of jucos we saw extensively during their high school days.

The bigger of the two names is Ricardo Ratliffe, a 6-8, 230-pound BF at Central Florida (FL) CC. Ratliffe is a native of Virginia who previously starred for the Boo Williams Summer League team on the travel circuit. Read story

BOO WILLIAMS: DAY TWO REPORT
April 10, 2010

HAMPTON, Va. – Saturday at the Boo Williams Invitational always is one of the longest — and most valuable — days of the spring travel circuit. It provides us our first extensive look at the Nike circuit has to offer, given that there were just three rounds of 17-under games on the first day.

Our vote for star of the day — and the event to this point — goes to uncommitted point guard Marquis Teague, an explosvie scorer who has been outstanding all weekend. Read story

BOO WILLIAMS: DAY ONE REPORT
April 9, 2010

HAMPTON, Va. — As always, opening day at the Boo Williams Invitational brings a great deal of buzz to the arena. It serves as the unofficial debut for the rising senior class, and the players in attendance obviously understand what’s at stake in terms of recognition and their ultimate scholarship offers.

On this day we didn’t catch any true signature performances but did see some of the nation’s best and also a few guys who warrant greater attention as the spring and summer unfold. Read story

BOO WILLIAMS TOURNEY ON TAP
April 9, 2010

As a reminder, the Boo Williams Invitational kicks off this weekend in Hampton, Va. As we mentioned yesterday, this is the first event under Nike’s new format and will feature the gaggle of Nike-sponsored travel teams and a healthy number of the nation’s top prospects.

Because this is a renewal of the recruiting year, the emphasis shifts to the Class of 2011, still juniors in high school. We’ll also see sophomores and some talented freshmen, of course, so be sure to stop by during the weekend to check out our coverage. Read story

LIFE AFTER MARCH MADNESS
April 9, 2010

With the headlines and high drama of the Final Four waning, it's time for our annual report: Life After March Madness.

We’ve once again examined each of the final 16 teams in this year’s tournament while providing insight with our Recruiting Power Index, which projects their chances of making another deep postseason run. We’ve also tracked the numerous coaching changes that continue to rock the college basketball world since the end of the season... Read story

NIKE UNDERTAKES BIG CHANGE
April 8, 2010

For years, the Nike-sponsored travel circuit has been the most illustrious both in terms of talent and financial backing. Nike events frequently have defined the travel season, including the unofficial kickoff of the travel season (the Boo Williams Invitational), arguably the best of the July individual camps (King James Skills Academy) and a crowning jewel of July tournaments (Peach Jam).

The company has tweaked its routine here and there over the past decade, but mostly the talk of major changes has been resisted and ultimately watered down the point of not being noticeable. Read story

BLUE DEVILS STAND VICTORIOUS
April 6, 2010

From the outset of the season and NCAA tournament, few considered Duke a legitimate national championship contender. The Blue Devils had suffered through a Final Four drought since 2004, and their most recent tournament experience had resulted in a blowout defeat to Villanova in the round of 16.

But there was something undeniable about this edition of the Blue Devils, and they triumphed over Butler 61-59 in a thrilling championship finale to give the school — and legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski — its fourth national championship. Read story

RANKIN COMMITS TO HOKIES
April 2, 2010

Virginia Tech scored a huge late-week commitment, getting the nod from NC junior guard Marquis Rankin, a Charlotte native who had attracted scholarship offers from Wake Forest, South Carolina, Clemson and others.

Rankin most recently was on the display at the Carolina Challenge, where he showcased his speed baseline to baseline and also had some good moments shooting the ball. Though slender, he also has quick feet laterally and should become a fine man-to-man defender for the Hokies. Read story

BARNES, SULLINGER LEAD MCDONALD'S EFFORT
April 1, 2010

There were no major surprises at Wednesday night’s McDonald’s All-American Game, as top-five prospects Harrison Barnes and Jared Sullinger walked away with the co-MVP award.

Barnes led the West team to a 107-104 triumph over the East and led his team with 18 points on an efficient 7-10 shooting. The UNC signee’s scoring moves were on full display, and he also knocked in a three-pointer. Sullinger, meanwhile, racked up 22 points (7-11 FG) and seven rebounds playing in front of his hometown fans. The future Ohio State Buckeye definitely will be an integral piece for OSU next season. Read story

MILLER, THOMAS, SULLIVAN UPDATES
March 31, 2010

We spoke to three players at last weekend’s Carolina Challenge about the latest in their recruitments, and here’s a look at what they had to say:

Elite high-major prospect Quincy Miller, now a legitimate 6-9 combo forward and potentially a top-three prospect in the Class of 2011, not surprisingly has loads of big-time scholarship offers. The Winston-Salem (NC) Quality Education star lists Georgetown, Memphis, Oklahoma, Wake Forest, Duke, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, UConn, Syracuse and Louisville, saying that he holds offers from all of those schools. Read story

CAROLINA CHALLENGE REPORT
March 28, 2010

CARY, N.C. — This past weekend we made our annual trip to the Carolina Challenge, a one-day event that brings together the best talent in the state of North Carolina. Players at the event consist of juniors, sophomores and freshman, so the focus is on the upcoming recruiting cycle.

North Carolina has been very fortunate to boast an elite talent pool in recent years, and the state is well-represented in the Class of 2011 as well. The best prospect of the day by far was Quincy Miller, actually a Chicago native who attends high school in Winston-Salem. Read story

ROUNDUP: VARIOUS MAJORS IN THE NEWS
March 27, 2010

One recruiting phenomenon of the spring is the prevalence of local recruits who end up getting late scholarship offers and decide to attend school close to home.

Not all of the players in this report fit into that category - and obviously the de-commitment doesn't - but it's something worth noting as the signing period approaches. Read story

TOP 10 PROGRESS REPORT
March 25, 2010

While college coaches, scouts and recruitniks certainly understand the value of overall class depth, most fans will judge a high school class by its star power at the top.

Below, we’ve tracked stats for the top 10 prospects in each of the past four recruiting classes as compiled by our Brick Oettinger, corresponding with this season’s freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Many of those former recruits now play for pay in the NBA, so certainly it bodes well to be a Prep Stars top-10 talent. Read story

WILDCATS, REBELS MAKE GAINS
March 23, 2010

Kentucky is in the midst of a drive toward a national title, but the Wildcats also found time to reel in one of the nation’s most intriguing seniors. Enes Kanter, a 6-10 big man at Simi Valley (CA) Stoneridge and a native of Turkey, committed to UK after previously breaking off a commitment to Washington.

Kanter impressed numerous scouts who watched him play this season and is considered a potential one-and-done prospect in college who could go on to become a high draft pick in 2011. Read story

NEAR THE FINISH: A VIEW FROM THE TOP
March 22, 2010

Criticism of the senior class began early and never has abated based on its lack of depth, but some of those complaints quieted during the course of this season. It’s obviously expected that top-25 prospects will perform very well at the high school level, but this year’s elite seniors put forth efforts that were even better than usual.

Harrison Barnes always has maintained a public persona of humility and grace, but make no mistake: He’s the kind of competitor who wants to win at everything, including becoming the No. 1 player in his class. Read story

FRIARS EARN PLEDGE FROM THARPE
March 18, 2010

Providence has won out for junior guard Naadir Tharpe, a sturdy and tough guard who has earned the reputation in the Northeast as a stalwart competitor.

Tharpe was a long-time PC target who also had drawn serious interest from Boston College, UNLV and others. He first broke onto the scene as a young high school prospect, and though not considered an elite he still possesses the chops to contribute at a high-major program. Read story

GLAZE COMMITS TO REBELS
March 17, 2010

UNLV made a jump into the junior class, getting a commitment from Grandy Glaze, a native of Canada prepping at Andover (NH) Proctor this season.

Glaze is a wide-body who has good scoring moves and footwork around the hoop. He was up and down last spring and summer but definitely had some very strong moments to demonstrate his high-major ability. Some scouts view him as a top-75 talent while others believe he falls more in range in the national top 150. Read story

BLUE DEVILS, WOLFPACK IN THE NEWS
March 16, 2010

Duke added a fourth member to its 2010 class, getting the nod from Carrick Felix. A 6-6 WF from College of Southern Idaho, he will have three years of eligibility for the Blue Devils.

Felix is a good slasher who isn’t as great a shooter many of Duke’s typical perimeter recruits, but he’ll provide another athlete with good size and the ability to defend in Mike Krzyzewski’s system. Felix joins an outstanding class that also includes NJ PG Kyrie Irving, DC PG Tyler Thornton and MD BF Josh Hairston. Read story

CLASS OF 2011: PROSPECTS 21-25
March 12, 2010

In our final look at the top 25 juniors heading toward the spring tournament period, we’re breaking down players ranked 21-25 in the Class of 2011.

One of the true point guards in the junior class, Quinn Cook has become a more much effective shooter and scorer over the past year. Matched against some big-time opponents during the high school season, he has proved over the years that he can rise to the occasion. Read story

CLASS OF 2011: PROSPECTS 16-20
March 11, 2010

In our continuing look at the top 25 juniors heading toward the spring tournament period, we’re breaking down players ranked 16-20 in the Class of 2011.

LaQuinton Ross made a splash as a rising freshman at the inaugural LeBron James Skills Academy, and since that team he has been a fixture on high-major radars. Read story

CLASS OF 2011: PROSPECTS 11-15
March 10, 2010

In our continuing look at the top 25 juniors heading toward the spring tournament period, we’re breaking down players ranked 11-15 in the Class of 2011.

LeBryan Nash has been considered a phenom since he was in junior high school, and he has developed nicely over the past several years. He’s a highly aggressive, even combative driver who loves to initiate contact at (and above) the rim and also punish defenders by using his shoulder to bore past them on drives. Read story

CLASS OF 2011: PROSPECTS 6-10
March 9, 2010

In our continuing look at the top 25 juniors heading toward the spring tournament period, we’re breaking down players ranked 6-10 in the Class of 2011.

Quincy Miller is a native of Chicago boasts top-notch quickness inside the paint, and his versatility enables him to shine on the perimeter as well. Blessed with quick feet that uses to overwhelm big men, Miller frequently releases his shot before his opponent even is able to jump. Not only that, he’s an ace in the open floor who finishes with monster slams. His jump shot, though certainly streaky, must be respected to 21 feet. Read story

CLASS OF 2011: INTRODUCTION
March 8, 2010

At this stage last year, 13 of the nation’s top 25 junior prospects already had made college commitments. For that reason, those coaches without at least one blue-chip pledge entered the new recruiting cycle needing to capitalize on their remaining targets at a high rate.

But the Class of 2011 has proved to be different. Among this year’s top 25 prospects, only nine have made early decisions. Moreover, there are fewer commitments from top-50, top-100 and top-200 players than there were a year ago in the junior class. Read story

MELVIN, HUSKIES PART WAYS
March 5, 2010

UConn and commitment Cleveland Melvin will not be joining forces. The Huskies and Melvin decided to part ways, which truthfully may make the best sense for both parties. We watched Melvin at the recent National Prep School Invitational, and we think Melvin likely is a better fit for a strong mid-major program.

It’s too early to gauge what Melvin’s next step might be, but any unsigned 6-6 forward with athleticism is likely to gain further high-major interest this spring. That said, it remains to be seen which schools will offer and which won’t. Read story

MORE MAJOR COMMITMENT MOVEMENT
March 3, 2010

Southern Cal dipped into the Class of 2012 pool to land Larry Lewis, a 6-2 WG at Phoenix (AZ) Arcadia. Lewis made an unofficial trip to campus and decided to end his recruitment early. Though not yet a huge name nationally, he’s young for his class and has plenty of time to work out any kinks.

Lewis averaged 24 points a game this season, so obviously he can put the ball in the hole. He also earned all-conference honors on the defensive side of the ball. Read story

HOYAS, LOBOS PICK UP PLEDGES
March 2, 2010

In the midst of trying to galvanize its forces to make a postseason charge, the Georgetown Hoyas scooped up an underclass commitment. Georgetown didn’t have to look far to get Jordan Goodman, a 6-8 BF/WF at Camp Springs (MD) Progressive Christian.

There has been discussion whether Goodman will remain in the junior class or move back a year to the Class of 2012, as he has vacillated on this point. Whenever he matriculates, the key for him will be to add weight to his sub-200 pound frame. Read story

COONEY MAKES COMMITMENT TO SYRACUSE
February 26, 2010

It’s always important to capitalize on a great season, and Syracuse did just that in getting a commitment from DE junior WG Trevor Cooney, a sharp-shooter who has played for one of the most successful AAU teams (Team Final) in the country and has shown he can co-exist beside such stars as Michael Gilchrist.

Cooney had considered Maryland, West Virginia and Notre Dame, among others, and he ranks as one of the most accurate three-point shooters in the Class of 2011. He’s having a solid junior season, averaging 18 points per game. Read story

MCLEMORE MAKES A SPLASH
February 24, 2010

There haven’t been a ton of new names surfacing during this high school season, but colleague Eric Bossi discovered a new high-major prospect in the junior class last weekend.

Ben McLemore, a 6-5 WF at St. Louis (MO) Eskridge, is a wildly explosive athlete who has posted huge numbers this season and appears to safely possess top-50 national talent, if not better. Read story

SOUTH ALABAMA GETS NETTLES
February 23, 2010

The South Alabama Jaguars picked up a big man on Tuesday, getting the nod from 6-9 C Kentari Nettles. A Mobile (AL) LeFlore native, Nettles actually isn’t playing this season due to age limitations in his school district.

Nettles weighs a solid 230 pounds and should be able to help South Alabama right away. He had picked up at least preliminary interest from Missouri, Southern Illinois and others after reportedly de-committing from the Jaguars earlier in the process, but now he’s back on board. Read story

ROSTERS SET FOR JORDAN GAME
February 19, 2010

While the McDonald’s All-American game announced its team last week, the Nike-based Jordan Brand has followed suit and has emerged as a major competitor to McDonald’s. Set to take place on April 17 in New York’s Madison Square Garden, the headliner will feature many of the same players who will play at McDonald’s.

One thing we like about this particular game is that it’s 10 players per team, 20 overall, unlike the 12-man teams for McDonald’s. Thus, players will receive an opportunity for more playing time. Read story

TUGGLE'S BOAT NAVIGATING CALM SEAS
February 18, 2010

Phoenix (AZ) Westwind Prep struck us as a pretty well-coached bunch at the recent National Prep School Invitational, and one of the key pieces is Brandon Tuggle.

Tuggle, a 6-5 WF originally from Ontario (CA) High, is a nicely skilled wing with above-average quickness and improving ability to put the ball in the bucket. Tuggle views himself as underrecruited due to the fact that not many people saw him in high school, so he’s trying to get the most out of his fifth year. Read story

HAYNES LIKES THREE, LOOKING TO SPRING
February 16, 2010

Recently at the National Prep School Invitational, 6-6 BF Michael Haynes of Martinsville (IN) Heat Academy stood out as one of the most impressive raw prospects at the event.

Haynes is a 220-pound beast who looks like he could put on shoulder pads and rumble through an offensive tackle to get a quarterback sack, and that first impression translates to his hoops game as well. Read story

PRIMETIME SHOOTOUT REPORT
February 15, 2010

Last weekend, there were numerous great games at the Primetime Shootout played over three days in New Jersey.

On Friday, games took place at Kean University and were highlighted by the television broadcast of Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick vs. Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill, and on Saturday and Sunday a host of big games tipped off in Trenton. Read story

MCDONALD'S TEAM ANNOUNCED
February 11, 2010

The lineup for the McDonald’s All-American Game was announced on Thursday, as 24 players were selected and will play in Columbus, Ohio on March 31.

Our assessment of the team generally is a favorable one. Of the 24 players in the game, all are ranked in the national top 45, and 20 of the 24 are in our top 25! Read story

NPSI: FINAL REPORT
February 9, 2010

The National Prep School Invitational has come and gone, and this year we thought the talent was a bit better than it was the past two years. We were treated to some outstanding performances by underclassmen, and some of the unsigned seniors also stepped up their level of play.

In addition to the guys we profiled earlier, here’s a look at more noteworthy performers: Read story

VIDEO: JETT LAUNCHES AT NPSI
February 6, 2010

KINGSTON, R.I. — One of the nation’s better unsigned senior point guards was on full display this past weekend at the National Prep School Invitational. Jordair Jett, a 6-1 floor general at Fitchburg (MA) Notre Dame, has impressed with his natural playmaking as well as his scoring ability from mid-range.

Though not a top-shelf run/jump athlete, Jett has a handle, good agility and plays under control. Read story, view video

NATIONAL PREP SCHOOL INVITATIONAL
February 5, 2010

KINGSTON, R.I. — We’re covering the National Prep School Invitational this weekend, and it’s been an outstanding event in terms of both underclassmen and some promising undecided seniors.

One of Friday’s big stars was Class of 2011 Syracuse commitment Michael Carter-Williams... Read story, view video

TOP FIVE TEAMS, TOP FIVE STORIES
February 3, 2010

This week’s coaches’ poll of the nation’s top 25 college teams includes the following top five: 1) Kansas, 2) Villanova, 3) Kentucky, 4) Syracuse and 5) Michigan State.

While the obvious focus during the college season is on the teams and their performance on the court, recruitniks obviously have greater insight than the casual fan into the hows and whys of the elite teams. Read story. ...

MONTVERDE INVITATIONAL REPORT
February 2, 2010

MONTVERDE, Fla. — Due to travel and time constraints, it is difficult to find high-quality tournaments during the high school season. Events such as the Hoop Hall, Prime Time, and others do a tremendous job of matching national level teams and players but those are more events as opposed to a tournament that crowns an overall winner.

However, Montverde Academy defies this trend and this year celebrated its seventh annual Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament. Three Top 25 teams were part of the eight team field and the host defeated Montrose Christian in the semi-final and Findlay Prep in the final to win the event. Read story. ...

COMMITMENT ROUNDUP
February 1, 2010

There were a handful of commitments to flow in during the weekend and early portion of this week, including some — though perhaps offered by generally lesser known players — given to high-major programs.

Stanford looked overseas to gain an unsigned center, 6-10 Serbia native Stefan Nastic, who is prepping at Ontario (CAN) Thornhill. Nastic played for the 18-under Serbian team last summer and actually is young for his class, so he may need a year or two of physical development before he’s ready to tackle Pac-10 competition. Read story. ...

KNIGHT: A STRONG NO. 2, POSSIBLE NO. 1?
January 28, 2010

This isn’t an event report, but No. 2 senior Brandon Knight has been backing up the hype this season. And although there’s been absolutely no reason to believe that No. 1 Harrison Barnes will fall from his perch, Knight certainly deserves credit for the fabulous senior season he’s enjoying as well.

The native Floridian will be remembered as one of the most decorated high school players in Sunshine State history, this month surpassing the 3,000-point mark in his career. Read story. ...

TENNESSEE NABS A JUNIOR
January 25, 2010

Tennessee has added to its early Class of 2011 recruiting haul, as the Vols gained a commitment from Chris Jones, a 5-9 PG at Memphis (TN) Melrose. Jones has a big reputation locally and has impressed some national observers as well, and despite his lack of height the UT coaching staff is optimistic that he can use his quickness to successfully defend in their defensive system.

Jones teams with elite junior wing Adonis Thomas, and the two players have drawn intense interest from major college programs. Read story. ...

A NOTE ON RECRUITING HYPE
January 22, 2010

At this relatively slow juncture of the recruiting calendar, when players are involved in their high school seasons, most seniors have signed and few are deciding at this time, it’s an opportune time to reflect on the recruiting process as a whole and some of the dynamics involved.

While many aspects of grassroots basketball have changed over the past 20 years — the emergence of the travel circuit, the early-to-the-NBA phenomenon, etc. — one thing hasn’t been altered a bit: The longer a player remains undecided, the more the hype machine has a chance to build around him. Read story. ...

BADGERS PICK UP A JUNIOR
January 21, 2010

Wisconsin picked an oral pledge from George Marshall, a 5-11 junior PG at Chicago (IL) Brooks, giving the Badgers their second Chicago-area commitment (along with Devon Hodges) from the Class of 2011.

Marshall is a nationally unsung guard who nevertheless had attracted interest from DePaul, Baylor, Arizona State and others. He has a good local reputation and is on his way to becoming a four-year starter for his high school, so clearly he’ll arrive in Madison having accrued ample game experience. Read story. ...

PLAY BY PLAY CLASSIC REPORT
January 18, 2010

GREENSBORO, N.C. – On Monday, we took in the Play by Play Classic at the Greensboro Coliseum, and an assortment of strong local and regional teams lined the field. In the main event of the day, Oak Hill Academy fended off hard-fighting Greensboro (NC) Dudley for an 87-65 victory.

The day was marked with several good performances, and marred by one injury. Read story. ...

NCAA INSTITUTES RULE CHANGE
January 15, 2010

The NCAA this week announced a rule change that many considered a long time coming. Though the rule will not become effective until passed by the board of directors, associates of players no longer will be allowed to be hired by schools where those players go to college.

In practice, and in a growing trend, “handlers,” travel team coaches, family members and others recently have been landing college jobs — frequently in something of an administrative position, not necessarily as an assistant coach — immediately after a player signs with a specific school. Read story. ...

SMITH COMMITS TO HUSKIES
January 8, 2010

MD forward Roscoe Smith committed to UConn over co-finalists Georgetown and Duke. Smith is one of the most athletic players at his size range (6-7) in the senior class, and despite lacking refinement he is too big and springy not to compete for early playing time.

Smith may remind Husky fans of current forward Stanley Robinson. Though not built like a big forward and not yet skilled like a wing (especially in terms of dribbling), Smith’s athleticism enables him to compensate for those deficiencies, and encouragingly he also is a dangerous, if inconsistent, perimeter jump shooter. Read story. ...

ROUNDUP: COMMITS TRICKLE IN
January 5, 2010

The New Year is here and, during our coverage over the past couple weeks, there are a handful commitments and other events to catch up on as we proceed into 2010. On the commitment front, there have been a handful of noteworthy moves to occur.

Starting at Miami, the Hurricanes landed North Hollywood (CA) Harvard-Westlake’s Eric Swoope, an undersized 6-5 senior BF who is averaging roughly 19 points and nine rebounds per game this season. Though unheralded nationally, Miami likes his overall utility and he projects as a solid role player for the Canes. Read story. ...

TAMPA HOOPS CLASSIC REPORT
January 4, 2010

In only its third year of existence, the Tampa Hoops Classic has become one of the top holiday tournaments in the country.

This year famed Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony was the featured team, but they came in undermanned as both 6-8 BF Ashton Pankney (Maryland) and 6-8 BF Devon Collier (Oregon State) were not with the team due to ankle and academic issues respectively. Nevertheless, the Friars made to the title game against Jacksonville (FL) Arlington Country Day but fell short 54-41. Read story. ...

Recruiting News Archive