Recruiting Thread

[Palehosefan]

Well he's just like Derrick Rose. Just without the freak athleticism (speed and leaping ability)

 

Demetri has PLENTY of athletecism himself. I've seen him rise up and dunk on an athletic 6'5 shooting guard that tried to meet him at the rim. After next summer's AAU circuit, I fully expect Demetri to rise into the top 50 range with ease. He's a hell of a pick-up, especially with his skillset. He's the type of player that has enough talent to produce right away, yet has enough to work on with his shooting that he should stick around for a few years atleast.

[thedoctor]

eric gordon to join derrick rose's aau team for peach jam

[Chisoxrd5]

eric gordon to join derrick rose's aau team for peach jam

 

Awesome News...EG is the best thing to happen to the Illini since, um, Dee Brown. lol

[Palehosefan]

OJ Mayo, #1 recruit in 07 class and most highly touted guard since Lebron told USC coaches and players that he is committing to them.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2510229

 

I am just happy that he didn't join Huggins at K-State.

[Rowand44]

OJ Mayo, #1 recruit in 07 class and most highly touted guard since Lebron told USC coaches and players that he is committing to them.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2510229

 

I am just happy that he didn't join Huggins at K-State.

Very interesting.

[Palehosefan]

I'm interested to see what OJ thinks of the USC coaches giving this info to ESPN already. It could either piss him off, or further lock him up, big gamble. Then again what do they have to lose with their basketball tradition, or lack thereof.

[ZoomSlowik]

I'm interested to see what OJ thinks of the USC coaches giving this info to ESPN already. It could either piss him off, or further lock him up, big gamble. Then again what do they have to lose with their basketball tradition, or lack thereof.

 

Theoretically, that's a recruiting violation. You're not supposed to discuss recruits in any way until they sign.

 

Edit- That's what I thought, it just says "sources." That could mean a lot of things, not necessarily that one of the coaches let it slip.

Edited July 6, 2006 by ZoomSlowik

[Palehosefan]

Edit- That's what I thought, it just says "sources." That could mean a lot of things, not necessarily that one of the coaches let it slip.

 

Andy Katz main/only sources into basketball programs are the assistant coaches, he's notorious for that. Also, the USC coaches could tell ESPN about OJ's commitment, they just can't use his name. They can say something like "Just to let you know, but the top prospect in the 2007 class just committed to us".

[Jimbo's Drinker]

OJ Mayo, #1 recruit in 07 class and most highly touted guard since Lebron told USC coaches and players that he is committing to them.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2510229

 

I am just happy that he didn't join Huggins at K-State.

 

 

that makes 2 of us.

[Rex Hudler]

Theoretically, that's a recruiting violation. You're not supposed to discuss recruits in any way until they sign.

 

Edit- That's what I thought, it just says "sources." That could mean a lot of things, not necessarily that one of the coaches let it slip.

 

leaking info is much different than commenting about a player on the record.... if leaks were illegal, we'd never find out about anything

 

Like others have said, I'm just happy he isn't following Huggins.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

Any truth to this

 

According to a State Journal Register sports writer Jim Ruppert: The talk around the Nike Camp, etc... is don't be suprised to see Mr. Rose in a Kansas uniform in 2007.

[Palehosefan]

I haven't heard any buzz about that, but I could see it. Most coaches want to develop a relationship with a kid before they allow a commitment to happen. Reggie Rose isn't allowing that to happen, which is the reason UNC isn't recruiting him at all. Reggie isn't allowing much contact from coaches and is keeping everything close to the vest, so to speak. Not saying it's a good or bad thing from Reggie, just different. It's also widely speculated/known that both Reggie and Derrick are looking to be one and done wherever they go.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

uh oh here comes darth vadar

 

Next Jayhawks star

[Chisoxrd5]

uh oh here comes darth vadar

 

Next Jayhawks star

 

One of these years they're going to mold all that top talent into a first round victory in the NCAA tourney

 

I'm sorry I couldn't help myself...

 

Anyways, I could definitely see Derrick Rose go to KU. Everyday I hear a new team is in the mix. Memphis, KU, Virginia and Illinois are his top choices so we will see. Hes most likely a one and done player, but I promise you he is much more disciplined and talented player than Sherron Collins. Seeing how excited you were about Sherron, if you score Rose you should be five times more thrilled.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

One of these years they're going to mold all that top talent into a first round victory in the NCAA tourney

 

I'm sorry I couldn't help myself...

 

Anyways, I could definitely see Derrick Rose go to KU. Everyday I hear a new team is in the mix. Memphis, KU, Virginia and Illinois are his top choices so we will see. Hes most likely a one and done player, but I promise you he is much more disciplined and talented player than Sherron Collins. Seeing how excited you were about Sherron, if you score Rose you should be five times more thrilled.

 

 

by all means, we fully deserve the criticism.

 

I can see Self taking him, Self seems to get everything he wants, well except for victories in March. If we got rose, i would be ubber happy. That being said, I am so so so excited for sherron.

Edited July 7, 2006 by Jimbo's Drinker

[thedoctor]

i wouldn't be surprised to see rose go anywhere at this point. they are running a pretty tight-fisted recruitment. to me there's no legitimate info out there, just rumors and idle speculation.

[Heads22]

Anyone know anything about Milwaukee PG Diante Garrett? ISU is supposedly the frontrunner.

 

For the next year's recruiting, we've got 4-star Brackins, and it sounds like our other targets are Jon Leuer, Andre McFarland, P'Allen Stinnett and this Garrett guy. But....we only have 3 schollies for the last 4.

 

I'm just hoping one of them goes to Leuer, sounds like ISU leads for him.

[Goldmember]

Sizing things up from the All-America Camp

July 7, 2006

By Gregg Doyel / CBS SportsLine.com National Columnist

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS -- Wasn't going to write this week from the Nike All-America Camp in Indianapolis. Why not? Because you didn't ask nicely. But then all sorts of things -- big things, small things -- started happening, so here you go. A dispatch from Nike Camp.

 

You're welcome.

 

Drum roll, please ...

 

Florida's loss, Kentucky's gain: Sources all over Nike Camp say Florida recruit Doneal Mack, the only guard in the Gators' incoming freshman class, is about to become a free agent because of an eligibility hang-up that won't allow him to play for the Gators ... but will allow him to play elsewhere in Division I this season. The reason has something to do with his standardized test score, sources say, but the upshot is this: Kentucky already has let Mack's people know that he has a scholarship if he wants to become a Wildcat. Oklahoma State also is in the hunt for Mack, a 6-foot-5 lefty with athletic ability and shooting range. As for Florida, Mack would become the third guard recruit in two years to leave, or never enter, the program. Last year Derwin Kitchen didn't get eligible, and last week rising sophomore David Huertas transferred to Ole Miss. Billy Donovan has that championship ring, plus Joakim Noah, Taurean Green, Corey Brewer and Al Horford. Billy Donovan ain't worried.

 

Bayless to Texas: He hasn't committed yet, but it's only a matter of time. Jerryd Bayless, one of the top guards in the class of 2007 and a no-brainer future NBA player, is expected to pick Texas after decommitting earlier this summer from Arizona. Coaches throughout the Southwest say they're barely bothering to recruit Bayless because they're that sure he's headed to the Longhorns.

 

Kansas shrinks: By adding power forward Darrell Arthur to a roster already loaded with wings and guards, Kansas coach Bill Self will occasionally find himself going smaller this season. If he wants to play his five most talented guys, Self would start Arthur at center, Julian Wright and Brandon Rush at forward, Russell Robinson at shooting guard and Mario Chalmers or Sherron Collins at point guard. Off the bench? Pure centers C.J. Giles and Sasha Kaun, plus power forward Darnell Robinson and USC wing transfer Rodrick Stewart. Freshman guard Brady Morningstar, a better player than advertised, could redshirt.

 

Big Baby not so big: Glen Davis is still huge, understand. But he's not sloppy anymore. Davis, who weighed 328 pounds last year during the Final Four -- he was listed at 310, but he was 328 -- is down to 289. And shrinking. Davis has told LSU coach John Brady he would like to weigh 280 after learning from NBA scouts that he needs to improve his mobility. Funny. Last season Davis was mobile enough to record 18.6 points and 9.7 rebounds, win SEC Player of the Year and lead LSU into the Final Four.

 

Other size issues: NBA scouts have been wowed by the new physique of Indiana junior D.J. White and encouraged by the improved body of Georgetown junior Roy Hibbert, both of whom -- like LSU's Davis -- are Nike counselors this week. White, who was listed last season at 6-9, 242, is noticeably bigger in the upper body and is using the bulk to pound into Davis in camp scrimmages. Hibbert, listed last year at 7-2 and 283, has dropped weight and looks more mobile than a year ago.

 

Amoroso to UNLV: Former Marquette forward Ryan Amoroso has told people at his former school that he will transfer to UNLV, where he will walk on for a year. Amoroso, who averaged 5.6 ppg and four rebounds as a sophomore, had a 30-and-12 monster game against South Carolina in November but had played his way out of the rotation by February. Maybe UNLV coach Lon Kruger can help Amoroso find his inner Louis Amundson.

 

A.J. Price: College coaches who have watched counselors scrimmage say UConn guard A.J. Price -- who has yet to play a college game -- looks fabulous. Price missed the 2004-05 season because of a near-fatal brain ailment, then was suspended for the 2005-06 season for off-court reasons.

[nitetrain8601]

I read in today's paper that Kansas and UConn might soon join in on trying to recruit Derrick Rose.

[Rex Hudler]

Looks as of Gordon is at least going to give IU a visit. From Sports Illustrated:

 

Camp Buzz

• Though Gordon has committed to Illinois, he still plans on giving Indiana a look before signing with the Fighting Illini. Gordon said he owes his home-state school at least a glimpse, especially now that Indiana hired Kelvin Sampson. However, Gordon stressed he's still firmly committed to Illinois and it would take a lot to sway him away from there.

[Rowand44]

Looks as of Gordon is at least going to give IU a visit. From Sports Illustrated:

That's pretty interesting.

[Goldmember]

on eric gordon:

Top Illini recruit dismisses report

Saturday, July 8, 2006

By JOHN SUPINIE / COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS - Eric Gordon, the star recruit in Illinois' four-man class of incoming high school seniors, confirmed his Illini commitment and denied an Internet report claiming the shooting guard had reopened his recruitment.

 

Chicagohoops.com reported Friday that Gordon had recanted an oral commitment made to Illinois in November, but the nation's top shooting guard said Friday night the report was inaccurate.

 

Gordon posted a message on the Illiniboard.com message board late Friday after he learned of the report while playing at the Adidas Camp in Atlanta. Gordon's father, Eric, also said the report was false.

 

"It's just the same stuff popping up. Nothing has changed,'' Gordon's father said. "It seems to be the sign of the times. Some people want to see a change.

 

"It comes with the territory. He's a top recruit. There's been no signing of a document. If there's any way to make a difference, they're going to try it.''

 

Gordon can't sign a letter of intent until the early signing period in November.

 

The athletic 6-foot-3 Gordon, of Indianapolis North Central High School, is rated as the nation's top shooting guard and a top-10 recruit overall by scout.com.

 

When he chose Illinois over Duke, Arizona, Indiana and Notre Dame, it was the biggest recruiting victory in coach Bruce Weber's tenure with the Illini.

 

But after Indiana fired coach Mike Davis and filled the opening with Kelvin Sampson, the Hoosiers attempted to change Gordon's mind. Gordon has repeatedly confirmed his commitment to Illinois through several media outlets this spring.

 

The Chicagohoops.com report said Gordon had recanted his commitment and would choose between Illinois, Indiana and Notre Dame.

 

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/070806/SPO_BAAPMLMF.W02.shtml

 

 

on michael dunigan and matt humphrey:

Rising junior has offer from Illini

Power forward from Farragut is top prospect in state's Class of 2008

Saturday, July 8, 2006

By JOHN SUPINIE / COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

 

INDIANAPOLIS - The scholarship offers piled up for Michael Dunigan before he reached his junior season at Chicago Farragut. But it really didn't impress the 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward, the top rated recruit in the state of Illinois' class of 2008.

 

"I like all the offers,'' said Dunigan, popping open a broad smile during an interview session at the Nike All-America Camp. "Right now, I'm trying to work on my test scores.''

 

As for the recruiting process, Dunigan already sounded like a guy who could take it or leave it.

 

"Some people call the house, and I don't even pick up the phone,'' he said. "It's like they're stalkers.''

 

Chicago Hales Franciscan guard Matt Humphrey, an incoming junior and a fast-rising talent, didn't receive an invitation to the Nike All-America Camp until Wednesday morning - the same day the camp began.

 

"It gives me a chance to get my name out there more,'' he said.

 

The Illini plan to award two scholarships to the class of 2008. Dunigan and Humphrey are prime targets.

 

Dunigan, who planned to seek a degree in a computer-related field, will take the ACT in September. He didn't appear too worried about the process. Dunigan had all As last semester and carries a 4.0 grade-point average, he said.

 

He's also scoring big with recruiters. Illinois, Wisconsin and DePaul have already offered scholarships, he said. Dunigan also is interested in Iowa and Miami.

 

Dunigan entered the Nike camp rated No. 13 nationally in his class by scout.com. He found himself the center of attention at Illinois' team camp at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago earlier this summer.

 

"It was steady, people just talking,'' Dunigan said.

 

Defense and rebounding are Dunigan's strengths, he said. At the Nike camp, Dunigan wasn't the biggest fish in the pond.

 

"I want to step my game up a notch,'' he said. "Everybody is bigger than me. I'm used to being the biggest person in Chicago.''

 

Humphrey is an athletic 6-5, 175-pounder who built a reputation as a perimeter shooter. The left-hander helped Hales reach the Final Four at the Illinois team camp at Moody, and Humphrey already made an unofficial recruiting visit to Illinois.

 

"A lot of schools want me,'' he said. "I do have a list, but I haven't taken any schools out yet. Illinois is definitely right up there. I've talked to them a lot. I call them. Now they can text message me.''

 

Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Miami, Georgia, Georgia Tech, DePaul, Marquette and Syracuse also interest Humphrey.

 

Like Dunigan, Humphrey also is a strong student.

 

Humphrey plays AAU ball for Mean Street Express, the same team that includes Chicago Simeon star Derrick Rose.

 

Meanwhile, Cleveland-area power forward Delvon Roe, ranked No. 14 nationally among incoming seniors, has dropped Illinois down his list. Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Indiana apparently are ahead of the Illini, though Roe still may take an unofficial visit to Illinois in August.

 

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/070806/ILL_BAAQ8G0H.077.shtml

[Rex Hudler]

Gordon 'committed' but still eyeing IU

 

Bob Kravitz

Gordon 'committed' but still eyeing IU

July 9, 2006

 

 

It would be so easy for Eric Gordon Sr. to make all these rumors go away. His son, Eric, wouldn't have to take time out from his weekend at the adidas camp in Atlanta, where Friday he was forced to jump onto the Illinois basketball message board and re-confirm he was heading to Champaign. He could finish his senior season at North Central, and the recruiters and reporters who have dominated his existence would simply move on to the next great prospect.

 

The senior Gordon could simply say, "We don't want anybody else recruiting my son, including IU,'' and all of this would be over.Except he hasn't said that. Didn't say that Saturday afternoon when I gave him the opportunity to step on the latest round of rumors. And won't say that.

 

Maybe he simply doesn't want to do wrong by IU assistant Jeff Meyer, who was the senior Gordon's college coach and is a lifelong friend. Maybe he didn't want to burn bridges with a program that might someday be interested in his younger sons.

 

Or maybe IU, which is raising eyebrows by continuing to recruit long after Gordon made his verbal commitment, still has a chance to win Gordon over. "It's like saying I'm committed to my girlfriend,'' Gordon Sr. said. "But I can still look. I'm not dead.'' Any wonder the recruitment of Gordon isn't dead, either?

 

As long as the Gordons are willing to look, the rumors will continue to percolate on the Internet, and blow through these shoe-company-sponsored summer camps like an ill wind.

 

On Friday, a Web site called chicagohoops.com reported Gordon had walked away from his verbal commitment to Illinois. Later that night, the younger Gordon got on an Illinois basketball message board, said the story was untrue and assured fans he was still heading to Champaign. But in quotes published on peegs.com Saturday morning, Gordon again left the door open.

 

"Yeah, I'm still solid with Illinois, but I am thinking about IU, too,'' he was quoted as saying. "At this point, nothing has changed. I have looked at them (IU) for a long time because they're an in-state school. They have a good tradition and Coach (Kelvin) Sampson is a good guy, so I think because he is the new coach there that I should give them a look.'' His father said essentially the same thing when we spoke Saturday. The kid, he said, is still committed to Illinois. But he's going to take another look at IU. Let's just say if I had that kind of commitment to my wife, she would have left long ago.

 

"If this was Mike Davis, it would be cut-and-dried; Eric said he didn't want to go to IU and that was it,'' Gordon said. "But when (Eric) made the commitment, this coaching staff wasn't in place. And I'm sure they (the Sampson staff) feel they owe it to Indiana basketball to at least take a run at the best player in the state, if not the country. I wonder what they'd think of Sampson if he didn't go after Eric? They'd run him out of town.'' So, which part of that sounded like, "Hey, he's going to Illinois, the issue is dead and I want you all to disappear?''

 

As much as I still wonder about Sampson and the direction of IU's program, I can't say I have a problem with the decision to continue the recruitment process. Does Gordon look or sound like a dead-solid lock to attend Illinois? Doesn't it appear the door has been opened, however imperceptibly?

When I approached a number of coaches at this weekend's Nike All-America camp, asking them in general about honor among coaches, they all said, if a player commits verbally, you pull up stakes and move to the next recruit.

 

It's safe to say, whether Sampson does or doesn't get Gordon, he's already stirring up some bad blood.

"It's a matter of respect, more than anything,'' said Billy Donovan of defending national champion Florida. "You respect that the kid has made his decision. I don't want a kid to change his mind because I'm trying to be manipulative on the phone. Now, some coaches have the attitude, when someone commits, they say, 'Hey, great, it's down to two -- me and you.' ''

 

Said Tennessee's Bruce Pearl: "I would hope if anybody wanted to pay me a compliment, they would say my coaching style was aggressive. I wouldn't look at contact, even indirect contact, with a prospect who has verbally committed, as being aggressive.''

 

Ultimately, it all depends on your dictionary definition of "commitment.'' Some people take their wedding vows more seriously than others, right?

 

"The big story is, there isn't any big story,'' the elder Gordon said. "I think it's just a lot of people want things to change, so they throw rumors out there. He's 17 years old, you know? And he's got people coming at him 24-7. Sometimes you just want to plead the fifth on this whole thing.''

Until Gordon, father or son, tells Hoosiers recruiters to get off the front porch, they're not going to go away.

Can't say I blame them, really.

[Rex Hudler]

Since there is no active college basketball thread, I'll put this here. One could argue it fits.

 

IU's White ready and raring to go

BY MICHAEL MAROT

Associated Press writer

Saturday, July 8, 2006

 

INDIANAPOLIS - D.J. White arrived at the Nike All-America Camp with a muscle-bound upper body, a bearded face and a new perspective on basketball and life.

 

Yes, the Big Ten's freshman of the year in 2004-05 looks and sounds like a different man.

 

He wants to end any lingering concerns about his ability to stay healthy in the rugged conference, quash the doubts about his desire to play in Bloomington and prove he can lead Indiana back to prominence with a season that makes Hoosiers fans proud.

 

"I'm very excited to get going," he said. "That year made me realize how much I love the game. I'm ready, and I've got to be ready to show everybody what I can do again."

 

His new look hardly resembles the lanky 6-foot-10 forward Hoosiers fans last saw in a uniform in January before he broke his foot for a second time, causing him to miss the rest of the season. He's added 10 to 15 pounds to his body thanks to a diligent weight-lifting regimen four times a week.

 

Though he's still confident, relaxed and hopes to play in the NBA, White has decided to pursue a broader plan.

 

As a camp counselor on the Nike staff, he's answering questions that the roughly 120 prep players here may have about the Hoosiers program, working out in front of NBA scouts and refining post moves against some of the nation's top big men.

 

White has already seen what a difference strength makes.

 

"Against (LSU's) Glen (Davis), I can see it just in holding my own," White said. "I've still got a lot more work to do, but I feel like I've got a lot to prove after sitting out a whole year."

 

Four months ago, Hoosiers fans weren't even sure White would attempt to make Indiana his proving ground.

 

With Mike Davis leaving, questions about who the successor would be and

 

White's initial statement of uncertainty about returning, some figured he was good as gone.

 

White says his comments were misinterpreted.

 

"It was never a thing about being close to leaving," he said. "It might have been portrayed that way in the media, but it was all about sitting down with my family and talking to them and making the decision that was best for me."

 

Eventually, White decided it was best not to sit out a second straight season and listened to the pleas of teammates like Roderick Wilmont and A.J. Ratliff, who urged him to return.

 

Coach Kelvin Sampson, however, never pressured White, something that worked to Indiana's favor.

 

Although White said Davis wanted him to play for him at Alabama-Birmingham, he said he couldn't.

 

This week, White and Ratliff are together again in Indianapolis, albeit as counselors with similar goals.

 

Ratliff says he, too, is ready to make amends for a poor season in which he shot 32 percent from the field and struggled to get back into playing shape after a thumb injury early in the season.

 

"I'm feeling good, and it's been a long time since I was 100 percent mentally and physically," he said. "I feel like I'm in good shape and like we've got a lot ahead of us on the floor."

 

The only question now for White is how much longer he will remain a Hoosier.

 

White acknowledges he has discussed the possibility of leaving for the NBA briefly with Sampson, and hopes that will be a possibility after next season - presuming he meets his own expectations.

 

But until he believes he's ready, White is content to prove himself in Bloomington.

 

"It's like coach said, 'Have a good year and then see what happen,' " White said. "He won't hold a kid back if he thinks he's ready. But we still have a whole season to play, and I'm ready to play."

Edited July 9, 2006 by Rex Hudler

[Buehrle>Wood]

Saw Chase Budinger at my volleyball tournament over the weekend. Damn he can fly. His team won the national championship surprisingly and he ended up taking home MVP honors.

 

He's got atleast 45 inch hops.