October 1, 2008
Recruiting…Fall Recruiting Top 20 Fall Classes…
By Van Coleman van@hoopmasters.com
North Carolina continues to lead the early returns followed by Oklahoma State, Marquette, Indiana, UAB and Illinois...
North Carolina continues to lead the early returns followed by Oklahoma State, Marquette, Indiana, UAB and Illinois as we enter the stretch run to the fall signing period…
The early commitments have been rolling in all summer, as 71 of our post-summer Top 100 have already made their college decisions. But, there is still a lot of recruiting to be done that will affect our rankings as 17 of out Top 50 are still available, including our whole top five, so we look for our rankings to definitely see lots of changes before the end of the November signing period.
It will take some doing to catch North Carolina who has already received five commitments form our top sixty including two top fifteen prospects in John Henson and Dexter Strickland. Oklahoma State, Indiana, and UAB, who cracked the top five, along with Minnesota and UCLA who jumped all the way to the No.10 & 11 spots nationally.
But, we expect a number of these and other teams to make runs at North Carolina over the next six weeks as we lead up to the fall signing period. With that in mind, here is our latest update at how the national rankings stand in Fall Recruiting for the Class of 2009:
1. North Carolina 5 Recruits: (PR-1) - John Henson 6-10 PF Round Rock; TX; Dexter Strickland 6-3 SG Elizabeth, NJ St. Patrick; Leslie McDonald 6-3 SG Memphis, TN Briarcrest; Travis Wear 6-9 PF Santa Ana, CA Mater Dei; David Wear 6-9 PF Santa Ana, CA Mater. Overview: Roy Williams and his staff have added a deep group led by potential supers Henson and Strickland. Look for all five to contribute as freshmen as the ‘Heels continue to challenge for ACC title and NCAA final fours.
2. Oklahoma State 5 Recruits: (PR-7) - Ray Penn 5-10 PG Richmond, TX Ft. Bend Travis; Fred Gulley 6-2 SG Fayetteville, AR; Roger Franklin 6-5 SG Duncanville, TX; Torin Walker 6-11 C Columbus, GA Northside; Brad Reese 6-7 WF Gulf Coast CC, FL. Overview: Travis Ford and his Cowboy staff have started to build the program with some immediate help in the backcourt in summer super find Ray Penn. He has star potential, along with versatile guards Gulley and fast rising top fifty wing Franklin. Juco super Reese will give immediate help upfront. It's a strong start for the Cowboys.
3. Marquette 4 Recruits: (PR-2) - Erik Williams 6-7 WF Cypress Springs, TX; Junior Cadougan 6-0 PG Humble, TX Christian Life; Jeronne Maymon 6-6 PF Madison, WI Memorial; Dwight Buycks 6-3 SG Indian Hills CC, IA. Overview: Buzz Williams and his staff have shown that Golden Eagles aren't going to slip on recruiting trail adding two top thirty preps in Cadougan & Williams who were stellar this summer along with physical slasher Maymon and top twenty-five juco guard Buycks.
4. Indiana 6 Recruits: (PR-6) - Maurice Creek 6-5 SG Chatham, VA Hargrave Military; Bobby Capobianco 6-8 PF Loveland, OH; Derek Elston 6-8 PF Tipton, IN; Jordan Hulls 5-11 PG Bloomington, IN South; Christian Watford 6-8 WF Birmingham, AL Shades Valley; Bawa Muniru 6-11 C Birmingham, AL Central Park Christian. Overview: Tom Crean and his Hoosier staff continue to re-fill the talent coffers in Bloomington. Maurice Creek and Christian Watford both have star potential while Midwestern trio of Elston, Hull and Capobianco along with African big man Muniru will add immediate depth. Hoosiers may not be done yet, stay tuned!
5. UAB 5 Recruits: (PR-10) - DeMarcus Cousins 6-10 C Mobile, AL Leflore; Casey Mitchell 6-4 SG Chipola CC FL; Johnathan Kreft 7-0 C Chipola CC, FL; Adrian Coleman 6-4 SG Stone Mountain, GA Stephenson; Dexter Fields 6-3 SG Orlando, FL Olympia. Overview: Mike Davis and his Blazer staff received a major commitment when top ten (pushing for top five) talent DeMarcus Cousins decided to become a Blazer. He will have an immediate impact! Wing man Mitchell will battle for starting spot too. Juco big man Kreft may allow Cousins to move to power forward spot. Coleman and Fields add back court depth. Blazers are structured to make runs in NCAA tournament.
6. Illinois 4 Recruits: (PR-3) - Brandon Paul 6-2 SG Warren, IL Township; D.J. Richardson 6-3 SG Henderson, NV Findlay Prep; Joseph Bertrand 6-3 SG Sterling, IL; Tyler Griffey 6-8 PF Wildwood, MO Lafayette. Overview: Bruce Weber and his staff sign four top one hundred talents led by sweet shooting combo Brandon Paul and explosive swing men Richardson & Bertrand to help fill out their three guard set. Griffey will add depth up front too.
7. Arizona 3 Recruits: (PR-14) - Solomon Hill 6-6 WF Los Angeles, CA Fairfax; Mike Moser 6-8 PF Portland, OR Grant; Abdul Gaddy 6-3 PG Tacoma, WA Bellarmine Prep. Overview: Lute Olson and his Wildcat staff added two solid top one hundred forwards in Hill and Moser. Both had big summers. But, the addition of top ten talent and point guard super Gaddy is what pushed the Wildcats into the top ten. Look for ‘Cats to add some size this fall and challenge for top five spot!
8. Pittsburgh 5 Recruits: (PR-8) - Dante Taylor 6-8 PF Ft. Washington, MD National Christian; Lamar Patterson 6-6 WF Newark, NJ St. Benedict's; Darnell Dodson 6-7 WF Miami-Dade CC, FL; J.J. Richardson 6-7 PF Sugarland, TX Hightower; Talib Zanna 6-9 C Forestville, MD Bishop McNamara. Overview: Jamie Dixon and his staff received some immediate help inside with the addition of high flying Dante Taylor. He has future All-Big East potential. He'll get solid support from power men Zanna and Richardson on the baseline; while wing men Patterson and Dodson will add depth on the perimeter for the Panthers.
9. Villanova 3 Recruits: (PR-4) - Maalik Wayns 6-1 PG Philadelphia, PA Roman Catholic; Mouphtaou Yarou 6-9 PF Rockville, MD Montrose Christian; Isaiah Armwood 6-8 PF Rockville, MD Montrose Christian. Jay Wright and his Wildcat staff get some immediate inside-out help in top fifty trio led by explosive point Maalik Wayns. He is another in a line of quality lead guards at “Nova. Inside Yarou and Armstead will compete for immediate PT as freshman.
10. Minnesota 3 Recruits: (PR-NR) - Royce White 6-7 CF Minnetonka, MN Hopkins; Rodney Williams 6-6 WF New Hope, MN Robbinsdale-Cooper; Justin Cobbs 6-1 PG Torrance, CA Bishop Montgomery. Overview: Tubby Smith and his staff have made a big move with the addition of two top forty national talents Royce White and Rodney Williams. Even more important is the fact that they are in-state talents. Keeping the home grown talent in-state is a key to building Gopher program. It was something previous staffs have struggled to do. Coupled with last year's class the Gophers will have the talent to challenge for Big Ten supremacy.
11. UCLA 3 Recruits: (PR-BR) - Brendan Lane 6-9 PF Rocklin H.S. CA; 4 Reaves Nelson 6-7 PF Modesto Christian CA; Tyler Honeycutt 6-8 WF Sylmar, CA. Overview: Ben Howland and his Bruin staff continue to recruit with best in the country with the addition of three top one hundred forwards. Reeves and Honeycutt have potential to be impact freshmen on the wings while Lane is raw but intriguing talent. Beat goes on in Westwood!
12. Georgia Tech 4 Recruits: (PR-5) - Mfon Udofia 6-2 PG Stone Mountain, GA Miller Grove; Kammeon Holsey 6-8 WF Sparta, GA Hancock Central; Brian Oliver 6-6 WF New Castle, DE William Penn; Glen Rice 6-4 SG Marietta, GA Walton. Overview: Paul Hewitt and his staff have added top fifty lead guard Mfon Udofia along with a trio of athletic perimeter talents in Holsey, Rice, and Oliver that will add depth and firepower as freshmen.
13. N.C. State 3 Recruits: (PR-9) - Lorenzo Brown 6-4 SG Roswell, GA Centennial; Richard Howell 6-7 PF Marietta, GA Wheeler; Scott Wood 6-6 WF Marion, IN. Overview: Sidney Lowe and his Wolfpack staff Add three top one hundred prospects and lots of additional firepower on the perimeter in Brown and sharpshooter Wood. Look for athletic combo Howell to battle for starting spot upfront.
14. Louisville 4 Recruits: (PR-13) - Peyton Siva 6-0 PG Seattle, WA Franklin; Rakeem Buckles 6-8 PF Miami, FL Monsignor Pace; Mike Marra 6-4 SG Northfield, MA Northfield-Mt. Hermon; Stephan Van Treese 6-9 PF Indianapolis, IN Lawrence North. Overview: Rick Pitino and his staff get some real perimeter firepower in sweet shooting backcourt talents Siva and Marra. Both can stroke open jumper, while athletic big man Buckles and skilled power man Van Treese give the Cardinals immediate depth at the power spots inside.
15. Clemson 4 Recruits: (PR-11) - Milton Jennings 6-9 PF Summerville, SC Pinewood Prep; Devin Booker 6-8 PF Union, SC; Mbai Gato Oliver 6-8 WF Hampton, VA Bethel; Donte Hill 6-4 SG Norfolk, VA Collegiate. Overview: Oliver Purnell and his staff continue to keep talent coffers full and ready to do battle with tobacco road schools. Athletic big man Milton Jennings has star potential while Booker could be another steal like his brother was for the Tigers.
16. USC (3) Recruits: (PR-NR) - Noel Johnson 6-7 WF Fayetteville, GA Fayette County; Demetrius Walker 6-3 CG Phoenix, AZ St. Mary's; Evan Smith 6-6 WF Calabasas, CA. Overview: Tim Floyd and his staff added a potential star in sweet shooting wing talent Noel Johnson. He can be a big scorer from day one. In the back court Walker will add immediate depth. Trojans are still very active and we expect them to continue to add another player or two yet this fall.
17. Washington (3) Recruits: (PR-NR) - Clarence Trent 6-7 CF Lenoir, NC Patterson School; Charlie Garcia 6-9 PF Riverside CC, CA; C.J. Wilcox 6-6 WF Pleasant Grove, UT. Overview: Lorenzo Romar and his staff get immediate depth up front. Both juco Garcia and prep schooler Trent should have physical maturity to step in and start next fall. This trio coupled with last year's strong class should help Huskies challenge for spot in NCAA tourney in near future.
18. Oregon State (2) Recruits: (PR-NR) - Roberto Nelson 6-4 SG Santa Barbara, CA; Joe Burton 6-8 PF Hemet, CA West Valley. Overview: Craig Robinson and his staff are off to a fast start this fall with the addition of two top forty-type talents in High scoring Roberto Nelson and wide-bodied powerman Joe Burton. They both are proven winners who can form nucleus to build on for the future in Corvallis.
19. Texas (2) Recruits: (PR-NR) - Avery Bradley 6-3 SG Henderson, NV Findlay Prep; Shawn Williams 6-7 WF Duncanville, TX. Overview: Rick Barnes and his staff have added a stud scorer in Bradley. He can flat out fill it up. Williams is a glue type wing with talent to push for starting spot as frosh. The Longhorns are still looking to add one or two more this fall, stay tuned!
20. Purdue 5 Recruits: (PR-12) - Jeff Robinson 6-9 PF Indianapolis, IN Lawrence North; D.J. Byrd 6-5WF Crawfordsville, IN North Montgomery; Kelsey Barlow 6-4 SG Indianapolis, IN Cathedral; Patrick Bade 6-8 PF Indianapolis, IN Franklin Central; Travis Carroll 6-11 C Danville, IN. Matt Painter and his Boilermaker staff may have gotten a steal in Jeff Robinson, he has tools to make an impact down the road, while rest of class will give Boilers a deep, deep bench.
20. Oklahoma 3 Recruits: (PR-15) - Tommy Mason-Griffin 5-10 PG Mouth of Wilson, VA Oak Hill; Kyle Hardrick 6-8 PF Lawton, OK Eisenhower; Steven Pledger 6-4 SG Virginia Beach, VA Atlantic Shores Christian. Overview: Jeff Capel and his Sooner staff continue to build the foundation for long-term success in Norman with the addition of super tough floor leader Mason-Griffin. He has the tools to become one of Big 12's top points. While Hardrick and Pledger will add depth for the Sooners on the front line.
20. Georgetown 2 Recruits: (PR-15) - Hollis Thompson 6-6 WF Los Angeles, LA Loyola; DaShonte Riley 6-11 C Beverley Hills, MI Detroit Country Day. Overview: John Thompson and his staff continue to add quality as Thompson has potential to become a big-time college scorer as he adds strength, while razor thin shot blocker Riley could be a surprise down the road.
Editor's Note: The rankings are done a point system based on players rankings only, no points or rankings were adjusted for filling need or the impact a player or players might have on the program he has committed to.
Potential Breakthroughs:
Memphis 2 Recruits: Will Coleman 6-9 PF Miami-Dade CC FL; Nolan Dennis 6-4 SG Richland TX Richland Hills TX.
Connecticut 2 Recruits: Alex Oriakhi 6-9 C Winchendon, MA School; Jamal Coombs 6-7 PF Winchendon, MA School.
Utah (5) Recruits: Joseph Watkins 6-7 WF Southern Idaho CC, ID; Jeremy Olsen 6-10 C Suwanee, GA Collins Hill; Marshall Henderson 6-1 PG Hurst, TX L.D. Bell; Shawn Glover 6-6 WF Cedar Hill, TX; Matt Read 6-9 PF Collin County CC, TX.
UNLV 3 Recruits: Anthony Marshall 6-3 SG Las Vegas, NV Mojave; Carlos Lopez 6-10 C Henderson, NV Findlay Prep; Justin Hawkins 6-3 SG Woodland Hills, CA Taft.
Virginia Tech 4 Recruits: Manny Atkins 6-7 WF Tucker, GA; Erick Green 6-2 SG Winchester, VA Millbrook; Ben Boggs 6-4 SG Roanoke, VA Hidden Valley; Cadarian Raines 6-8 PF Petersburg, VA.
Florida 2 Recruits: Erik Murphy 6-10 C Southborough, MA St. Mark's; DeShawn Painter 6-9 PF Chatham, VA Hargrave Military.
Miami (OH) 5 Recruits: Drew McGhee 6-9 C North Ridgeville, OH; Mark Anderson 6-8 WF Sinclair CC, OH; Drew Kelly 65-7 Franklin, TN Centennial; Allen Roberts 6-2 SG Middletown, OH; Orlando Williams 6-3 PG Cincinnati, OH Princeton.
Kansas State 2 Recruits: Wally Judge 6-8 PF Jacksonville, FL Arlington Country Day; Rodney McGruder 6-4 SG Washington, DC Archbishop Carroll.
West Virginia 3 Recruits: Roscoe Davis 6-10 PF Chatham Hargrave Military VA; Dalton Pepper 6-5 SG Fairless Hills Pennsbury PA; Dan Jennings 6-10 C Mouth of Wilson Oak Hill VA.
Texas A&M 3 Recruits: Kourtney Roberson 6-8 PF Arcadia, LA; Naji Hibbert 6-5 WF Hyattsville, MD DeMatha; Khris Middleton 6-6 WF Charleston, SC Porter-Gaud.
Santa Clara 4 Recruits: Chris Cunningham 6-8 PF Diamond Bar, CA Diamond Ranch; Raymond Cowels 6-4 SG Minnetonka, MN Hopkins; Niyi Harrison 6-8 PF San Jose, CA Bellarmine Prep; Robert Smith 5-11 PG Perris, CA.
