Azubuike24;1121632 wrote:This thread is going to heat up in the next few months after the Tournament concludes.

Nerlens Noel is down to three, Kentucky, Syracuse and Georgetown. He and his family met with John Calipari this morning. He will still visit Syracuse for his final visit.

Shabazz Muhammad is going to pick a school either April 9th or 10th, according to Adam Zagoria. It appears UCLA is the favorite at this time, but everything in this recruitment has always been very close to the chest.

After watching Goergetown at Nationwide, I often wonder how Thompson recruits. Their style of play, princeton offense is down right boring. I would never want to go play for him if I were a top stud recruit.

If I were a big man looking to show versatility, I'd go to G-Town. They run their offense through the 5. Noel would actually make great sense to go there. The problem with G-Town next year, and Noel is a 1 and done, is they lose Hollis Thompson and Jason Clark, and I could see Otto Porter flirting with the NBA Draft too.

As for Syracuse, they have Christmas returning (almost assuredly) and possibly Fab Melo coming back, if by any chance he becomes eligible. While you could argue that Noel is as good as both, that's still serious competition for minutes.

At UK, he's the starting center, without competition, from day one. Off a year when their previous center won National Defensive Player of the Year and Overall Player of the Year.

CBF, look at Greg Monroe, Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert. JT3 used them brilliantly at G-Town. It's the guards he hasn't really been able to get. In his system, you simply don't need fantastic guards who are overly quick or athletic. Heck, you don't even need a true PG. They didn't have a true PG this year, they just had Porter, Thompson and Clark (all 2's and 3's who had above average handles) and ran everything through Sims.

Azubuike24;1121632 wrote:This thread is going to heat up in the next few months after the Tournament concludes.

Nerlens Noel is down to three, Kentucky, Syracuse and Georgetown. He and his family met with John Calipari this morning. He will still visit Syracuse for his final visit.

Shabazz Muhammad is going to pick a school either April 9th or 10th, according to Adam Zagoria. It appears UCLA is the favorite at this time, but everything in this recruitment has always been very close to the chest.

It'll heat up for non-OSU fans...lol. Parker is a long shot, and that's pretty much the only guy OSU is after.

I guess the Buckeyes only have one scholarship available this year, so hopefully they get a shooter and the rest of the young guys learn how to play.

Azubuike24;1121679 wrote:If I were a big man looking to show versatility, I'd go to G-Town. They run their offense through the 5. Noel would actually make great sense to go there. The problem with G-Town next year, and Noel is a 1 and done, is they lose Hollis Thompson and Jason Clark, and I could see Otto Porter flirting with the NBA Draft too.

As for Syracuse, they have Christmas returning (almost assuredly) and possibly Fab Melo coming back, if by any chance he becomes eligible. While you could argue that Noel is as good as both, that's still serious competition for minutes.

At UK, he's the starting center, without competition, from day one. Off a year when their previous center won National Defensive Player of the Year and Overall Player of the Year.

CBF, look at Greg Monroe, Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert. JT3 used them brilliantly at G-Town. It's the guards he hasn't really been able to get. In his system, you simply don't need fantastic guards who are overly quick or athletic. Heck, you don't even need a true PG. They didn't have a true PG this year, they just had Porter, Thompson and Clark (all 2's and 3's who had above average handles) and ran everything through Sims.

Completely agree with everything you said about G'town, Az. Disagree about Fab Melo coming back to Syracuse though. Even if he could find a way to be/stay eligible....he's leaving for the NBA.

I think Noel goes to Kentucky.

At this point, I think every recruit is going to Kentucky unless he has already committed. Cal has the recruiting universe by the balls.

Cleveland Buck;1121751 wrote:I guess the Buckeyes only have one scholarship available this year, so hopefully they get a shooter and the rest of the young guys learn how to play.

You might be surprised. If Sullinger and/or Thomas announces for the NBA, OSU could open up. I know they have a lot of scholarships already spoken for, but if I wouldn't be surprised if they get involved with some kids late or even consider a transfer. I mentioned in the Connecticut thread that Oriakhi is going to be available. OSU recruited him out of HS, and he would step in nicely at the 4 next to Williams.

http://www.toledoblade.com/HighSchool/2012/03/22/Titans-Loving-best-of-top-junior-class.html

vball10set;1123681 wrote:http://www.toledoblade.com/HighSchool/2012/03/22/Titans-Loving-best-of-top-junior-class.html

3 of those selections are correct. No way Gettys is better than Donnal. Same with the kid from Napoleon.

Hayes, Lamb and Loving were no brainers (though, so is Mark Donnal).

Laley23;1123831 wrote:3 of those selections are correct. No way Gettys is better than Donnal. Same with the kid from Napoleon.

Hayes, Lamb and Loving were no brainers (though, so is Mark Donnal).

Agreed.

Laley23;1123831 wrote:3 of those selections are correct. No way Gettys is better than Donnal. Same with the kid from Napoleon.

Hayes, Lamb and Loving were no brainers (though, so is Mark Donnal).

sportswizuhrd;1123852 wrote:Agreed.

I agree as well.

se-alum;1121742 wrote:It'll heat up for non-OSU fans...lol. Parker is a long shot, and that's pretty much the only guy OSU is after.

I'll gaurantee OSU is after more than Parker. He obviously is on top of their list, thus gets PR for recruiting. That doesn't mean they will sign anyone. As mentioned above, all depends on who stays/leaves.

Lots of good stuff on the Tony Parker front because of the ESPN articles. Finally someone mentioned the concern players have for being developed by players like Wojo. Parker even mentioned he didn't think it was a good idea for a guard to develop big men. Maybe K will get Nate James more involved in that process (or give the perception he is more involved).

Still think Duke has a great shot at Parker and Amile Jefferson. They did just pick up a transfer from Central Michigan Trey Ziegler. I know nothing about his game but I assume he is a slasher given the needs of the program.

Trey Ziegler transfered to Duke? Wow..I know he followed his dad to CMU, but he was a top 25('ish) recruit.

He is Durham today (visting). Won't be available until 2013-2014 but yes, a top 25 player.

After doing more research I see his father was fired at CMU. I know the NCAA grants players waiver of the one year sit out rule, wonder if the Devils can apply that principle to this case. I know when Bliss was out at Baylor several players could transfer without penalty.

swamisez;1125053 wrote:He is Durham today (visting). Won't be available until 2013-2014 but yes, a top 25 player.

After doing more research I see his father was fired at CMU. I know the NCAA grants players waiver of the one year sit out rule, wonder if the Devils can apply that principle to this case. I know when Bliss was out at Baylor several players could transfer without penalty.

That was also probably because Dave Bliss (AKA Tony Montana), in an attempt to free himself of NCAA penalties involving improper payments to former player Patrick Dennehy, tried to frame Dennehy as a drug lord after Dennehy was murdered by a teammate. Homicide, illegal transactions and the framing of a corpse are probably grounds for special circumstances by the NCAA.

I hope you're right, though, and the visit to Durham and transfer situation all works out well for Duke and Zeigler. Also, I wonder how far along Zeigler is with regard to graduating? If he's ahead of schedule considerably (doubt it), Zeigler could possibly graduate early over the summer and then do what Brandon Wood did after transferring from Valpo by entering into a graduate program at Michigan State that wasn't offered at Valpo, allowing Wood to play immediately.

with nobody coming in next year, what does OSU do if Sullinger and, God forbid, Thomas decide to leave? Throw out a quick offer and end up with someone like PJ Hill?

Just read Nerlens Noel and Shabazz Muhammed are leaning towards UK. That is just unreal.

And I never realized Noel and Oriakhi were from the same high school. Apparently they're pretty good friends now and worked out together last offseason.

@PeteThamelNYT: Heard from a few places today that Georgetown is picking up a lot of steam in the @NerlensNoel3 derby.

Hate to say it because I want N.N. at UK, but if I was a big man I'd really consider Georgetown.

Then again, it's Pete Thamel...

Two things I noticed from an IU perspective.

1. Yogi Ferrell has grown sinc ethe start of the season when I last saw him play. He is at least 6-0, when I saw him he looked 5-9/5-10.
2. Ferrell seemed a lot quicker. Park Tudor didnt run as much as an All-Star game, so that is likely the reason.

Also, and this was never in doubt for me, Yogi Ferrell will start from day 1 and get 30 minutes a game. Many IU people were questioning how you break up the starting line-up and who moves to the bench. My answer was, and always has been, Will Sheehey. I stand by that statement. Ferrell is really good. Had a rough shooting night, but Ive seen him 10 times in person, and he has never shot that poorly. Best passing PG for IU since maybe Isaiah (imo).

Starting 5:
Ferrell (FR)
Hulls (SR)
Oladipo (JR)
Watford (SR)
Zeller (SO)

Bench:
Sheehey (JR)
Hanner Perea (FR)
Jeremy Hollowell (FR)
Derek Elston (SR)
Ron Patterson (FR)
Mo Creek (if healthy) (SR)
Remy Abell (played significant minutes versus UK in S16 and will be about 10th in rotation, imo) (SO)

Thats a preseason top 3 team. If Watford goes pro, insert Will Sheehey into starting line-up. Still a top 3 team, imo.

It's a lost art in today's game, but any chance there are redshirts? You gotta figure after next year, IU loses at least 4 players (won't count Creek because he hasn't been around), possibly 5 if Oladipo raises his game.

Agree though, they are stacked.

Azubuike24;1130908 wrote:It's a lost art in today's game, but any chance there are redshirts? You gotta figure after next year, IU loses at least 4 players (won't count Creek because he hasn't been around), possibly 5 if Oladipo raises his game.

Agree though, they are stacked.

Only FR I see redshirting are:
-Peter Jurkin (the 7' kid from United Faith Christian Academy, NC). He was ranked around 130 in Rivals at one point, but is unranked now I believe after shin splints kept him out of half the season.
-Ron Patterson (6-3 SG from Broad Ripple, Indy). Ranked around 70 at one point, 131 now.

Hollowell, Ferrell and Perea no way. I say that because they will be integral parts to the team, and its a team that has a chance to be playing in Atlanta 365 days from now. No way Crean has that talent on the bench.

I could see 1 or both of Remy Abell and Austin Etherington redshirting. Both are sophomores. I could see Abell transferring as well. Etherington is the prototypical payer to transfer, but he, Zeller and Yogi are all best friends. So that wont happen.

I could see Jurkin going to prep school, but that talk has cooled recently.

Bottom line is we need 1 player to be off the "books" to fit all 5 freshman (or a freshman to prep) to have 13 on the books.

And you are right. Hulls, Watford, Elston to graduation. Zeller to pros. Oladipo to pros (possibly). It would hurt, especially since the 2013 class is supposed to couple 2012 and 2014. Not having Oladipo or Zeller would be brutal losses. Not many expected Zeller to leave before his JR year, or Oladipo at all. But with success comes the early entrees, so it is a good problem to have in that regard.

Laley23;1130845 wrote:Two things I noticed from an IU perspective.

1. Yogi Ferrell has grown sinc ethe start of the season when I last saw him play. He is at least 6-0, when I saw him he looked 5-9/5-10.
2. Ferrell seemed a lot quicker. Park Tudor didnt run as much as an All-Star game, so that is likely the reason.

Also, and this was never in doubt for me, Yogi Ferrell will start from day 1 and get 30 minutes a game. Many IU people were questioning how you break up the starting line-up and who moves to the bench. My answer was, and always has been, Will Sheehey. I stand by that statement. Ferrell is really good. Had a rough shooting night, but Ive seen him 10 times in person, and he has never shot that poorly. Best passing PG for IU since maybe Isaiah (imo).

Starting 5:
Ferrell (FR)
Hulls (SR)
Oladipo (JR)
Watford (SR)
Zeller (SO)

Bench:
Sheehey (JR)
Hanner Perea (FR)
Jeremy Hollowell (FR)
Derek Elston (SR)
Ron Patterson (FR)
Mo Creek (if healthy) (SR)
Remy Abell (played significant minutes versus UK in S16 and will be about 10th in rotation, imo) (SO)

Thats a preseason top 3 team. If Watford goes pro, insert Will Sheehey into starting line-up. Still a top 3 team, imo.

I agree completely that is a top 3 team, but I just don't think you can say the same if Watford declares. Top 5-6? Yes. Top 3? Not in my opinion.