2014 Recruiting Chatter

College Sports 300 replies 12,349 views
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ironman02
Posts: 4,989
Jul 14, 2013 12:26pm
Haering that Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor are basically a lock for Duke. Kevin Looney will probably end up there too.

Word is that Justise Winslow is favoring Arizona.

Obviously just speculation, but that's the info that seems to be floating around everywhere, so it could be pretty accurate.
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ironman02
Posts: 4,989
Jul 14, 2013 12:39pm
Been hearing that Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor are basically a lock for Duke, along with Kevin Looney.

Justise Winslow to Arizona most likely.

Obviously just rumors, but that seems to be the consensus among people "in the know".
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Jul 28, 2013 11:56pm
2014 5-star PG Josh Perkins narrows his list to 5. Gonzaga, UCLA, Kentucky, Connecticut and Minnesota. He has stated he will commit to a school before he starts at Huntington Prep on August 25th.

Interestingly, Kentucky has not offered him a scholarship. He hasn't visited Kentucky. However, his father was quoted after this news that if Kentucky doesn't offer, he will go elsewhere.

First, WELL DUH. He won't have an offer. Second, he's essentially saying that he desperately wants to go to UK. I just saw on Twitter that Jerry Meyer of Rivals stated that UK has no plans to offer Perkins, although his camp will wait until the end to see if that changes and he picks up an offer.

Don't get me wrong, reading some of the reports on Emmanuel Mudiay, he's maybe the best player in the class. With that said, Calipari better be damn sure he's got Mudiay in the bag, because the 2014 PG class right now is Mudiay, Jones and Perkins.
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Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Aug 9, 2013 12:22am
#31 overall Quentin Snider decommitted from Louisville
#33 overall James Blackmon Jr decommitted from Indiana

2 pretty solid guards back open. I'd love to see UK go after Blackmon if they whiff on a few other guards. Guy can shoot.
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Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Aug 23, 2013 10:45pm
Emmanuel Mudiay, best PG in the 2014 class, deciding tomorrow. Rumors are that Larry Brown and SMU will land him.

PG Josh Perkins, #28 overall, 3rd or 4th best PG, also choosing tomorrow.

Decisions at the Elite 24 game.
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Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Aug 23, 2013 11:36pm
Indiana with a huge weekend going on right now.

5* Isaiah Whitehead
4* Robert Johnson
4*/5* James Blackmon, Jr.
5* Malachai Richardson (2015)

...among others all on campus ranging from right now until Tuesday. Whitehead will be flying out from NYC (on his own dime) after the Elite 24 game. I think we see a commit from at least Johnson and possibly Whitehead.

Rumors also flying that Devin Robinson (5*) and Goodluck Okonoboh (4*) are leaning towards IU as well. Goodluck is the bigger lean at this point.
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Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Aug 24, 2013 7:55pm
Emmanuel Mudiay to SMU. Larry Brown starting to build something there the next few years.
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Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Aug 24, 2013 9:27pm
Surprised in that. Not that it was announced cause there was rumors all over the place. Just surprised in general he went to SMU.
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ironman02
Posts: 4,989
Sep 10, 2013 10:31pm
Not much chatter on here lately.

Some new news on the Carolina front that involves players who are being recruited by several top programs...

Roy Williams has extended offers to three additional guards in the 2014 class...Dante Exum, Robert Johnson, and James Blackmon.

It's still uncertain whether Exum will play college ball at all since he lives in Australia and may enter the 2014 NBA Draft. His father, Cecil, played at Carolina and he has expressed interest in the Heels. Many people believe that if he does play college ball, Carolina has as good a chance as any school to land him.

Robert Johnson and James Blackmon (after de-committing from IU) have also received late offers from Carolina, and there's a lot of chatter about Johnson favoring the Heels. He recently set a decision date of September 20th, and it's down to IU, Carolina, UVA, and FSU. Personally, I think he might be choosing IU, but the announcment date brings me to my next point...

Rashad Vaughn. Vaughn wanted to commit on his unofficial visit to Carolina earlier this year, but at the urging of his family, he waited and decided to let the process play out. Since then, it seemed as though he had cooled on Carolina and wouldn't take an official visit to Chapel Hill. Now, he has decided to schedule an OV, but it's on Septemeber 27th. Does that mean that Carolina isn't getting Johnson? Will Johnson commit first and take the last "first come, first serve" spot in the 2014 recruiting class?

One thing is for sure. Roy Williams is taking a very aggressive approach to fill out this class. I have wanted Vaughn all along, but any of these guys would cap off what is currently ranked as the #1 class in 2014, as of this moment.
Laley23's avatar
Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Sep 10, 2013 11:08pm
ironman02;1498816 wrote:Not much chatter on here lately.

Some new news on the Carolina front that involves players who are being recruited by several top programs...

Roy Williams has extended offers to three additional guards in the 2014 class...Dante Exum, Robert Johnson, and James Blackmon.

It's still uncertain whether Exum will play college ball at all since he lives in Australia and may enter the 2014 NBA Draft. His father, Cecil, played at Carolina and he has expressed interest in the Heels. Many people believe that if he does play college ball, Carolina has as good a chance as any school to land him.

Robert Johnson and James Blackmon (after de-committing from IU) have also received late offers from Carolina, and there's a lot of chatter about Johnson favoring the Heels. He recently set a decision date of September 20th, and it's down to IU, Carolina, UVA, and FSU. Personally, I think he might be choosing IU, but the announcment date brings me to my next point...

Rashad Vaughn. Vaughn wanted to commit on his unofficial visit to Carolina earlier this year, but at the urging of his family, he waited and decided to let the process play out. Since then, it seemed as though he had cooled on Carolina and wouldn't take an official visit to Chapel Hill. Now, he has decided to schedule an OV, but it's on Septemeber 27th. Does that mean that Carolina isn't getting Johnson? Will Johnson commit first and take the last "first come, first serve" spot in the 2014 recruiting class?

One thing is for sure. Roy Williams is taking a very aggressive approach to fill out this class. I have wanted Vaughn all along, but any of these guys would cap off what is currently ranked as the #1 class in 2014, as of this moment.
I think Johnson is heading to IU as well. He said he was close to committing to them several times, but wanted to wait on all his visits to see if he still felt the same way. He then proceeded to move up all his visits to consecutive weekends.

My theory, he wanted to commit to IU but wanted to make sure 100%. But he didnt want to wait too long (IU is also recruiting Isaiah Whitehead in addition to the 2 you listed) so he moved them up. Now his visits are done (FSU not withstanding) and he will choose IU.

I think:
Johnson -IU
Blackmon - UK (which would just be stupid for him)
Exum - NBA
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ironman02
Posts: 4,989
Sep 10, 2013 11:21pm
Laley23;1498839 wrote:I think Johnson is heading to IU as well. He said he was close to committing to them several times, but wanted to wait on all his visits to see if he still felt the same way. He then proceeded to move up all his visits to consecutive weekends.

My theory, he wanted to commit to IU but wanted to make sure 100%. But he didnt want to wait too long (IU is also recruiting Isaiah Whitehead in addition to the 2 you listed) so he moved them up. Now his visits are done (FSU not withstanding) and he will choose IU.

I think:
Johnson -IU
Blackmon - UK (which would just be stupid for him)
Exum - NBA
I think you're exactly right. That would leave the door open for Vaughn to Carolina. My only worry is that the other three will go elsewhere, and then Vaughn will too. If Carolina somehow ends up going 0-for-4 in this situation, I'll be pretty disappointed.
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Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Sep 11, 2013 10:38pm
Why do you think Blackmon going to UK is a bad thing? If James Young goes pro, they have plenty of minutes available at the 2...

Even if Young stays, he likely will split time at the 3 anyway, considering that Poythress and Randle are for sure gone.
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Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Sep 11, 2013 11:01pm
Azubuike24;1499235 wrote:Why do you think Blackmon going to UK is a bad thing? If James Young goes pro, they have plenty of minutes available at the 2...

Even if Young stays, he likely will split time at the 3 anyway, considering that Poythress and Randle are for sure gone.
Cause I dont think he will be needed/utilized as much as he will at Michigan, IU or UNC. I like the way his game fits those offenses better.

I might be completely wrong...but James is a 4 year guy who is a pure shooter. UK might have minutes initially, he will be recruited over as well as the fact that I dont think a pure shooting 2G is a great fit in the UK offense. He isnt a great ball handler or anything, just shoots the shit out of the ball. Just think for him, a school that has a great offense that utilizes the 3pt shot more would be better. That and those other schools wont recruit over him (maybe UNC).
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Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Sep 11, 2013 11:23pm
I see your point, but I also think that role worked pretty well for Doron Lamb. He really improved his handle by his Sophomore year and was running backup PG. He was also a crucial player on that title team who really lacked a great outside shooter other than himself and Darius Miller. Teague, MKG and Jones were all below average "shooters" for their position.

The 2 most disappointing teams Cal had (2009-10 and 2012-13), both really struggled to shoot the outside shot.
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Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Sep 12, 2013 12:16am
Azubuike24;1499250 wrote:I see your point, but I also think that role worked pretty well for Doron Lamb. He really improved his handle by his Sophomore year and was running backup PG. He was also a crucial player on that title team who really lacked a great outside shooter other than himself and Darius Miller. Teague, MKG and Jones were all below average "shooters" for their position.

The 2 most disappointing teams Cal had (2009-10 and 2012-13), both really struggled to shoot the outside shot.
That's also true.

But I would counter with the fact JBJ could be a much more integral part at the other schools he is lookin at than what Lamb was for UK. But, if he is more concerned with winning (could do that at any schools) and playing at a school that is filled with top talent, UK is for him. I just personally wouldn't want to do that. Heck, put Lamb back in HS and show his future he might not choose UK (aside from the title of course). I mean, he committed to them before all the talent committed that were options ahead of him.
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Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Sep 13, 2013 9:40pm
Looks like Tyler Ullis (#33 overall, #4 PG in 2014) committed to UK. From his vids, he may be the best overall PG in-terms of quickness and distribution skills, but his 5'9 stature makes him a gamble. Barring an unlikely snag of Tyus Jones or return of Aaron Harrison for a 2nd year and shifting to PG (from SG), this is your next UK point guard.

#31 overall and #3 PG Quentin Snider, former Louisville commit chose Illinois.

The PG talent is all but gone in this class at this point, outside of Tyus Jones.
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ironman02
Posts: 4,989
Sep 13, 2013 11:26pm
Just saw that JaQuan Lyle has de-committed from Louisville. Interesting.
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Tiger2003
Posts: 15,421
Sep 13, 2013 11:37pm
ironman02;1500065 wrote:Just saw that JaQuan Lyle has de-committed from Louisville. Interesting.
Yes he has. Pretty interesting. He just didn't think it was the right fit.
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ironman02
Posts: 4,989
Sep 13, 2013 11:47pm
Tiger2003;1500068 wrote:Yes he has. Pretty interesting. He just didn't think it was the right fit.
Any idea where he might end up now?
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Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Sep 15, 2013 10:00pm
Well, here's this, from Alexander today.

Cliff Alexander ‏@humblekid11 10h Me & broski will be playing @JMamba5 playing college basketball together

Then, on his feed just a bit later...

Max Miller™ ‏@mmiller62810 5h
Jaquan Lyle and @humblekid11 will go to Illinois. I hate to say it because I am a spartan for life but I can just have a feeling they are
Retweeted by Cliff Alexander

Kansas or Illinois for this combo, which would put whoever gets them immediately into a top 5 class.
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Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Sep 15, 2013 10:38pm
Or Lyle told Alexander he was going to Kansas, then changed his mind again 5 minutes later...
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Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Sep 15, 2013 10:42pm
Either way, if they are playing together, those are the 2 spots.

Then again, we all know how often the "playing together" thing works. Even though this did come from Alexander directly...

Kansas is likely to lose their entire starting 5, or most of it, so that would be a natural fit.
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Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Sep 15, 2013 10:44pm
I mean, Lyle has also said since decommitting that he would end up with Lyles and Blackmon. Called them the 3 Musketeers of Indiana or some dumb shit. lol

Kid is a fucking headcase. Talented, but a headcase.
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Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Sep 16, 2013 11:54pm
Even funnier is, UK is involved (if not favored) for Lyles and Blackmon, and could potentially recruit Lyle. I don't want Lyle, because there are bigger fish to fry, but still funny...

Lyles is the only one who is a potential game changer at the college level. Maybe not the most elite prospect, but at the college level in the right role, he can be unstoppable.
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Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Sep 16, 2013 11:58pm
Azubuike24;1501881 wrote:Even funnier is, UK is involved (if not favored) for Lyles and Blackmon, and could potentially recruit Lyle. I don't want Lyle, because there are bigger fish to fry, but still funny...

Lyles is the only one who is a potential game changer at the college level. Maybe not the most elite prospect, but at the college level in the right role, he can be unstoppable.
He seems to have plateaued on his height (was projected as a 6-11 possibility). But even at 6-9, with his post moves, ball handling, etc...he might be the biggest mismatch in the NCAA.

Side note: Canada is about to be better than the USA in the Olympics lol