'09 Recruiting Discussion

[crques]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

October 15, 2008
MSA's Kilicli commits to WVU

West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins has landed yet another commitment from a high-profile recruit.

By Mitch Vingle
Sports Editor

West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins has landed yet another commitment from a high-profile recruit.

On Tuesday, Mountain State Academy coach Rob Fulford confirmed reports that power forward Deniz Kilicli has decided to play for the Mountaineers beginning in 2009.

Kilicli, 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, is originally from Istanbul, Turkey. Fulford said the forward's father was looking for American academic and athletic opportunities for his son, which resulted in the move to Beckley.

"He has committed to West Virginia," Fulford said. "He committed over the weekend, but we wanted to make a couple courtesy calls to coaches before we released it.''

The courtesy calls were to high-level programs.

"He had offers from UCLA, Texas, Kentucky and North Carolina State," Fulford said. "But he didn't need to visit [the other schools] after going to Morgantown. He loved Huggins.''

The forward, who is now a Mountain State Academy teammate of another WVU recruit, ex-Poca standout Noah Cottrill, will have four years of eligibility in Morgantown.

"West Virginia is getting a very powerful, skilled power forward," Fulford said. "He has the ability to run the floor, shoot the 3, play with his back to the basket, shoot jump shots. ... He's just a very skilled player.''

Fulford said Kilicli has only been rated as a three-star recruit by some services.

"But if [Kilicli] had been here over the summer at AAU events, he'd be five stars,'' said the Mountain State coach. "He'd be a top-10 kid. West Virginia got an NBA player here.''

Reach Mitch Vingle at 348-4827 or [email protected].

West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins has landed yet another commitment from a high-profile recruit.

On Tuesday, Mountain State Academy coach Rob Fulford confirmed reports that power forward Deniz Kilicli has decided to play for the Mountaineers beginning in 2009.

Kilicli, 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, is originally from Istanbul, Turkey. Fulford said the forward's father was looking for American academic and athletic opportunities for his son, which resulted in the move to Beckley.

"He has committed to West Virginia," Fulford said. "He committed over the weekend, but we wanted to make a couple courtesy calls to coaches before we released it.''

The courtesy calls were to high-level programs.

"He had offers from UCLA, Texas, Kentucky and North Carolina State," Fulford said. "But he didn't need to visit [the other schools] after going to Morgantown. He loved Huggins.''

The forward, who is now a Mountain State Academy teammate of another WVU recruit, ex-Poca standout Noah Cottrill, will have four years of eligibility in Morgantown.

"West Virginia is getting a very powerful, skilled power forward," Fulford said. "He has the ability to run the floor, shoot the 3, play with his back to the basket, shoot jump shots. ... He's just a very skilled player.''

Fulford said Kilicli has only been rated as a three-star recruit by some services.

"But if [Kilicli] had been here over the summer at AAU events, he'd be five stars,'' said the Mountain State coach. "He'd be a top-10 kid. West Virginia got an NBA player here.''

[PhantomPain]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

That is a great pickup for West Virginia. I was hoping he would come to UK's madness but when he accepted Huggins had the right of mind to move up their madness to the same time. Not saying that UK would have gotten him if he did show up, but barvo to Huggins for not even giving that a chance.

Great great player from everything I have read.

[crques]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

That is a great pickup for West Virginia. I was hoping he would come to UK's madness but when he accepted Huggins had the right of mind to move up their madness to the same time. Not saying that UK would have gotten him if he did show up, but barvo to Huggins for not even giving that a chance.

Great great player from everything I have read.

Yeah I'm really excited to see him play this season. Mountain State Academy is about 10 minutes from where I live so I should get to see a lot of games this year. The program is really just getting started but they already have 5 or 6 Division I commits on this year's team and some underclassmen that are getting lots of attention as well. I was an assistant coach there 4 seasons ago when they just had started their program, but changed jobs the following season and was no longer able to help. At that time it was only made up of local kids and they competed with area teams. Now it's a private school and they are having to turn down kids that want to come there and play. Had I known what this program was going to become, I wouldn't have changed jobs and then I still could have been an assistant coach there. Now that, would be fun. LOL

[jhawkmike]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

The 5 star recruits that Kansas won't have room for could make up a top 20 recruiting class:

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2008/oct/13/keegan_race_say_yes_kansas/?football

We only have 1 commit so far. Rivals #18 John Robinson. We have 2 more scholarships to give, and we are on the short list of #1, #3, #4, #9, and #16. I've noticed a recruiting pattern with Bill Self. He likes to recruit a large class filled with 4 star players who will likely stay all four years, and follow that up wtih a couple small classes of all 5 star players.

[Brandwin]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

Latavious Williams, Rivals #15th player overall and 6th overall PF says Baylor is on top of his list of schools. From what I read, he has some academic problems though.

[Marino]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

Man Coach Lowe sure can recruit, hopefully these players are as good as advertised.

[Spence31]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

I wonder why Deniz is only a 2-star on scout?

[crques]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

I wonder why Deniz is only a 2-star on scout?

Probably because of lack of exposure. He's only been in the US for a month. His coach told me last night that he will definitely be a 5 star by the end of the season. I watched him in a scrimmage yesterday evening against some college players from Mountain State University, some of which have transferred from Division I schools, and he was probably the best player on on the floor. He can stroke the 3, but he has a nice post game too.

[Spence31]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

yeah i heard he is good, but you never know about these European kids

[crques]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

yeah i heard he is good, but you never know about these European kids

In talking to his coach yesterday, one of his weaknesses at the moment seems to be his man-to-man defense and matching up with more athletic players inside, but he said it's actually improved in just the past 6 weeks that he's been here playing and is a much better defender already. He handles the ball really well and loves contact in the paint, which is unusual for Europeans.

[Spence31]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

hey, If ya dont mind, where are u from in WV

If u dont want to put it out you can just pm me

[o0luke0o]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

Things are heating up, what are everyones guesses to where the top players will go?

Lance Stephenson (st johns?)
Renardo Sidney (europe?)
Xavier Henry (kansas?)
John Wall (memphis?)
Derrick Favors (georgia tech?)
Dominik Cheeks (villinova?)
Michael Snear (kansas?)

[Spence31]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

I havent heard St. Johns for Lance, though i have heard he wants to go to a school with rich tradition and little NCAA infractions (UK, UCLA, and so on.) I think Xavier (fyi pronounced za-vee-ay) will go to Memphis with his brother C.J.

Idk about the others though.

[ehh]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

St. John's? Nooooooooo way. They are probably the worst BCS-conference team in the nation.

[Brandwin]

Re: '09 Recruiting Discussion

Baylor landed a Rivals top 150 guy. Givon Crump, a 3 Star SF. 30th at position 142nd overall.