2012 Recruiting Thread

[Bad_Intentions]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

I mean best talent wise. Purvis and Warren, have the bodies to come in and make an impact right off the top. Leslie is a great athlete but a string bean. I see that with Amile Jefferson to, he will get pushed around a bit his first couple years, but he's a very skilled player. Purvis and Warren look like NBA players.

Although I'd wish Harrow stayed, his jumper was terrible. I think Harris will give us another perimeter shooter other than Wood. Hopefully Gottfried can get him to play within the system. Kid seems to have a really good attitude though and he's super excited to play for the Pack.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

The rich get richer...

Alex Poythress commits to Kentucky.

They've gotten the #13, 17 & 32nd ranked recruits in 2012.

EDIT: Makes me feel that Shabazz will scratch Kentucky off his list (some of us can only hope at this point ).

[ZM Punk]

That's a down year compared to the last few for Cal.

[jake44np]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

I never tracked him, but Steve Lavin has been going through a lot. I'd say any player who would decommit while his supposed future coach is going through that, is probably not the player you'd want anyway. If a player needs hand holding all the way to the signing desk, let him go, Cuz he'd need hand holding in the lockeroom too, not to mention the classroom

Lavin will get W's because he is one of, if not the best X&O's coach in the Big East, yes better than Pitino and Calhoun. Huggins is a close second.

The kid is planning his future it has nothing to do with what Lavin is going thru.
So was he suppose to go somewhere he doesnt want to go because the coach is having health issues?

[Koolie G]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

That's a down year compared to the last few for Cal.

True. Remember that 5* NC State transfer Ryan Harrow will be eligible with those guys as well next year. Plus if Shabazz commits to UK, they will probably have the #1 class again.

[gcabaltica]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

The kid is planning his future it has nothing to do with what Lavin is going thru.
So was he suppose to go somewhere he doesnt want to go because the coach is having health issues?

Maybe not have ever committed to StJhns to begin with?? Just sayin . .

True. Remember that 5* NC State transfer Ryan Harrow will be eligible with those guys as well next year. Plus if Shabazz commits to UK, they will probably have the #1 class again.

Poythress's commitment is probably even a bigger draw for Shabazz to UK. Anthony Bennett might back off, but I think UK will get the #1 class by the end of spring signing period

[DakkoN]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

I think UK gets one or two of Devonta Pollard, Amile Jefferson, Jarnell Stokes and Shabazz Muhammad. Jefferson and Stokes may back off now with the Poythress commit but Stokes was practically creaming himself on twitter when he was on his visit last week..

[Marino]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

I think UK gets one or two of Devonta Pollard, Amile Jefferson, Jarnell Stokes and Shabazz Muhammad. Jefferson and Stokes may back off now with the Poythress commit but Stokes was practically creaming himself on twitter when he was on his visit last week..

Kentucky is already out on Jefferson, he said he did not have a great visit to UK. It's down to tOSU and NCSU with Villanova being a possible dark horse.

[DakkoN]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

Kentucky is already out on Jefferson, he said he did not have a great visit to UK. It's down to tOSU and NCSU with Villanova being a possible dark horse.

Oh, I hadn't heard and hadn't really kept up with his recruitment. I really only started hearing his name when the uncertainty and urgency in the Poythress situation started coming about.. Hell, I haven't heard much about Devonta Pollard either.. His recruitment has been unusually quiet and all I've seen that he said is that he cut his list to UK and Texas..

[Marino]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

One of my good buddies who is close to recruiting around the country (works for Scout) says he would be shocked if Pollard doesn't end up at UK.

[gcabaltica]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

One of my good buddies who is close to recruiting around the country (works for Scout) says he would be shocked if Pollard doesn't end up at UK.

Calipari really cooled on Jefferson down the stretch. Stokes is the next most likely, Pollard might sign early. UK is putting the full court press on Shabazz and Bennett. My guess is they get Stokes early and Shabazz late and get the #1 class again in the waning moments of the late signing period.

That would make 4 #1 classes in a row . . . good God! I don't have that much luck when recruiting in CH2K8, even when I'm at 100% interest on 8 or 9 5*'s!

[Bad_Intentions]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

True. Remember that 5* NC State transfer Ryan Harrow will be eligible with those guys as well next year. Plus if Shabazz commits to UK, they will probably have the #1 class again.

I don't think Harrow will scare off any big time recruit. I'm interested to see how he fits in with Cal's system. I'm sure he'll like playing in the open court with those athletes more but I want to see his half court execution.

[gcabaltica]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

I don't think Harrow will scare off any big time recruit. I'm interested to see how he fits in with Cal's system. I'm sure he'll like playing in the open court with those athletes more but I want to see his half court execution.

Harrow should'nt. He was a 5* in his '10 class. He was the #4 PG in the '10 class behind Irving, Sleby and Knight, but much better than any PG in this class which is the weakest PG class in over a decade.

Here is the several 5* noteworthy prototypical PG's in the past several years

'02-Raymond Felton
'03-Chris Paul
'04-Rajon Rondo
'05-Mario Chalmers
'06-Ty Lawson & Sherron Collins
'07-Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo
'08-Brandon Jennings, Kemba Walker, & Tyreke Evans
'09-John Wall, Abdul Gaddy, and Eric Bledsoe
'10-Kyrie Irving, & Brandon Knight
'11-Marquis Teague & Myck Kabongo

Each of the '10 & '11 class took progressive little dips but this '12 class is a steep decline. I just dont see Kyle Anderson or Rodney Purvis setting up to be that explosive and any of the John Wall Classes or earlier would've blown them off the court outa High School. I'd put Ryan Harrow's quality more in line with the '10 or '11 class. If he were coming out of H.S in this class, he'd be the #1 PG. He played Irving tough heads up, but he would/will eat either Anderson's or Purvis's lunch. There is a reason Calipari cooled on Anderson and Purvis and knows PG's better than anyone, 6 of those on the above list were his, 2-#1 picks, 4-Lottery, 5-1st round, 1-about to be

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

Harrow should'nt. He was a 5* in his '10 class. He was the #4 PG in the '10 class behind Irving, Sleby and Knight, but much better than any PG in this class which is the weakest PG class in over a decade.

Here is the several 5* noteworthy prototypical PG's in the past several years

'02-Raymond Felton
'03-Chris Paul
'04-Rajon Rondo
'05-Mario Chalmers
'06-Ty Lawson & Sherron Collins
'07-Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo
'08-Brandon Jennings, Kemba Walker, & Tyreke Evans
'09-John Wall, Abdul Gaddy, and Eric Bledsoe
'10-Kyrie Irving, & Brandon Knight
'11-Marquis Teague & Myck Kabongo

Each of the '10 & '11 class took progressive little dips but this '12 class is a steep decline. I just dont see Kyle Anderson or Rodney Purvis setting up to be that explosive and any of the John Wall Classes or earlier would've blown them off the court outa High School. I'd put Ryan Harrow's quality more in line with the '10 or '11 class. If he were coming out of H.S in this class, he'd be the #1 PG. He played Irving tough heads up, but he would/will eat either Anderson's or Purvis's lunch. There is a reason Calipari cooled on Anderson and Purvis and knows PG's better than anyone, 6 of those on the above list were his, 2-#1 picks, 4-Lottery, 5-1st round, 1-about to be

I think Cal cooled on Anderson was because of his style (too slow to be a PG in UK's system). Purvis I can't speak for.

But Harrow...to me...won't be anything special when he enrolls. And I definitely don't consider him a 5* PG.

I think Kabongo is the best PG in the '11 class and Harrow would be leagues behind him.

[gcabaltica]

Re: 2012 Recruiting Thread

I think Cal cooled on Anderson was because of his style (too slow to be a PG in UK's system). Purvis I can't speak for.

But Harrow...to me...won't be anything special when he enrolls. And I definitely don't consider him a 5* PG.

I think Kabongo is the best PG in the '11 class and Harrow would be leagues behind him.

Harrow was a Rivals 5*, #6 PG behind Selby Irving, Knight, Joseph, and Jackson, the #19 overall. 4* #8 PG, 39th overall ESPNU and I don't take ESPN seriously since they ranked John Wall #5 overall back in '09

Depends on what you mean by "special". Harrow will start and I'm trying to think of the last 1st year PG for Calipari that didn't go 1st round. Calipari's DDM does the work, it is what is special & Harrow can get to the nail better than anyone and shoots the lights out, plus he is currently practicing against the likes of Teague, Lamb, and Asst. Rod Strickland with Rajon Rondo and John Wall serving as a administrative assts during the lockout. I'd say that he is going to be the best prepared PG in '13

Teague put up 16 pts and 4 asst with his three other McD Freshmen all in double figures, so we will have to see what Kabonga does.