Weekend wrap — Barton, Harris and more
A little more than one week ago, Lake Clifton shooting guard and Maryland target Will Barton praised Kentucky in an interview with Recruiting Report.
In a story that ran Sunday in The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky, Barton had similar things to say about the Wildcats.
"Kentucky is very high," he said. "I'm just going to tell you they are very, very high. I like a lot of things about their program."
Barton said he was recruited by UK coach John Calipari when the coach was at Memphis and noted he loves "the kind of style he plays."
• Notre Dame would like to pair point guard commitment Eric Atkins (Mount St. Joseph) with Long Island, N.Y., power forward and Terps target Tobias Harris in the class of 2010, according to the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune.
And, just maybe a prospect with the potential to play power forward, someone like Tobias Harris, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward from Dix Hills, N.Y. Harris, who averaged 29 points a game as a junior, is close friends with Atkins. And Harris' father, Torrel, once worked the Notre Dame summer basketball camps during his days as a college player at Duquense.
Harris' early wish list has plenty of schools, including Connecticut, Louisville, Maryland, Notre Dame, Syracuse and West Virginia.
NBE Basketball Report conducted a Big East-focused Q&A with Harris last week.
• Maryland continues to recruit DeMatha shooting guard Victor Oladipo, according to The Washington Post’s Josh Barr.
"Notre Dame came in to see [Jerian] Grant a couple weeks ago, Marquette came in to see Grant and Oladipo a couple ago weeks ago," [DeMatha coach Mike] Jones said. "Then Virginia is trying to play catchup, doing a good job of it. Georgia Tech and Clemson are both trying to recruit them both as well. Maryland got [Montrose Christian All-Met junior forward Terrence] Ross, so I don't know if it's a priority right now but they're still showing interest."
• Lance Stephenson scored 38 points in an IS8/Nike Spring H.S. Classic quarterfinal on Saturday. An Arizona visit could be in the works for the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Lincoln shooting guard, according to Adam Zagoria.
“It wouldn’t surprise me [if he visited],” a source close to Stephenson said. “I’ve been hearing about Arizona for two weeks now. I would be surprised if he missed next weekend’s playoffs.”
• Maryland women’s target Monique Oliver was named Dream Team Player of the Year by the Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram.
Before her senior season began, Oliver signed a letter of intent with USC. But after Coach Mark Trakh resigned in April, USC granted Oliver a release and she's now considering Rutgers, Maryland and Texas as well as the Trojans.
Comments
Awesome as always, Matt. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Dave | May 11, 2009 11:10 AM
Hey Matt,
Do you have any good news???
Posted by: Rob | May 11, 2009 11:45 AM
Matt, why is Marah Strickland leaving to go to another school? Has Marah and Drey pick new schools yet?
Posted by: Rodney | May 11, 2009 1:21 PM
ummm. . .wasn't Painter supposed to be in College Park this weekend? Any update on him? I've been checking in regularly to blogs and websites. . .hoping to see the "pop"
--Joe
Posted by: Highrock | May 11, 2009 2:18 PM
Dave -- Thanks as always. Same to you with Testudo Times.
Rob -- Haha. Apparently no good news in this report. Painter's decision should come soon, and that could be good. But we'll see.
Rodney -- Drey Mingo transferred to Purdue. Not sure if Strickland decided on a place yet, but I know South Carolina was discussed as an option when her transfer was first announced. I honestly don't know why she chose to leave. I would imagine her role would've expanded.
Joe -- Painter did visit, but as far as I know, nobody's been able to get ahold of him. I'd expect something to come out in the next few days.
Posted by: Matt Bracken | May 11, 2009 3:37 PM
We may strikeout on Barton and Smith, but I still think we will land a very good 2010 class. The signing of Terrence Ross was the first jewel in the crown. Ross is exactly the type of player we need and a huge plus for our recruiting efforts. If he can bring in Jones, other big recruits will come. I still think we have a good shot at Harris. Other options will open up and Gary seems to do his best recruiting later in the process. Still would like to see a nice true point guard come in and play. Hopefully Stoglin will be the man, but I'm not sold yet.
Posted by: Rob | May 11, 2009 8:35 PM
Matt- These post are more frustrating than rewarding. If we lose out on Smith and Barton, it will just show how bad we recruit. They get close, but not enough to put us over the top. So many things need to fall into place to win the title.
Its like the Ravens getting every piece to win a Super Bowl except getting a Reciever.
Ross is great, very underated, just watch the windmill dunk on youtube that he did IN A Game, and it shows how he is the super athletic player we have not had since wilcox and francis.
But, you look at UNC, every player was a 4star or 5star. Remove doubt by getting 1 or 2 more top 50s. The Terps just can't do it, and 2 of the biggest ones are in our own back yard. Its a shame. I think if you added 1 of those 2 to Ross that the terps would be a title threat once again. Winning another title, or just getting to the final 4 again would propell us to national elite status. 3 final 4s in 10 years is no easy accomplishment. Who knows, maybe they will land a top 50 other than those 2, but, it doesnt look good to let these kids get away year after year after year after....
Posted by: Ryan | May 12, 2009 6:02 AM
Matt-- Have you heard anymore news on Mychael Parker? I am really starting to like this kid and if we miss out on Smith or Barton and we get Parker, I would not be dissapointed in the least.
Posted by: Mike | May 12, 2009 1:05 PM
Notre Dame has zero chance for harris. Don't think Maryland's chances are much better.
Posted by: Steve | May 15, 2009 12:22 AM