Weekly recruiting roundup
The list of high-major programs involved with Portland, Ore. forward Terrence Jones is lengthy and impressive.
Thanks in part to Maryland’s commitment from Montrose Christian shooting guard Terrence Ross, Jones’ former teammate, the Terps have a spot on the list.
Rivals.com’s Jerry Meyer broke down Jones’ game and touched on his recruitment in his weekly mailbag.
As to where Jones will end up is a tossup among a bunch of schools. He has said that he is not anchored to the West Coast; he has family scattered across the country and his former teammate and friend Terrence Ross is a Maryland commitment attending Montrose Christian on the East Coast. Schools such as Arizona, Florida, Georgetown, Indiana, Maryland, Oklahoma and a number of Pac-10 schools have offered, and a couple of traditional powers in North Carolina and Kansas are keeping up with Jones.
• Richmond, Va. shooting guard Justin Coleman has drawn attention from Maryland and several other high-major schools after his impressive start to the AAU season.
It’s amazing how in the matter of three weeks Coleman has gone from a virtual unknown to one of the hottest names on the East Coast. He raised more eyebrows on Saturday when he dropped 25 points in the first half against Nike Team Florida. He had it all working. He hit five three-pointers, threw down a dunk and nailed a hanging jump shot from the free-throw line.
• Praise for Will Barton continues to pour in after his play at the Nike Memorial Day Classic in Georgia last week. The Lake Clifton shooting guard was one of six tournament standouts according to ESPN.com’s Scouts Inc.
Barton was dominant the entire weekend. He is a high-energy guy who impacts a game in a lot of areas. He is wiry strong and not afraid to mix it up. He showed the ability to rebound the ball, bust it out of the pack, take it coast to coast and finish at the rim (usually some form of nasty dunk). He is a tough matchup; his size, length and bounce give him a great advantage over most shooting guards and he finds ways to score without having to always be set up.
• Scouts Inc. cited Walbrook small forward Roscoe Smith as one of six standouts at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in North Carolina.
Smith is a big-time shooter with a quick trigger and great confidence. He can score in bunches with ability to knock down open jumpers in transition and in the half court. He sprints the lane for spot ups, slides to the open area and comes of screens ready to shoot. He has excellent form and elevation to go along with length that enables him to shoot over smaller defenders with ease.
• Memphis landed a commitment from five-star power forward Latavious Williams this week. The Humble (Texas) Christian Life Center product told Adam Zagoria that he hopes to convince Lance Stephenson to join him on the Tigers.
“He needs to go to Memphis,” Williams said of the 6-foot-5 Stephenson, the all-time leading scorer in New York State history.
It appears unlikely that Stephenson will end up in Tucson, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
[Arizona coach Sean] Miller said the chances of adding a fourth recruit, either highly-touted guard Lance Stephenson or disgruntled center Jerrid Famous, are slim.
Football recruiting
• Two Maryland football recruits won track championships this week. Safety Avery Graham accumulated 40 of Clarksburg’s 76 points to lead the Coyotes to their first state title.
Senior Avery Graham led the way with wins in all four events he entered, the most one athlete is allowed by the state in a single meet. Graham won championships in the 4x200-meter relay (1 minute, 28.97 seconds), 200 dash (21.99), 100 dash (11.08) and 4x100 relay (42.49).
Offensive lineman Bennett Fulper took first in his district in the shot put.
Fulper met the National Elite mark, and broke his own school record, with a throw of 53'6".
• Some internet reports this week had DeMatha running back Marcus Coker committing to Minnesota. Those reports proved to be erroneous.
"All he did was commit in his mind to a visit to go to Minnesota, that's what he committed to. He has not committed to go to Minnesota," DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor said.
According to Rivals.com, the Gophers are in Coker’s top three.
“I haven’t really started to narrow it down too much. I guess my top three would probably be Maryland, Minnesota and Wake Forest. Maybe Iowa is up there too. They’re just about even.”
• Maryland target and five-star defensive end prospect J.R. Ferguson will leave St. John’s Catholic Prep in Frederick to spend his senior year at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy.
"I want to be known as the best in the country," Ferguson said. "I think this is a step toward that."
• Dunbar (D.C.) linebacker Javarie Johnson told Rivals.com this week that his recruitment is pretty wide open.
“Everything is going good,” he said. “I’m at 14 offers. I think Miami is possible soon. I know I’m going to Miami for camp this summer. I’ll probably go to Maryland’s camp too.”
Comments
Matt- Can a kid get a release from commitment if the school loses its post season invites? Like, if Memphis gets a serious punishment and is banned from post seasons for a couple years, (and I think they should if they are guilty, eveyone knows Shaq got rich in college). Why would some of these top kids go there if they can't go to the tourney.
I am glad that Gary is honest. Also, could Calipari face any punishment even now at KU?
Posted by: Ryan | May 29, 2009 1:42 PM
Ryan,
The thing that make this even more interesting about Memphis and Calipari is that they think Rose's brother was the one who took the test for him. Apparently Rose's brother was on the plane with the team and flew out to take the test for him. Memphis allows booster to purchase airline tickets to fly with the players, however their was no charge to Rose's brother...hmmm fishy. Of course Calipari does not remember this...shocker. I know the loyal Kentucky fans will write in now to stand up for their coach. I wonder if they would do the same if he were at Kansas??? Hard to understand why Calipari has such a leg up on recruiting...yeah right!
I agree, hats off to Gary for keeping it clean all these years. Why did he recruit an ex criminal last year and a potential one now? Too bad the singer Chris Brown can't play basketball, Gary might have him running point next year. We need more recruits like Terrence Ross. Great players with great character will always be your best recruiting tool.
Posted by: Rob | May 29, 2009 2:53 PM
Rob,
Chris Brown is actually a very good basketball player. He's more of a swingman though.
Posted by: Gene | May 29, 2009 3:41 PM
Ryan -- If a school goes on probation, it may release its incoming freshmen from their letters of intent, but it's a case-by-case basis and they certainly don't have to. If the allegations against Calipari are true, I don't think Kentucky would be sanctioned. When Michigan was hammered by the NCAA several years ago, Steve Fisher never faced any repercussions at San Diego State.
Posted by: Matt Bracken | May 29, 2009 4:03 PM
Matt,
The crazy thing is they are not after Calipari, only Memphis. I wonder if he knew this whole thing was going to come down though. Usually something like this has legs before it surfaces. The timing Calipari's move when he had a top class coming in looks very suspect now. Especially with the way Kentucky gave their old coach the axe.
Gene, call Gary on the red phone and let him know about Chris. Pitbull might be a good post player.
Posted by: Rob | May 29, 2009 5:15 PM
Nothing will happen to Calipari. Remember when he coached UMass, they were sanctioned, AFTER he went to the NBA. He has always been a scum bag and always will be. He defintely senses when he is going to be caught and bolts. Memphis is in trouble.
Posted by: terps34 | May 31, 2009 11:42 AM
Good commentary in Turtle Soup about Calipari. Could not agree with them more. The NCAA definitely needs to ban repeat offenders like Calipari and not just punish the schools.
Futhermore we need to change the NCAA rule to two years in college before you can turn pro or do away with it completely. The current rule is not helping anyone and it allows for the Calipari's and Calhoun's to florish. Basically you just need to get kids into college and they do not have to do anything really after that if they are one and done players. What kid who is academically challeged and a great player would not want the perks that Calipari offers. Makes me wonder if Barton is leaning towards Kentucky for that very reason. Not easy getting into UMD for most of these inner city athletes. A gaurantee that you will be admitted goes a long way, no need to worry about your name in the paper for being academically ineligible. Especially when it is just a layover before going pro and there are no repercussions to the players if they get caught in a cheating scandle. They are off in the NBA making millions and they don't care...look at Rose.
College basketball will be in bad shape if the NCAA does not step
up soon and even the playing field. Do what is right for your members and fans before it is too late.
Posted by: Rob | May 31, 2009 4:25 PM
The only issue we will have if we extend the college rule from one to two years is the kids choosing to play overseas - Jeremy Tyler. He will make millions, then choose the NBA in three years - he is only a junior. Sometimes this can be good news though. Remember the kid Terrence Oglesby of Clemson. He killed us two years ago with his three point shooting to bring Clemson back from the incredible point deficit. He is leaving the team to play overseas : )
Posted by: terps34 | June 1, 2009 7:21 AM