Weekly recruiting roundup
Two of Maryland's top remaining targets for the class of 2010 will be in Lexington, Ky., tonight.
Holly Springs, N.C., power forward C.J. Leslie and Dix Hills, N.Y., forward Tobias Harris are two of many highly touted prospects scheduled to attend Kentucky’s version of Midnight Madness.
“I’m excited, it should be good,” said Dix Hills (N.Y.) Half Hollow Hills West forward Tobias Harris, who leaves Friday for Kentucky’s “Big Blue Madness.”
“I heard it’s a really great atmosphere at the Midnight Madness so it should be fun.”
Harris, who still plans on visiting Maryland this fall, has been spending a decent amount of time with several Syracuse commitments, according to The Daily Orange.
The sales pitches are getting easier by the game. Waiters, Harris and fellow Orange commit C.J. Fair are all part of the Unique All-Stars, a top-flight team in the elite Nike iS8 fall classic. The team is attempting to recruit another SU commit, center Fab Melo, for the playoffs, which begin Oct. 23 in New York.
The Unique All-Stars allow the current Orange commits to play with Harris, a coveted recruit who has narrowed his college selection to seven schools - including Syracuse. Coached by Harris' father, the team gives Harris a unique preview into a future with the Orange, something that he won't get with any of the other six Division I programs knocking at his door.
Leslie, meanwhile, still has a lengthy list of schools he’s considering. One notable contender, however, has dropped out of the race for his services.
This fall, Leslie had in-home visits with the coaches from Kentucky, Florida, Maryland, Oregon, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, N.C. State and Florida International, which is now coached by Isiah Thomas, one of Leslie's favorites when he was growing up.
But, he said, the University of North Carolina is no longer recruiting him.
• Miller School (Va.) center Hippolyte Tsafack -- a teammate of Terps commitment Mychal Parker who has received interest from Maryland -- is scheduled to attend Memphis Madness.
In essence, the success of tonight's event will boil down to one thing -- whether it will impact the Tigers' recruiting in any tangible way. All four 2010 players who have verbally committed to Memphis -- White Station guard Joe Jackson, Sheffield guard Chris Crawford and Baltimore brothers Antonio and Will Barton -- will be in attendance tonight. So will 6-8 Cameroon native Hippolyte Tsafack, a 2010 prospect who plays at a prep school in Virginia and has an offer from the Tigers.
• Baltimore native and former Maryland target Roscoe Smith -- who has narrowed his list of schools to UConn, Duke and Georgetown -- is expected to visit Hartford this weekend.
• Smith and another ex-Terps target had big games in Oak Hill’s 114-92 win over Bluefield (Va.) College.
Roscoe Smith added 24 points for Oak Hill, while Pe’Shon Howard tossed in 23, including a team-leading 14 in the opening half for the Warriors.
Football recruiting
• Maryland commitments Matt Robinson (Atholton) and Andre Monroe (St. John’s D.C.) are on The Washington Post’s in-season All-Met watch list.
DL Andre Monroe St. John’s Sr. Six tackles (four for loss) in 35-31 loss to McNamara.
• Phil Kornblut reports that Maryland remains in good shape with Norcross (Ga.) offensive lineman Max Garcia.
"If I had to choose a school right now, it would be Maryland just because I've been there," Garcia said.
He will visit Vanderbilt this weekend, and he plans to take a visit to Clemson and possibly one other.
• ESPN.com’s J.C. Shurburtt this week reported on a possible top four for Maryland target and Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy defensive end J.R. Ferguson.
Our good friends at EyeontheTigers.com (LSU) say that LSU has been informed that the Tigers are in the top three for ESPNU150 defensive lineman J.R. Ferguson (Frederick Md./Hargrave Military). The Tigers, Notre Dame and Oklahoma are the teams to beat. We've been hearing Miami is in the mix as well, so those four teams are the safe bets at this point.
• TurtleSportsReport.com’s Matt Birchenough caught up with Maryland cornerback commitment Jeremiah Johnson this week. The Suitland senior provided an update on the Rams’ season.
“It's going well,” Johnson said about his season. “I don't have any interceptions yet. But we haven't played any passing teams yet. Most of them have liked to run it up the middle. In the first game, I did have about 15 tackles, so that was a great game for me.”
Comments
Matt (or anyone): Are any recruits coming to midnight madness tomorrow? Any word on the rumors floating around regarding Hippolyte Tsafack?
Thanks
Posted by: Terp in NY | October 16, 2009 3:57 PM
Terp in NY -- I'm not aware of any 2010 guys that are scheduled to be there tonight, but I guess we'll find out shortly. I imagine there will be several local 2011 and 2012 prospects, but I don't have any names. On Tsafack, one report said he'll visit this month. Another said he could come in the spring. I'll try to catch up with his coach next week.
Posted by: Matt Bracken | October 16, 2009 4:40 PM
Thanks, Matt. It would be great to sign him and then put all of our focus on either Leslie or Harris. Hopefully he won't have too great a time at Memphis tomorrow.
Posted by: Terp in NY | October 16, 2009 5:22 PM
Matt-
Maybe you can clear some stuff up for me. Did Arnett redshirt this season?
I know Porzell burned his, but what about Adams?
Also, did either CJ Brown or Danny Obrien redshirt?
I ask because, don't you think it may be time to change the QB?
This team is terrible. I thought they should prepare for next season.
Posted by: Ryan | October 18, 2009 3:27 AM
matt-
is there anywhere we can go to look at who redshirted this year?
I know they are trying to stockpile that young talent, but, I was wondering who they didn't burn.
Posted by: Ryan | October 18, 2009 3:37 AM
Ryan -- I'm not sure if there's a place where you can check that, other than going back to each game's player participation page on UMTerps.com. Here's the link to the Virginia game. By my count, the true freshman that have played are: Nick Ferrara, Darin Drakeford, Bennett Fulper, Zach Kerr, Ryan Donohue, Caleb Porzel, Avery Murray, Justin Anderson, Isaiah Ross.
Posted by: Matt Bracken | October 18, 2009 12:14 PM
Matt- What do you put the Terps chances at for Harris? Leslie? Any chance we pull both? Know that they technically play the same position but is there any chance UMD gets both?
Posted by: Ravindra? | October 18, 2009 6:00 PM
Ravindra -- I don't think there's any chance the Terps land both Harris and Leslie. Seems like they have a much better shot at landing Pankey or Tsafack. I can't really say how likely it is that they get Harris or Leslie.
Posted by: Matt Bracken | October 19, 2009 6:00 PM
There's no way Harris and Leslie both go to Maryland. It doesn't make any sense that two top 10 players who play the same position would go to the same school. Be happy if we get one of them! I agree with Matt, the Terps are much more likely to sign either Hippo or Pankey (and ultimately maybe both) and some reports have them signing Hippo as early as next week. Then the waiting game continues for Harris and Leslie. It's sort of just speculation now, but most reports have Harris ending up at Syracuse and Leslie still lists a dozen schools, though UNC has dropped out of the sweepstakes.
Posted by: Go Terps | October 20, 2009 8:56 AM