SB Nation Detroit Editor's Pick
Basketball Recruiting Round-Up (9/27/10)
by intrpdtrvlr on Oct 17, 2010 9:59 PM CDT
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Recruiting: Because the games are won on the field but the future is secured in the stands (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
We're a little delayed in getting this out but I've been waiting to see what information leaked out about the big recruiting weekend that was the Notre Dame game. Not only were some of Mark Dantonio's biggest targets in attendance, but Tom Izzo hosted all of the committed 2011 and 2012 players as well as a few of his primary 2013 prospects. As discussed earlier, Chicago forward Jabari Parker was in attendance. According to ESPN's Reggie Rankin, he had a great time and "loved the basketball tradition of the Spartans." Later in the week, Parker received an offer from Purdue and Illinois Prep Bulls-eye notes that this is his sixth Big Ten offer. In years past, schools like Purdue might have had more of an inside track on area players like Parker; however, the Branden Dawson recruitment proved that MSU could still go into NW Indiana and the Chicagoland and compete with anyone. Con-T has located a plethora of video on Parker to scout here, here, and here.
Gary Harris was in attendance as well where, according to his twitter, he enjoyed meeting Zack Randolph who turns out to be a neighbor. Small world. His football schedule may prevent him from attending MSU's Midnight Madness so this was an important opportunity to get Harris on campus and make another pitch. Harris hasn't announced any kind of a timetable for his decision but MSU fans have reason to feel good about their school's shot with this elite player from Indiana. One of MSU's top competitors for his services, Indiana University, is hoping to woo Harris as well during their big recruiting weekend of Oct. 2nd.
There's more info around the MSU recruiting world after the jump. As always, feel free to add your links, comments, and discussion to this thread as it sits on the right. If you like this feature, "Rec's" are greatly appreciated!
Another visitor for the Notre Dame game was 2014(!) guard Drake Harris from Grand Rapids Christian. It takes quite the prospect to get people talking this early but there is speculation that Harris could shape up into a top-tier national player for his recruiting class. Individuals aren't ranked in detail but he already has his name on ESPN's list of 100 players for 2014. He also appears on the watchlist for Prep Hoops Assist. (HT: Con-T, again)
Kyle Neddenriep of the IndyStar has word that Tom Izzo will be in to visit Collin Hartman, a 6'6" forward from Indianapolis, during an open gym today. He's already received lots of Big Ten attention with interest from Indiana, Notre Dame, Purdue, and Ohio State. Hartman is ranked as a four-star on Rivals and is considered by many to be the top player in the state of Indiana for 2013. You can read a recent(ish) interview with him here at Inside the Hall. His mother was a player for the Butler Bulldogs so they're expected to be involved with a local legacy.
In another link thrown my way by my partner Con-T, R.J. Hunter tweeted that MSU was in to check him out at an open gym along with Wake Forest. Like Harris, no one who is talking is sure where a spot for R.J. would come from, especially if part of the plan is to bring him in with friend and AAU partner Gary Harris. For my money, I think this article hits the nail on the head: players almost always choose play for their fathers (Hunter's dad is the head man at IUPUI) even when larger offers sit on the table. Ray McCallum and Trey Zeigler both pushed their announcements until the late period and If R.J. Hunter does the same, Izzo won't have to worry about the details of that open spot until April 2012. I'd backburner this one for now.
If you'd like to see highlights from the Summer that made Denzel Valentine a star and a Spartan, take a look at this video mix. These clips accent Denzel as a wing who can drive and dish off to the open man as well as his surprisingly effective outside shot. There's also a nice screenshot of a certain little SB*NATION blog in the opening montage for bonus points.
In another loose end, Paul Honigford ended his recruitment by pledging to D2 Ashland. Given that he was once talked about as a legit MSU target, it's a bit of surprise to see him go D2. This is more evidence that projecting high school basketball players from a young age can be very uncertain territory.
In Michigan recruiting news not directly within the MSU sphere, Coach Tom Crean and some of his assistants visited Sherron Dorsey-Walker this week. Dorsey-Walker surprised some outsiders by appearing at #74 in the Rivals 150. With Michigan State taking Denzel Valentine and pursuing Gary Harris, it will be interesting to watch Dorsey-Walker's progress and see if he can join the recent pantheon of talented in-state wings (Alex Legion, Dar Tucker, and dare I say - Manny Harris) who didn't fit at MSU.
Here's a general basketball recruiting article from Gary Parrish of CBS. It discusses the pros and cons of coaches continuing to pursue individual players and the important skill of being able to tell when a coach is wasting his time recruiting a player who is not going to sign with his university. Izzo has been quoted as saying that he's the type of coach who narrows in on a tight group of players instead of casting a wide net. Though he's suggested that it can come back to bite you (see: Roberson, Anthony), it's hard to argue with Izzo's techniques. After all, in recent years you can only say he's missed on a handful of prospects - Jamil Wilson, Dexter Strickland, Trey Ziegler, and perhaps a few others that slip my mind.
I'm working on a some early thoughts about the 2013 recruiting class for a future article. It may feel far off but in the recruiting world it's right around the corner. Suffice it to say for now, I think this class will be a very different game than 2011/2012. Those classes allowed for great flexibility and options for Izzo based on who was leaving and the number of scholarships available. 2013 may see a very small number of open spots and more positional need-based recruiting. Michigan alone will probably have more high D1 guards then MSU can welcome without even mentioning regional players. We've already started tentatively but fans can heat up on talking names once the high school season starts for the sophomores.
We hope to have some more updates ahead as Midnight Madness draws near and visiting attendees are lined up.
This is a FanPost, written by a member of the TOC community. It does not represent the official positions of The Only Colors, Inc.--largely because we have no official positions.
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Well Heres Hoping
that we land Parker and a PF or Center. I think this kid Hartman looks like a nice backup plan but we’ll see how this all pans out.
I am a little tentative still about these 11 and 12 classes. Theres something going down that we dont know. How can we be recruiting Harris, let alone Harris AND Hunter. I doubt that top studs like Harris want to be waiting to see if anyone jumps for the pros, seeing how thats basically saying they are second choices. I don’t see Izzo decomitting (although if he were to do that to anyone Id guess Kearney since he seems to have slipped in his progression as a player, and his similarities to Valentine) but I feel that somehow, something is being opened up.
And Intrpdtrvlr: you are the man. Please, Please, Please keep posting these articles, even updates on current commitments and how they are progressing and the latest buzz, etc. Once again your the man.
Ooonst ooonst muthafucka!
The 2011 class should be clearer soon
Signing day is in November and Izzo will have LOIs in hand and be able to speak about them publicly. From what I read, the entire 2011 and 2012 classes were at the Notre Dame game so it looks like no one in those classes has any intention of being anywhere but MSU in the future.
My honest guess, LT, is that Izzo is hedging his bets and assuming that a spot will open up for Harris between the NBA, transfers, and miscellanea. There’s lots of other scenarios but my hunch is there’s no magic key answer that only Izzo knows. I could be wrong though.
As for Hunter, my guess is that Izzo will never have to worry about it. He goes to IUPUI in the end.
Thanks for the support, Looney, always appreciated!
Post-deadline additions
A couple of things I found over the weekend to add to this excellent post. Apparently Branden Dawson, according to INBRecruits (protected tweet) was on campus again this weekend:
6’6" SF Branden Dawson of Gary Lew Wallace (2011) is on a visit at Michigan State again. He recently committed to the Spartans.I’ll take that as a good sign, since he is only a verbal right now, after all.
Finally, Indiana got a commit from highly regarded 2014(!) Indiana high school freshman Trey Lyles. This makes two 2014 commits for Tom Crean (James Blackmon, Jr. is the other). Bear in mind, these are highly ranked players who have never played a high school basketball game. Potentially great gets for Crean, but a lot can happen in four years.
Yep, I'm under the impression all 2011s and 2012s were supposed to make it.
Dwaun Anderson was there.
http://www.leelanaunews.com/drupal/index.php?q=node/22116
Dwaun Anderson, an elite basketball recruit who has already committed to play for Tom Izzo at Michigan State University, had a busy weekend in East Lansing with his family. While on his official recruiting visit to MSU, Anderson and three other recruits from the class of 2011 attended the MSU-Notre Dame football game. The recruits watched as members of the 2010 Spartan basketball team received Big 10 Championship rings at a short ceremony during the game, which didn’t end until midnight. Also attending were Dwaun’s parents, Ron and Nicole, and his sister, Veronica, an eighth grade student at Suttons Bay. Anderson is a high school senior who was named all-state as a sophomore and junior.
Actually
I took it that Dawson was back a second time the weekend of the Northern Colorado game. The tweet is from the 24th and these guys are usually pretty current. Haven’t found independent confirmation, though.
Aw, gotcha
Comprehension fail on my part! Perhaps my subconscious is pushing the farce of the N. Colorado game out of my mind.
Lyles
I know fans were talking about getting a commitment last weekend and he was the primary hope. The faith in Crean must be strong for these young players and their families to offer that sort of vote of confidence. They won’t be suiting up for the university for four years!
Vote of faith from Cream too but sometimes players pan out perfectly. Most people believed Marcus Taylor would be a college stud while he was in middle school and, despite his ill-advised early entry, they were basically right.
A few more tangentials
Looks like Arizona has parted ways with Amir Williams.
http://azstarnet.com/sports/blogs/pascoe/article_ee66d378-c693-11df-9eb5-001cc4c03286.html
Can we all let out a collective “Awwwwwhhhhh” of sympathy?
UM is paying more attention to Sean Sheldon. Wise move, I think.
http://www.umhoops.com/2010/09/25/qa-2012-sean-sheldon/#more-10612
Steve Bell comments in the thread and he would definitely know what was up with Sheldon as he’s part of Bell’s AAU.
More on Sheldon
I think he’s going to be a solid contributor where ever he ends up:
http://record-eagle.com/sports/x180469303/TCSFs-Sheldon-attracts-Division-1-attention
I'm considering this my "tangentials" mini-thread
I missed this one but recruiting is heating up for Michigan big-man (and my hometown’s!) Trey McDonald. NBE Basketball report says that Minnesota, West Virginia, Marquette, Wake Forest, and OSU have stopped in recently.
According to Scout ($), he’s on his way to an official for the Buckeyes soon. Being looked at to step-in for Jared Sullinger is a pretty high rise from where he was once at as a recruit. It definitely looks like McDonald is someone who has benefited from waiting to offer a verbal.
J.P. Tokoto and things I'd like to know
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/104807749.html
At one point in time, word was that J.P. Tokoto was going to be a priority for MSU and that Izzo was committed to recruiting him as hard as anyone. Unless it’s been kept very quiet, looks like that relationship cooled a long time ago.
It’s one of those situations where I’d be interested to know what happened. Did it become clear that Tokoto’s interest wasn’t high enough to warrant the energy from Izzo? It was, after all, one of his first offers.
Hard to say
One thing for sure, he had a disastrous NBA camp in June, coming close to not scoring at all over the course of three days and numerous games. Given his athleticism that might not be enough by itself to discourage Izzo, but the additional problem was the way he struggled. Reports were he had no idea what to do when on the court with similarly talented players. I guess in high school and AAU he’s always dominated the ball completely and at the camp he really didn’t know how to be part of a team of peers, spending a lot of time standing around on the perimeter. That would definitely be a problem for a guy on a Tom Izzo team, but you’d think that kind of thing would be teachable. I’d be very curious to know if the interest of Roy Williams, John Calipari and Bill Self had cooled also. Now, you only seem to hear about Bo Ryan and Buzz Williams (in-state guys) in connection with Tokoto’s recruitment.
Good point re: locals
My eye perked up when I saw that he’d be taking in Midnight Madness at Marquette. Sure, it’s convenient but aren’t there bigger places he could be?
by intrpdtrvlr on Oct 13, 2010 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions
Preseason Magazines
Every preview magazine I have seen or purchased has Kalin on the cover with some scUM player (usually Novak). There have been years where MSU is only a small caption on the cover, is it only to sell more magazines to the bigger fanbase that is scUM that they share top billing? Novak sharing covers with Kalin Lucas is shameful. Austin Thornton (no offense to Austin) would be the best player on scUM’s team and we have to share top billing with a team that has not been close to Michigan State’s level in over a decade. They get a head start on next year while we go to Final Fours.
Yes...
All of those preview magazines use regional covers, so there’re probably dozens upon dozens of different covers around the country. And they use those different covers to generate sales in the various regions of the country. It would just be bad business for Athlon or Lindy’s to exclude the Michigan basketball program from a Detroit regional cover.
by LickSplickidy on Sep 28, 2010 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Denzel Valentine
Makes me think of Denzel Washington playing Billy Ray Valentine in a remake of “Trading Places”.
If he hits the court, all I will be able to think of is Dan Aykroyd yelling “you’re a dead man, Valentine!”
Indiana is really pinning their hopes on this weekend
Because, y’know, they need a player or two before 2014.
http://blogs.heraldtimesonline.com/iusp/?p=10007
Lots of their big 2012 targets will be there and most notably for our purposes, Gary Harris. Indiana fans seem to believe they’ve closed the gap with MSU a bit.
Collin Hartman
Here’s a nice highlight reel of this 2013 wing prospect. Kid can shoot it. Let the Robbie Hummel comparisons begin.
I'm curious to see if MSU even ends up with room for a 2013 wing
It will probably happen, but I could see a scenario where you have two spots and need a point and a big. Crazy.
That's the big question
Only Sherman’s and Nix’s scholarships are due to open up and the most likely additional one would be Payne’s, but that would likely be used on a 2012 guy, even if Payne stays two years instead of one. So with only Costello left you’d have to think at least one spot would have to go to a big. And even if Appling stays and Trice works out you’re dangerously thin at PG if you don’t go after a 2013 guy like Cha Cha Tucker. Meanwhile you’d still have (possibly) Byrd, Dawson, Kearney, Anderson, Kaminski and Valentine (and maybe Harris?) on the wings – not a lot of PT for a new guy.
Yeah
And it looks like the Michigan point guard talent in 2013 is going to be too good to pass on. Honestly, I think elite point guards are more valuable than elite wings. Wings are easier to find and recent MSU recruiting backs me on this, IMO. You had DV, Kearney, Dawson, Kaminski, Byrd, etc, yet Appling isn’t a true point and Trice was a spur of the moment steal. If you can get someone in 2013 to help run your team and control the ball for the next few years, you take him.
Like you said, another possible scenario is that Payne’s spot is still open in 2013 and you have a three man – one wing, one PG, one big – class. That’s a legit possibility too.
by intrpdtrvlr on Sep 29, 2010 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Charles "Cha Cha" Tucker has been invited to the USA Bball mini-camp
http://www.sportspagemagazine.com/content/bb/bhs-bb-min/ln-bhs-bb/33-set-for-usa-mens-developmental-national-team-mi.shtml?42228
Never underestimate the value of a good point guard in international basketball! Nice honor for him.
The USA basketball system appears pretty elaborate but the short version is that they invite young high school players in order to help identify participants for future competitions. You’ll get a lot more information in the article.
R J Hunter and V J Meachem
Hunter is on an unofficial visit to Iowa this weekend for the Penn State game. He’s also drawing more ACC interest. In addition to Wake Forest, Miami (FL) has paid him a visit in the person of associate head coach Jorge Fernandez.
According to INBRecruits (protected) V J Meachem of Fort Wayne (IN) Harding HS is visiting MSU for the Wisconsin game this weekend. Meachem is, guess what, a promising 6’5" wing from the 2013 class. ESPN has him 32nd overall in the class and says this about him:
V.J. Beachem Jr. is a long and skilled wing. He is very talented offensively. He is a good shooter with range to 20 feet. Beachem is special because of his size and skill at such a young age. He has all the tools offensively; he can put the ball on the floor effectively to create a shot or get to the rim, he can shoot the ball accurately with range and with his size he can be an effective post up player. V.J. has a great upside because he still has potential to grow. He is not the best defender right now. He needs to get stronger but he is a solid athlete with good length so he should get better. He is a decent rebounder right now but added strength and girth with definitely help him improve on the boards. V.J. is very talented and has a chance to be an elite level recruit down the road.Izzo continues to keep us guessing.
Sophomore season should be huge
So many potential targets and another year of high school ball should really help the 2013s distinguish themselves from one another. Then, Summer AAU ball begins and you’re talking offer earning time.
It's 'Beachem' not 'Meachem'
Sorry for the confusion.
by Con-T on Oct 2, 2010 6:44 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Early feedback from weekend visits
Gary Harris enjoyed his unofficial vist to Indiana where he was spotted in an IU sweatshirt.
Jabari Parker took an unofficial vist to Kentucky, not a good sign considering their current recruiting unstoppability.
R J Hunter got his name chanted at the Iowa football game which, understandably for a 16-year old, was pretty exciting. Nice to hear that Iowa fans are in fact aware of the existence of a basketball program at their school.
No word on V. J. Beachem’s visit to MSU.
Inside the Hall's take on the visit from Gary Harris
http://www.insidethehall.com/2010/10/03/indiana-very-high-on-harris-list-following-weekend-visit/
No doubt they’ve made up ground. New favorite? Hard to say.
Pretty noncommittal, I'd say
Here he is in the Indiana Daily Student:
IDS What is appealing about a school like IU?Emphasis mine. He’s from Fishers, Indiana, where I believe you’re required by law to root for the Hoosiers, and he’s still playing it close to the vest. The fact that Izzo even has a chance with a kid like this shows how much of hole Crean had dug for him by Sampson, et al. Finally, the inevitable question:
HARRIS It’s a great school. Like I said, they are really turning things around. I can see myself fitting perfectly with this program, as I can with a lot of other schools. Coach Crean is also a great guy with a passion for the game.
IDS Have you set any form of time-table in terms of visits or making a decision for college?
HARRIS I’m in no rush right now in terms of making a decision. I’m just taking it slow.
Looks like nothing’s changed to me.
In a weird way
I sort of appreciate that Harris is taking his time. After that wham-bam crazy summer, it’s nice to have a 2012 target out there just taking it in.
Dave Telep to ESPN
One of the deans of high school basketball recruiting news, Dave Telep, National Director of Basketball Recruiting at Scout.com, is on the move to ESPN. Telep is easily one of the most reliable and knowledgeable guys out there for recruiting. It’s a huge gain for ESPN, which has been making great strides as a recruiting service recently. This could push them to the top.
There's a whole lot of shake up in the world of professional recruiting coverage
With the new 24/7 network in the works, there’s a lot of shifting economics and allegiances. Might be some real threats to the Scout/Rivals business model.
That would be OK with me
Depending on what new models emerge. It’s hard to imagine a better candidate for decentralized, distributed coverage than recruiting analysis. There’s a lot of knowledge out there beyond the pay-to-enter walls of Rivals, Scout and ESPN.
Updated the date and time on the post so it'll stay high up on the sidebar longer.
PP-TPW.
The Only Colors
It's being widely reported that Jabari Parker will be at Illinois for Midnight Madness
http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/GoIllini/20101006_jabari_parker_to_attend_illini_madness
Not a big deal by any means but it would have been nice to have him there. With the 2011 and 2012 classes almost wrapped up, Izzo and staff could have focused energy on a few key guys with offers like Harris and Parker. That said, I expect some interesting 2013 and 2014 names to be in attendance but I haven’t heard who yet.
Parker
Not too worried. I was impressed that he was here for the Notre Dame game. With offers from the whole Big Ten plus other national powers, Parker is going to be stretched pretty thin on his visits. He is a Chicago guy, so it probably makes sense he’ll be there for MM. I’m still looking to hear who will be in East Lansing for our MM.
Cha Cha Tucker
Here’s an article on Tucker, the player-of-interest for 2013, in the Lansing State Journal. Tucker is the only Michigan player to be invited to this weekend’s USA Basketball Developmental National Team mini-camp.
Here's a follow-up
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101014/SPORTS02/10140340/-1/sportshome
The national director had this to say:
We feel like he’s a natural leader. Guys gravitate toward him," said Johnson, a former Villanova standout. "He has a maturity about him, and being so young, that was definitely very impressive.
The early word is that he’s developing as more of a pure point than some of the players Izzo has brought in over the past few years – probably ahead of the PG-curve of guys like Lucas and Appling. Still early, the Michigan PG class of 2013 is supposed to be 3-5 deep with upper D1 prospects.
Gary Harris
Tweets from Kyle Neddenriep of the Indy Star
Good quote from area b-ball coach on HSE’s Gary Harris: "He’ll be a great college basketball player, but he could play in the NFL. . .that must have been what Randy Moss looked like in high school.Harris currently has 546 yards and 9 TDs on 33 receptions for Hamilton Southeastern (IN).
Jabari Parker and Cha Cha Tucker
Just to put some faces to the names, here they are at TeamUSA camp (HT: Christian T. Popoola).
Is it just me, or do they look like they’re in grade school? Come to think of it, they’re only two years removed from that. . .
Jahlil Okafor
When you’re a freshman in high school and 6’8, 250, I suppose you’re already picing up offers to play D1 basketball at major programs. According to this note on ESPN, Jahlil Okafor has an offer from Michigan State. I haven’t heard that anywhere else but it’s not outrageous to believe.
Jahlil Okafor 2014, C, 6-8, 253 pounds Okafor can flat-out score in the low post. Whenever he had a foot in the lane he either scored, got fouled or both. He has excellent touch and feel around the basket and loves to spin into his moves, when he’s not using his big body to power the ball to the rim through contact. Okafor displayed good hands and rebounded everything in his area. He must get in better shape in order to run the floor more consistently, but the true post is a load to handle in the lane. Okafor already has offers from Illinois, DePaul and Michigan State.
Another nugget on Jahlil Okafor
Sounds like MSU was in contact this summer:
Okafor received a scholarship offer from DePaul last winter. Several other high-major programs have showed high interest as well, Okafor’s father said. But the 14-year-old standout doesn’t hear much from colleges as his father handles the increasing calls from college coaches.
“(My father) helps me with everything,” Okafor said. “He does everything for me. He doesn’t tell me too much about it, but he tells me Michigan State, Purdue, I know of.”
Izzo is a great recruiter of families so if Dad is going to be a major gatekeeper in this recruitment, it might be playing into the MSU wheelhouse. Glad to hear he’s passing that name along to his son.
Illinois
A brief review shows that Illini fans are feeling very proprietary about this kid. An uncited report of an interview I saw on some Illini board says his Dad is a huge Illinois supporter but hasn’t been pushing him in that direction. Scary to think what’s in store if he still has some growing to do.
I've read "distant cousin."
Who knows what that means. Jahlil and I might be (very) distant cousins.
No doubt – “Izzo invades Chicago” continues. Young man is huge for a freshman.
Interesting look at the youth basketball circuit
This was in SI a few weeks ago and is an excerpt from a book I plan on picking up.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/the_bonus/10/04/play.their.hearts.out/index.html
The article doesn’t really get into the college recruiting of these kids, because the kids in the story are STILL TOO YOUNG to be recruited formally. But it does paint a picture of how they system operates, and not always in the kid’s best interest.
Just thought it was a good and interesting read.
by trivialstuff16 on Oct 14, 2010 10:42 AM CDT reply actions
Two old Collin Hartman links (2013 Indiana player rankings)
These were the rankings I was referring to in the original post. I couldn’t find them at the time but someone asked me to dig them up and here they are.
http://www.insidethehall.com/2010/08/18/indiana-class-of-2013-rankings/
Mory Diane and Trevor Manuel
MSUinMD let me know that these guys are coming to Midnight Madness and I found this quick little blurb from Mlive.
http://blog.mlive.com/highschoolbasketball/2010/09/enjoyable_campers_from_bank_ho.html
Mory Diane & Trevor Manuel: These guys are ranked amongst the state’s very elite prospects in the classes of 2014 and 2015, but Diane, 6-3 from Country Day, and Manuel, 6-5 from Summit Christian, competed like they were fighting for the last spot on the freshman team. Both have all-around games that belie their ages, and a humble approach that defies their generation.
Here’s another take from the same event.
Trevor Manuel 6’5" 8th grade Summit ChristianGotta wonder whether a 6’5" 8th grader doesn’t grow into a true big man.
Not sure about this Summit Christian thing, but whatever. Manuel looks physically like a stretched out Ray McCallum. Lean frame that makes me think his future is on the wing, but he did fine inside most of the day against bigger and more physical sophomores.
Trey McDonald to OSU
Some equivocating on the source but it looks like a done deal ($). Definitely a guy about whom you can find a diversity of opinions. Some people believe he’s one of the best in the state and some believe he’s a mid-major. Regardless, I think a scholarship offer from OSU is pretty good deal for him. That’s on the high-end of his offer potential.
I’m in SW Michigan a lot and I might get out to watch him play.
OSU is still looking at Amir Williams and with the likelihood of Sullinger being one-and-done, they probably have room for both big men.
More on McDonald and Williams
Looks like playing together at OSU is a real option.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2010/10/19/michigan-forward-commits-to-osu.html?sid=101
Evan Daniels on Jahlil Okafor
http://twitter.com/EvanDanielscout/status/27676303418
Wow. Jahlil Okafor, 2014 big, is a special talent. He’s at least 6’8 already, maybe 6’9. Long arms, wide base.
I guess there’s a reason Izzo is interested this early.
Walter Pitchford is at Summit Christian Academy in EL
And his father has told Adam Zagoria that he has MSU interest.
http://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/27765882117
Former DePaul commit Walter Pitchford now at Summit Christian Academy in East Lansing, Mich., per his father. IU, Iowa, MSU and UK involved
My two cents is that MSU rarely brings in transfers on scholarship except to fill a roster hole. I don’t see that being the case here but if he’s right in the neighborhood, perhaps there’s some legit smoke. He’d be a great pick-up if he wanted to walk-on. Still, I’d put this in my “don’t bank on him in a Spartan uniform” file.
Two-star PF originally from Grand Rapids, he went through a pretty lengthy process to get out of his DePaul LOI and was released after the appeal.
Trevon Bluiett
According to Kyle Neddenriep of the Indy Star Indiana 2014 wing Trevon Bluiett will be taking an unofficial visit to MSU this Sunday. Bluiett is one of the highly regarded class of 2014 Indiana players who are AAU teammates and have all been offered by Tom Crean at Indiana U. The other two, Trey Lyles and James Blackmon, Jr., have already accepted. Here’s how Scout described Bluiett’s game back in July:
With a decent handle and exceptional outside shooting, Bluiett’s game resembles that of Reggie Miller. He gets to the basket better than the legendary Indiana Pacers’ shooting guard, but looks inordinately more comfortable with his feet set bracing for his accurate jumper.
He plays with great energy, often inspiring greater efforts out of his comrades. When he gets into the lane, Bluiett finishes without fear. During the Fab Frosh Camp he did miss too many bunnies (short shots).
The fact that he gets into scoring position so frequently quickly washes away worries about his interior shooting touch.
One area for improvement is on the defensive end. With his long arms, revered height, and agility, Bluiett looks to become a great two-way player. For now he exerts almost all of his energy with the ball in his hand.
Bluiett is a 6’5" wing from Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis. In a recent interview in the Louisville Courier-Journal he is non-committal about early commitment, though at that time this meant committing to Indiana versus waiting for other offers.
Here are some highlights of him from IndyHoopsBlog.
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