More commitments!

The recruiting period is heating up quickly with in-home visits. Covington Holmes senior Ricardo Johnson was the MVP of the Sweet 16 in Kentucky and has committed to former Buckeye assistant John Groce and his Ohio program. http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/2009/09/swete-16-mvp-makes-his-pick.html The photo on the right shows him from a Courier Journal photo (believe from Demling's blog).

Champaign Centennial had the luxury of seeing two of its stars commit to outstanding mid-major programs. Senior guard Rayvonte Rice has committed to Drake. http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/rayvontedrake.html Meanwhile Eastern Kentucky has secured a commitment from Jeff Johnson, a 6'8 forward who has excellent footwork and is solid shooting the ball, I got to see him this summer for the Peoria Irish 17U squad and he was really impressive. http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/johnsoneku.html

Kentucky head coach John Calipari did in-home visits with Doron Lamb, Kyrie Irving, and Tobias Harris in just one busy day this week doing in-home visits. This Zagsblog article has updates on several of Calipari's targets including Doron Lamb who they visited with tonight. The article also mentions Indiana coach Tom Crean was at Mountain State Academy to see Turkish star Enes Katner and Obij Ajet, a seven foot sophomore prospect who played with Indiana Elite Team Indiana this summer. http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/09/10/contact-period-opens-amid-recruiting-frenzy/ Ajet is an outstanding shot blocker but is very skinny which currently limits his effectiveness against some players who play with some strength underneath. But he's a wonderful athlete with unbelievable reach and he also has a very nice jump shot out to 18 feet.

Chane Behannan and George Fant did unofficials with WKU this week. http://nationalhoopsreport.blogspot.com/2009/09/fastbreak-friday-sept-11.html

Chicago Foreman star point guard Levonte Dority has cut his list to three schools. Baylor, New Mexico, and South Florida are all still in the running for the high scoring point. He was considering Marquette, Indiana, and several other schools before cutting down his list. http://ilprepbullseye.com/page9.html

As the above link to nationalhoopsreport.blogspot.com indicates, Thad Matta is hosting quite a collection of talent this weekend for the USC football game at the Horseshoe. The Buckeyes will host their top ranked 2010 recruiting class along with 2011 stars Quinn Cook, Bradley Beal, Cody Zeller, Chason Randle, Amir Williams, and several other key recruits along with star alums Greg Oden and Mike Conley. http://w3.nbebasketball.com/2009/09/11/quinn-cook-on-ohio-state-visit-this-weekend/

Indiana State appears close to landing a commitment from Jake Kitchell. The link has Kitchell saying he played "ok" this summer. Its a very poignant comment imo. This is a kid who led the state of Indiana in blocked shots and put up huge numbers in scoring and rebounding. Sure a 2A schedule can give a good player a chance to pad his stats but the kid wasn't just productive he was phenomenally productive. So when I first had a chance to see him this summer I expected to see the kind of skill that is required to put up such incredible numbers but he was playing with the SYF Players. They were absolutely loaded with stars such as Jesse Berry, Xavier Jones, and bigs like Dominique Ferguson, Enique Mason, and Kitchell. Kitchell was solid on the boards, played solid defense, and was among the most vocal leaders on the floor I'd seen for a big man on the summer circuit. But he didn't try to shoot much either time I got a chance to see him. He would get a rebound, and try to initiate offense on the break, communicate well with his teammates and play unselfishly. These were not qualities I expected to see out of a kid who was among the state leaders in points, rebounds, and blocked shots. If that skill is there which you have to almost assume when a kid puts up numbers, then he could be a special player with his unselfishness and leadership. I wish I'd seen enough of him to weigh in on how productive he can be against good competition, but he's got everything else and has been so productive its tempting to give him the benefit of the doubt. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090911/SPORTS0615/909110356

The above link to the outstanding Indy Star article also has updates on Bowman Academy's sophomore sensation Dujuan Marrero as well as his less heralded senior teammate Tyrae Robinson. Marrero has offers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue, and Valparaiso. He's a 6'5 rebounding and defensive machine with a non stop motor and worth the price of admission himself. Robinson is a 6'1 guard with offers from Ball State and Dane Fife's IPFW program. Christopher Bond is a 6'4 forward for Bowman with an offer from SIU Edwardsville.

The Indy Star article also mentioned Pike senior Khristian Smith wants to decide before his senior season. So far he has offers from Drake, Evansville, Morehead State, Indiana State, and Ron Hunter's IUPUI program. Smith has the size and athleticism of a high major prospect, and he is a versatile player who looks the part of a big time player for a mid-major program imo. He played very well leading Pike to a team camp victory at Purdue this summer without the help of Marquis Teague. He also looked very good in summer play alongside Teague, Deshawn Thomas, and company. He has several wonderful college options now which may be the best fit for him, but he's the type of athlete and talent that you find among the seniors who have breakout seasons and get high major attention in the spring if he chose to ride out the process and pursue that option. Smith will be visiting Eastern Illinois this weekend.

MILive.com has another great update courtesy of Stephen Bell. Bell has some good stuff on Kalamazoo Central's 6'6 forward Darius Norman. Bell says Norman was making big plays last year but might be ready to be consistent this year. http://blog.mlive.com/highschoolbasketball/

Shiningstarsports.com has updates on many of their players. Tregg Setty and Jordan Gilbert of Mason County hosted Wright State, Vanderbilt, and Miami at an open gym. http://shiningstarsports.blogspot.com/2009/09/recruiting-update-gilbert-and-setty.html

Zach Price, Karl Madison, Cole Darling off the boards, more updates.

Rick Pitino appears to be on the cusp of landing one of his best recruiting classes in years with the 2011 class. Indianapolis Lawrence North stars Michael Chandler and Ryan Taylor are quite a recruiting class by themselves, but this week Pitino added another big kid in the class when Lakewood St Edwards big man Zach Price committed to Louisville on his third visit http://highmajorscoop.com/2009/09/pitino-finds-the-price-he-likes/. St Edwards has been on quite a roll producing big men recently with Price joining recent Big Ten power forwards Delvin Roe and Tom Pritchard as products from the school. In Louisville's recruiting class, Taylor is more of a small forward (I got to see how much progress he was making at that at the USSSA Nationals in July), Chandler is a true center with skills that should put him in the McDonalds All American game if he has the fire to take over games, and Zach Price is slated to be more of a power forward. Pitino is expected to have an excellent chance to add Marquis Teague at point, Wayne Blackshear at shooting guard, and perhaps even Mike Shaw at small forward in the coming days.

Springfield Laphier's Karl Madison has committed to play for Drake University. According to Brian Stinnete Drake is visiting Champaign Central's Rayvonte Rice on the first day of the contact period. http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/brianstinnette603.html Madison is seen in his St Louis Eagles uniform in this scout.com photo.

Brad Brownell has landed one of the top players from the state of Michigan to add to his class of 2010. Holt HS's Cole Darling has pulled the trigger for the Wright State Raiders. http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/school?schoolId=2750&page=briefingroom&season=2010&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fschool%3fschoolId%3d2750%26page%3dbriefingroom%26season%3d2010


According to the above Chicagohoops link, Eastern Illinois is hosting some important visitors in the coming days as well. Jared Oldham, Ben Brackney, and jucos Lazeric Jones and Al Rapier are expected to have visits with Eastern Illinois staff. The article also mentions Chicago Hales Franciscan senior Patrick Miller had a good visit to Tennessee State this last weekend.

Macari Brooks was on campus at Louisville over the weekend and has updated his recruiting list. He says Louisville, Depaul, Xavier, and Southern Illinois are among the many schools involved. http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/macaribrooks2.html

Hoosierhoopsreport.com has an outstanding update on some underclassmen in Indiana expecting important visitors now that the contact period is opening. The article discusses the thin pickings left in Indiana's 2010 class after the massive prep school defections throughout the state and puts a focus on some D1 prospects from the younger classes that might benefit from the exposure of having big crowds there looking at higher profile teammates. http://hoosierhoopsreport.com/2009/09/08/let-the-visits-begin/

Ray MacCallum Jr has a top seven which includes his dad's squad Detroit. http://blog.northstarbball.com/2009/09/09/justin-coleman-tarik-black-and-ray-mccallum-on-where-they-stand.aspx Ray Jr is a treat to watch, he's a very heady player with good athleticism and skill. He'll be a star wherever he goes. The link also updates Justin Coleman's recruiting. He is still listing Xavier, Marquette, Florida, UConn, Arkansas, and Virginia as his top six schools.



Jody Demling has an update on who Kentucky and Louisville plan on doing in-home visits with from the senior class. http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/2009/09/in-home-visits-on-tap.html


Dematha (MD) shooting guard Victor Oladipo has joined Indiana's 2010 recruiting class. Sportspress has him ranked #58
in the class and rivals and Gibbons have him ranked around 135. http://www.insidethehall.com/2009/09/07/victor-oladipo-joins-indianas-2010-class/

Late update, just got off Twitter and Dematha's high school coach is saying Jerian Grant has committed to Notre Dame also! Grant is going to play for another Dematha alumn in Coach Brey.

Shiningstarsports.com has a new feature up on Tregg Setty. He is receiving interest from Xavier, Virginia, Old Miss, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Wright State, Tennessee, and others including an offer from Southern Illinois.
http://www.shiningstarsports.blogspot.com/

Lots of rumors have been swirling recently about Kentucky facing another hit with the NCAA, although I haven't heard anything that is huge on the surface at least. UK blogger Marc maggard weighs in defending Bilel Batley from what Maggard calls "unfair" rumors about his dismisal. The mature Mongrel does not want to start sharing whispers when they are potentially harmful to people (you'll find the rare rumor mongering I participate in is pretty neutral or positive stuff), but I'll throw this defense by Maggard out there for now until more becomes known. Batley followed Kelvin Sampson from OU and was at OU during Sampson's phone scandal part one, then was at Indiana with Sampson for a year prior to phone scandal part two, then went to Memphis under Calipari for the Derek Rose saga, and had followed Cal to UK until recently at least. http://www.truebluekentucky.com/index.php/basketball/926-guest-basketball/1910-bilal-bately-and-unfair-assumptions.html

Crishawn Hopkins and Cameron Wright close to verbals? Other updates...

* Mongrel favorite Crishawn Hopkins appears close to committing to Butler according to an Indy Star article. Hopkins is back playing for Manual (Indianapolis) and should have a huge senior year. He's about 6'0 and thin but has amazing hops (for you readers older than 35 that is a leaping reference not a brewing reference). Hopkins can shoot, handle the ball, distribute, he is explosive and should give Terone Johnson a run for his money as best player in Indianapolis in the 2010 class. I'm not sure he can defend like Johnson, but Hopkins is a talent and should have a big year. According to this Kyle Neddenriep article he has 15 offers and is still considering Wright State and Virginia. http://blogs.indystar.com/recruitingcentral/2009/08/another-butler.html I set the video bar at the side to search "U.S.S.S.A. Nationals Slam Dunk" and there is a lot of video from the slam dunk competition there which Hopkins won. Photo from right is from USSSA Nationals last week.

* In any game, the counter-punch is critical. Big serves get all the attention, but the guy who puts the ball back in play is the one who is consistent. Louisville was planning on landing Fab Mello but that ship sailed. According to Mike Hughes of Editor and Publisher Louisville has turned to Rod Odom as a big in the 2010 class and offered this week. It is a premium article so I won't go into more detail, but check it out if you are a Card fan. Lots of times the guys who are juniors and seniors leading teams to the elite 8 or final four were not the first kid on the recruiting list. http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=2&c=885079 Odom is a 6'8 forward from Middlesex (Mass) School.

* NBE Blog has an update on Cleveland star Cameron Wright who is visiting Pittsburgh on Saturday and might be close to verballing with them. Wright told NBE that he had a good feeling about Pittsburgh but wanted to see it for himself. Michigan State, Indiana, and Wisconsin watched Wright quite a bit in July. http://w3.nbebasketball.com/2009/08/06/big-east-visit-on-tap-for-cameron-wright/

* Redhawkinsider.com has an excellent free story on fast rising Ohio senior to be Jon Harris. Harris has grown six inches the last year and has found himself 6'7 with guard skills and several nice D1 scholarship offers. He plays for Twinsburg North High School and has starred for MBA Elite this summer. He says Miami is his leader right now but he also has offers from IUPUI, Loyola, Central Michigan, Kent State, Youngstown State, Wright State, Morehead State, and Northeastern. He is solid academically and very interested in Miami's business school. http://miamiohio.scout.com/2/885184.html

* Speaking of Miami, they also have offered Wisconsin forward Chip Rank. Rank visited Miami last weekend and plans on deciding before his first football game August 29th. He also has offers from Loyola, Northern Iowa, UW-Green Bay and UW-Milwuakee. http://www.wissports.net/sports/hoopsb/blog/blog.aspx?f=123

* Scroll down to the second entry on that last link to Mark Miller's Courtside blog if you are interested in Loyola (Chicago) recruiting. He lists four players in the class of 2011 with Loyola offers in his top ten Wisconsin player rankings. Milwuakee Hamilton's trio of Darnell Harris, Charles Lee, and Elgin Cook along with Merrill's Paul Jesperson have received scholarship offers from Loyola.

* Scroll down one more entry (I can't figure out the perma-links I'm limited) for some information on local schools involvement with Wisconsin 2010 players as well. St Catherine's 6'2 point guard Steve McWhorter has offers from Eastern Ky, Ball St, Eastern Ill, Indiana St, and others. Reid Koenen, a 6'7 wing forward from the Prarie School also has an Eastern Kentucky offer.

* Kenny Stevenson of Seton Academy (Illinois) committed to UI-Chicago today. Stevenson is a 6'2 shooting guard for First Step in the summers. http://ilprepbullseye.com/page22.html

* Jody Demling twittered that Mason County's Treg Setty has been offered by the University of Southern Illinois.

* Will Triggs of Edwardsville (Illinois) committed to Austin Peay today.
http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/willtriggs.html Triggs is a 6'6 senior to be who averaged 16 and 11 last year.

7/22 AAU Tourneys, Coach Tracker and Twitter Updates

I'll be updating this post several times during the day. I'll be doing some coach tracking and be keeping an eye on NBE Blog and Demling's live blogging and doing a few twitter searches throughout the day. In Orlando the Super Showcase got underway with the 15U squads yesterday and 16U action heats up today. In Vegas the Supershowcase gets underway today. GrassrootsTV is set up for watching games for free from the Main Event as well but I most likely will not be catching any of that until late at night so any updates from my own observations will likely be tomorow. I'll publish this early but by the end of the day expect it to have been updated several times.

Adidas Super 64 Updates:

Scout.com apprentice recruiting guru Evan Daniels is watching 15U Atlanta Celtics vs Shabazz Muhammad who some say is top player in the class. Roy Williams and Ben Howland were there to greet Evan so you can assume that 2012 Muhammad is at the top of their wish list.

I'll also keep a close eye on Scout.com recruiting guru Dave Telep who is twittering updates from Vegas. He has had some nice things to say about Michigan and Purdue target Carson Desrosiers.

Northstar Basketball is doing twitter updates and starting off with a Rising Stars Gold game against the Central Jersey Hawks which is being watched by Michigan among other schools. Rising Stars won 57-38, I'll watch their website for updates on individual performances because they have a 15U team playing in Orlando and others to watch. Next game up for northstar is a 16U game with Chicago Demons vs NJABC, Michigan once again spotted in the crowd. They also have spotted Wright State, Evansville, Penn State, Lafayette, Creighton, and others in a Martin Brothers Select vs Garner Rd game (probably also 16U but not sure). Martin Brothers Select won 60-53. Northstar is watching a 15U playoff game between the Georgia Ballers and Garner Road Bulldogs. Not many coaches there but he loves 6'8 Chris Walker an incoming freshman in Georgia had at least 4 blocks and game went to overtime very close but Garner Road pulls away in the end. Walker ended with 19. TJ Warren and Mario Nixon with big games for the winners.

Cooper HS (KY) Coach Blevins is there twittering and liked what he saw from 2011 Compton Magic player Wes Saunders as his Magic squad are playing up a grade and out-classing abyssinian New York in front of Missouri coach Mike Anderson. He is watching the game with rumbaughD1 who reports John Calipari and assistant Antigua showed up to watch Grassroots Team Canada (Joseph, T Thompson, Kabongo, Powell) against the loaded Atlanta Celtics (Golden, David Williams, Mobley, Cothran, McRae, Harrow). Grassroots Canada wins by 8 and Harrow impresses Coach Blevins.

Mike Pegram of Peegs.com is also at the event and says J-Smoove is on the bench chatting up fellow Indiana commitment David Williams (remember Mike Davis saying J-Smoove will always be in the Indiana family?). Indiana assistant Tim Buckley is at the game. Williams had at least 6 points and several steals helping get the Celtics back in the game in the second half but wilted down the stretch guarding Corey Joseph. Its hard to believe Harrow and McRae aren't guarding Joseph. Crean was spotted again at a close Indiana Elite Team Indiana loss. Purdue also had an assistant there and Devontes Smith-Rivera scored 15.

Here's a Garry Parrish article on the Selby decommitment, Worldwide Wes, Calipari, Pearl, and how coaches see this event. Selby will be playing at the Adidas 64 this evening. http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/16182431

Full Package Elite 17U has beaten the KC Cowboys 67-58. Atlanta Celtics 16U (Ware) beat the SF Rebels 92-55. 43 Hoops 16U (Carr) beat Galveston Hornets 72-57. Michigan Musting 16U beat NoCal Outlaws 50-32. Full Package Elite 16U (Preston) beat Mass Rivals 69-67. Net Gain Sports 15U beat Joe Ward All-Stars 52-39. Eric Gordon All Stars 15U beat the DTA All Stars 62-44. 14U Aim High lost to as Vegas Prospects 69-64. 14U Ohio Basketball Club beat the Bay Area Hoosiers 66-37. 14U The Ville and Daryl Hicks is about to go big time as they tip off soon.

Some of the most well known kids nationally at the Adidas Super 64 will be: Tarik Black, Memphis Magic; Allen Crabbe, Compton Magic; Fabricio de Melo, Florida Rams; Trae Golden, Atlanta Celtics; Joshua Hairston, DC Assault; Joe Jackson, Memphis Magic; Bryce Jones, Compton Magic; Cory Joseph, Grassroots Canada Elite; Jordan McRae, Atlanta Celtics; Shabazz Muhammad, Dream Vision Basketball; Tristan Thompson, Grassroots Canada Elite

Star Vision Sports Main Event (Vegas):

Evan Daniels has jumped venues and is watching I-5 Elite star Terrence Jones have a big game against D-1 all-stars. Said Coach K had his whole staff in to watch Quincy Miller.

Some of the bigger name players in this event are: Tim Hardaway Jr., Mac Irvin Fire; Crandall Head, Mac Irvin Fire; Terrence Jones, I-5 Elite; Meyers Leonard, Mac Irvin Fire; Josh Smith, Seattle Rotary; Anthony Wroten Jr., Seattle Rotary; Royce Woolridge, Arizona Magic

Reebok Summer Championships (Vegas):

Jody Demling is starting off twittering and blogging from this event. He has spotted Roy Williams, Tom Crean, ?Florida assistant Richard Pitino, Matt Painter, and Bo Ryan among others watching Indiana Elite One (Carlino, Plumlee, Zeller, Gant). Demling says Plumlee and Zeller playing well. Demling said Indiana Elite won easily and he got to catch some Nashville Celtics 16U and Mason County's Treg Setty played well. Demling wathed Derek Smith 16U team (Abel, Fant) and said Jerry Eaves was on hand.

Some nationally well known players to watch in this one: Kyle Anderson, Playaz Basketball Club; Dominique Ferguson, Team Detroit; Gary Franklin, California Supreme; Deion Houston, Texas Blue Chips Navy; James Johnson, California Supreme; Tyler Lamb, California Supreme; C.J. Leslie, Worldwide Renegades; Ray McCallum, Team Detroit; Moses Morgan, I-Can All-Stars; LeBryan Nash, Dallas Mustangs; Godwin Okonji, Belmont Shore; Dwayne Polee, California Supreme; LaQuinton Ross, MBA Elite; Ben Vozzola, Branch West

Orlando Super Showcase Updates:

Highmajorscoop is in Orlando twittering updates. Rising Stars 15U started out pool play with a win over Team Takeover Orange. He is now watching All Ohio Red 16U.

Speice Select coach Jim Reamer has tweeted that his Speice Select 2011 are 2-0 including a good victory over the Richmond Squires.

Setty1333 is a Phog.net writer and she'll be updating on twitter from Orlando as well. The KC Cowboys (Ismail Wainright seems to be a Kansas target) are on their way to another pool victory. She spotted Kansas assistant Joe Dooley watching Martin Brothers 2012 beat Nike Team Florida 2013 to go 3-0 in pool play. Dooley was later seen watching Alabama Challenge.

Shining Star Sports (Grote) lost game one to MB Nation 51-34 and will play Nike Team Florida tonight at 7:50. Shining Star Sports (Moman) lost 34-31 to the Birmingham Storm.
http://www.shiningstarsports.blogspot.com/

Team NJABC has won their first game as well.

Team Pride 15U is in the finals in the gold bracket (Kaminski) and Team Pride's 16U squad lost to Grandy Glaze and Team Takeover.

Hoops City Classic:

This event will be attended by as many coaches as the Vegas tourneys. Arguably the top prospect in 2010, 2011, and 2013 will be attending. Harrison Barnes is there with Howard Pulley Black, Marques Teague is there with Spiece Indy Heat, and Peter Jok is there with All Iowa Attack Red. Spiece Indy Stars 2012 will be one of the favorites in the 2012 division.

Eric Bossi is doing some twitter updates.

The bballreport is there and says Chasson Randle of the Illinois Wolves is playing well.

Other Updates:

MILive.com had an article yesterday that caught my attention. Steve Bell is an excellent writer who covers Michigan prep hoops and he had a list of ten kids from Michigan in the 2010 class who have elevated their stock. He has comments on recent Iowa commitment Roy Marble Jr, the next in line of LeBron-in-your-face-dunking Crawfords in Oak Park's 6'0 Jalen Crawford, Detroit Pershing's 6'6 Juwan Howard Jr, 6'4 Inkster star Jerry Jones, 6'7 Granville Christian forward Tyler Kruis, 6'0 Dewitt star Andrew Lerg, 6'4 Detroit Southeastern star Johnnie Lindsey, 6'5 Aaron Olson from Traverse City West, 6'6 Julian Plummer from Muskegon Heights, and 5'11 Travis Schuba from Kalaska.

Speaking of Jalen Crawford (photo at top from dailytribune), big brother Jordan's now famously secret dunk on Lebron is supposed to surface today at 6:45 on TMZ!

Mark Miller's courtside blog is reporting Vander Blue didn't travel with the Milwuakee Spartans to Vegas and is planning on narrowing down to a top five in August. Wisconsin and Marquette are favorites among at least 20 schools being considered. I had fearlessly (and foolishly perhaps) predicted Blue would make it down to Arizona during his Vegas trip but once again, pay very little attention to the Mongrel when talking about where kids will end up. Its too much fun to avoid but not my strength...vbg. Now if Blue winds up at Zona later I'll still feel like crowing about my supernatural powers of prognostication.

Miller also reports Eastern Kentucky offered Racine Central Catholic 6'2 guard Steve McWhorter who is also being pursued by UW-Milwuakee.