A Top Basketball Recruit Is On ASU's Campus Today

ASUCHRIS

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^All reports have it going well. Kuksiks was his host since they both speak Russian, and Ruslan Pateev who he knows from Florida is apparently putting pressure on him to come here.

ASU could at times next year have an all Russian speaking, Baltic front line with Kyrl- Pateev- Kuksiks, cool.

How many Iron Curtain references next year?
 

HooverDam

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How many Iron Curtain references next year?

"Pateev on the left elbow passes it into the post to Kyrl, Kyrl swings it out to Rik on the wing, and Rik fires up a deep three from way behind the Iron Curtain- GOOOODDD!!! The Sun Devils extend their streak over the Wildcats to 7"

Yah that sounds alright by me :D
 

overseascardfan

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Herb's going heavy on the 2-guards in the '09 class by going after Smith but if we have an extra schollie might as well bring him in.
 

Gaddabout

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Apparently he's being recruited by Dedrique Taylor who also landed Ruslan Pateeve, so he much have some special Florida Russian connection.

I'll try to track down Doug tomorrow and get his off-the-record opinion. Someone shoot me a private message so I won't forget.
 

Gaddabout

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Herb's going heavy on the 2-guards in the '09 class by going after Smith but if we have an extra schollie might as well bring him in.

The thing that scares me about Darius Smith is he's another defensive-minded '1' without a jumpshot. Natyazhko makes more sense as a system recruit because he can hit a jumper at the top of the key -- high-post center.

I suspect we will start to see more of Sendek's offense installed regardless of Harden's decision. We're already seeing the European recruits coming in. Makes sense.
 

overseascardfan

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The thing that scares me about Darius Smith is he's another defensive-minded '1' without a jumpshot. Natyazhko makes more sense as a system recruit because he can hit a jumper at the top of the key -- high-post center.

I suspect we will start to see more of Sendek's offense installed regardless of Harden's decision. We're already seeing the European recruits coming in. Makes sense.

Kind of a McMillan clone, at least we get a shooter in '10 with Corey Hawkins, this kid is going to fill it up.
 
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Smith has commited to Uconn per rivals.com.

There is also a rumor (probbaly complete BS) that I read on another board that said that Renardo Sidney isn't pleased with the Floyd debacle and is considering coming to ASU if Harden stays another year. Seems incredibly unlikely that either would happen but I guess you never know.

I think Herb has a pretty decent class coming in but they are sorely missing a big man that can play right away. Pateev sounds like a project from what I read. Getting Kyryl would be HUGE.
 

Gaddabout

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I think Herb has a pretty decent class coming in but they are sorely missing a big man that can play right away. Pateev sounds like a project from what I read. Getting Kyryl would be HUGE.

NC State fans warned ASU fans that Sendek falls in love with too many small forwards. They weren't lying.
 

HooverDam

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The thing that scares me about Darius Smith is he's another defensive-minded '1' without a jumpshot. Natyazhko makes more sense as a system recruit because he can hit a jumper at the top of the key -- high-post center.

Darius Smith committed to UCONN a few days ago, so no need to worry/think about him one way or the other.

NC State fans warned ASU fans that Sendek falls in love with too many small forwards. They weren't lying.

Huh? The 2009 class so far has:
SG Trent Locket
SF Demetrius Walker (whos small for the position and may end up at the 2)
C Ruslan Pateev
and possibly
PF/C Kyryl Natyazhko

2010 has
SG Corey Hawkins

2011 has
PG Josiah Turner

2008 had:
PF Taylor Rhode
SF Johnny Coy (who ended up at Wichita State)

2007 had:
PG Jamelle McMillan
SG James Harden (who admittedly did play the 3 a lot)
SG Ty Abbott
SF Rihards Kuksiks (who ended up playing the 4 for ASU most of the time)
PF Kraidon Woods

2006 had:
PG Derek Glasser
SF Jerren Shipp
SG Christian Polk

So over a 6 year window, so far, Sendek has brought in 4 small forwards. One who never played a second (Coy), one who was just a filler body for the most part (Shipp), one who often plays the 4 (Rik) and one who we don't know where he'll play but it might be at the 2 (Walker). It doesn't seem like an over abundance of Small Forwards to me, if anything he's heavy on Shooting guards.

But I agree with the general assertion that we/he needs to do better at getting quality big guys in here. Ill be very excited if we can land Natyazhko, two Four Star guys in a class is very good for us. Plus Walker is sort of a 3.5 star guy from what Ive seen and read on various places, so Id be pumped for that class.

I do think we have a good shot at Natyazhko too, due to the new Weatherup center (nice article by Bickley on it here), two Russian speakers on the team next year (Rik and Ruslan) and immediate playing time to offer him.
 

Gaddabout

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SF Demetrius Walker (whos small for the position and may end up at the 2)
C Ruslan Pateev
and possibly
PF/C Kyryl Natyazhko

2008 had:
PF Taylor Rhode
SF Johnny Coy (who ended up at Wichita State)

2007 had:
PG Jamelle McMillan
SG James Harden (who admittedly did play the 3 a lot)
SG Ty Abbott
SF Rihards Kuksiks (who ended up playing the 4 for ASU most of the time)
PF Kraidon Woods

2006 had:
PG Derek Glasser
SF Jerren Shipp
SG Christian Polk

It's a bit of semantics there. Of those 2s, only Abbott and Polk are definitive 2s. Harden probably SHOULD have been a 3 most of the time, we just had a greater need at 2. Kuksiks never should have been a 4, but ASU needed to spread the floor for Pendergraph -- and Pendergraph was really a 4.

Look at those 4s ... a lot of 3 skills. Kraidon Woods, if he had range, would be a 3. Somewhat the same situation for Taylor Rhode. These two kids from Florida are the first legitimate 4/5s ASU looks to land.
 

PoolBoy

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I just saw a very Russian looking tall guy being driven around by some basketball managers on a golf cart down Palm Walk. He looked like he was having a good time, laughing with them. I assume it was Kyryl.
 

HooverDam

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It's a bit of semantics there. Of those 2s, only Abbott and Polk are definitive 2s. Harden probably SHOULD have been a 3 most of the time, we just had a greater need at 2. Kuksiks never should have been a 4, but ASU needed to spread the floor for Pendergraph -- and Pendergraph was really a 4.

Look at those 4s ... a lot of 3 skills. Kraidon Woods, if he had range, would be a 3. Somewhat the same situation for Taylor Rhode. These two kids from Florida are the first legitimate 4/5s ASU looks to land.

All true enough, I guess my point in general is, ASU hasn't overload on wings in my estimation. They've done a good job filling those slots and your right, they need more big guys. I disagree about Rhode possibly being a 3 though, from what I've seen he doesn't have nearly the athleticism to play the 3, he seems like the typical Euro style 4 that we'll be seeing a lot of under Sendek.

From what I hear even Kyrl at almost 7 feet likes to chuck the 3's now and again.

You ASU fans are more than happy to jump on the Miller to UA bandwagon. That would all but seal up this Russian kid to ASU.

Id be happy for UA if they got Miller. Its good for the Pac 10 and would make the ASU-UA rivalry even more fun. Plus it'll be fun to have the team with the 'master' for once instead of the pupil. Frieder was always playing the fool to Lute, it'll be nice to have the situation somewhat reversed (not that Sendek is as accomplished as Lute or Miller is a goofy as Frider, but you get the general idea).

I just saw a very Russian looking tall guy being driven around by some basketball managers on a golf cart down Palm Walk. He looked like he was having a good time, laughing with them. I assume it was Kyryl.

Kyryl is 7 feet tall, super pasty and has white-ish blonde hair. It seems like it would be hard to mistake him for anyone else. If he met that description it was probably him.
 

Renz

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2009 Center has UA in Top 3

As coaching positions change, so does the recruiting landscape. Four-star prospect Kyryl Natyazhko had visited all three of his final schools and ready to make a decision, but Sean Miller's move to Arizona has things once again in a state of flux.

Per Rivals
 

PoolBoy

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i talked to Kuksiks today, he seemed confident that he's gonna sign with ASU.
 

HooverDam

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i talked to Kuksiks today, he seemed confident that he's gonna sign with ASU.

Im 'friends' with Russ Pateev on Facebook (creepy, I know!) and asked him about Kreal, he seemed pretty unsure, but then again his English isn't the best, so who really knows.
 

Arizona's Finest

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Visiting UA next week.

Looks like Miller is going to make frends with ASU in a REAL hurry if this kid comes to Tucson. According to his HS coach the momentum is on the Wildcats side....
 
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