Earlier recruiting commits?

[Russ Smith]

Curious what others think about this trend? Taylor King committed verbally to UCLA as an 8th grader, he's a soph now and his dad admits that he's now "open" in his recruitment. Not saying he won't go to UCLA, just wants to be clear how he fits in Howland's "system", says he likes other schools too, and wants to leave his options open.

I'm a huge UCLA fan but the day they announced his commitment I scoffed at it, just way too early. 18 year olds aren't sure where they want to play in college how can you expect a 14 year old to make such a decision? I guess Damon Bailey did that but I just kind of hope it's a trend that goes away.

I'm reading a book on the recruitment of Sebastian Telfair now and it reminded me, Hoop Scoop once named him their best player in the nation in his class, when he was FOURTH grade! In other words we were to believe they scoured the nation and watched the best 4th graders and dubbed Telfair the best. Talk about going overboard.

I just think it's a bad road to go down pressure such young kids.

 

[Southpaw]

Seems like Taylor King and his father are a bit too full of themselves.

 

[Russ Smith]

Seems like Taylor King and his father are a bit too full of themselves.

His dad maybe but Taylor is what 16? He committed at 14? I just think he was trying to avoid the recruiting mess because he has 2 sisters who were recruited (volleyball and softball) and the advice was the earlier you decide the less you'll be hounded. But UCLA, and remember I'm a Bruin fan, just really took advantage of the situation and pressured him to verbally commit when it means nothing.

So now if the kid says he's open, people say he's reneging.

I mean I just don't see how anybody can be expected to reasonably make a good decision at such a young age?

I hope the kid is for real and ends up a Bruin but if he doesn't I'm sure not going hold it against the kid.

 

[TrentAZCards]

Yeah Im sorry, these guys are full of themselves...while the kid may have talent and could go to a college...he's only a Sophomore. He thinks he can play college ball at 8th grade?

I'm all for being proud of skills, but hell...my team won the state title in 99 when I was in 8th grade. Casey Raptis and I were the best on the team...we sure as hell aren't playin college ball now...

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Russ - the Arizona rumor mill is saying that King will likely decommit from UCLA and that Arizona has a good shot due to Miles Simon possibly becoming an assistant coach this offseason. Have you heard anything on the UCLA front?

 

[Russ Smith]

Russ - the Arizona rumor mill is saying that King will likely decommit from UCLA and that Arizona has a good shot due to Miles Simon possibly becoming an assistant coach this offseason. Have you heard anything on the UCLA front?

That rumor is on Bruin Report Online too. The main reason is twofold, one King's dad doesn't think Howland's "offensive system" suits Taylor(too structured), and there's a fear that James Keefe(verbal commit a year ahead of King) will "conflict" with King. I don't know if that means because of their games, or because they don't like each other(I've heard both).

Keefe is a HS PF(apparently not related to Adam Keefe) but projects to a SF in college or the NBA, nice face up game, good shooter, great rebounder, long arms, not a great leaper but not glued to the ground. UCLA has 2 PF's in this class, Ryan Wright a leaper from Canada, and Alfred Aboya a strong kid originally from Cameroon, so when Keefe committed it was apparent they intended to play him at SF not PF.

UCLA fans are already starting the "if King de-commits he's a jerk" stuff but again the kid just finished his sophomore season in highschool give him a break if he's not sure where he wants to play college ball.

Everyone compares him to Chris Mullin, lefty, white, flat top, about 6'7" and a great shooter. What I read is he improved a lot off the dribble this year and got tougher but he still likes to hang out past the 3 line and chuck up 3's instead of mixing it up inside. I hope he goes to UCLA but as long as he doesn't go straight to the NBA, or outside the Pac 10 I'll be fine with his decision. I really think Howland's staff pushed him into the verbal because they wanted to "start with a bang."

I have no idea if the rumors of him and Keefe not liking each other are true.

 

[NMCard]

Some kid commited early to the lobos. I think he is a junior from Redding CA. Kids name is Derek Oestreicher don't know to much about him.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Thanks for the info Russ. I only thought I'd bump the thread due to the Arizona-related news on the King front. Honestly, 2007 is pretty far down the road and nobody knows where either program is going to be at that point. But with all the talent lined up for the next few years in both Westwood and Tucson, King's going to have a tough competition for playing time at either school.