U of A Recruiting

[overseascardfan]

What is going on with U of A 's basketball recruiting? We lost out on Stover, Greg Smith de-commits, 3-star F Andy Brown doesn't seem like a lock, and now there is speculation that Gaddy may de-commit yet again and is still in contact w/ UCLA.

There are no more 2009 elite recruits interested in attending U of A (even though most have already committed) and Lute seems to be looking at whatever 3-star prospects are left.

As for 2010, the state's top prospect, Daniel Bejarano doesn't even have U of A in his Top 10 and doesn't seem to have any interest. Josh Smith, the #2 ranked C in the class seems destined to to attend either UNC or Duke with an outside chance of UCLA.

Russ, is ther any truth to the Gaddy speculation?

 

[Russ Smith]

What is going on with U of A 's basketball recruiting? We lost out on Stover, Greg Smith de-commits, 3-star F Andy Brown doesn't seem like a lock, and now there is speculation that Gaddy may de-commit yet again and is still in contact w/ UCLA.

There are no more 2009 elite recruits interested in attending U of A (even though most have already committed) and Lute seems to be looking at whatever 3-star prospects are left.

As for 2010, the state's top prospect, Daniel Bejarano doesn't even have U of A in his Top 10 and doesn't seem to have any interest. Josh Smith, the #2 ranked C in the class seems destined to to attend either UNC or Duke with an outside chance of UCLA.

Russ, is ther any truth to the Gaddy speculation?

If you're talking about the Rivals article what I hear is there's nothing to it, Gaddy is still going to Arizona. If he is really keeping in touch with UCLA I'd be surprised but not stunned after the Morgan situation.

UCLA obviously still wants a guard in that class, doesn't think they're getting Snaer, so if Gaddy fell into their laps they'd take him. But I don't have Rivals premium so all I know is what I read on a UCLA board where someone asked if the article was accurate and was told that Gaddy is still going to UA.

On Smith, for what it's worth the guy who covers UW for Scout says UCLA is the leader, Duke and UNC are right there and Smith recently said he was thrilled they were both recruiting him and very impressed that coach K called him while he was in Beijing, but the UW guy claims UCLA is still the leader although far from a lock.

ANytime UNC or Duke is involved it's obviously a big deal but UCLA was in on Smith much earlier than they were so they have an edge in that regard. UCLA was recruiting Josh when he was a young fat kid with skills, UNC and Duke didn't get involved until he lost quite a bit of weight.

On UA I think kids are just waiting and seeing what happens with the new staff and Lute. 09 is a very good recruiting class for UA, 10 is pretty thin on the West Coast overall and then 11 is supposed to be strong so UA is probably doing the right thing loading up in 09 if they can.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Gaddy isnt going anywhere other than to Tucson, but I cant say I blame him if he is just touching base with Howland should something happen at UA again.

UAs 09 class is pretty good even without a big man, but also keep in mind that there arent that many good big men this year anyway (Stover was a 3* too). I dunno if UA can land Brown or not, but if we miss out on Brandt then things will get hectic.

 

[overseascardfan]

Gaddy isnt going anywhere other than to Tucson, but I cant say I blame him if he is just touching base with Howland should something happen at UA again.

UAs 09 class is pretty good even without a big man, but also keep in mind that there arent that many good big men this year anyway (Stover was a 3* too). I dunno if UA can land Brown or not, but if we miss out on Brandt then things will get hectic.

I've heard Brandt is going to be a spring decision but I heard that he likes WSU and Colorado, so U of A isn't a lock and may not get him. Looks like the kid from Connecticut, Deniz Killic (sp??) is the back up plan, but he looks like he'll play somewhere on the East Coast as a number of powerhouses have offered him. GOAZCATS also lists a couple of other PF's in the '09 class but none seem to be destined to choose Arizona.

I was shocked that Tyler picked LOU, did not know they were on his radar. Although Stover was a 3-star (4-star on Rivals), he was a huge loss. He would have been a much needed backup to Hill and Withey, now we rely on Jacobson soley.

 

[Russ Smith]

I've heard Brandt is going to be a spring decision but I heard that he likes WSU and Colorado, so U of A isn't a lock and may not get him. Looks like the kid from Connecticut, Deniz Killic (sp??) is the back up plan, but he looks like he'll play somewhere on the East Coast as a number of powerhouses have offered him. GOAZCATS also lists a couple of other PF's in the '09 class but none seem to be destined to choose Arizona.

I was shocked that Tyler picked LOU, did not know they were on his radar. Although Stover was a 3-star (4-star on Rivals), he was a huge loss. He would have been a much needed backup to Hill and Withey, now we rely on Jacobson soley.

Kilicli announced for West Virginia today. Pretty much figured that, kid moves from Turkey to the US, with all apologies to West Virginia, of the 50 states in the US why decide to move to West Virginia? The obvious answer to me was he had some ties to someone in West Virginia and that's why he was going to highschool there and it figures he commits to Huggins.

Nobody has seen the kid play and the famous quote from a UCLA coach that he's more skilled than Kevin Love has been disputed repeatedly including the author now claiming he overheard a UCLA coach say it, that it wasn't a public comment(which would be an NCAA violation). From what I've read elsewhere UCLA didn't even have a coach in the gym that day but who knows. If he's half as good as the hype, WVA got a good one.

 

[overseascardfan]

Kilicli announced for West Virginia today. Pretty much figured that, kid moves from Turkey to the US, with all apologies to West Virginia, of the 50 states in the US why decide to move to West Virginia? The obvious answer to me was he had some ties to someone in West Virginia and that's why he was going to highschool there and it figures he commits to Huggins.

Nobody has seen the kid play and the famous quote from a UCLA coach that he's more skilled than Kevin Love has been disputed repeatedly including the author now claiming he overheard a UCLA coach say it, that it wasn't a public comment(which would be an NCAA violation). From what I've read elsewhere UCLA didn't even have a coach in the gym that day but who knows. If he's half as good as the hype, WVA got a good one.

Great, now we don't even have a back-up plan. Here's to hope that old Roy drives off the Wear twins.

 

[Russ Smith]

Great, now we don't even have a back-up plan. Here's to hope that old Roy drives off the Wear twins.

That has been rumored for a bit now that the Wear twins may never make it to UNC. I am not all that high on them, I heard they bulked up a bit this offseason and could be better low post guys but so far they're big kids who want to play SF and I'm much happier with Reeves Nelson and Brendan Lane than those 2, I am very happy they picked UNC over UCLA.

Moser is a great get for UA I think he'll be better than either Wear twin, unless they radically improve they're going to be sitting on the bench at UNC until they transfer IMHO.

 

[overseascardfan]

That has been rumored for a bit now that the Wear twins may never make it to UNC. I am not all that high on them, I heard they bulked up a bit this offseason and could be better low post guys but so far they're big kids who want to play SF and I'm much happier with Reeves Nelson and Brendan Lane than those 2, I am very happy they picked UNC over UCLA.

Moser is a great get for UA I think he'll be better than either Wear twin, unless they radically improve they're going to be sitting on the bench at UNC until they transfer IMHO.

To be honest I am just looking for frontcourt depth at this point, we are extremely thin in the froncourt and with Hill most likely leaving after this year, we really need some help.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Stover was a loss only because he was the only legit big man UA was in on. In the reality of talent, Stover isnt going to come in and change anything in Tucson or UCLA for that matter, but his defense would have been a nice addition for UA. Not to diss Stover or anything, because obviously landing him would have been exactly what UA needed.

As for Brandt, from what I hear the coaches arent sure about him, but with Dunlap's connection in Australia we would be considered in the top 3. Andy Brown doesnt help us at all, other than giving us a back up role player for 4 years, when we need someone who can step in and play minutes as a freshman.

I just cant believe that no PF in the country is willing to come out to Tucson and if not be guranteed a starting spot, be given 10-15 mins as a freshman. It doesnt make sense to me, but it does say something about UA's recruiting this past few years. No matter how well the new staff has done this year, UA hasnt been in on any big men over the last few years (insert Lute/Pastner/KO/Miles comment here) and we are in a hole this year to close out what will be a good class, but could have been great.

 

[Russ Smith]

Stover was a loss only because he was the only legit big man UA was in on. In the reality of talent, Stover isnt going to come in and change anything in Tucson or UCLA for that matter, but his defense would have been a nice addition for UA. Not to diss Stover or anything, because obviously landing him would have been exactly what UA needed.

As for Brandt, from what I hear the coaches arent sure about him, but with Dunlap's connection in Australia we would be considered in the top 3. Andy Brown doesnt help us at all, other than giving us a back up role player for 4 years, when we need someone who can step in and play minutes as a freshman.

I just cant believe that no PF in the country is willing to come out to Tucson and if not be guranteed a starting spot, be given 10-15 mins as a freshman. It doesnt make sense to me, but it does say something about UA's recruiting this past few years. No matter how well the new staff has done this year, UA hasnt been in on any big men over the last few years (insert Lute/Pastner/KO/Miles comment here) and we are in a hole this year to close out what will be a good class, but could have been great.

Agree on Stover he's very mechanical I think if he's starting before his junior year at UCLA it's because UCLA lost Morgan to the NBA and didn't get Josh Smith, not because Stover is ready to start. Nice role player that you need for continuity but probably won't ever be more than a solid player. That's why I didn't think he'd pick UCLA, I figure he wants to play early and probably won't much at UCLA, but I guess he thinks he will so we'll see.

I think UA was in a tough situation because the Wears, Nelson and Lane were all deciding at the point the coaching situation at UA was so confusing, so I doubt any of them gave UA much thought.

I also think UA got a bit unlucky, if the Wears had picked UCLA, I bet one or both of Nelson and Lane might have picked UA. I much prefer Nelson and Lane for UCLA but they wanted the Wears more, had they accepted UCLA would have taken them first, and UA probably would have wound up with one or both of Nelson and Lane and got the better end of the deal. Instead they accepted UNC and UCLA wound up with the better end of the deal IMHO.

Better to be lucky than good sometimes.