CHAT LIVE With Basketball Recruiting Expert Van Coleman

Welcome to the CSTV.com moderated chat room!

Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. ET, recruiting expert Van Coleman will chat with fans LIVE at CSTV.com. Van will be here to talk about what he saw at the events he's covering along with everything else recruiting related.



Van Coleman


Van Coleman, one of the nation's premier recruiting experts, has been evaluating the nation's top high school and college talent since 1977.

Van began writing and publishing the FutureStars Basketball Magazine in 1980, and started the FutureStars Scouting Service in 1986. The scouting service is used by over 180 Division I programs each year, and is considered one of the finest recruiting services in the U.S.

In addition to his own publications and CSTV.com's Generation Next Basketball recruiting page, Van has written for numerous other publications, including CBS Sportsline.com's Basketball Preview Yearbook and Lindy's Basketball Yearbooks. He serves on numerous committees, including the selection committees for the McDonald's All-American Game, the Naismith Player of the Year awards for boys and girls, and the Morgan Wooten Award for the selection of high school coaches into the Hall of Fame.

In 2003, Van created the successful recruiting website Hoopmasters.com, and has since taken over full operation of the site since the departure of co-founder Bob Gibbons. ** GET YOUR QUESTIONS IN NOW!!: Van won't be stopping by until 3:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, so feel free to submit your questions now and we'll save them for his arrival!

Van Coleman: Thanks for joining us again this week, we've got a couple questions already sent in so we'll get right to those if you want to keep filing...
Scott (Salem,IL): What was the deciding factor in Iman Shumpert choosing GT over UNC and Marquette?
Van Coleman: I'll go with what he said. Paul Hewitt and the system that he runs, and the availability of playing time. They had a player in Jarrett Jack that was very similar to Iman and I think he feels and they feel he can step in and fill that gap, moreso than Javaris Crittenton because he'll probably be there at least longer than a year.
Brett (Indianapolis): Tyler zeller has now finished his official visits. Where do you think he ends up?
Van Coleman: I think Purdue really muddied the water this past weekend. I think he felt he was getting closer and Purdue made it a tougher decision. He's talking about sometime the first week of November and I don't think that will change as far as something coming before then.
Jerry (St. Paul): Are there any news/updates on jamil wilson or rodney williams? Who's got the best shot at these two?
Van Coleman: I think you start in-state with Williams. Now that the Minnesota staff is in-place and getting entrenched in the younger kids in state, they're going to be tough. Kentucky's been up, Iowa State's in there, but I think Minnesota is going to be tough to beat. I think Wisconsin and Marquette are the early leaders for Wilson but he's got Duke, UNC and Kentucky looking strong at him.
Van Coleman: I also think Arizona will be a player with Wilson too.
Gary Md: How good are Gilchrest and Kim? Do you see Md getting any other recruits?What about junoirs? THANKS
Van Coleman: Right now I think Gus Gilchrist comes in right away and has an opportunity to start at one of the two inside spots. He's made tremendous strides this past year, has improved his body, runs the floor well, has great hands. With Kim, he's one of the best shooters in the prep school league but he'll need to get stronger. We'll try and get you a better update on the juniors they're after next week. I know today they missed on Quintrell Thomas, a senior who picked Kansas.
Van Coleman: If you check out the ACC Conference Look on our page, you'll see some of the other alternatives for them this fall.
Kevin ( Seaford, NY): PLease give me some good news on St. JOhn's recruiting. Are they involved with anyone other then longshot Kevin Jones to sign in the early signing period.
Van Coleman: Let's face it. It's definitely been a tough fall for the Johnnies. The Red Storm has missed on about every major target this fall. I think Devoe Joseph is still a possibility but I still think they're a longshot, with Kevin Jones as well. They were just eliminated from the Morris twins' list, who are now down to Villanova and Kansas. A side note - now that Quintrell Thomas has chosen Kansas, that might push the Morris twins toward Villanova.
Van Coleman: Basically, we think St. John's is going to re-group and now look toward the spring to sign someone.
Jonathon (Chicago): Who leads for the lake forest big men, rowley and n'daiye? its hard to find any info on n'daiye, but most seem to think he's NBA quality talent. any opinions?
Van Coleman: On Rowley right now, Baylor, FSU, Wisconsin, Iowa, Iowa State, DePaul, Illinois and Marquette have been in to watch him work out. N'Diaye's obviously been seen by those same schools, but his list isn't developing as quickly. N'Diaye's bouncy and runs the floor, Rowley has good size on him with his weight. I think both will have a chance to play after college.
Terry (Omaha,Ne): Any JUCO information ? Who do you like in JUCO ball ?
Van Coleman: We've had some JUCO interest the past three chats and like we've been saying, we will have a set of rankings out before the signing period (Nov 14-21).
Van Coleman: This is just copied and pasted from last week's chat: Here's some who will be considered when we put it together in November - Daniel Payne of Coffeyville, Mike Jones of Indian Hills, Juan Pattillo of CSI, Jermaine Dixon of Tallahassee CC, Tyrone Appleton of Midland CC, Mario Little of Chipola CC, Tay Waller of Ocalusa Walton, Devron Bostick of Southwestern Illinois CC, Kenny Bowman of Hutchinson CC and Jason Bennett of Tallahassee CC
Van Coleman: Thanks for joining us this past half-hour guys, we'll be back next week and feel free to send your questions in when the chat link goes up Monday night or to me at vcoleman@cstv.com. Thanks again.