VAN COLEMAN
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Kansas, Duke, Memphis and Connecticut make major additions as the transfers and player releases continue to mount as we head through the spring signee period.
It is just amazing how many players have decided to transfer this spring: over 120 and climbing. Couple that with the number of early signees that have been granted releases and they have been a major part of the spring signing period.
The Memphis Tigers continue to add to their talent pool with the commitment of No.46 rated senior Wesley Witherspoon from Lilburn Berkmar (Ga.) committed to the Tigers over interest from Texas, Virginia, Colorado and OklahomaState. He's a skilled point forward who has a lot of Chris Douglas-Roberts in his game. He should fit right into Memphis offense. He is the second piece to a phenomenal spring recruiting run, as the Tigers will be playing host to No. 12 rated senior Devin Ebanks next weekend then the highly regarded talent will decide between Memphis, Rutgers, Texas and West Virginia.
If he opts for the Tigers it would push the Memphis Class into our top three or four classes this spring!
The national champion Kansas Jayhawks added to their top ranked class, with the addition of former Marquette point guard signee, 6-foot-2 Tyshawn Taylor from Jersey City St. Anthony's (N.J.) who signed a national letter earlier this week.Ironically he will be going from High School National Champion to College National Champion.He averaged 10 points and 5 assists for Bob Hurley's undefeated club.He chose Kansas over Georgia Tech and Marquette.
But, the good news didn't stop there for the Jayhawks there, as Bill Self and his staff received their first commitment in the Class of 2010, as sweet shooting 6-foot-3 wing guard Royce Woolridge from Phoenix Sunnyslope (Ariz.) decided to commit to Kansas after having a huge weekend at the Double Pump Spring Classic.Woolridge, the son of former NBA great Orlando Woolridge, can flat out stroke the three, handles and creates shot or drive to hoop.He has averaged over 20 points an outing over two years in high school.Look for him to break into our top 50 in the Class of 2010 when we update it later this spring if he continues to play the way he did in Las Vegas.He picked Kansas over interest from Arizona, Tennessee, UNLV, ArizonaState and USC.
Another team who received a big 2008 addition, as well as 2010, was the Kentucky Wildcats who dipped into the junior college ranks for some immediate help from former Western Illinois signee, 6-foot-9 265-pound Josh Harrellson of Southwestern CC (Ill.) has signed with the Wildcats.The physical big man averaged 14 points and 7.5 rebounds this past year, but it is his great hands and quick feet that got a number of big schools involved.He will have three years of eligibility in Lexington and chose the Wildcats over Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, St. Louis and IowaState.
The Wildcats added to an already strong start in the Class of 2010 with the addition of our No. 8 rated sophomore Dominique Ferguson this past week.The explosive young combo forward from Indianapolis Lawrence North can flat out dominate facing off the dribble or in transition.He averaged 13 points as a sophomore, but look for those numbers to explode next winter.He chose Kentucky over interest from Florida, Louisville, Michigan State, Memphis, Ohio State, Purdue, Indiana and Duke.
St. John's lost two backcourt transfers last month, so Norm Roberts and his staff needed to add some immediate depth, and they did just that this week adding two quality backcourt talents.At the point guard spot the Red Storm added former Miami signee Quincy Roberts 6-foot-5 blur from Harrisonburg (Penn.) along with 6-foot-4 combo Tyshawn Edmondson of Hopkinsville University Heights (Kent.) to their depth chart.Roberts averaged 18 points and 5 assists while Edmondson scored 18 points and handed out just more than 4 assists. They both add passing skills to St. John's backcourt.
Miami received a quality transfer to bolster their backcourt when 6-foot-1 Malcolm Grant decided to transfer from Villanova to the Hurricanes next year.The explosive combo averaged 5.6 points in just 13 minutes a game for the `Cats, but wanted the opportunity to play more minutes.So in stepped the Hurricanes were he will be eligible in the fall of 2009 after setting out next year.
The Hurricanes also received some good news in the Class of 2009 when 6-foot-8 combo forward Donovan Kirk from Beverly HillsDetroitCountryDay School (Mich.) decided to commit to Miami.He is currently our No. 92 rated junior and he picked the `Canes over MichiganState, USC, South Florida and Iowa.
Duke received some huge news when former Stanford signee, 6-foot-9 Miles Plumlee from Arden Christ School (N.C.) decided to join his younger brother Mason a 2009 commit to Duke, and committed to the Blue Devils.He had just received his release when it became evident to him that he still wanted to play with his brother in college, so no surprise in the quick decision.He had interest from Georgia tech, Indiana, Notre Dame, Purdue, USC and UCLA.
Ironically, Stanford had just named former Duke assistant Johnny Dawkins as their head coach, but as the old adage says blood is thicker than water, and that is why Plumlee is headed to Duke the second time around.
OhioState has had one transfer move on in 6-foot-6 Eric Wallace and 7-foot-1 Kosta Koufos has entered the NBA Draft, so the Buckeyes needed to add some immediate depth.Thad Matta and his staff did just that over the past weekend with the addition of two of the nations top available JUCO talents.On the wing the Buckeyes may have done more than add depth, as 6-foot-4 NJCAA NJCAA D-II player of the year Jeremie Simmons from Mott CC opted for OhioState.He averaged 21 points and handed out 5 assists for Mott and has tools to play all three perimeter spots.Inside, 6-foot-9 Nicola Kecman from Eastern Arizona CC will bring his sweet high post game to Columbus.He averaged 13 points a game and hit over 40 percent from beyond the arc for Eastern.He will be a solid compliment for the young low post talent the Buckeyes will have next fall.
Seton Hall may have gotten an important piece to competing in the first division of the Big East down the road in 6-foot-11 300-plus pound Melvyn Oliver from Jackson Elite Christian Academy (Miss.) this past week.The surprisingly mobile big man has excellent hands, can finish with people hanging on him in the paint and is a real horse on the glass.He really blew up in the second half of the high school season and could be a steal for the Pirates. He chose Seton hall over Connecticut, Mississippi, Baylor, Southern Miss and New MexicoState.
Speaking of Connecticut, the Huskies have gone international (sort of) with the addition of 6-foot-9Carlingford, Australia and Heat Academy (Va.) forward Alter Majok to their Class of 2008 late last week.The immensely talented combo forward has major offensive tools and should make an immediate impact for Jim Calhoun's club.He chose UConn over Kentucky, Kansas, Baylor, UCLA and Louisville.
The Vanderbilt Commodores also added some real firepower with the signing of Swedish import 6-foot-7 Jeff Taylor who prepped at Hobbs (N. Mex.) this past winter.He averaged 30 points a game the past two years at Hobbs and can really knock down the three from NBA range on in.He should see considerable PT as a freshman.
Texas Tech received some immediate help on the wing when 6-foot-6 JUCO all-American Montrell McDonald signed with the Red Raiders.The explosive wing man hit 42 percent from beyond the arc and should give Pat Knight's squad some instant firepower from the perimeter next fall.
A couple more young players have made decisions, one is our No. 49 rated junior, 6-foot-7 power man Royce White from Minnetonka Hopkins (Minn.) who averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds as a junior for DeLasalle High.The tough face-up scorer has made his decision and will be part of the rebuilding process that Tubby Smith has started at Minnesota. He chose the Gophers over Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan State, Iowa, Miami, Iowa State, USC and Wisconsin.
Wisconsin has added a young back court talent in 6-foot-3 sophomore Vander Blue from Madison Memorial (Wis.) who averaged 13 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists this past winter.He has tools to play either guard spot and that versatility brought interest from Marquette, Indiana and Kentucky before he decided to commit to the Badgers.
Their have been some signings that could go unnoticed on a national basis that could be huge impact talents for their college choices, here's a couple that caught our eye:
The Hawaii Rainbows added high scoring wing man, 6-foot-7 Roderick Flemings from Weatherford CC (Tex.) who knocked down 21 points a game this year and was named a NJCAA All-American.He crashes the glass to tune of 12 rebounds an outing and should make a major impact in the WAC this winter.
Wisconsin-GreenBay added a real man sized combo forward in 6-foot-7 230-pound Chop Tang from Eastern Arizona CC this spring.He averaged 15 point and 6 boards for the national fifth place finisher, but really impressed us with his physical play and sweet shooting touch in Hutch.He should make a huge impact in the Horizon next winter.
Transfers and Released Talent...Coming and Goings...
Davidson added one thing that didn't have and that is size in former Harvard commit, 6-foot-10 Frank Ben-Eze who opted for the Wildcats this past week.He is currently recovering from an ACL injury, but is expected to be ready to go in November.He could be a key to another, and even deeper, run in NCAA's next spring.
FormerIowaState Cyclone 6-foot-7 Cory Johnson has decided to transfer to Valparaiso next fall.He played in 27 games averaging 2.7 points and hit 65 percent from the field as a freshman.He wanted more playing time and decided on Valparaiso over Drake and Wisconsin-GreenBay and Evansville.
FormerMississippiState Bulldog 6-foot-3 Ben Hansborough has decided to transfer to Notre Dame next fall.The sophomore starter averaged 10.5 points and 4 rebounds an outing this year.Look for him to step right into starting job for Fighting Irish, who he chose over Purdue and OklahomaState
Keegan Bell 6-foot-2 combo guard from Vanderbilt has decided to transfer to Chattanooga next year.He averaged 2.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in just 13 minutes a game for the Commodores, and should have a major impact for the Mocs after setting out this next season.
Xavier Keeling, 6-foot-6 wing man from Indiana, has decided to follow his former coach Ray McCallum and transfer to Detroit Mercy.McCallum was just named the Titans head coach and Keeling is his first addition to his new program.
There are a number of players who are either transferring or re-opening their recruiting here are some of the recent moves of interest...
Vernon Macklin, 6-foot-9 sophomore and former Georgetown Hoya has two schools in hot pursuit in Clemson and Florida.He will visit both in the next couple weeks.
Bobby Maze, a 6-foot-3 JUCO All-American guard, has parted ways with Maryland and is currently considering Cincinnati, Kentucky, St. John's, WichitaState and USC.
If you are looking for some size this quintet is currently looking at their options this spring...
6-foot-10 freshman Eli Holman has decided to transfer from Indiana this week.He seemed to be struggling with his playing time, and let the new staff (who didn't coach him) know he was leaving in a less than ceremonious fashion (reported temper tantrum).
6-foot-10 Julian Vaughn has decided to leave the Florida State Seminoles after playing in all 31 games this past winter.He will get some major looks this spring.
6-foot-9 Curtis Kelly has decided to transfer from Connecticut this past week.He is just formulating a list of possible schools.
6-foot-11 270-pound Cassin Diggs is transferring from Pittsburgh.He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Last, but not least is 6-foot-11 Caleb Patterson from Colorado who has decided to leave the Buffaloes.He played in 14 games as a freshman.
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