Fall Recruiting Preview - SEC (Pt. II)

Kentucky heads the bottom half with a potential Top 25 class

Nov. 5, 2007

By Van Coleman

CSTV.com & Hoopmasters.com


	Van Coleman Van is one of the nation's premier recruiting experts. E-mail here!

We continue our look at the SEC with Kentucky, but the rest of the league with Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Vanderbilt and South Carolina are all looking to make additions that could push them into positions to crack the national rankings.

It has been a strong fall for the SEC, so with that in mind, here's a look at the rest of the SEC in Part II of our coverage:

Kentucky (Recruiting Log) has received two commitments this fall from Top 100 perimeter talents in No. 32 rated 6-foot-6 point forward DeAndre Liggins of Henderson, NV Findlay Prep and No. 46 rated 6-foot-6 Darius Miller of Maysville, KY Mason County. Both are gifted athletes with skills to score or create opportunities for their teammates in the transition game.

The Wildcats would like to add at least one more front court talent and possibly a guard.

Up front, the top target for the fall is No. 28 rated 6-foot-9 Chris Singleton from Dunwoody, GA. He'll make his decision on Nov. 14 between the Wildcats, Florida State, Tennessee, Georgetown and possibly LSU.

If they don't get Singleton, they are involved with a number of other potentials including 7-foot-1 Aziz N'Diaye from Lake Forest, IL Academy, 7-foot Garrett Stutz of North Kansas City, MO, 6-foot-10 Teeng Akol from Centerreach, NY Our Savior New American, or JUCO swingman 6-foot-6 Terry Fields of the College of Southern Idaho.

In the backcourt, the `Cats are looking at a number of JUCO talents in 6-foot-4 Derwin Kitchen from Iowa Western CC and 6-foot-2 Bobby Maze of Hutchinson CC, along with preps 6-foot-3 Verdell Jones of Champaign, IL Central and late blooming 6-foot-3 Devon Moore from Columbus, OH Northland.

Tennessee (Recruiting Log) has received two commitments this fall from Top 100 front court talents in No. 75 rated 6-foot-7 Renaldo Woolridge from North Hollywood, CA Harvard-Westlake and No. 88 rated 6-foot-11 Phillip Jurick from Chattanooga, TN East Ridge High. Both have excellent offensive tools and should add depth right away upfront. Woolridge has Tyler Smith-type skills, so he will be a solid replacement for him down the road.

The `Vols aren't done yet and could add one or two more between now and the spring.

Up front, they are waiting on No. 28 rated 6-foot-9 Chris Singleton's decision next week.

They are still out looking at a number of other possibilities though, including 6-foot-9 Rashanti Harris from Columbus, MS New Hope, 6-foot-8 L.A. Pomlee from Davenport, IA Central, 6-foot-9 Curtis Brown from Garden City CC, KS, 6-foot-8 Caleb Dean from Novi, MI, 6-foot-8 Jeremy Newsome of Okolona, MS, and 6-foot-9 Francis Aihe of Santa Fe CC, FL.

On the wing, 6-foot-7 Murphy Holloway of Irmo, SC Dutch Fork has the Vols at the top of his list.

They are also looking at 6-foot-7 Wesley Witherspoon of Lilburn, GA Berkmar, 6-foot-7 Erick Frederick of San Antonio, TX Cornerstone Christian, and 6-foot-7 Kiwan Smith from Redlands CC, OK.

In the backcourt, the Vols like 6-foot-3 Deividas Dulkys of Henderson, NV Findlay Prep, 6-foot-4 Lamar Falley from Hutchinson CC, KS, 6-foot-2 Lashay Page of Latta, SC, 6-foot-5 Chris Turner from Patterson, NC School, 6-foot-2 Bobby Maze of Hutchinson CC, KS, and 6-foot-3 combo Verdell Jones of Champaign, IL Central.

Georgia (Recruiting Log) has received three commitments this fall headed by No. 27 rated 6-foot-8 Howard Thompkins from Norcross, GA Wesleyan. He has tools to make an immediate impact around the hoop for the `Dogs.

Thompkins will be joined in the front court by skilled 6-foot-8 Drazen Zlovaric from Weston, FL Sagemont Prep, while 6-foot point guard Dustin Ware of Kennesaw, GA North Cobb will add immediate depth in the backcourt.

The `Dogs could have one more tender to give, but are still very active at the two wing spots recruiting-wise.

They are looking one more perimeter talent up front and have shown interest in 6-foot-7 Wesley Witherspoon of Lilburn, GA Berkmar, 6-foot-7 Murphy Holloway of Irmo, SC Dutch Fork, 6-foot-7 Justin Johnson from Cherryville, NC, 6-foot-7 Justin Brownlee of Patterson, NC School, 6-foot-6 Terry Fields from the College of Southern Idaho, 6-foot-5 Jenard Fleming of Laramie CC, WY, 6-foot-4 Kevin Murphy of Fairburn, GA Landmark, and 6-foot-4 Ebuka Anyaorah from Suwanee, GA North Gwinnett.

Mississippi (Recruiting Log) has received four commitments this fall headed by No. 67 rated 6-foot-9 Terrance Henry out of Monroe, LA Carroll. He is a skilled and versatile inside-out talent who will compete for a starting spot as a freshman.

Henry will be joined up front by 6-foot-6 Terrico White of Memphis, TN Craigmont and 6-foot-5 Brandon Wilson of Monroe, LA Carroll. In the back court, 6-foot-1 Will Bogan of Caldwell, ID Vallivue will add immediate help at the lead guard spot.

The Rebels seem to be looking to add one more with both the post and big guard spots getting looks.

The Rebels have looked at 6-foot-9 Rashanti Harris from Columbus, MS New Hope, 6-foot-7 Martez Walker of Aston, PA American Christian, 6-foot-8 Jeremy Newsome of Okolona, MS, 6-foot-9 post Jacolby Pittman from Terry, MS, 6-foot-8 Latavious Williams of Starkville, MS, 6-foot-10 Steven Toyloy from Miami-Dade CC, FL, and 6-foot-9 Marquis Young of Mineral Area CC, MO.

On the wing, 6-foot-4 Jarvis Walker of John Logan CC, IL, 6-foot-5 Chris Babb of Arlington, TX Oakridge, 6-foot-5 Andre Gullens from Eastern Oklahoma CC, 6-foot-5 shooter Scottie Haralson from Jackson, MS Provine, 6-foot-4 Lavance Pennington of Mendenhall, MS Genesis One, and 6-foot-2 Jarvis Jones from Memphis, TN Mitchell Road are among the talent they are scouting.

Vanderbilt (Recruiting Log) has received two commitments this fall from two Top 100 front court talents in No. 64 rated 6-foot-8 Steve Tchiengang from Montverde, FL Academy and No. 86 rated 6-foot-8 Lance Goulbourne from Princeton, NJ Hun. This duo will give them a stellar set of bookend forwards to make an imposing front line with late 2007 signee 6-foot-10 Festus Ezeli.

They could sign one or two more by spring, with the need for a scoring guard a priority.

The Commodores really like a number of wings, but before we go there, they are still showing front line interest in 6-foot-11 Kyrs Faber from Los Angeles, CA Ribet Academy and 6-foot-8 Dwight Miller from Houston, TX Westbury Christian.

On the perimeter, 6-foot-4 scorer Devoe Joseph from Ajax, ON Pickering, 6-foot-5 shooter Scottie Haralson from Jackson, MS Provine, 6-foot-5 Joseph Lister from Gainesville, GA Riverside, 6-foot-4 Ryan Baker of Cypress, TX Cy-Fair, 6-foot-3 combo Trey Blue from Wolfeboro, NH Brewster Academy, and 6-foot-5 Jordan Smart of Lexington, KY Catholic are among the talent they are evaluating.

South Carolina (Recruiting Log) has received one commitment this fall from 6-foot-8, 250-pound wide-bodied rebounder Darius Morrow from Decatur, GA Columbia. He will add some immediate depth up front for the Gamecocks next winter.

They have a very young squad and could have at least one more tender to offer, and have shown interest in possibly adding another forward or wing talent.

The Gamecocks have looked at 6-foot-9 Zach Atkinson of Feather River CC, CA, 6-foot-10 combo Danarius Robinson from Danville, VA New Horizon, 6-foot-7 Murphy Holloway of Irmo, SC Dutch Fork, 6-foot-9 Alter Majok of Carlingford, Australia and 6-foot-4 Kendall Durant from New Hampton, NH School.

That completes our coverage of the nation's top six conferences across the USA.

Come Nov. 14 and the start of the Fall Signing Period, we will release our ranking of the nation's top recruiting classes, right here at Generation Next.