Look back/ahead to the Top 100 College Basketball recruits in the SEC

[jbcarol]

2014 SG Rashad Vaughn committed to UNLV

Vaughn was one of the top remaining recruits in the 2014 class

[jbcarol]

'14 3-star SG-SF Peyton Allen [Chatham, IL] gives a verbal to A&M.

[jbcarol]

Steve Jones ‏@SteveJones_CJ  2m
Vitale on the Harrisons: "They better come back b/c they need Kentucky more than Kentucky needs them."

[jbcarol]

Michael Bonner ‏@MikeBBonner ·2 hrs
Another episode, another MUST SEE MT @CourtneyRCronin #BeyondTheGame examines how Malik Newman prepares for a rival http://on.thec-l.com/1m5SGwW

'15 5-star SG at Jackson Callaway, #1 SG in class

[jbcarol]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels  Feb 17
RT @MattSebek: This little Rick Majerus snippet is pretty amazing. pic.twitter.com/VYICR8K0za

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports ‏@aldotcomSports  10h
Class 1A South Regional Championship: Lucky shot lifts Sunshine to win despite Wesley Person's 55 points http://ow.ly/tSEza


UAB, UGa, and Notre Dame have reportedly shown interest in the '14 SG.

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports ‏@aldotcomSports  1h
Levi Randolph is first Alabama player not named Releford to score 30 since 2008 http://ow.ly/tUurn


Four-star and #8 SG in the '11 class from Bob Jones and the Nashville Celtics.

[jbcarol]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels  9h
All signs are point to Kentucky with Charles Matthews. Remember UK assistant Orlando Antigua played for Matthews' HS coach -- Gary DeCesare.

Charles Matthews ‏@CMATT_4  Feb 24
Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan St, and Marquette was the final 5

Charles Matthews ‏@CMATT_4  21h
Making my announcement Wednesday at 8:30am St Rita High School

Team Matthews ‏@nichole0335  21h
Correction:
Charles will make his college decision  Wednesday morning at St Rita at 8:30 a.m

[jbcarol]

Ben Roberts ‏@NextCats ·50 mins
2015 shooting guard Charles Matthews has committed to Kentucky.

Ben Roberts ‏@NextCats ·50 mins
UK commitment Charles Matthews in the national rankings: Rivals (11th), ESPN (12th), 247Sports (13th), Scout (15th).

[jbcarol]

5-star SG from Jackson Callaway

[Bogghawg]

Epic lack of heart and character.  Couldn't happen to a smarmier coach.

[pigture perfect]

I think UK looks tired and not confident. Wonder why that is?

[KCRazorbackfan]

Epic lack of heart and character.  Couldn't happen to a smarmier coach.

Cal (KY) and Frank (MO) are both men of low character; twin sons of different mothers.

[Pigonometry]

Now that's funny stuff right there.

[jbcarol]

Coty Clarke is SEC Player of the Week.

Two years ago he was at Lawson St. CC.

[jbcarol]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels  8h
Florida has 11 recruits in town this weekend. Duke will host 9. Both schools taking advantage of early official visits.

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels  8h
Florida has offered. RT @brnorthington Does Trey Mourning have any offers?

3-star 6-9 PF from Coconut Grove with NBA bloodlines

Donovan has had good luck with sons of former pro athletes.

[jbcarol]

Jerry Tipton ‏@JerryTipton ·3 hrs
Kansas-bound Cliff Alexander named winner of Naismith HS Player of Year award.

[jbcarol]

The Wall Street Journal explored the increasing number of college football players entering the NFL Draft early.

The balla and shot calla drew on a basketball analogy

"You look at a team like LSU. You lose so many guys that you are reloading with freshmen," said former Arkansas and Mississippi Coach Houston Nutt, who now is a CBS Sports analyst. "It gets to be like John Calipari with Kentucky. You are talking about starting over every year. It's just so hard."

[jbcarol]

High School Recruiting Ratings for 2014 SEC Men's Basketball postseason award winners:

First Team All-SEC
Trevor Releford, Alabama –'10 #10 PG, 4-star 6-1, 190, Sr., Kansas City, Mo.
Casey Prather, Florida – '10 #11 SF, 4-star 6-6, 212, Sr., Jackson, Tenn.
Scottie Wilbekin, Florida – '10 2-star NR PG, 6-2, 176, Sr., Gainesville, Fla. (POY)
Julius Randle, Kentucky – '13 #1 PF, 5-star 6-9, 250, Fr., Dallas, Texas (FOY)
Johnny O'Bryant III, LSU – '11 #9 PF, 4-star 6-9, 256, Jr., Cleveland, Miss.
Jabari Brown, Missouri – '11 #5 SG, 5-star 6-5, 214 Jr., Oakland, Calif. (Oregon)
Jordan McRae, Tennessee – '10 #9 SG, 4-star 6-6, 185, Sr., Midway, Ga.
Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee – '11 #6 PF, 5-star 6-8, 260, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.

[jbcarol]

Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan doesn't agree with the NBA's plans to raise the league's minimum age limit to 20: "The kid doesn't want to be in college and wants to be in the NBA, but because of the rules, he has to stay in college. Now you're opening yourself up for potential NCAA violations."

[jbcarol]

High School Recruiting Ratings for 2014 SEC Men's Basketball postseason award winners:

First Team All-SEC
Trevor Releford, Alabama –'10 #10 PG, 4-star 6-1, 190, Sr., Kansas City, Mo.
Casey Prather, Florida – '10 #11 SF, 4-star 6-6, 212, Sr., Jackson, Tenn.
Scottie Wilbekin, Florida – '10 2-star NR PG, 6-2, 176, Sr., Gainesville, Fla. (POY)
Julius Randle, Kentucky – '13 #1 PF, 5-star 6-9, 250, Fr., Dallas, Texas (FOY)
Johnny O'Bryant III, LSU – '11 #9 PF, 4-star 6-9, 256, Jr., Cleveland, Miss.
Jabari Brown, Missouri – '11 #5 SG, 5-star 6-5, 214 Jr., Oakland, Calif. (Oregon)
Jordan McRae, Tennessee – '10 #9 SG, 4-star 6-6, 185, Sr., Midway, Ga.
Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee – '11 #6 PF, 5-star 6-8, 260, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.

The AP First Team All-SEC Team of five are all included above and the other three made the AP Second Team.  Rankings for the Coaches 2nd Team, All-Defensive Team and All-Freshmen Team and AP Honorable Mention (not already included) will be listed with their high school recruiting ranking.

[jbcarol]

GoGamecocks.com ‏@gogamecocks ·15 hrs
Martin to check in on Delarosa Tuesday http://bit.ly/1edwq1Y  #gg

With is season complete, USC coach Frank Martin is hitting the recruiting trail seeking to add one more piece to his class of three for 2014. Tuesday he will be in New York for a visit with 6-11 Adonis Delarosa, and Martin has a good chance at this point of landing the big man.

"He's going to visit there," Delarosa's coach Joe Arbitello said on Monday. "He focused on the state (tournament) right now but he's very interested. Frank Martin has got him interested. He's a really smart kid and he knows about every program (that's recruiting him). Frank has been known to coach big New York City guys. He knows the mentality and he knows the game."

Delarosa has come on this season to become one of the better players available for the spring signing period. His coach said he will also visit Miami, Pittsburgh and Rutgers. He does not have a favorite and won't determine one until after his visits.

[jbcarol]

Mike Dyer ‏@MikeDyer  3h
BREAKING: Franklin junior guard Luke Kennard named Associated Press Ohio Mr. Basketball tonight


5-star SG

[jbcarol]

David Jones ‏@DaveJonesUFbeat ·6 mins
Kasey Hill 10 points first double digit scoring game since 14 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock on Nov. 16, second of career. #Gators

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports ‏@aldotcomSports ·4h
Bruce Pearl plans to recruit nearby talent to rebuild Auburn: 'We're going to recruit the local players' http://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/index.ssf/2014/03/bruce_pearl_plans_to_recruit_n.html ...

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports ‏@aldotcomSports ·9h
Auburn extends first scholarship offer of Bruce Pearl era to power forward http://ow.ly/uQKuU

Auburn assistant Tony Jones offered power forward Jackson Davis of Lexington, Ky., a scholarship Thursday night, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Jones will visit the three-star prospect Sunday...

"I probably wouldn't have considered it before, but Bruce Pearl is definitely one of those coaches you have to at least consider," Davis told the newspaper. "I remember watching him (at Tennessee) — he knew what he was doing. He definitely knew what he was doing."

Davis is a 2014 prospect and could make an immediate for the Tigers on the floor next fall. He averaged 25 points, 14 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game as a senior at Lafayette...

[jbcarol]

NCAA March Madness ‏@marchmadness ·9h
... Player of the Day: http://oak.ctx.ly/r/tyxt  #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/10qdLTV0dA

[jbcarol]

Matt Jones ‏@KySportsRadio ·10 hrs
Fwiw I think Luke Kennard picks Duke tomorrow...

[jbcarol]

Mike Dyer ‏@MikeDyer  3h
BREAKING: Franklin junior guard Luke Kennard named Associated Press Ohio Mr. Basketball tonight


5-star SG

Mike Dyer ‏@MikeDyer  2h
Franklin junior guard Luke Kennard verbally committed to #Duke

[jbcarol]

Metuchen (N.J.) St. Joseph 5-star big man and UK signee Karl Towns, Jr. was named the 2013-14 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year Thursday.

Towns averaged 20.9 points, 13.4 rebounds and 6.2 blocks per game in leading the Falcons to a 30-2 record, a perfect 26-0 record against New Jersey teams and the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title.

A member of the Dominican Republic Senior National Team, two-time New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year and three-time First Team All-State honoree, Towns was also selected to participate in both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic.

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/main/karl-towns-jr-named-gatorade-national-player-of-the-year

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports ‏@aldotcomSports ·5h
Bruce Pearl talks recruiting: Auburn coach says Atlanta is SEC country, not ACC country http://ow.ly/v2gQp

[jbcarol]

Here's an update on some of those Top 75 recruits from '14 class rankings that have committed to and/or signed with SEC schools:

8.  PF 1   Trey Lyles   Arsenal Technical HS Indianapolis, IN 6-9/240     Kentucky
11. C   4   Karl Towns  St. Joseph HS Metuchen, NJ  6-11/245               Kentucky
24. PF 5 Devin Robinson  Christchurch, VA School 6-8/190                  Florida
29. PG 6 Tyler Ulis  Marian Catholic Chicago Heights, IL 5-8/150          Kentucky
31. SG 5 Devin Booker Moss Point, MS HS  6-5/180                           Kentucky
37. SG 7 Brandone  Francis Arlington Country Day Jacksonville 6-4/205 Florida
42. PG 10 Alex Robinson  Mansfield Timberview Arlington, TX 6-1/160  A&M
44. PG 11 Chris Chiozza  Memphis White Station  5-10/155                    Florida
53. PF 13 Jakeenan Gant  Effingham County, GA  6-8/200                  Missouri
59. C   7   Elbert Robinson  Lakeview Centennial Garland, TX 7-0/330     LSU
60. SG 11 Namon Wright  Pacific Hills Los Angeles  6-5/185                Missouri
75. PG 18 Justin Coleman  Birmingham Wenonah  5-10/155               Bama   

[jbcarol]

ESPN Stats & Info ‏@ESPNStatsInfo  6m
Scottie Wilbekin has not committed a turnover in his last 94 minutes on the court.


2-star out of Gainesville

[jbcarol]

2014 SEC Players on Recognized Post-Season All-American Teams

Scottie Wilbekin Third Team on each of: AP, National Association of Basketball Coaches, and The Sporting News

Julius Randle Third Team on both: AP and National Association of Basketball Coaches

Casey Prather was named to the ten man Wooden All-American Team.

[jbcarol]

If you don't think it's all about recruiting, a Ben Roberts' story on incoming UK signee Tyler Ulis is currently atop the leader board for most read stories on the Kentucky.com site.

And it's Final Four week.

http://johnclay.bloginky.com/2014/04/02/bbl-how-wisconsin-learned-from-its-struggles

More links to Final Four stories in the link above

[jbcarol]

Jonathan Lintner ‏@JonathanLintner ·11 hrs
Kentucky signees got dressed up before tonight's McDonald's All American Game for what looks like a red carpet walk:

http://instagram.com/p/mT71ahEWQd/

[jbcarol]

Here's some of those Top 50 recruits from the '09 class that either signed with or landed at SEC schools:

2  PG John Wall             Word of God       Kentucky
3   C  DeMarcus Cousins  Le Flore Magnet  Kentucky
7  PF  Renardo Sidney  Fairfax      Mississippi State (b/4 and after a long route)
15 SG Kenny Boynton     American Heritage  Florida
17 C  Daniel Orton      Bishop McGuinness  Kentucky
37 PG Eric Bledsoe        Peter Parker         Kentucky
41 SG John Jenkins        Station Camp       Vandy
46 SF Jon Hood             North Hopkins      Kentucky

http://college-basketball.si.com/2014/04/02/jon-hood-kentucky-wildcats-john-calipari-final-four

Five-and-done: Kentucky career of Jon Hood, Calipari's last remaining original recruit, finally ending

By Hood's count, he has 17 numbers in his phone for former Wildcats now in the pros, with whom he at least semi-regularly connects...

Hood starred at North Hopkins High School in Madisonville, Ky., earning the state's Mr. Basketball honors in 2009 after averaging 29.4 points and 12.9 rebounds as a senior. He was the No. 40 recruit in the nation, a four-star prospect in a breathtaking five-man freshman class that featured Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe and Daniel Orton. Hood played 74 minutes in that first year for a 35-3 team that bowed out in the Elite Eight. All four of his fellow recruits entered the draft, only to be replaced by a class that included Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb. Hood played 158 minutes that season, none of them in the Final Four, where Kentucky lost to Connecticut in the national semifinals. He then tore his ACL during summer workouts in 2011 and redshirted the following season, when the Wildcats won the national championship behind one-and-done stars Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Hood returned to the court last year and played just 146 minutes in 23 games while a new batch of stars like Nerlens Noel and Archie Goodwin took center stage for a single season.

He has added just 47 minutes to the ledger this year, crowded out of a backcourt that features freshmen stars Aaron and Andrew Harrison and James Young. Before Kentucky's senior night on March 4, Hood was asked how the knee injury affected his career. "Made me stay here longer," he cracked. It also made him reevaluate how he and the game would coexist from that point forward. "It made me look at things a different way, look at the relationships I had with people, helped me develop my sense for basketball, my love for basketball in a different way and a new light," Hood said.

It perhaps was not evident at the time of the tear, or even until this final season. But this was the genesis of the teammate known as Coach Hoodie...

[jbcarol]

Two-star Dec. grad from Gainesville:

Kevin Brockway ‏@gatorhoops ·15 hrs
Wilbekin has traveled unlikely road to Final Four: The legend of Florida senior guard Scottie Wilbekin keeps g... http://bit.ly/1lsor35

[jbcarol]

Here's some of those Top 50 recruits from the '09 class that either signed with or landed at SEC schools:

2  PG John Wall             Word of God       Kentucky
3   C  DeMarcus Cousins  Le Flore Magnet  Kentucky
7  PF  Renardo Sidney  Fairfax      Mississippi State (b/4 and after a long route)
15 SG Kenny Boynton     American Heritage  Florida
17 C  Daniel Orton      Bishop McGuinness  Kentucky
37 PG Eric Bledsoe        Peter Parker         Kentucky
41 SG John Jenkins        Station Camp       Vandy
46 SF Jon Hood             North Hopkins      Kentucky

http://college-basketball.si.com/2014/04/02/jon-hood-kentucky-wildcats-john-calipari-final-four

Five-and-done: Kentucky career of Jon Hood, Calipari's last remaining original recruit, finally ending

By Hood's count, he has 17 numbers in his phone for former Wildcats now in the pros, with whom he at least semi-regularly connects...

Hood starred at North Hopkins High School in Madisonville, Ky., earning the state's Mr. Basketball honors in 2009 after averaging 29.4 points and 12.9 rebounds as a senior. He was the No. 40 recruit in the nation, a four-star prospect in a breathtaking five-man freshman class that featured Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe and Daniel Orton. Hood played 74 minutes in that first year for a 35-3 team that bowed out in the Elite Eight. All four of his fellow recruits entered the draft, only to be replaced by a class that included Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb. Hood played 158 minutes that season, none of them in the Final Four, where Kentucky lost to Connecticut in the national semifinals. He then tore his ACL during summer workouts in 2011 and redshirted the following season, when the Wildcats won the national championship behind one-and-done stars Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Hood returned to the court last year and played just 146 minutes in 23 games while a new batch of stars like Nerlens Noel and Archie Goodwin took center stage for a single season.

He has added just 47 minutes to the ledger this year, crowded out of a backcourt that features freshmen stars Aaron and Andrew Harrison and James Young. Before Kentucky's senior night on March 4, Hood was asked how the knee injury affected his career. "Made me stay here longer," he cracked. It also made him reevaluate how he and the game would coexist from that point forward. "It made me look at things a different way, look at the relationships I had with people, helped me develop my sense for basketball, my love for basketball in a different way and a new light," Hood said.

It perhaps was not evident at the time of the tear, or even until this final season. But this was the genesis of the teammate known as Coach Hoodie...

Matt Jones ‏@KySportsRadio ·1 min
Calipari tells a story about Jon Hood making suggestions during a game, "he is basically coaching our team too." Says he will play overseas

[jbcarol]

Kev Punter ‏@_KP5  4h
I Will Be Spending My Next 2 Years of College Basketball As A Mizzou Tiger !!
#SEC
#Tigers
#Blessed


Dave Matter ‏@Dave_Matter  4h
Kevin Punter, guard for State Fair Community College, tweets that he's committed to Missouri. Helps replenish depth on perimeter.

[jbcarol]

AdamFinkelstein Adam Finkelstein
The final ESPN 100 of the 2014 class http://t.co/CHluFp3JhY
12 minutes ago     

1. Okafor -> Duke

6. Trey Lyles        PF Indianapolis, IN
Arsenal Technical High School 6'10'' 255 -> UK

9. Karl Towns, Jr.  C Metuchen, NJ
St. Joseph High School 6'11'' 235 -> UK

18. Devin Booker  SG Moss Point, MS
Moss Point High School 6'5'' 185 -> UK

25. Tyler Ulis       PG Matteson, IL
Marian Catholic High School 5'9'' 150  -> UK

35. Brandone Francis  SG Jacksonville, FL
Arlington Country Day School 6'5'' 205 -> UF

45. Chris Chiozza  PG Memphis, TN
White Station High School 5'11'' 160 -> UF

53. JaKeenan Grant  PF Springfield, GA
Effingham County High School 6'8'' 210 -> MU

60. Elbert Robertson  C Garland, TX
Lakeview Centennial High School 6'11'' 270  -> LSU

63. Alex Robinson  PG Arlington, TX
Timberview High School 6'1'' 170  -> A&M

76. Justin Coleman  PG Birmingham, AL
Wenonah High School 5'10'' 155  -> Bama

90. Anton Beard    PG North Little Rock, AR
Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High 6'1'' 180  -> Hogs

93. Riley Norris     SF Albertville, AL
Albertville High School 6'7'' 190  -> Bama

95. Riley LaChance  PG Brookfield, WI
Brookfield Central High School 6'2'' 175  -> VU

[jbcarol]

UK recruit Gill-Caesar won't reclassify to 2014

Huntington Prep star Montaque Gill-Caesar will remain in the class of 2015, Coach Rob Fulford told the Herald-Leader on Wednesday.

http://www.kentucky.com/kentucky-sports-mens-basketball

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell ‏@RecruitingAJC ·Apr 9
Coach on #UGA commit: "He doesn't have a tattoo or a pierced ear. He doesn't swear" http://wp.me/p3Xdrl-vb

3-star Yante Maten, a 6-foot-8 forward from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. committed to UGA

Maten was recently named Michigan's Gatorade Player of the Year.

[jbcarol]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels  Apr 12
Avery Johnson tweeted that he has committed to Texas A&M.

[jbcarol]

 "If I walk in a home and a kid disrespects a woman, his mother or grandmother, then I am out...I wont recruit them."

-- Calipari

[jbcarol]

Kingsley Okoroh ‏@Kingokoroh ·3m
I want to thank The University Of Tennessee and the fans for your support unfortunately I announce my de-commitment from Tennessee

Kingsley Okoroh ‏@Kingokoroh ·1 min
I announce my commitment to the University of California Berkeley. I'm very excited to be a BEAR !

3-star 7-footer from Westwind Academy Charter School in the Phoenix area.

[jbcarol]

Patrick Brown ‏@patrickbrownTFP ·9 mins
Hart says Tennessee has reached out to the four signees (Austin, Cofer, Cornish and Turman) and 'reassured' them.

Ben Frederickson ‏@Ben_Fred ·1m
Hart expects UT's signees to play for UT. Says how UT will handle potential transfers/requests for releases will not be discussed now.

[jbcarol]

Ben Roberts ‏@NextCats ·4 hrs
From yesterday: Lots of recruiting insight on Barry Rohrssen, who is expected to join John Calipari's coaching staff http://bit.ly/1eMPUYD

Ben Roberts ‏@NextCats ·19 hrs
.@EvanDaniels also told me yesterday that Rohrssen's addition puts UK in "great position" w/ 5-star PF Cheick Diallo

Not Jerry Tipton ‏@NotJerryTipton ·22 hrs
Barry Rohrssen, known as a top recruiter, to be named assistant at Kentucky. Because what Kentucky needs is more help recruiting.

[jbcarol]

VandyMBB ‏@VandyMBB  7h
Commodore fans, please welcome Jeff Roberson to the Vanderbilt basketball family! http://fw.to/gAkZHYD

Jeff Roberson inks NLI with Commodores
6'7 forward from Houston will be eligible for Vanderbilt in the fall of 2014.

[jbcarol]

Adam Zagoria ‏@AdamZagoria  20h
Tyler Ulis, Devin Booker Await Harrison Twins Decision, Will Fight for Starting Roles http://zagsblog.com/articles/tyler-ulis-devin-booker-await-harrison-twins-decision-will-fight-for-starting-roles/ ...