With the euphoria of this weekend slightly dissipated, I thought I'd post some interesting hoops recruiting tidbits from around the country. None of them involve UT directly. Daniel Orton 6'10" C from Oklahoma City (Rivals #2 C prospect for 2009) has chosen Kentucky. This coming on the heels of Thomas Robinson's (PF prospect from Brewster Academy...Balbay's school) commitment to Kansas, leaving Orton the odd man out. Jeremy Tyler 6'9" C from San Diego (top C for class of 2010) has committed to Louisville, over USC and UCLA. Dominic Cheek (SG from New Jersey), Xavier Henry (SG from OKC), and Lance Stephenson (SG from Brooklyn) are all still being recruited by Kansas. Each of those guys are 5 star recruits for 2009. Each of these guys have mentioned UT at one point or another, though we were clearly never in the lead (or even close to it) with any of them. And, it is also obvious that none of them will be coming to Austin, now. If Kansas gets a couple of the guys they're still recruiting, it'll certainly have an indirect impact on us, however.
Thanks for the post. Stephenson has cancelled his trip to Kansas. There are rumors that both he and Renardo Sidney will seriously consider playing in Europe for a year a la Brandon Jennings. Kansas is also still in on Michael Snaer and Elijah Johnson. I feel confident they'll end up with Johnson. Thomas Robinson is going to remind folks of James Thomas. He was listing Texas without Texas even doing much to recruit him, but even with the interest --- and Texas liked him a bunch --- there wasn't room to pursue him.
I think Boynton is Florida's to lose at this point, but Texas has a shot. The recruiting visit will actually be from October 30 to November 1. skymonkeyhorn, I don't know what your Austin roots are, but being in town for a Friday night Halloween is all kinds of madness. Plus, Jordan Hamilton and Avery Bradley have been in Boynton's ear. He could very well end up at Duke, but IMO Texas is actually the school with the best chance of pulling him from the Gators. As far as someone else, they're also bringing in Jamil Wilson, and they have plans on bringing in Elijah Johnson. Regarding scholarships, something is going to have to give. J'Covan Brown's spot is open for the moment, which would give 4 spots, but I fully expect J'Covan to qualify for the spring semester. I don't know how any of that would work. Like Barnes always says, "These things have a way of working themselves out." Far be it from me to divine what will eventually happen in that regard.
If J'Covan Brown enrolls at Texas for the spring semester, he would not play this season. I have no idea what is going to actually happen with J'Covan, however, it's my strong opinion he'll be fully qualifed.
Well, it's being reported that Elijah Johnson (#5 PG according to Rivals) has committed to Kansas. Cheek did not commit on the visit. Not sure what Johnson's commitment means, as it relates to KU's recruitment of John Wall. My guess is that they back off on Wall and wait for either Cheek or Henry? Michael Snaer also visited KU, so, at most I imagine them taking two of those 3. No way that 3 SGs would commit there.
