Early Basketball Recruiting Watch

Absolutely right.

By the way, the Advocate today reports that some very important underclassmen high school recruits will be enjoying the PMAC atmosphere (hopefully meeting some of 1986 squad) watching the Kentucky game... As reported:

Special guests, past and future
The 1986 team will sign autographs in the PMAC concourse before the game and will be introduced at halftime. Every surviving member of the lowest-seeded team (11th) to ever advance to the Final Four is expected to attend except Jose Vargas, who is still playing professionally in Brazil.

In addition, a handful of the state’s top underclass recruits are expected to attend the game on unofficial visits.

The list of players included Marcus Simmons from Peabody-Alexandria; Leonard Washington from Washington-Marion; Greg Monroe from Helen Cox of Harvey; and Chris Gradingo from St. Louis-Lake Charles. Jai Lucas of Houston-Bellaire is also expected to be on hand. Lucas is the son of former NBA star and coach John Lucas.

Some of these names are new to me, namely Greg Monroe, and Chris Gradingo. I'm glad to see Jai Lucas here too. Another Houston kid looking at us. I thought I read he was leaning toward Ok St. (where his brother played), but perhaps due to their troubles of late, and LSU's resurgence, is something to watch recruiting in Texas. Let's hope the Tigers and the FANS make a good impression. :geauxtige :bball: :champs:

 

Ok, the recruits DID see a great game.

For those that care, Greg Monroe is a 6-9 sophomore center and Chris Gradnigo is a 6-6 junior guard.

Be a part of bringing the magic BACK to the PMAC!!

:geauxtige

 

I have watched Bo Spencer play AAU basketball. I watched him when he was at Southern Lab and I have seen him at Glen Oaks. I have seen a lot of "Tweety" as well. Tweety can play, but he is way overrated. Bo can play too, but he would be a guard that can give Temple and the other guards a breather. That is not what LSU is going to need. With D-Mitch gone we will need a guard like Ronald Steele from Alabama are Daniel Gibson from Texas. Tweety, Bo, and Josh can not give us that. The coaches need to find out ASAP what Tyrus is going to do (stay or leave) b/c if stays we obviously wont need another big man, but if he is talkin about leaving then that guy Perry Stevenson will be somebody to get from Kentucky. He played at Northside in the Lafayette area. He is long, he jumps well, he can block shots, and he is a player.

 

Thanks the personal, more informed view.

My sense in reading a lot of the local press is that Josh White was the guy we seemed to be missing out on amongst local '07 PGs (besides LaDarius Dunn from Monroe who committed to Baylor). Bo, does seem more like a "safety" guy from his stats, although it's early to tell. But, as you say, all of them may not be All-SEC type PGs.

I think to your other points, (A) Perry Stevenson has SIGNED with Kentucky already, and unless he has an interest in sitting out a year and doing the Terry Martin thing, I don't think we can get him, and (B) Tyrus is most likely going to stay. He's publicly said this, and quite frankly with the injury he has, there's bad timing for him to try to get the most out of his draft potential this year. So, we can (hopefully) assume that Tyrus is staying at least one more year.

To me the recruiting for '07 seems to break down like this. Assuming we have everyone back, we have two schollies to give (I may be wrong on this, but I think that's right). From what I read and who we're after, we seem to be focusing on signing another swing forward type (6'6" ish) and a PG. Right now, the most promising recruits seems to be Jai Lucas, a 5'10" PG out of Houston (who right now seems to be interested in ACC schools, but supposedly visited LSU this past weekend?), and Leonard Washington, the top rated kid out of LA for '07, a SF. There are clearly others on the board that seem also seem worthy of mention, Biko Paris (PG) and Marcus Simmons (G, SF), and others listed above. It's obviously early to tell, but the PG is probably the largest need and the hardest land it seems. Jai and Leonard are both top 40-60 guys, and if we land both of them, it's a pretty good class that fills needs.

I'm kind of surprised that we don't target a good big man in '07, since you kind of assume that Bbaby and Tyrus are looking much harder at the draft next year, which means you need to sign someone in '07 who's big. We're left with Rolle and Chris Johnson as our big men, after next year since Darnell graduates, and we lose potentially one or both BBaby and Tyrus.

With commitments happening sooner and sooner (many juniors are already committing), we almost need to be focused on this stuff this spring and summer. Have you ever seen this kid Jerome Meyinesse from McKinley play?

:geauxtige :bball: :champs:

 

Louisiana High School Top Teams Play

As we near the end of the college basketball season, we also near the end of the high school basketball season. And, we roll right into high school basketball recruiting. We also get to see many of LA's best high school teams play each other this week.

One of those great match ups will be Southern Lab vs. Christian Life.

More on Josh White leading his team past Mangham ...

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/2432806.html. I know one of our posters thinks Josh is perhaps not SEC caliber, but perhaps there can be more "scouts" to speak on this issue...

Glen Oaks, which features Troy Cage (signed with UNLV) and Bo Spencer, faces Ouachita, which features 6-2 Sr. guard Donnie Haywood. And, Peabody, with Jr. 6-5 Marcus Simmons, takes on Northside.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/2433616.html?c=y&hid=-1050166817

And, finally, for those that want to cry over spilled milk, LA's Baylor commitments, Sr. Tweety Carter and Jr. LaDarius Dunn matched up in Reserve Christian's game against Excelsior Christian. Kevin Branch led Reserve in scoring with 19.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/preps/2433676.html?c=y&hid=372178352


As for a good take on a lot of LA's best high school prospects, this site hit a lot of the names (albeit it's an old report) ... :geauxtige :bball: :champs:

http://www.ronbriscoebasketball.com/custom.asp?id=35822&page=3


We may be an impact PG away from the final four, kids. Take note of the Tigers.

 

This is good news. Hopefully, he will stick with us! Steele would be a senior with Gee and Hendrix both juniors. :thumb: I'm excited for the future of Bama basketball!!!

 

Yea I agree with you Alabama and LSU will be very good in two years


:tigerhead

 

Any additional news ever come about these two players/potential transfers??

 

Now that the Top 28 tourney is over, keep a watch on the all-state honors as they get announced. It's a good place to track the best of the local high school basketball recruits...

Josh White lands on the all-state first team. Ellijah Milsap (assuming this is Milsap's (of LATech fame) brother) won outstanding player of the year in this class. Are we not recruiting this kid?

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/2489566.

:geauxtige :bball: :champs: LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. BRING THE MAGIC BACK TO THE PMAC!!!