I can't read the full article but looks like ESPN is giving LSU some love or at least Doug Gottlieb College Basketball: A blue-chip recruit and solid returning core should help dig the LSU Tigers out of last place - ESPN
A little Rivals tidbit on LSU scouting Daryl Milburn in the 2012 class. With Milburn and Morgan both rated around the same area in the Rivals top 100, one being from BR and one from NO, it's interesting b/c Trent has offered Morgan, and Butch Pierre and OK St have offered Milburn, although the LSU staff maintains some contacts with Milburn. Morgan appears to be the better, more complete, player, so I don't disagree with the strategy. Just interesting that unfortunately, there's the out of place pipeline from Baton Rouge to Back(Still)water... :yelwink2: http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1230341
You have any additional info on this father/son package deal? Father-son package deal for elite 2012 recruit? - CBSSports.com
No, not really. Interesting that in Trent's interview just this week, he made a point to refute what was being reported by CBSSports.com. Of course, that may just mean its something he doesn't want to bring attention to. Let's be fair, Reese's dad has done pretty well as a coach, knows the Houston hoops area very well, so to say that this is being done solely for his son is probably pushing it. But, it certainly doesn't hurt in the recruiting game to help your chances landing one of the top TX guards. And, it's certainly not a coincidence that Billy G, and Texas A&M are all trying to rebuild and/or maintain through strengthening TX recruiting ties. I think that Trent probably does have the offer out, but as always, he's being very low key about it. If it happens great, if not, he's working on others who might be more interested in LSU. No doubt though, that LSU could use an impact player and another decent coach and recruiter on staff. What's interesting is the counterpoint in Randy Livingston. I'd probably prefer to see someone like him given a chance, taking the recruit out of the equation. But, the point of this move is if LSU can break the Houston recruiting circles, that will go a very long way in building recruiting classes in years to come. Let's be real, if you get top recruits in LA, supplement them with a few of the best kids in MS and TX, you're done year in and year out. So, if this story turns out to be true, that's as much of a reason to be going after the elder Reese. To the point in the next post, is he worth it? Reese is definitely a good recruit, a better, quicker, bigger point at 6'1" than Javan Felix, with a quick release and more of a scorer's mentality. That said, is he a make it or break it PG? Probably not. He reminds me perhaps of what J'Covan Brown is to Texas--a highly regarded 6'2" SG who lit it up in high school. Now, he's an undersized SG who gets streaky hot at times, but then disappears too. So, I think that Reese would certainly get a good shot at LSU to learn how to develop more of a floor game from Trent, but he'd gravitate more to that scorer who has to learn a more structured game. I still think the priority for Trent should be landing Gathers, Morgan, and supplementing that with a big. I think the staff is thinking if that big is a TX big, like Shaq Cleare, that might make more sense with Reese to go along side them. At this stage, I think that the LA kids are playing a little bit of the wait and see on LSU, waiting to see how the team looks this fall and how the program/community are responding to Trent.
This is a nice recent piece on Rico Gathers, if you haven't seen it. A good break down of him after the recent EBYL events. http://www.rumbleinthegarden.com/2011/5/31/2199110/st-johns-recruiting-tracker-ricardo-gathers-nike-eybl What you can say is clearly the guy is dominant on the glass and a rebounding machine right now. But, what you can also say is that he has a long way to go on his skill level and shooting. Is he more like Charles Barkley (i.e., a dominant low post threat as an undersized guy in college who learned to refine his game over time), or is he more like Dennis Rodman (who would live on athleticism, defense and rebounding but not much else)? The FT shooting % is concerning, for sure. Nevertheless, sometimes, I guy like this, a very physical guy that commands attention on the glass, can free up others and cause havoc for opposing teams. What I think you've got to see is whether he can defend larger, taller guys, and whether he can improve his FT% by at least 20%. With that, he is going to be a pretty good college player, and have a chance at the pros. If he eventually develops a 15-20 footer and some dribble to the basket moves, he's got an even better chance for the pros. The thing he's got to like about where LSU is going is, Trent's line up allows him to shift between 3 and 4, and he's got bigs to play along side (Hamilton, O'Bryant) so that he has the opportunity to diversify his game. He also has a team that is slowly evolving (with the likes of Stringer, Hickey) to clearly a team that plays in a higher pace and gets out and runs. Gathers' shooting percentage goes up as he can get into transition--he's a very effective fastbreak scorer right now, and is start to stop in transition with his dunking and power to the hoop. What you hear is that everyone from Arizona to St. Johns is turning up the heat recruiting him from afar. But, frankly, those schools are pretty far away and frankly, are simply in the "spotlight" now. St. Johns I would argue still has some uncertainty as to whether they can sustain last year's success.
When it comes to St Johns, I hope Gathers sees how many freshmen they brought in this past class. With us we have a little more balance when it comes to underclassmen and upperclassmen.
Another hoops recruiting event this weekend, in the NBA Top 100 camp. Only two players from LA invited, in Ricardo Gathers and Javan Felix. Roster for NBA Top 100 Camp | Whitey 365 on Cavalier Insider on Cavalier Insider Several kids from TX that LSU is hoping to get in on...
Wow! Gathers is talking about reclassifying and joining St. Johns this year! Says he'll most likely stay in the 2012 class and LSU and Arizona are still in the mix but he made it clear that St. johns is showing him the most love! Also said he'd like to commit by the end of this summer. Come on CTJ pump up the love juice! Gathers Considering St. John’s for 2011 | ZagsBlog.com
He better start pumping something up soon or he will be pumping up the tires on the bus and packing his bags. He seems to be sleep walking through this job.
