Congrats to Malik Morgan! He's moved up several spots on the recent released Rivals top 150 rankings... From the 90s to #76. I think he's getting some well deserved pub... Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals150 for the class of 2012
Recruiting tidbits Two more LSU 2012 basketball offers. One to JUCO PF/C Jason Carter out of Chipola JC in Florida. Some may remember that Carter played at Alabama for his first year, before Anthony Grant cleaned house and he left to go to JUCO. Interesting that he may be looking to go to the SEC via LSU. He's a big body, originally from Texas and holds an offer from Texas Tech, Mizzou and LSU. I like that LSU is looking at some JUCO bigs. Makes sense to add some big man depth. Jason Carter - Yahoo! Sports Another offer goes out to Javontae Hawkins. Another SG/SF wing to fill that spot sorely needed. But, not sure we have a top shot at Hawkins who likes WVU. Javontae Hawkins - Yahoo! Sports We also still seem to be in the Devonta Pollard lottery. All we need is a visit, and frankly, if this kid waits to see what Trent can do maybe an improved team gives us hope. Speaking of which, Tigerbait has a nice interview with Malik Morgan who made an official visit this weekend. Quotes from Morgan give LSU fans some hope that perhaps there may be more to this LSU team than meets the eye. http://lsu.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1264601
So, I wonder if Ricardo Gathers is paying attention to this St. Johns news? St. John's has 3 players ruled ineligible for fall semester - ESPN New York Doesn't sound like good news for a young, rebuilding team. It's one thing to recruit kids, it's another thing to actually get them to school and develop them.
I can honestly say this is the first year I have know idea what's going on with recruiting! Do we have any visits set up? Morgan was kind of a surprise and to be honest if anyone else on our list committed it would be a surprise cause it seems like no one is talking about us. I hope CTJ is going to pull a few rabbits out his hat, if not we are going to have to have a good enough year to get the juices flowing again! Come on Trent lets do this!
You're right, Green. It's been real tough to ferret out the "true story" as it stands with this LSU team. I'm trying to give Trent the benefit of the doubt, here, but it seems that recruiting certainly has been a mixed bag so far. I think if Trent had landed Gathers, frankly, we'd have met our baseline needs with 2012--a top 100 SG and SF/PF, both from the state of LA. But, no doubt the Trent staff took a hit with Felix and Gathers both not even going on official visits. On the one hand, it's not unusual that N.O. kids give LSU the shaft, on the other hand it's not a good sign that our current coach wasn't able to turn the tide. There's everything from "grumbling" on the inside that this staff seems to not be catching fire with local recruits to turning players off, but I'm not sure if that's just the naysayers talking that way due to some losing seasons. There's no doubt though, that Trent's coaching rep has taken a hit from the recent losing seasons. Many basketball rags are starting to trickle out. From what I'm seeing LSU is squarely on the bottom half of the SEC, but teetering in that 7-10 area. I think that obviously, Trent needs to surprise some folks this year and hopefully with their backs against the wall, this staff will find a way to get things done and get into the top half. I do think that this team has the ability to surprise, though, and for the first time in a long time, we'll have a balanced team. Now the key with the 2012 recruiting class, is another solid foundational class--I think frankly, LSU is at a current state where, if we sign a top 100 and a top 150 kid, and maybe one or two right around that level that are locals or have potential, we're probably doing our job. Add in the occassional top 50 like Johnny O'Bryant, and keep them in school and developing, and you've got a reasonable consistent foundation. On the recruiting front, I think there are lot of recruits taking a wait and see approach with LSU. Morgan was a big (and necessary) signing, but also in some ways an expected one given the LSU ties. I think this is a class where Trent and his staff will have to be creative with recruiting. There are going to be some "gems" that they will have to uncover... I see them focusing on swing forwards and bigs, and frankly, I don't mind them going after some 2* and 3* guys with athletic potential--I think they're combing the JUCO ranks and also local kids that have potential. These are kids that are going to have to add depth behind a team that will be together for a few years. We need to be realistic, kids today (especially good recruits) want to go places where they can play right away and get exposure, and/or they want to go to a winner who is going to the dance consistently. Trent is going to have to take some risks, perhaps, and show kids that he can truly coach these kids up and get them places. He did this in the past and he'll have to do more of it now. Lastly, I remember sitting here wondering about Johnny O'Bryant as well. Most folks had him going to elsewhere, and once he got down here and spent time with LSU and his Miss AAU buddies, and got to know Trent, he was sold. Could the same thing happen with a kid like Devonte Pollard? Here's a kid that would thrive in Trent's system, and does he know our Miss contingent of Stringer, Courtney and O'Bryant? The thing that Trent HAS done is reopen Mississippi to LSU, after Brady had sort of soured that area. Could that SF signee be a Clyde Santee or Wannah Bail from the Houston area? I think the key is this staff is going to have to be aggressive and go after the kids that they want. Time to make some noise.
Not to play the rumor monger, but apparently Jordy Hultberg has been talking up the potential of Ricardo Gathers turning and signing with LSU. Wishful thinking perhaps? But, to me, this still makes the most sense for both LSU and Gathers. You've got a good solid nucleus developing at LSU... Hamilton and O'Bryant probably for two more years--true post players will allow Gathers to really shine as a 3/4 versatile guy in Trent's system. Little depth on the front line after Warren, White graduate. Gathers, will get the best of both worlds, playing both at 4 and 3 (and likely a lot of playing time), with Eddie Ludwig and Jalen Courtney. He's got some known quantities at the guard positions with his friend, Malik Morgan, as well as All-SEC guy Ralston Turner and another LA underrated recruit in John Isaac. Frankly, I could see us signing, given our targets, a swing forward "small 3" like Pollard, and add a swing forward "big 3" in Gathers, and LSU would go to having probably a top 10 class--and that would be launch us into contention challenging the likes of Kentucky/Florida in Gathers' time here. For Gathers, he's got to be watching the implosion of St. John's recruiting classes, both for 2011 and 2012. Some of the assumptions he made for that school also MUST be affected by the conference realignment which is frankly in shake up mode. Is the Big East still going to be a power basketball conference when Syracuse and Pitt leave? Will the assumptions of him playing ball in packed houses like the Carrier Dome fall way to trips to Iowa State? Will the SEC be the dominant sports conference when they add Texas A*M and another East Coast player, in BOTH football (i.e., money ball) and basketball? Gathers could make a world of difference staying near home, and frankly, LSU and SEC may be best for him. :geaux:
Not LSU recruiting news per se, but a key domino falls today in the SEC hoops recruiting world. Archie Goodwin commits to Kentucky. Archie Goodwin is first to commit to Kentucky Wildcats in the 2012 class - ESPN A couple things to take from the article. First, Devonte Pollard is not mentioned by Goodwin as part of the UK class he's helping to put together. If that's the case, Pollard's list, which depending on your source may include Kentucky, Alabama, Georgetown, LSU and a host of others, has gotten a little bit shorter. Second, despite going out and signing up Mike Andersen, Arkansas loses one of its highest ranks prospects in a long time. Sure, it's Kentucky. But, clearly, Trent's not the only one who faces competition from other schools for homegrown talent and what does that say about the new head man in Arkansas?
Xavier Johnson Scout reports another new LSU hoops offer to CA, 6'6" swing forward, Xavier Johnson. Certainly seems like an intriguing prospect and again, in that SF position that we need. We need to get that visit line up scheduled.... Scout.com: Xavier Johnson Profile
Must be a smart guy..He sports in offer from Harvard Xavier Johnson - Yahoo! Sports I'm just glad to see something happening!
Below is a link to a top 10 highlight reel...#1 is Xavier Johnson putting Austin Rivers on a poster! I've watched a few of his highlights and not one thing really jumps out at you about this kid...He seems to be an all around type of guy and pretty fundamentally sound. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LNWHh5iImM]Austin Rivers Gets Dunked On By Xavier Johnson! City Of Palms Top Ten! - YouTube[/ame]
