Wow. Often times in recruiting, when it rains it pours. Frankly, you need good players to sign good players, and what Jones and Kirby are doing is painting the picture and making recruits believe. When recruits believe, they sign and when they sign, others sign. It was frankly what was probably needed to keep a guy like Ricardo Gathers in state. Quarterman is a guy that anyone would want on their team--another versatile guy, this time a guard who can play anywhere from point to wing. Good quickness and a nice spot up J, his game also includes some penetration and setting folks up. He moves fluidly and seems to have a good awareness on the court. Sort of the perfect guy to add, when the 2013 class doesn't really need perimeter players, but bigs. http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/4031718-123/lsu-gets-commitment-from-ga Rivals' take: http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1416175 For best video on him, check out: I think what you can also get excited about is real versatile depth in the class of 2013. Everyone has a place in this class--it's a mixture of JUCOs and highschoolers: a 6'10" center (Odoh), who's athletic and a shotblocker/rebounder, two 6'8" forwards--one who's a nice athletic leaper/slasher (Deng) and one who's got a little more heft and post-up (Mickey), and a versatile guard who could play some point if we need to go big, or just help out on the perimeter (Quarterman). That would leave a spot for likely the guy that the staff covets in many ways... Jarrell Martin from Baton Rouge. Jarrell is likely your guy who should develop into a wing forward at 3/4, and who's frame likely will stay close to 220lb. Mickey could probably add another 10-15 pounds in college and play at about 230. Martin would be the hometown icing on the cake and round out a likely top 10 class for CJJ. He's reported as a LSU lean, but he's waiting until the Spring and hence, who knows. What's more interesting to me is how many spots will CJJ really have? Do you have JOB go pro after this year? Do you have someone like Hickey (god forbid) transfer? So, I think technically there are only 5 spots available in 2013, if everyone stays. We're at 4 now, so thats leave room for Martin. But, many predict that JOB will try to go pro after this year, and that leads to 6 spots. Does that leave a Bridgewater and Frazier out? As Green said, maybe they could go somewhere together. I'm likely betting that that's not LSU. Frazier will look at LSU a little differently now that Quarterman has committed (but see below?). It also frankly puts a damper on continuing the LSU legacy. Derrick Taylor's son is a top Euro prospect and does he now downplay LSU given Quarterman's signing? BUT, I'd still look at him (see below). Shane Hammink has two twin brothers, who now may have to find another college. All of this said, I'd love to see Martin as the next commitment, but you never know... as we've learned college bb recruiting is a full time job. While I think CJJ and Kirby will likely take a little bit of a breather with this solid nucleus of 4 players committed, I think the guy everyone wants is Martin. If Martin wasn't serious about LSU, I don't think it hurts to look still at a true Center (remember, if JOB leaves we'll essentially only have Odoh in the middle, and I've learned to not bank on JUCO guys just setting the world on fire) who's 6'10"+ and 230+ that can help man the SEC paint. If Martin falls through, I think that CJJ may want to find another scoring perimeter player. While it seems we have "depth" at PG in Hickey, Collins and Quarterman, and SGs Morgan and Stringer, you just never can have too many good guards in today's game. A 6'2-6'4" true point, would allow Quarterman to shift over to SG role, where like Garrett Temple, you have someone who can lock down on someone and play heady. In fact Quarterman does remind me sort of like a Garrett Temple with a better shot at this stage of the game. Or do you go with that really tough SG who can light it up, really penetrate and score and let Quarterman be sort of the point in that class. What I'll say though is that when you have a fish that won't bite early (like Martin), it is SO key to get those fall commitments as a baseline. That's what sort of killed Trent who tended to really recruit in the Spring as opposed to the fall. With Martin holding that last LSU spot sort of in limbo, it's sort of hard to go off and recruit a bunch of other players, regardless of the team. Good job again CJJ and CRK! Even without Martin, this class is a huge step in the right direction.
Rivals (TigerBait) is already up with their Jarrell Martin story. http://lsu.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1416256 Basically, Martin is acknowledging the efforts made by CJJones and staff. All positive, but certainly not a commitment. Nevertheless, got to appreciate buzz of the last few weeks for mens basketball, and some recruits are noticing.
Thanks for the information guys its appreciated. I still hope we can get Bridgewater also (football scholarship?) but its kinda a numbers game in both sports now. maybe a couple of the program players will leave for greener pastures & give us some room.
Dylan Johns 6'10 225 post http://espn.go.com/colleges/lsu/basketball/recruiting/player/news/_/id/168876/dylan-johns "6-10 C Dylan Johns of the Houston Trent school committed to LSU and will enroll in December, per his mentor, Jamie Ibanez. 8 hours ago" http://zagsblog.com/knicks/rasheed-wallace-expected-at-knicks-on-tuesday/ It's listed on the Twitter feed on the right side of the article....I have no idea who this guy is and the impact it will have on the roster or recruiting...My hope is that he is coming as a walk on and when he enrolls he will be eligible to play. "English import Dylan Johns, a rising senior, could possibly end up one of the best finds of the Breakout Challenge. A big and fluid post player with touch and skill, Johns is at least 6-foot-10, has great instincts and is already pretty productive for a kid who has only been playing basketball for about four years." http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1384606
Not sure but ESPN is saying its official http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/168876/dylan-johns More info http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/6ft_11ins_dylan_shoots_for_stars_1_169354 I've seen a few sights that him listed as 7 foot http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Dylan_Johns/Summary/39757
Well one has to believe we still have a spot for Martin so someone is not qualified or is leaving to give us the room we need. This kid is very skinny but given a redshirt year to get stronger & practicewith the team who knows. 7 ft tall, mmmmmm.
I read on DD about the newest recruit, so if he comes to school in Jan what recruiting class is he in? Would have to be 2012 wouldn't it?
I'm pretty sure he'd count for 2013 & maybe eligible to play this season but I wonder if he will read shirt http://zagsblog.com/articles/johns-to-lsu-shepherd-to-tcu-mason-to-kansas/#more-80869 Some input from CJJ From the Reebok Challenge this summer http://virginia.247sports.com/Article/Reebok-Challenge-Standouts-80701 A near 7-footer from England and now at Trent International in Texas, Johns shoots the ball extremely well from the midrange and finishes around the basket. He also has a little bounce to his game and can block shots. He will be tracked by college coaches over the coarse of the month.
Scout list Johns at 7'1 http://louisianastate.scout.com/a.z?s=107&p=8&c=1&nid=6442270 "Johns is a native of Braintree, England, and will be eligible to enroll at LSU for the second semester, making him available to play as early as Dec. 11 when the Tigers play Chattanooga at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center." http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2012/10/lsus_johnny_jones_is_eager_to.html
