After barely catching our breath from one of the best NCAA Tournaments of all time, college basketball is on the move once again. The Spring Signing Period begins on April 14 and the top remaining unsigned high school recruits have narrowed their college choices down to a few.
Brandon Knight (PG, No. 1 Rivals, No. 4 ESPNU) is the best unsigned player in the class of 2010. He is announcing his decision and signing his Letter of Intent live on ESPNU’s “Signing Day Special” on April 14. All sources have Knight committing to Kentucky.
The reality of the situation is that coach John Calipari has a proven track record for producing NBA lottery point guards. Derrick Rose was the No. 1 pick in 2008, Tyreke Evans went No. 4 in 2009, and John Wall is the likely No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft.
As an elite point guard, what reason does Knight have to not choose Kentucky, especially since both Wall and fellow point guard Eric Bledsoe have declared for the draft?
Josh Selby (PG, No. 4 Rivals, No. 5 ESPNU) is most athletic point guard in the class. He showcased his skills by winning the Powerade Jam Fest slam-dunk contest at the McDonald’s All-American game. All sources have Selby committing to Kansas.
With the graduation of Sherron Collins, the Jayhawks have a point guard void to fill. Coach Bill Self has been pursuing Selby hard ever since he de-committed from Tennessee. Self has even lured the star onto campus twice. Selby plans to announce his decision on April 17 at the Jordan Brand Classic in New York.
Cory Joseph (PG, No. 7 Rivals, No. 16 ESPNU) is also a talented point guard in a loaded class. The Canadian played for Findlay Prep in Nevada, leading them to the National High School Invitational championship—the prep version of the NCAA Tournament.
Joseph also won the 3-point shooting contest at the McDonald’s All-American game. His smooth stroke will make one of five schools extremely happy—UNLV, Villanova, Texas, Connecticut, or Minnesota.
Although Joseph’s recruitment has been tight-lipped, there is talk that Villanova and Connecticut are leading the race for his services while UNLV is a dark horse. Villanova coach Jay Wright has strong interest in the guard because Joseph fits perfectly into the Wildcats’ guard-oriented system.
In addition, the loss of Scottie Reynolds creates the perfect opportunity for Joseph to step in and make an immediate impact.
Terrence Jones (PF, No. 13 Rivals, No. 9 ESPNU) is the most versatile and skilled forward in his class. He is 6 feet 9 inches tall but has the ball-handling and passing skills of a guard along with the ability to sink shots from outside the arc.
Jones has been quiet about where he is leaning but the whispers all season long have him either staying at home in Washington or leaving for Kentucky. Oregon is a sleeper pick due to the Nike connection but the lack of a coach does not inspire confidence or stability. Jones will announce on April 23 or April 30.
C.J. Leslie (PF, No. 14 Rivals, No. 11 ESPNU) is John Wall’s high school teammate, which makes Kentucky a front-runner for his services. However, North Carolina State, the school he de-committed from, is also heavily in the mix.
Leslie’s connection to N.C. State comes in the form of his high school coach Erasto Hatchett. Hatchett’s brother, Ryan Harrow, is an N.C. State commit and one of Leslie’s best friends. Leslie has also taken several unofficial visits to the campus and has often been spotted sitting behind the bench during Wolfpack games.
The recent de-commitment of power forward Luke Cothron from N.C. State fuels speculation that Leslie could re-commit to the Wolfpack. Furthermore, Leslie and Jones play the same position, making it unlikely that both will commit to the same school.
Jones could be waiting to see where Leslie goes as Leslie is tentatively scheduled to commit at the Jordan Brand Classic.
Doron Lamb (SG, No. 21 Rivals, No. 29 ESPNU) is the best shooting guard left in this year’s class. His recruitment was up in the air until recently when Lamb’s high school coach, Steve Smith, shed some insight into where Lamb was leaning.
“I think he kind of favors Kentucky and Kansas right now,” Smith told www.CatsPause.com. “It kind of depends on what day he wakes up and what side of the bed he gets out of. Both look appealing to him, top-five programs in the country.” West Virginia is also in consideration.
Lamb was scheduled to announce his decision at the Jordan Brand Classic but a late push by St. John’s in New York, where Lamb is from, could delay that decision.
Terrence Ross (SG, No. 43 Rivals, No. 30 ESPNU) was high school teammates with Jones at Jefferson High School. He then transferred to Montrose Christian and then transferred back to Jefferson. As sophomores, the duo wanted to be a package deal for a college, a fact that sparked many rumors in both players’ current recruitment.
Ross originally committed to Maryland but backed out after realizing that his talent level and skill set could garner him a scholarship at bigger and better schools. He has a final list that consists of Washington, Oregon, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
It is not a coincidence that Ross and Jones have similar finalists. Don’t be surprised if the friends decide to pick the same college. Ross told the Seattle Times that he plans to visit Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Washington before making a decision.
April 17 is clearly a big day as three top-30 prospects plan to announce their college choices. Although the majority of high school seniors have already committed to a school, the significance of the Spring Signing Period cannot be overstated.
Last year, Calipari amassed one of the best recruiting classes of all time in little over a month after he took the Kentucky job. College basketball fans can only hold their breath and wait once more to see where the dominoes will fall.
Brandon Knight (PG, No. 1 Rivals, No. 4 ESPNU) is the best unsigned player in the class of 2010. He is announcing his decision and signing his Letter of Intent live on ESPNU’s “Signing Day Special” on April 14. All sources have Knight committing to Kentucky.
The reality of the situation is that coach John Calipari has a proven track record for producing NBA lottery point guards. Derrick Rose was the No. 1 pick in 2008, Tyreke Evans went No. 4 in 2009, and John Wall is the likely No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft.
As an elite point guard, what reason does Knight have to not choose Kentucky, especially since both Wall and fellow point guard Eric Bledsoe have declared for the draft?
Josh Selby (PG, No. 4 Rivals, No. 5 ESPNU) is most athletic point guard in the class. He showcased his skills by winning the Powerade Jam Fest slam-dunk contest at the McDonald’s All-American game. All sources have Selby committing to Kansas.
With the graduation of Sherron Collins, the Jayhawks have a point guard void to fill. Coach Bill Self has been pursuing Selby hard ever since he de-committed from Tennessee. Self has even lured the star onto campus twice. Selby plans to announce his decision on April 17 at the Jordan Brand Classic in New York.
Cory Joseph (PG, No. 7 Rivals, No. 16 ESPNU) is also a talented point guard in a loaded class. The Canadian played for Findlay Prep in Nevada, leading them to the National High School Invitational championship—the prep version of the NCAA Tournament.
Joseph also won the 3-point shooting contest at the McDonald’s All-American game. His smooth stroke will make one of five schools extremely happy—UNLV, Villanova, Texas, Connecticut, or Minnesota.
Although Joseph’s recruitment has been tight-lipped, there is talk that Villanova and Connecticut are leading the race for his services while UNLV is a dark horse. Villanova coach Jay Wright has strong interest in the guard because Joseph fits perfectly into the Wildcats’ guard-oriented system.
In addition, the loss of Scottie Reynolds creates the perfect opportunity for Joseph to step in and make an immediate impact.
Terrence Jones (PF, No. 13 Rivals, No. 9 ESPNU) is the most versatile and skilled forward in his class. He is 6 feet 9 inches tall but has the ball-handling and passing skills of a guard along with the ability to sink shots from outside the arc.
Jones has been quiet about where he is leaning but the whispers all season long have him either staying at home in Washington or leaving for Kentucky. Oregon is a sleeper pick due to the Nike connection but the lack of a coach does not inspire confidence or stability. Jones will announce on April 23 or April 30.
C.J. Leslie (PF, No. 14 Rivals, No. 11 ESPNU) is John Wall’s high school teammate, which makes Kentucky a front-runner for his services. However, North Carolina State, the school he de-committed from, is also heavily in the mix.
Leslie’s connection to N.C. State comes in the form of his high school coach Erasto Hatchett. Hatchett’s brother, Ryan Harrow, is an N.C. State commit and one of Leslie’s best friends. Leslie has also taken several unofficial visits to the campus and has often been spotted sitting behind the bench during Wolfpack games.
The recent de-commitment of power forward Luke Cothron from N.C. State fuels speculation that Leslie could re-commit to the Wolfpack. Furthermore, Leslie and Jones play the same position, making it unlikely that both will commit to the same school.
Jones could be waiting to see where Leslie goes as Leslie is tentatively scheduled to commit at the Jordan Brand Classic.
Doron Lamb (SG, No. 21 Rivals, No. 29 ESPNU) is the best shooting guard left in this year’s class. His recruitment was up in the air until recently when Lamb’s high school coach, Steve Smith, shed some insight into where Lamb was leaning.
“I think he kind of favors Kentucky and Kansas right now,” Smith told www.CatsPause.com. “It kind of depends on what day he wakes up and what side of the bed he gets out of. Both look appealing to him, top-five programs in the country.” West Virginia is also in consideration.
Lamb was scheduled to announce his decision at the Jordan Brand Classic but a late push by St. John’s in New York, where Lamb is from, could delay that decision.
Terrence Ross (SG, No. 43 Rivals, No. 30 ESPNU) was high school teammates with Jones at Jefferson High School. He then transferred to Montrose Christian and then transferred back to Jefferson. As sophomores, the duo wanted to be a package deal for a college, a fact that sparked many rumors in both players’ current recruitment.
Ross originally committed to Maryland but backed out after realizing that his talent level and skill set could garner him a scholarship at bigger and better schools. He has a final list that consists of Washington, Oregon, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
It is not a coincidence that Ross and Jones have similar finalists. Don’t be surprised if the friends decide to pick the same college. Ross told the Seattle Times that he plans to visit Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Washington before making a decision.
April 17 is clearly a big day as three top-30 prospects plan to announce their college choices. Although the majority of high school seniors have already committed to a school, the significance of the Spring Signing Period cannot be overstated.
Last year, Calipari amassed one of the best recruiting classes of all time in little over a month after he took the Kentucky job. College basketball fans can only hold their breath and wait once more to see where the dominoes will fall.
