2010 Big Men

[BU freak]

Anyone have any names of big men recruits for 2010? I haven't seen any names at all mentioned on this board and just looked over Rivals Top 150 JUCO recruits and didnt see us connected to anyone...yet.

[Da Coach]

The coaches do have some big men they are recruiting, but like most D1 coaches, they keep most of their information very confidential.
I hear they are travelling a lot to look at big kids, but we don't really know names.

[littlebishforpres]

Its tough to get quality big men this late in the game--especially at the JUCO level. Certainly it can be done but they are very often "overrecruited" at this stage.

[PeoriaLou]

It's interesting the Bradley Scout page his info on 2011 recruits but nothing listed for 2010.

[Da Coach]

It's true that there are not many quality big men available at the juco level this late. Players like Matt Salley may still be available, but Bradley doesn't really need another undersized 5. At the high school level, the big men left available are likely to be guys who could develop in a couple years, but are not immediate impact types.
Bradley's biggest need is for a more typical big-bodied 5 man, and I suspect the coaches are working as hard as they can to find one.
I believe there are still some options out there, and the coaches will find someone.

[SFP]

Let's not argue over how long it takes to get a big ready because this argument can be spun 2 ways. Right now we do not have the 5 needed to be a consistent team but the good news from this post is that the staff recognizes that and are doing something about it. ;-)

BTW...Very few bigs from any conference make it to the NBA. For that fact very few players at all make it to the NBA. So all I hope is that we find a serviceable big that can play straight up D, rebound, enough respect in the paint where teams have to respect him and slam down bunnies.

[thefish7]

Given our options past TB and egolf this season I'd take some Matt salley right now. Might even take a bit of DC. To play 2 bigs ata time I fgure we need at least 5 serviceable ones. If you bank on AT and JP for 10-15 minutes each it almost gets you there... But I'd certainy like one more big even if Wilkins is coming.

[unbekannt]

It's nearly impossible to find a great 7 footer. Everyone is looking for them, and there are few even in the NBA. I would really just like a quality athletic big forward (like Andrews). Bradley really need rebounding and some interior defense. Another good 7' player would be great, but so many of those players miss at the college level that to focus to heavily on big men could be a mistake. A great guard should end up being far better than a good center in the MVC.

[SFP]

It's nearly impossible to find a great 7 footer. Everyone is looking for them, and there are few even in the NBA. I would really just like a quality athletic big forward (like Andrews). Bradley really need rebounding and some interior defense. Another good 7' player would be great, but so many of those players miss at the college level that to focus to heavily on big men could be a mistake. A great guard should end up being far better than a good center in the MVC.

For next year we have pretty good depth at guard. In order to be a top dog we need a big that loves to eat paint for breakfast, lunch and dinner. ie look at St. Mary's and UNI!

[real fan]

I would think that there is someone that would love to be told that you will be our starting center and with you our team is going to be a very good one and should compete for a MVC title and make the NCAA Tour.

[real fan]

No excuses, we need to sign a big.

[tornado]

so does everyone else....

--just this morning Indiana's Tom Crean is tweeting on and on about how desperately he needs a big man and not just another athletic wing player (surely he's referring to JW)

--last night's Chicago HS All Star game showed some decent uncommitted wings & guards but just no big men

--then a premium report this morning has an interesting discussion on John Calipari's BIG problem at Kentucky.
He will be losing DeMarcus Cousins, backup center Daniel Orton, as well as big man Patrick Patterson -- plus all his starting guards.
Just the terrible downside to being forced to play with lottery caliber talent - they are all one-and-done.
But the big quesiton is what's Cal going to do for a big man?
There are none out there.
So - will Calipari go after someone who's already verballed but not signed?
some think so - that he'll steal some nice big kid from some other school!

He does have incoming 5-Star Enes Kanter, but there are real question marks...as Kanter has never played any high school ball in the US and has played some pro ball in Europe and may have trouble getting past the Clearinghouse (but then Cal seems to have some pull at NCAA).
Also, quite a few of these Euro/foreign big men are overrated.

The highest rated uncommitted big man is well outside the Top 150. Surely Cal won't go after leftovers.

[Da Coach]

...The highest rated uncommitted big man is well outside the Top 150. Surely Cal won't go after leftovers.

There may not be any true post players available in the 2010 class, but among 2010 power forwards, #3-Terrance Jones and #4 C.J. Leslie on Rivals list are still uncommitted, and reports have Calipari doing anything he can to get those 2. With what he can offer (most fans know what that means), I expect one or both to commit to Kentucky.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/basketballrecruiting/basketball/recruiting/rankings/rank-2186;_ylt=AkSCB2yGNnm1RBO50OJcQ1_VO5B4

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&c=4&cfg=bb&pid=44&yr=2010

Also, one of the top 2010 centers- Carson Derosiers, is committed to Wake Forest, who just fired their coach. Watch for him to ask out and suddenly be available.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/basketballrecruiting/basketball/recruiting/player-Carson-Desrosiers-84381;_ylt=AgSVefDV5Hvk.MkisD1FvgXVO5B4

[hoops guru]

I don't think anyone needs to feel sorry for Coach Cal. He will reload.
Look for Daniel Orton to pull out of the NBA draft and return to Kentucky. He doesn't want to take a pay cut. Patterson might also be persuaded if Cal doesn't sign other big men, but I think he'll stay in the draft.
Eric Bledsoe will probably return to school, too. He, like Orton, probably isn't a lottery pick like Wall and Cousins.
And CJ Leslie was just waiting to see if the Kentucky big men left early. I think it was his plan, and maybe Terrance Jones too, to go to Kentucky, as long as there was immediate playing time.

[tornado]

Orton is projected as late 1st round..

[tornado]

...
He does have incoming 5-Star Enes Kanter, but there are real question marks...as Kanter has never played any high school ball in the US and has played some pro ball in Europe and may have trouble getting past the Clearinghouse (but then Cal seems to have some pull at NCAA).
Also, quite a few of these Euro/foreign big men are overrated....

Enes Kanter played in the Nike World Hoops Summitt against the very best US players (like Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight) and scored 34 points/13 rebounds...(24 minutes)
Officially this kid is a hot topic, and the "Enes Envy" has begun since he wants to go to Kentucky and play for John Calipari.

But now there's a rumor that he's been paid by a Turkish basketball team -- that paid him $600,000 over four years and supposedly there are bank receipts..

He'll probably get a nice raise if he goes to Kentucky!
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:9PqZxmECpuIJ:twitter.com/DraftExpress+%22enes+kanter%22+and+%22600k%22&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
http://kentucky.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?highlight=600k&sid=888&fid=1383&tid=141988963&mid=141990342

[tornado]

This is relevant to the John Wilkins discussion...

Indiana needs a big man/post player more than they need another outside player or wing, so one story has it that's why they are delaying on actually offering JW...

well, that may just have changed a little......as two different reports (one from midstatehoops and one on the premium IU site) have said that juco Dwight McCombs (from Moraine Valley) is nearing a decision and that he is possibly leaning towards Indiana...although reportedly he is fielding some late calls from other Big Ten programs (I suspect Iowa has to be one of them)..
If McCombs takes the Indiana offer, then I'd have to think JW is out in the cold...unless Crean cuts someone else loose...
One other note...JW was rumored to not be expecting to make his decision for a couple weeks...right along with this time frame..

a couple comments from the IU boards:
-- "McCombs seems to me like he'd be a decent addition to IU. Particularly since I see no BETTER OPTIONS on our horizon"
-- "FAr more sense than Abraham or Wilkins. Hope we get this guy and pass on wilkens." (sic)

[Da Coach]

More about Indiana coach Tom Crean's desperate search for a big man.
He seems ready to pursue any big man who is not committed or who is looking to de-commit-
http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/2010/04/iu-hoops-chatter.html

http://blogs.indystar.com/hoosiersinsider/archives/2010/04/a_couple_of_new.html

http://www.insidethehall.com/2010/04/12/indiana-pursuing-former-iowa-recruit-cody-larson/

One other big man who Indiana recruited at one time- Aziz N'Daye of College of Southern Idaho (http://washingtonstate.scout.com/a.z?s=137&p=9&c=2&cid=962070&nid=4738057&fhn=1)reportedly committed to Washington. He prepped at Lake Forest Academy and was ranked by some sites as the top prospect in Illinois his senior year. But he didn't qualify. At CSI he played as a freshman, but missed his entire sophomore season due to a knee injury. There are reports that he might not get cleared by the NCAA due to eligibility issues.
http://www.magicvalley.com/sports/article_de1a9a94-475a-11df-b074-001cc4c03286.html

[tornado]

More about Indiana coach Tom Crean's desperate search for a big man...

there's more news coming....
a discussion on Indiana's premium board says that Verdell Jones' personal social page says that Indiana PF/C Tom Pritchard is a goner...
so obviously, if true, Crean is creaning house and opening up scholarships just as predicted..


BTW -- an extra tidbit...
THREE Butler players sign pro contracts!!!
http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/news/index.html?article_id=234
http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5083392

[tornado]

...Aziz N'Daye..


The Washington press says N'Diaye is a lock to sign today with Washington..


USC just landed a 7-footer.........so there must be a few left out there!
http://www.insidesocal.com/usc/archives/2010/04/dedmon-to-sign.html


Enes Kanter played in the Nike World Hoops Summitt ..
Enes Kanter just tweeted this....not good news for Kentucky fans....
"Let me remind everyone that I have NOT been cleared to play yet next year.
However, I'm sure I will be able too."
http://twitter.com/eneskanter/status/12166998548

[Da Coach]

Here is a really Big Man recruit who is still available for 2010-:D
http://alabama.scout.com/a.z?s=14&p=2&c=963586&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2falabama.scout.com%2f2%2f 963586.html

It's an obvious typo, but I thought it was a bit funny.
Here is his profile with the correct weight. He is still a big kid, and maybe we should go after him!-
http://alabama.scout.com/a.z?s=14&p=8&c=1&nid=4893093

[Da Coach]

Here is another big man who was waiting for an offer. He hasn't committed yet, but now he has several offers.
Chris Britt, 6'9", 250 pounds from Wabash Valley College.-
http://midstatehoops.com/v5/?p=5025

[jeffsu]

Dodie's dad is his AAU coach? Nice!

[tornado]

yet another big man signs
http://jodydemling.courier-journal.com/2010/04/louisville-lands-big-man.html

[tornado]

Too many scholarship players at Florida- might just put Will Yeguette or Cody Larson back on the market...
or Billy will just send a couple kids packing........
http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/gatorbytes/2010/05/10/florida-basketball-billy-donovan-has-too-many-scholarship-players-on-board/

[tornado]

Here is another big man who was waiting for an offer. He hasn't committed yet, but now he has several offers.
Chris Britt, 6'9", 250 pounds from Wabash Valley College.-
http://midstatehoops.com/v5/?p=5025
Chris Britt verbals to Grambling

[Da Coach]

Here is another case of schools desperate for a big man-
Maryland has announced the signing of another junior college big man, 6-10
Berend Weijs, who averaged just 6 ppg and 5 rpg at Harcum College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He did average 4.4 blocks per game, but Harcum plays a weak schedule with a lot of non-Division I juco opponents.
Berend Weijs
http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=4969875

[SFP]

Here is another case of schools desperate for a big man-
Maryland has announced the signing of another junior college big man, 6-10
Berend Weijs, who averaged just 6 ppg and 5 rpg at Harcum College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He did average 4.4 blocks per game, but Harcum plays a weak schedule with a lot of non-Division I juco opponents.
Berend Weijs
http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=4969875

The difference is this guy will be used for purely backup, practice and mop up duties. They have a pretty good young bigs one who will be a sophomore and possibly make 1st or 2nd all ACC team.

[tornado]

The difference is this guy will be used for purely backup, practice and mop up duties...
their version of Stan Simpson, only has just has two years coming from juco so he's expecting immediate playing time...

btw-- here's the opinion of one of the nation's top recruiting experts, Justin Young...
http://twitter.com/JustinDYoung/status/14314015737

[tornado]

... juco (big man) Dwight McCombs (from Moraine Valley) ...

this guy Dwight McCombs who was the subject of a big recruiting battle last summer by several teams desperate for a big man (Indiana, Arizona State...)
played his first game at Central Florida last night..

Just maybe he was a bit overrated...but time will tell....he's a junior/juco transfer at UCF (Central Florida)

UCF played against a school hardly anyone's ever heard of, Flagler..
..and they barely held on to win 78-70........
Dwight McCombs played off the bench and got one basket and a turnover...
while MJ's son, Marcus Jordan had 19 and transfers Josh Crittle & Jeffrey Jordan did not play..

One of UCF's assistants is Brendan Suhr -- long time NBA guy (assistant & exec.) who is a business partner with Jake Eastman's dad, Kevin Eastman.

One of their top assistants is Darren Tillis who is friend and was teammate in 1981-1982 on the Cleveland State Vikings --
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/CLEV/1982.html