re: 2014 SEC Basketball Recruiting

For 2014, it was the first time in awhile we don't have the #1 class (came in at #2). But it's all good.

Trey Lyles
5*/#2 PF/#8 overall
6'9", 245

Karl Towns Jr.
5*/#3 C/#10 overall
7'1", 248

Devin Booker
4*/#8 SG/#23 overall
6'6", 194

Tyler Ulis
4*/#4 PG/#29 overall
5'8", 142

Ulis is obviously a smaller PG than we've seen Cal go after in the past but the kid has skills.

Kid I'm most looking forward to seeing is Karl Towns Jr. He's played for Calipari before on the Dominican National Team (same squad that had Al Horford, Francisco Garcia, etc). I got to see him play in an exhibition game with that team against some former UK guys and he more than held his own at 16 years old. If he would've went in the 2015 class he may have ended up the #1 prospect overall.

This is him vs Anthony Davis on Team USA

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Stansbury getting fired pretty much gift-wrapped Pollard to us. I'm sure State fans are still pissed off about missing out on that one...

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If you ask the old idiots then yes, most of us were just happy to have Stans gone. There was a cancer growing in the program. A lot of folks don't realize how bad it had gotten from a discipline stand point.

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Who are you guys expecting back for next year? Poythress, Macus Lee, who else?

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I figure Poythress, Lee (if he doesn't transfer), and Johnson. There was a lot of talk that the Twins would come back before they really turned it on in tournament play. They win tomorrow and I believe we can put that rumor to rest.

I'd love to see Towns and Johnson with a year on him down in that post.

For USC the class is small:

PG Marcus Stroman
4*, Rivals150 (83rd) per Rivals
89-grade 3*, #32 PG per 247Sports
77-grade 3*, #32 PG per ESPN

SG TeMarcus Blanton
3*, Rivals150 (123rd) per Rivals
86-grade 3*, #54 SG per 247Sports
72-grade, #72 SG per ESPN

SF Shamiek Sheppard
3* per Rivals
82-grade 3*, #69 SF per 247Sports
65-grade 2* per ESPN

We're still apparently on the recruiting trail for the remaining few non-signed prospects of the 2014 cycle, even though the above would fill our 13-scholarship limit, meaning if we got anyone someone on the team right now would be moving on. The targets are primarily longer prospects as we seriously need help with the interior depth of the team.

Of the ones we're in good shape with:

SF Josh Cunningham
PF Jabari McGhee
SF Djuan Piper
C Adonis Delarosa

We have a top ten class with three top fifty players.

Chris Chiozza, 5'10" PG

Diminutive but is quick and supposedly one of the best pure passers in the class.

Brandone Francis, 6'5" SG

Strong, tough guard with some point guard skills.

Devin Robinson, 6'8" SF

Long, skinny, explosive athlete who can really stroke it from deep.

We're also working on getting another post. Trey Mourning (Alonzo Mourning's son) seems to be one of the top targets. He's a late-bloomer who has a nice jump shot. Plays against awful competition in high school, though.

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Larry Austin - Haven't seen a ton of film on him but he's the highest rated of the recruits. About 6'1". True point guard. Very good handles and court vision. Good, not great athlete. Decent shot. Similar player to C.J. Watson coming out of high school. Good offer list (Iowa, Kansas State, Memphis, Missouri, Oklahoma State)

Jordan Cornish - Listed at 6'4" but looks to be about 6'6". Very well built. Probably 225 lbs right now. Similar size to Armani Moore. Not quite the athlete, but better perimeter skills. Decent shot, good handles for a wing. Kindof a combination between Moore and Richardson.

Phil Cofer - 6'8" and very, very athletic. Slight build. Quick, explosive leaper and shot blocker with a limited offensive game. Similar to Duke Crews. Probably weaker, but more athletic. Will play a lot next year IMO. Decent offer list (Cinci, Miami, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss)

C.J. Turman - 6'8" and very well built. Very limited offensive game, but plays physical and should be a good defensive player. Good, not great athlete. Not a quick leaper like Cofer. OK offer list (Ole Miss, Miami, Wake Forest, South Carolina). Can't think of a similar player. Maybe a poor man's Patrick Young.

M.J. Rhett - Potential senior transfer from Tennessee State. 6'8" 230 and very athletic. Averaged 11 and 9 for a terrible TSU team. Had a double double vs. Wichita State. Would come in and start immediately. Similar player to Murphy Holloway who played a few years ago at Ole Miss. Supposedly we have a good shot to land him.

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Didn't feel like typing this out, but I pretty much agree with all of this. From a poster on another site.

I think this class is probably Cuonzo's best, but it lacks star power. Really needed Looney.

All of them except Cofer (legacy) could go elsewhere if Cuonzo leaves though.

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Arkansas has a pretty dirty recruiting class including a 5*. They are going to be scary next year if they learn not to drop stupid games

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Beard and Durham will likely play right away at PG, with Madden sliding to 2-guard. Babb looks like a good 3 point shooter.

Overall i think next year we'll take another step forward and should be better than this year if we don't have any unexpected losses

Anyone going after transfers? LSU is looking at one of UNLV guards who'll be a graduate transfer.

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Not getting Devin Booker has to hurt (even just a little) for Missouri.

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Funny you say this because after watching the game this weekend, I thought to myself, if I were in Booker's shoes, I would have done the exact same thing. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that. That's the difficulty ANYONE has when recruiting against UK. Obviously would have loved to have gotten him, but realities are realities.

Rick Ray has to be one of the worst recruiters in the SEC hes working on his 3rd class and still YET to sign a 4 star kid. SMH