re: Basketball Recruiting Thread

Don't think Florida is pursuing hard anymore. They got a commit from 4* SG Brandone Francis and just in talking to some of the Florida fans, they don't think they're putting a push on anymore for Booker. Maybe a final 4?

I think he did name Haith among 4 or 5 other coaches that he gets along with best though.

Thanks. Nice article and sounds like a nice kid, much less a helluva basketball player. Kind of wish we had been a bit earlier to offer given he was in Mizzou's backyard. Regardless, hope he stays true.

Here is a small except from Steve Walentik's blog.

quote:

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I caught up with [Haith] then, and he sounded optimistic about the work he and his staff have done this summer on the recruiting trail as they try to finish off the 2014 class — they’re believed to be pursuing top targets such as Mississippi shooting guard Devin Booker, Illinois small forward Josh Cunningham and Georgia forward Jakeenan Gant — while getting a jump on building a class for 2015 that could include Missouri prospects such as Hickman’s Jimmy Whitt, Lee’s Summit’s Drew Lock and Blue Springs South’s Kevin Puryear.

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Here is a piece by the KC Star's Terez Paylor on the recruitment of Jayson Tatum.

Mizzou makes strong play for Jayson Tatum

quote:

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“They’re in the mix,” Justin said, when asked specifically about Mizzou. “His grandmother is a big Mizzou fan, and he loves her to death. His auntie is a big KU fan, so you can just imagine what we go through in the household. But I think Mizzou is going to be right at the top of the chart."

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quote:

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But don’t count out schools in surrounding states, either. Indiana isn’t that far away from St. Louis, and neither is Kentucky, Marquette, Memphis or Ohio State, which Justin said was Jayson’s favorite college team growing up

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Who knows where he ends up, but got to say, that's a very encouraging article. They really emphasized the importance it meant to get that first offer from Mizzou so early. The importance of being close can only help as well. Then there's this quote, which if he truly feels this way, there is something within his power to change it.

quote:

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“… they don’t get as many St. Louis guys as I or people from St. Louis would like them to, but they have a great program.”

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Jordan Barnett, who is coached by Jayson Tatum's dad, committed to Texas.

I noticed that Jordan Clarkson and Jabari Brown are on this 2015 Draft prediction.

LINK

However, no Mizzou Tiger on the 2014 draft.

That's awesome news!!! Would be unbelievable.

I'm pretty sure UK has been in on 2 other SG's for a longer time. I could be way wrong, but I almost felt like Booker's offer was a back up plan for UK if the others fell through. Imagine how good your recruiting classes would have to be for him to be a back up plan? Ok, think I just talked myself out of that thought. I think at the end of the day, it's between Mizzou and the Michigan schools. I think UK is the trendy pick for the ego, but at the end of the day, I think Booker knows he's going pro after one year no matter where he goes and other factors (where he feels at home) will be more important.