Basketball Recruiting Projections/General Discussions

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Recruit has zest for Zips
7-foot Pa. center drawn in by Akron's computer program Thursday, July 03, 2008Elton AlexanderPlain Dealer Reporter

McKeesport , Pa. ? Eastern Michigan's Earl Boykins was too small. Miami's Wally Szczerbiak was too slow. Bowling Green's Antonio Daniels couldn't shoot.

The saying goes ?There's a reason he's in the MAC' when talking of any player without superior size, skill or athleticism from his basketball peers around the Mid-American Conference.

Ezekiel 'Zeke' Marshall of McKeesport, Pa., is the 37th-best player in the class of 2009, according to the Internet recruiting service rivals.com.

The 7-footer, ranked the eighth best center in the nation, has received scholarship offers from Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference programs like Pittsburgh, Virginia and Boston College.

Continued

I wonder why cbf40 did you get this guy for Ohio State. I had never heard of him before seeing this article.

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

Cleveland.com


I wonder why cbf40 did you get this guy for Ohio State. I had never heard of him before seeing this article.

Yeah I heard of him long ago, but never was interest...

[Buckskin86]

On the road again
Matta begins recruiting trip with one scholarship available
Sunday, July 6, 2008
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Mavens who sweat the fact that Ohio State is the only Big Ten men's basketball team without a commitment for the 2009 recruiting class might have overlooked something coach Thad Matta has not.

"We have no seniors on this team," he said.

That's a way of saying that, if everyone returns -- Are you reading this, B.J. Mullens? -- the Buckeyes will have the same team in 2009-10 that they have next season, only one year older and stronger and, presumably, wiser and better.

That's why Matta doesn't appear to be sweating as he and his assistant coaches begin their annual July journey across America, 20 days spent crisscrossing the country to evaluate the prospects in the classes of 2009 and beyond. The road work begins today.

With four freshmen and two junior-college transfers having recently enrolled and three more players -- including Jared Sullinger of Northland -- committed for 2010, Matta has only one scholarship to offer for 2009, which is considered a talent-poor year in Ohio anyway.

If the 7-foot Mullens becomes the third straight OSU center to leave for the NBA after his freshman year, that would free another scholarship next spring.

But if none of the remaining 2009 crop at that point suits Matta's taste, he could give up the scholarship for a year as penance to the NCAA for Kosta Koufos' ill-timed departure this year in terms of the Academic Progress Rate guidelines.

So when asked to describe his 2009 recruiting plan, Matta said, "I can't. We're kind of operating on (the policy that) recruiting changes every day, (because) it does."

It changed again Friday when point guard Trae Golden of Powder Springs, Ga., rescinded his verbal commitment to the class of 2010 and reopened his recruitment.

"We're moving forward," Matta said. "You'd say, 'So you're kind of all over the map?' Yes. But we know what we're (looking for)."

bbaptist@dispatch.com

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Ohio State Men's Basketball: On the road again

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Bucknuts.com$ (Jeff Rapp)

'Hot 16' List Provides Outlook For Summer Hoops...........nice list of prospects tOSU will be evaluating in the July period.......

[crazybuckfan40]

Well with the recent wave of a decommit and 3 offers I figured it was time for an update here...

For 09 the staff is look for one...Gonna be a big man...

Van Treese - I like him, due to his likely hood to play 4 years...He has solid skill, might not be an immediate impact guy like we would need in 09, but he would be here for a while, and would provide stability in the front court...

Orton - We will get a visit but don't see it happening...

Marquis Mathis - Juco kid, not much info on him...


For 2010 - I am really thinking the target number will be 6...I am assuming Buford, Turner, and Mullens are gone by then...We will have 6 to give...This would be a great year for the 2 year rule to be implemented...

Sullinger - His NBA potential will depend on him growing a couple more inches IMO...Right now he is very dominant and will dominate the college level much like a Kevin Love, Wayne Simeion, Tyler Hansbrough type big guys down low...

Thomas - He is a stud, He could end up ranked higher than Sullinger if his game develops like it could...He already has a solid jumper, great posts moves...He needs to improve his jumper, ball handling and passing ability...All of which are solid...But right now he is a pull up shooter from behind the arc and a post player...Not much in between, in terms of being able to shake his guy and dribble in traffic...Not for the college level...The thing is he still has two years of high school ball to develop...He already has a college ready body...He can play the 3, but I kinda envision the 4 some in Mattas offense, especially with the boat load of talent we will have in the backcourt...

Wright - He is one that gets overlooked, but he fills the stat sheet every time out...Pts, Assts, rebs, and don't forget his defense...He is still a work in progress, and his frame will easily add weight, and he is a guy that will be a 4 year guy and a program stabilizer...

Sibert - Really like this offer...It also gives me the idea the staff is looking for 6 in this class, and that will give us some stability if guys like Thomas and Sullinger leave early...Sibert has loads of potential...Much in the mold of Offut, might have a better jumper, but his jumper is not great, but he can really get to the rim...Comparable player to Wright, but Wright is the better shooter and defender, while Sibert is more athletic and the scorer of the two...

Payne - I couldn't be happier about this offer...He could be the gem of this class, if guys like Thomas and Sullinger leave after a year...I love his potential, he has a long wingspan, and is very athletic...Some that have seen him have said that he is the most impressive on the AAU team with he Sullinger, Sibert, and Staten...

Johnson - Really don't know a whole lot about him...Just kinda what I read and that he is more of a PG than a SG, which is really what we need in this class as Crater will be the only one on the roster when these guys come in...

Golden - I was really turned off by his comments after he decommitted...Right now I have him on the back burner while we gauge our interest in Sibert and Johnson...Also there is no reason to not go after the talent in our own backyard first...

For 2011 we should have 3 or 4 ships depending on who leaves, and any transfers etc...

Right now the guys on the list are...

Chane Behanon - He is a strong PF, really hope that he grows at least 2 more inches, and then he could really be dominant, if not he would have to develop more of a 3's game...

Marquis Teague - Another that I really like, not real sure the interest levelon Teague's end, but one to watch for sure...

[osubuckeyes2731]

I love Johnson's height (6'3). I keep thinking Deron Williams for some reason. He's probably not even close to the same type of player but everytime I think of him, I think of Deron Williams.