The Ones That Got Away
Thought it would be interesting to check in and see what the college coaches outside of the area had to say about the recruits they landed from New York and New Jersey...
LOUISVILLE COACH RICK PITINO ON SAMARDO
Samuels averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds as a junior for St. Benedict's, which finished 24-1 and was ranked fifth nationally in the final USA Today poll, losing only to No. 2 St. Patrick's.
"Samardo is extremely physical," said Pitino. "He has really improved dramatically from his sophomore season to now, becoming one of the premier players in the country. He is physically overpowering in the low post, has an improved jump shot, passes very well out of the low post and is extremely long. He's a very tenacious basketball player and is extremely hungry to be the best he can be."
Samuels is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the nation in the ESPN 150 and the Scout.com Class of 2008 rankings, No. 4 by CSTV's Hodge 100 and in SLAM's Fresh 50, fifth by USA Today recruiting analyst Rob Harrington, seventh by Rivals and 11th nationally by The Hoop Scoop.
KANSAS COACH BILL SELF ON THE MORRIS TWINS & QUINTRELL THOMAS
"We feel Marcus and Markieff Morris are two of the most underrated players in the country," Self said. "Both twins are very skilled as they can both shoot the ball with range and also have an inside game."
"Markieff is a big forward that can play either spot on your front line. He is a very good low post player," Self said. "Marcus is a very skilled, do-everything wing when he has the ball. He is a tall perimeter player that can also go inside. The twins experienced great success in high school having won two state championships (2006, 2007) and have been very well coached by Dan Brinkley at Prep Charter."
"Quintrell will give us an element of toughness and his defensive rebounding will be something we look to early in his career," Self said.
"Quintrell Thomas is an athletic, quick twitched, prototypical power forward," Self said. "His offensive game is one that is expanding. Quintrell has played for one of the very best high school basketball programs in the country at Saint Pats. Last year they finished number two in the country and this year they have a chance to be one of the best again.
KELVIN SAMPSON OF INDIANA ON TERRELL HOLLOWAY AND DEVIN EBANKS
On Terrell Holloway
"As you look at your team, sometimes you ask yourself what it is that you need or what do you need to sure up. For us, we didn't just want another guard, we wanted a true point guard. I think with the guards we have is that they are adjusting to playing point guard and we are adjusting to them and how they play that position. The thing I liked about Terrell in watching him play was that his is a point guard. He is not a shooting guard that we are converting to point guard or a scorer/point guard, he is a true point guard and always has been. He is extremely fast with the ball. He is strong too, even though he is listed as 175 pounds, he is more like 185 pounds. He is a great on-ball defender and a tough kid. He gets people involved and can create off the dribble.
"So we are excited about these three guys and we do expect one more today. With the kids that we have coming back, we are really excited about our future."
On Devin Ebanks:
"Devin is the epitome of a guy that doesn't have a position. He is just a 6'8" basketball player. He can really score, make three's and make plays off the dribble. He just has knack for scoring. He has a demeanor on the court, where he just plays with unbelievable confidence. When he has the ball in his hands, you can tell that he thinks he can go score. He is a kid that needs to continue to develop. He is going to get bigger and stronger. He can play three positions, so if you have a point guard and a center, he can play anything in between because he can shoot so well. He can also get to the free throw line and he is still getting better. I saw him in October and I thought he was better then than when I saw him in July."
BOB HUGGINS OF WEST VIRGINIA ON TRUCK BRYANT AND KEVIN JONES
On Truck Bryant
Bryant averaged more than 15 points a game the last two seasons. In the final 10 games of his junior season, Bryant averaged 20 points and helped St. Raymond’s to the CHSAA City Championship game. The Ravens lost to Christ the King in the championship game, 57-54, but Bryant scored a team-high 21 points.
“Truck gives us somebody who can play right away because of his physical strength and experience against high level competition,” says Huggins. “By losing Darris (Nichols), we need somebody who is physically capable of playing minutes immediately.”
On Kevin Jones
Jones, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward from Mount Vernon, N.Y., is in his senior year at Mount Vernon High. As a junior, Jones averaged 21 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks per game. He has helped lead Mount Vernon to back-to-back New York State PHSAA championships.
“Kevin exemplifies what the all-around basketball player ought to be,” says Huggins. “He scores inside and out, he rebounds and he defends the perimeter and the post. We think Kevin has tremendous upside as well.”
KEVIN STALLINGS OF VANDERBILT ON LANCE GOULBOURNE
"We are extremely excited to add Lance and Steve (Tchiengang) to our program," Stallings said. "Not only do I feel strongly about their playing ability and versatility, but they are the kind of young men we want to have at Vanderbilt. They both come from excellent families and are diligent students."
Goulbourne, from Brooklyn, N.Y., and currently attending The Hun School in Princeton,N.J., is a 6'7, 215 pound small forward averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game his junior year in 2006-07. He also stood out this summer at the Nike Global Challenge in Beaverton, Oregon, an elite tournament for high school rising seniors where his team went 5-3 against international competition. Goulborne was ranked 90th by Rivals.com and was rated 18th among small forwards.
"I just felt comfortable there, and my family loved it," Goulbourne said. "It was just one of those feelings that came to me. I just felt like Vanderbilt was where I needed to be. They really have a good program academically and athletically."
Should we read anything into the fact that QT has not signed yet?
Posted by: rick | November 15, 2007 at 06:42 PM
Whoops, guess not. Looks like he just signed.
Posted by: rick | November 16, 2007 at 01:01 PM