No time like the present

Top programs getting jump on class of 2004

The Sporting News released its preseason Top 25 power poll and we found an interesting recruiting parallel with some of the ranked teams. Aside from being ranked in Top 25, what do Arizona, Cincinnati, Duke, Gonzaga, Kentucky, Michigan State and Xavier have in common? If you said each owns a commitment from a member of the class of 2004, you know your stuff.

If you knew that Michigan State had two commitments from the class, well you’re probably a junkie. If you can name them (PG Drew Nietzel and PF Marquise Gray) then you’re a recruiting addict. And finally, if you guessed that the Big Ten owned 11 of the 22 commitments we were able to uncover, well, you’re hired.

As evidenced by the correlation, the best teams in the country are keeping pace with the ever-changing recruiting calendar. Each year we marvel at how early commitments are being made.

Last year, the NCAA said that juniors who are finished with their basketball season can visit prospective college programs. The move lit a fire under some colleges. Expect even more prospects to take advantage of the early visitation policy this spring.

Nov. 13 is the start of the weeklong signing period for seniors and up until this column that’s certainly been our focus. But, we’re quickly learning to keep an attentive eye on what’s going on with the youngsters and so are the college programs.

One team that is moving and shaking is the Arizona Wildcats. Lute Olson’s bunch currently has two commitments from 2003 Top 10 players. This summer, they pursued no less than four elite level recruits. If you know anything about recruiting, you can imagine how difficult it is to fly around the country and recruit against the caliber schools they did.

Somehow the Wildcats were able to accomplish even more than expected.

Shortly after the summer period, they landed a commitment from Jawann McClellan, a Top 25 junior. Olson himself trailed McClellan and did so without missing a beat with his top line senior recruits. Five years ago would the Wildcats have done so much work with an underclassman? Unlikely.

The point is this: To keep up with the Joneses in college hoops, more than ever programs have to be equipped to handle the underclassman. With more commitments from young kids being taken at a record pace, that means more evaluations have to be done on them at an earlier point in the recruiting process.

"It is full steam ahead on juniors right now," N.C. State assistant coach Mark Phelps said. "You are literally a year ahead. Most programs are recruiting juniors like they used to recruit seniors. There is certainly a great sense of urgency for recruiting the 2004 class, understanding that you have to have your evaluations complete by January because these kids are going to start taking visits. Therein lies the great sense of urgency."

N.C. State is a program that already has one of those 2004 commitments, but like their high-major brethren, their work is far from complete.

"If you’re not, right now, actively recruiting sophomores then you are way behind the game," Phelps said. You should be well aware of freshmen too.” Freshmen? Sure. But, taking it a step further, O.J. Mayo is the top ranked eighth grader in the nation and if you don’t know that you’re in big trouble.

Ibekwe Takes Last Grant

The night before, Terrence Roberts was under the impression that the Terrapins were going to wait for his decision before deciding themselves what to do with Ibekwe. However, the situation must have dictated otherwise and Ibekwe is headed to College Park next fall.

Previously, Roberts told us that Maryland and Syracuse were the two he was most interested in so it would appear the Orangemen should be in a position to nail him down to a commitment.

The Terrapins, coming off the national title, have assembled a recruiting class that includes five guys and four potential Top 50 players. Michael Jones is the highest rated recruit, followed by Hassan Fofana, Ibekwe, D.J. Strawberry and center Will Bowers.

When you win the national title you have to capitalize on the recruiting trail and the Terrapins did just that.

-- Dave Telep, TheInsidersHoops.com

Hogs Land Big Center

Last year, Julius Lamptey was property of the Georgia Bulldogs. After failing to qualify, he headed to New Hampton. While his college detour took him up north, he'll venture back south for college.

"I was just calling to let you know that I committed to Arkansas," Lamptey said on Saturday afternoon. The former Oklahoma City Northeast product is the second player to say yes to Stan Heath this year.

Vincent Hunter, a versatile forward, committed last month.

Hunter and now Lamptey are two of the building block pieces for Arkansas in the 2003 recruiting class. Small forward Olu Famutimi and swingman Ronnie Brewer are the two remaining big-time targets for the Hogs, and both players have been on campus in recent weeks.

Should the Hogs close the deal with either or both of those prospects, they would be able to put a capper on a super recruiting year. Last year, everyone wondered the connection between Washington and Lamptey as he listed Georgia, Illinois and the Huskies among his favorites. Well, the connection between Washington and now Arkansas is no longer in doubt.

Arkansas assistant Byron Boudreaux coached at Washington last season. Obviously, he played a significant role in bringing Lamptey to Fayetteville.

Lamptey was one of the highest risers on the 2001 AAU scene. While playing for the Athletes First team, he should major offensive progress. He's always been a good rebounder with some natural shot blocking tendencies.

-- Dave Telep, TheInsidersHoops.com

Three In The Hunt for Oak Hill PF

Jarvelle Scott, a 6-8 power forward and starter for Oak Hill Academy is looking at three schools. According to Oak Hill coach Steve Smith, Tulane, Mississippi and Houston are in the running for him.

Last weekend, Scott visited Tulane. Ole Miss is trying to get a visit as well.

"He might go to Ole Miss this weekend after the SAT," Smith said. "They're pushing for a visit." The Houston Cougars are going to receive a visit from his next weekend."

Scott needs a little academic boost, but nothing to be tremendously concerned about.

"He's not way off like some guys," Smith said. "He's doing pretty well. He'll qualify. He just has to get his test score. He's in the ballpark. He's taking the SAT Saturday and the ACT on the 26th."

Smith says that Scott has flourished once the coach laid out for him the plan for his success at Oak Hill. Smith said that Scott is a power forward and that's the role he'll be asked to play at Oak Hill.

"He gets a whole lot done down there. That's his game. He's got good footwork and post moves."

-- Dave Telep, TheInsidersHoops.com

Wildcat's Three-Man Class Has It All

No, Kirk Walters isn't a household name for recruiting fanatics. In fact, if it weren't for the stellar week he enjoyed at the Big Time with the Michigan Mustangs, we probably wouldn't be mentioning him in this article.

But, the fact is Walters played well enough in Las Vegas to draw interest from high-major programs. One program in particular became extremely comfortable with their evaluation of him and tendered an offer. On Tuesday, Arizona landed Walters and made him the third member of their current recruiting class, joining Ndudi Ebi and Mustafa Shakur.

Walters, a 6-10 and 200 pound center, will play his best basketball at Arizona. Right now, he's a borderline Top 100 player in our mind who hasn't made his way onto a Top 100 list yet, but he sure could.

He's one of those guys who aren't quite strong enough isn't the best athlete on the floor -- though he's not bad -- and won't have NBA guys looking at him out of high school.

What he is and what he will be could be two different things. No, he won't be expected to have an Ebi-like impact as a freshman but don't be surprised if he plays. Why? He has what coaches can't bring themselves to ignore: skills. Walters makes plays, has offensive moves and he hasn't peaked.

He's just scratching the surface.

Sometimes recruiting skeptics like to point out all of the analysts misses -- Tim Duncan, Steve Francis and on and on. In fairness, it's tough to anticipate how guys like Walters develop.

But, we should pay more attention to guys like this because the game of college basketball has plenty of room for them now. College basketball is friendly to kids who know how to play and have room for personal growth.

So, Walters might not be the "sexy" recruit right now, but give him a few years of practicing against great players, hitting the weights and being coached and the results just may surprise you.

-- Dave Telep, TheInsidersHoops.com

Hughes Verbals To Oregon St.

Liam Hughes, 7-1 SR C Modesto (Calif.) Modesto Christian, has committed to Oregon St.

We asked Hughes about the factors in his decision and he replied, "I like the coaching staff and Jay John is a good big man coach. I had the chance to watch some of their post workouts and I was very impressed. I felt like I could improve with their staff."

Hughes was pursued by a number of Pac-10 schools before giving his commitment to Oregon St.

-- Greg Hicks, PrepWestHoops.com

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