A week in the life

Close look atthe high-profile recruiting circus

How many times have you heard a recruit say he’s struggling with a decision? Is he really that torn? Why can’t he make up his mind? What’s it like during those final and decisive days before he makes his decision?

Well, we had a chance to spend some time with the father of a big-time recruit and he offered his insight into the whole process.

Reno, Nev., center David Padgett was down to North Carolina, Arizona and Kansas. A huge recruiting battle had ensued and actually had been raging since Padgett took three official spring visits this year and another to UNC this fall. The question was burning in the minds of everyone: What was Padgett going to do?

It’s a simple question, but when asked over and over again it becomes draining, especially on the family. When it was finally over and Kansas was the pick, life as the Padgetts knew it was slowly headed on the road to recovery.

“The strangest things was to come down off the intense pressure you were feeling for almost two years,” David’s father and coach Pete said. “It was like everyone caught their breath and went on. That part was a strange feeling.

“The comparison I made was that when you are done with your season you almost wander around for a week figuring out what’s going on. It took some time to figure that things were back to normal.”

Until you go through an event like this, it’s tough to appreciate the demands it places on your time and family life. Can you imagine receiving 31 phone calls in four hours the day your son makes an announcement? That attention came the day after Padgett’s decision leaked out.

“I went home and it was crazy,” Pete Padgett said of the day his son finally shared his decision with the family. “Finally, he was sitting in there and he said that he wanted to get it over with. He said ‘I think I want to go to Kansas.’ I said you have two tough calls to make and I think you have a real good one.”

David Padgett picked up the phone and called KU’s Roy Williams who happened to be conducting a home visit with Omar Wilkes.

“I really saw a big smile when he called coach Williams at Omar’s house because the reaction he got was so positive that it felt like he made the right decision,” Pete said.”

A day later, Wilkes committed to Kansas, too.

Padgett had been telling the media for weeks that he was struggling with a decision and he honestly was. His father didn’t know what was going on. All he knew was that his son was having a tough time emotionally in handling everything.

“He’s not a guy that mopes. He’s not overly talkative anyway but I could tell it was wearing on him. It was starting to take a toll and that’s when I kind of stepped in.”

The last handful of days in the Padgett recruitment were strange to say the least. North Carolina’s Matt Doherty and assistant Doug Wojcik were in town almost all day Sunday talking to Padgett. Now, this was two days before he was to make his pick and nearly two years from when the Heels started recruiting David. UNC and all the schools recruiting him know him so well at this point, what exactly is there to say?

“We didn’t talk about recruiting,” Pete Padgett said. “We talked about the NFL and everything but recruiting. There wasn’t anything more to say. They both left and said that they hoped we realized how much they wanted David to go to Carolina. But they wished us well.”

Now remember, UNC wasn’t the only school to spend significant time with Padgett before the decision. Arizona’s Josh Pastner was in Reno on Monday to pitch the Wildcats in the absence of Lute Olson who was overseas.

Then, Williams made the fateful pitch that sealed it for the Jayhawks. But, before we get to KU, parting ways with a prospect who you really want to commit to your program but hasn’t yet must be an awkward feeling.

Ever think about what it would be like to ask a girl to dance and have her stand there in silence and just look at you while you wait for her answer?

You get the picture.

Anyway, Kansas got it done. Actually, Williams got it done for Kansas. Pete Padgett said that Williams’ last visit had struck a chord with David. The young man was taken by how direct the coach was.

“David was comfortable with him. He laid it out on the table, the success, the style of play, the guys they were bringing in and the guys that were there now … I think that last Monday visit might have swung it. I think that’s what finally got him.”

The very next day, David Padgett missed school, thought about his choices and shaped the future of his next four years. On that same day, two schools wished him well, shook their heads and thought of what might have been and likely began calling new recruits shortly afterwards.

In the world of college basketball, the time to dwell on what might have been already has passed.

Horns hook N.C. prospect

Both are North Carolina natives and both enjoy coming into the state to recruit. On Sunday, they snagged a prospect from Raleigh.

Anthony Tucker took his official visit to Texas this weekend and wasn't able to leave the campus without offering up a commitment.

"We're going to miss him but he's going where its good for him," Aleshia Tucker, Anthony's mom said. "It's beautiful. Everything is right there. The campus is downtown. We loved it."

Tucker is a bruiser who simply makes plays. In a period where college coaches are slow to designate positions to players, Tucker fits right in. He is prone to battling for rebounds, guarding bigger guys and he can work in the paint.

Scholarships were tight for the local ACC area schools this year. Tucker was liked by all of the schools but none offered. That's OK. The last Enloe player to not receive a local ACC offer was Chris Wilcox and he did all right for himself. Obviously, the Tucker family is more than thrilled with the decision.

"Rick Barnes is the greatest. I love him to death. He's the greatest. He's a good person."

-- Dave Telep, TheInsidersHoops.com

Stiggers to sign in Spring

Nick Stiggers, 6-7 SR PF Van Nuys (Calif.) Montclair Prep, likely will sign in the spring, according to his high school coach, Tyrone Fuller.

Coach Fuller told us that Stiggers is working hard on his conditioning and he's lost twenty pounds since the summer. Due to the extra weight he was carrying, Stiggers had an unimpressive summer and saw his recruitment fall off as a result.

But Coach Fuller told us that a number of schools have been in to see Stiggers recently and several have offered. Arizona St., Fresno St., Miami, Cincinnati, Long Beach St. and Georgia have all offered, according to Fuller.

Stiggers will probably visit Arizona St. and Fresno St. unofficially sometime in the next week or so. Fuller said that Stiggers will likely trip to Cincinnati and Miami in the spring.

-- Greg Hicks, PrepWestHoops.com

Red Storm land big man

Last year, he transferred into the school district from Atlanta. His parents live in Florida right now, according to his high school coach. He played in eight games at Apollo as a junior averaging 10 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

He took unofficial visits to Marquette and Minnesota. His final three schools were Minnesota (no offer), Miami (Fla.) and the Red Storm. He visited SJU on Oct. 18.

"He's raw but in two years he's going to be pretty darn good," Apollo head coach Dean Kesler said. "He started playing basketball really late. Overall, he's a little behind some things but he's so athletic and so raw. He's 6-9 and 240."

Williams will have this season and the next to perfect his craft before he enrolls at SJU.

"He'll probably end up a prep school next year first. He started basketball so late. If he goes to a prep school he'll get 40 or 50 more games. Grade wise, he hasn't qualified yet. He's close. But, from the basketball standpoint prep school is probably the best for him."

St. John's was always a place that interested Williams. He loves Madison Square Garden. Eventually, he'll get the chance to lace them up in the building.

-- Dave Telep, TheInsidersHoops.com

Alleyne makes it three for year

Gary Waters and his staff now hold three commitments at Rutgers. On Monday evening, the mother of Shagari Alleyne verified that her son is headed to the Big East.

Alleyne picked Rutgers over Kentucky. The commitment is RU's third and literally their biggest to date.

Joining Shagari is guard Marquis Webb and shooter Quincy Douby. Rutgers now has commitments from players who played with some of the most important traveling team programs in their region. Douby last played with Riverside Church.

Webb is a member of the Tim Thomas Playaz juggernaut and Alleyne has spent time with the New York Ravens and Gauchos in his time. The 7-2 giant is a defensive presence. He's got the wingspan of a condor and the ability to simply play goalie at the rim.

When he focuses, he's an impact player at that end of the court.

Rutgers would probably like nothing more than to cap off its recruiting class with a commitment from center Darryl Watkins, another member of our pre-season Top 100.

-- Dave Telep, TheInsidersHoops.com

Intriguing prospect in Bakersfield

Zach Ryan, 6-6 SR SF, Baskersfield (Calif.) Garces, is an intriguing prospect. He shows flashes of high-major athleticism, and some considerable skills, but then goes into hiding for a while.

The flashes have been enough to intrigue many programs over the last year, and college coaches have generally been scouting and keeping tabs on Ryan as a potentially big-time recruit.

To date, Ryan doesn't have any offers, but he said that he recently has been hearing from some good programs.

"Penn State, Washington, Wyoming and Arkansas State have all called and showed some interest lately," Ryan said. "I've been talking to Penn State and Washington for about a month.

"Washington's coach came down to see me practice about a month ago. Coaches from both schools have said they want to come and see me practice during the season and come to some games."

Ryan, who averaged 15 points and seven rebounds for a team that also featured one of the best junior prospects in the country, 6-10 center Robert Swift, also said that Penn State and Washington have expressed interest in Ryan taking an official visit.

"I'm trying to get visits to Penn State and Washington set," he said. "I'm supposed to talk to the coach from Penn State this week and get it arranged."

When asked if he'd like to stay on the west coast, Ryan said he had no preference. He did say, though, that he's always liked the Big West Conference.

"I wouldn't mind getting recruited by the schools in that conference. I've always liked UC Irvine."

Ryan said he has a 2.8 GPA and scored a 980 on his SAT.

-- Tracy Pierson, PrepWestHoops.com

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