THE RECRUITING GUY : Stars of the future getting ready to strut their stuff
Posted on Friday, April 18, 2008
Many basketball fans attending the Real Deal on the Hill tournament this weekend in Fayetteville will be there to see next year’s top prospects, but they’ll also be able to see some of the top players for the 2010 and 2011 classes.
Power forward Deshaun Thomas, 6-7, 220 pounds, of Fort Wayne (Ind. ) Bishop Luers led the state of Indiana in scoring as a freshman. He’s already established himself as one of the nation’s elite players as a sophomore and is rated the No. 3 player in the nation in the 2010 class by ESPN. com’s Bob Gibbons.
Thomas, who will play for Spiece Indy Heat, has made an early commitment to Ohio State, Gibbons said.
“He’s very good,” Gibbons said. “He could be the real deal of the Real Deal on the Hill, pun intended.” Gibbons said some are questioning whether Thomas’ commitment will stick, and Thomas said he might make other visits. But he is still leaning to Ohio State, Gibbons said.
Small forward LaQuinton Ross, 6-7, 190, of Jackson (Miss. ) Callaway will be playing for the MBA Hoops. He is considered Check out The Recruiting Guy’s new blog blogs. arkansasonline. com / recruiting the best of the 2011 class. He was the first freshman to be invited to play in the outdoor Elite 24 All-Star game last summer at the famed Rucker Park court in Harlem, N. Y. Ross’ skills are beyond his age group and he has the ability to score at will. Gibbons hasn’t seen Ross in action but said he knows of his reputation as a player. “It will be interesting to see how he performs,” Gibbons said. “I look forward to getting feedback on how he competes in this event.” UNVEILING 6-11 GEM One of the more intriguing 2009 prospects participating is post player Anthony Borden of the Arkansas Hawks. Borden, 6-11, 205, can handle the ball and hit the midrange jumper.
Borden is in a similar position as current Razorbacks signee Andre Clark was in last year. Clark was somewhat of an unknown but had outstanding performances during spring and summer basketball and was offered scholarship by Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Arizona and others.
Hawks Coach Bill Ingram said Borden is talented but hasn’t played against the caliber of athletes he’ll see at the tournament.
“He’s ayoung man that’s a true 6-11,” Ingram said, noting that it has been a few years since the state has had a player of Borden’s height and ability. “His skill level is very high, pretty athletic. At 6-11, he has extremely long arms.... It’s going to be interesting to see how he plays.” Borden played for West Memphis this year and averaged about 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Ingram said numerous schools are looking at Borden.
“I’ve had calls from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Memphis, Tennessee and Missouri has called quite a few times about him,” Ingram said. “Arkansas has inquired about him. All these schools have called and specifically asked about him. A lot of coaches are intrigued and can’t wait to see this kid play.” CONVENTION OF COACHES Saturday is the first day college coaches can attend games and evaluate prospects, and Ingram said he expects the biggest names in coaching to be among the 300 or so college coaches in attendance at the Real Deal on the Hill. “Bill Self will be there, John Calipari, Ben Howland, Rick Pitino will be there, Roy Williams and John Pelphrey of course,” Ingram said. “We’re expecting the who’s who of college coaches at Real Deal. It’s been that way every year.” SPOTLIGHTING THE SCHEDULE The tournament starts at 5: 30 p.m. today. Saturday’s play starts at 8 a.m. with the last game at 9: 20 p.m. The last games of the tournament will begin at 12: 50 p.m. Sunday for championship play.
Teams sponsored by the three major shoe companies — Nike, Adidas and Reebok — will be in attendance. One of the more storied teams, Nike-sponsored New York Gauchos, has been in existence for 40 years and will be making its first appearance in the South.
“The Gauchos are a worldrenowned team,” Ingram said. “They travel all around the world to play.” Arkansas Razorbacks fans might be interested in today’s 6: 40 p.m. game between the Atlanta Celtics and Louisiana Tar Heels being played in the university’s HPER building. The Celtics feature power forward Derek Favors, 6-9, 220, who is rated as the No. 1 recruit for the 2009 class by some experts. Favors arrived early to check out Arkansas on an unofficial visit.
The Celtics will play Tulsa PWP at 9: 10 Saturday morning in the HPER building and against the California Supreme at 12: 40 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.
The Arkansas Hawks will play at 7: 50 p.m. Friday in the Fayetteville High School gym against Team Nashville Fire. They’ll play at 8 Saturday morning against the Minnesota Magic Elite in the HPER building and at 12: 40 p.m. against Basket of Dreams in Walton Arena. Hawks point guard Fred Gulley 6-2, 180, and power forward Clarence Trent 6-8, 230, are being recruited by the Hogs.
Raising Champions comboguard Lance Stephenson will play tonight at 9 against the Tulsa Jammers in the HPER building and Saturday morning at 11: 30 against Iowa Barnstormers Black. Stephenson is being touted as one of the best to ever play in New York City. He was scheduled to make an unofficial visit to Arkansas before the tournament. Shooting guard Shawn Wil-1 liams 6-6 / 2, 190, and Texas Select play at 7: 50 tonight against the Illinois Bobcats in the HPER building. Texas Select will play two games in Walton Arena on Saturday. The first game starts at 9: 10 a.m. against the Spiece Indy Heat and then against the Tennessee Heat at 12: 40 p.m. Williams is a Pine Bluff native and is being recruited by the Razorbacks. E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline. com
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