CSNbbs

According to Adam Zagoria's latest Zagsblog, the Tigers are interested in 2009 C Gregory Echenique, a native of Caracas, Venezuela, who is playing at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, NJ:

http://njmg.typepad.com/zagsblog/2007/04...niq_1.html

Rutgers, Georgetown, Maryland, Villanova, Florida, and North Carolina are others involved.

Unfortunately, the Tigers were never able to really get into it for 2008 C Samardo Samuels. North Carolina has taken the lead in his recruitment, followed by Florida, Georgetown, Connecticut, and Louisville. I had heard from other sources that he was likely to pick UNC, and this just adds more credence to that. But it's not over yet. Everybody thought Delvon Roe was a North Carolina lock, and he ended up picking Michigan State.

Still, it's great to know the Tigers have established such a presence in the NYC/NJ area. Getting Jeff Robinson, Jr. from one of the powerhouse NJ parochial schools was big. Now many local players like Kemba Walker, Kevin Jones, and Jordan Theodore from the Class of 2008 are still mentioning the Tigers, and 2009 star Lance Stephenson is also mentioning them.

Jose Martin's hiring gave the Tigers some local credibility in the area, which just makes Cal's recruiting pitches even more effective. And the Tigers' on-court success and Rod Strickland's NBA experience add to that.

There's a pretty good possibility the Tigers will land some more high-profile recruits from the NYC/NJ area in the coming years.

I hope next year!

what happened to the big kid from the NC prep school? Seven foot Russian I believe...

HoopDreams Wrote:what happened to the big kid from the NC prep school? Seven foot Russian I believe...

I'm guessing that you are talking about Catalin Baciu © from Romania (currently at Fletcher, NC Veritas Christian Academy).

The 7-foot-1 Baciu is becoming one of the more sought after recruits in the nation. He already has offers from Davidson, Clemson, Memphis, N.C. State, St. John's, Tennessee, Utah and Wake Forest. Ellington, an Asheville product, turned even more heads at the NACA tournament and is getting looks from Clemson, State, Hofstra, American, Wake and UNC Asheville.

The 2008 big man that has been highly targeted by the Pack has visited N.C. State twice on his own, while also taking unofficial trips to Clemson, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Tennessee (this as of April 10).

In terms of Catalin Baciu's skill level...everything is there, skills, IQ, size, heart. The only problems are that he needs more bulk (20 lbs) and the defense his Prep team uses (lots of zone, see Courtney Fells).

Supposedly he has really liked his visits to State. He really likes the coaching staff, and the fact that Sidney Lowe has fresh NBA experience really helps. His coach is from Raleigh and had a lot of posotive things to say about how the atmosphere has changed at State, and how the familiar faces coming back onto the scene have things moving in the right direction for them. Pretty much everyone is throwing there hat in now and NC State was in early. I'm thinking NC State might be his likely choice.

tigerbham Wrote:

HoopDreams Wrote:what happened to the big kid from the NC prep school? Seven foot Russian I believe...

I'm guessing that you are talking about Catalin Baciu © from Romania (currently at Fletcher, NC Veritas Christian Academy).

The 7-foot-1 Baciu is becoming one of the more sought after recruits in the nation. He already has offers from Davidson, Clemson, Memphis, N.C. State, St. John's, Tennessee, Utah and Wake Forest. Ellington, an Asheville product, turned even more heads at the NACA tournament and is getting looks from Clemson, State, Hofstra, American, Wake and UNC Asheville.

The 2008 big man that has been highly targeted by the Pack has visited N.C. State twice on his own, while also taking unofficial trips to Clemson, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Tennessee (this as of April 10).

In terms of Catalin Baciu's skill level...everything is there, skills, IQ, size, heart. The only problems are that he needs more bulk (20 lbs) and the defense his Prep team uses (lots of zone, see Courtney Fells).

Supposedly he has really liked his visits to State. He really likes the coaching staff, and the fact that Sidney Lowe has fresh NBA experience really helps. His coach is from Raleigh and had a lot of posotive things to say about how the atmosphere has changed at State, and how the familiar faces coming back onto the scene have things moving in the right direction for them. Pretty much everyone is throwing there hat in now and NC State was in early. I'm thinking NC State might be his likely choice.

For someone who is a Rivals subscriber, there's actually a recent article about the top two schools emerging for Baciu. I am not sure if we are one of the two or not...check it out:
http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/b...&tid=&mid=

Idaho,

Did you see this?
Samuels commits to Pitino, Cards

What a shocker

tigerbham Wrote:Idaho,

Did you see this?
Samuels commits to Pitino, Cards

What a shocker

According to Marc Maggard at UKUncensored and other Kentucky sources, Pitino has a job lined up for one of Samuels's handlers, as he did at Kentucky with Jamal Mashburn. It happens all the time these days. Kansas has made an art form of it. They've been discussing it on Marc's site for days now.

Gillispie and Kentucky were supposedly trying to work a deal as well. North Carolina is the big loser--they thought they had the inside track on him. They've now lost Delvon Roe and Samuels this year.

Reportedly Tyreke Evans wants to come, too--UNC is not going to offer him. Pitino really likes to play Father Flanagan.

The Scout 2008 Top 100 (Summer Update):

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9...88&yr=2008

Samuels is no. 6. According to sources, he is going to Louisville because Pitino is hiring one of his AAU coaches. Elliot Williams is no. 16.

Same hot names right now:

No. 11 Demar DeRozan, SG/SF, Compton, CA HS. A tremendous leaper and all-around athlete. Committed to USC, but waffling. North Carolina recently offered, and Arizona and possibly UCLA are interested.

No. 15 Tyler Zeller, PF, Washington, IN HS. His brother plays at Notre Dame. Long, thin, but tremendous all-around skills. Can run, pass, defend, block shots, score, make his teammates better. May end up picking one of the Indiana schools (likes Purdue a lot), but is considering schools like North Carolina, Kentucky, and Kansas.

No. 18 Iman Shumpert, SG, Oak Park, IL HS. Illinois is pursuing him heavily, along with Marquette, Notre Dame, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and others. North Carolina and Kansas are looking at him. Has kept his recruitment very quiet. Great all-around game.

No. 77 Olek Czyz, PF, Gdynia, Poland (The Prokom Sports School/Reno, NV HS). His stock has skyrocketed after recent performances on the AAU circuit and at camps. Was hidden behind Nevada PF commit and Reno Galena HS player Luke Babbitt on a Las Vegas AAU team last year. Came to the U.S. three years ago when his mother married an American citizen. Has typical European big-man skills combined with the toughness of U.S. players. Reportedly has a 40-inch vertical leap, can get out on the break, defend, has good shooting range, can score with a variety of moves, and is not afraid to get in there and mix it up. Kentucky and all kinds of other schools are starting to get involved with him now.