Derrick Favors Top 100 Class of 2009

Ranked #3 by Rivals Five Stars

Listed at 6-9/215 PF From Atlanta, GA

Showing interest in Memphis.

Kieth have you seen Derrick play? If so whats your opinion on him. Hey Idaho, you know anything much about Favors as well? Thanks

PF Derrick Favors is one of three star frontcourt prospects in the Class of 2009; PF Renardo Sidney, who is playing high-school ball in Los Angeles, and C DeMarcus Cousins of Erwin HS in Birmingham, are the other two.

Favors has been compared to Dwight Howard, so I have to assume he can get a few rebounds and really attack the basket. Here's one article on him. Leslie McDonald of Briarcrest is also mentioned by the writer:

http://www.drawingboard.simplysmartwebs....967287.htm

Favors is currently playing at Atlanta South Atlanta HS, and plays AAU ball for the Atlanta Celtics, for whom he has really played well. Several analysts mentioned he might leave South Atlanta HS for another school (probably a prep school) the way Renardo Sidney left Jackson, Mississippi. That's the way the promotion of these players goes these days.

There are a lot of players in the class of 2009 that are already receiving a lot of hype--Sidney and Lance Stephenson being the two most prominent in that regard. Sidney appears likely to surpass O.J. Mayo in terms of overall hype and interest from the shoe companies. The way things are sitting with him right now, USC would appear to be in great position to get him for one year unless he decides to play some time of pro ball outside the NBA. Ben Howland is a strict disciplinarian and doesn't like dealing with entourages, so UCLA isn't likely unless something changes.

The fact that Memphis is mentioned as a viable choice for players like Favors and Stephenson just shows the kind of recruiting credibility Cal has built up with these young players. The Derrick Rose signing has only added to that.

Sidney is definitely the one getting the most press. He's playing high-school basketball for the Artesia HS Pioneers in Lakewood, CA (suburban Los Angeles). In a recent game, Artesia beat Cerritos HS 74-32. Sidney had 21 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks without even working up a sweat. He's just marking time until he plays on the same court with Kobe Bryant, who's playing a couple of miles away, if that.

A discussion of the top 2009 prospects by Dave Telep:

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/5924750

Thanks Idaho.

Class of 09' seems like a three headed monstor with a hardnosed warrior standing with it. Cousins, Sidney and Favors making up the monstor with Stephenson being the warrior. (Pardon me please, i know its corny)

I have heard alot about Stephenson. He seems like he will be the real deal. I have heard Kieth speak very highly of him. He called him a warrior.

I have heard many good things on Favors as well.

I personally think the 09' class could be a huge one for Memphis. Xavier Henry is another from the 09' class that has interest in Memphis. Its so far away though you just never know what will happen between now and then. Heaven forbid, but Cal could be gone before then after he wins the National Championship next year, haha.

Where Cal is right now is difficult to get. Cal wont' easy bolt even to the Kentucky's of the world. He has it going and Coaches want to win the NC and were ever he would go it would be a rebuilding.

As a flip to that we will be able to ge a high profile coach to keep going.

I would have to wonder if we would be able to get an up and coming coach from a traditionally lower tier BCS school if we went after one after Cal leaves. Someone like Billie Gillespie at TAM, although that is probably a stretch now.

Whoever it is, he is going to have to be fairly high profile and energetic to keep it going. But Cal has clearly shown that it can be done.

ChattTiger Wrote:I would have to wonder if we would be able to get an up and coming coach from a traditionally lower tier BCS school if we went after one after Cal leaves. Someone like Billie Gillespie at TAM, although that is probably a stretch now.

Whoever it is, he is going to have to be fairly high profile and energetic to keep it going. But Cal has clearly shown that it can be done.

Give him two or three years and I think Coach Barbee will be a very viable option as the successor to Cal.

TigerEdward Wrote:

ChattTiger Wrote:I would have to wonder if we would be able to get an up and coming coach from a traditionally lower tier BCS school if we went after one after Cal leaves. Someone like Billie Gillespie at TAM, although that is probably a stretch now.

Whoever it is, he is going to have to be fairly high profile and energetic to keep it going. But Cal has clearly shown that it can be done.

Give him two or three years and I think Coach Barbee will be a very viable option as the successor to Cal.

Bingo. That is the first choice successor to Calipari once he moves on (which hopefully will not be for at least another 3 + years).

What is really sweet is Calipari really elevated the program where R.C. (or the new AD) could rightfully initiate a national search to replace Calipari when the time comes.

if Barbee is not an option, there are a lot of guys who would kill to get the job with the position it would be in...

Johnny Dawkins at Duke is one guy that comes to mind - he has been waiting on Coach K's bench for many seasons now and has NBA experience as a player...

Keith Smart is an assistant coach with the Warriors right now and played under Bobby Knight at Indiana, winning a NC...

there are many examples and options if Cal leaves and Barbee is not an option...the only worry would be if the commitment is still there from the boosters and alumni after Cal leaves...

Mark Turgeon at Wichita State is one of the better up and comers out there right now...

boss man Wrote:

TigerEdward Wrote:

ChattTiger Wrote:I would have to wonder if we would be able to get an up and coming coach from a traditionally lower tier BCS school if we went after one after Cal leaves. Someone like Billie Gillespie at TAM, although that is probably a stretch now.

Whoever it is, he is going to have to be fairly high profile and energetic to keep it going. But Cal has clearly shown that it can be done.

Give him two or three years and I think Coach Barbee will be a very viable option as the successor to Cal.

Bingo. That is the first choice successor to Calipari once he moves on (which hopefully will not be for at least another 3 + years).

What is really sweet is Calipari really elevated the program where R.C. (or the new AD) could rightfully initiate a national search to replace Calipari when the time comes.

Great minds think alike. It is hard being as smart as us, isn't it boss man. ;-)

Barbee better have a lot of success if he wants to replace Cal. Look, we need a big name coach to generate the same sort of momentum Cal has, and Barbee isn't a big name coach. Barbee could likely be a good coach at a number of schools, but I'm not sure he could continually rebuild an elite program in a crap conference. Every Tigers basketball fan should thank their lucky stars for Cal every day and tar and feather RC for almost blowing it.

rivals article today on 5 star wing Noel Johnson, 2009, from Fayette, Co, Ga.

Memphis, LSU, GaTech, UConn, and Florida leading. Cal and Tom Izzo are the only two head coaches to so far see him play, per his HS coach.

Quoted as saying he and Favors have talked about going to the same school. That puts Memphis, UConn, eorgia, and GaTech in the best position, based on that, as those are the 4 schools that they both share interest in.

Dawkins WILL be the next Duke head coach. He's been waiting on K's bench because the job is his when K is gone.

I'm all for Barbee, if and when Cal moves on. I'd like to see him build UTEP up a little though, so as to warrant the move. You gotta throw DK in the mix as well.

1.3 mill buys alot of coaches. The days of hiring an unestablished coach should be over.

cwise Wrote:Dawkins WILL be the next Duke head coach. He's been waiting on K's bench because the job is his when K is gone.

I'm all for Barbee, if and when Cal moves on. I'd like to see him build UTEP up a little though, so as to warrant the move. You gotta throw DK in the mix as well.

WOW, what has Tommy Amaker done to change this? It's always been rumored that Tommy, not Johnny, not Wojo, not Quinn Synder, not Mike Brey, not Chris Collins even though he has the blood lines would be the next coach of the Dukies.

ChattTiger Wrote:rivals article today on 5 star wing Noel Johnson, 2009, from Fayette, Co, Ga.

Memphis, LSU, GaTech, UConn, and Florida leading. Cal and Tom Izzo are the only two head coaches to so far see him play, per his HS coach.

Quoted as saying he and Favors have talked about going to the same school. That puts Memphis, UConn, eorgia, and GaTech in the best position, based on that, as those are the 4 schools that they both share interest in.

thanks. Great find. So in the 2009 class, we are after local star top 10 Leslie McDonald, top 5 player Xavier Henry, top 5 players Lance Stephenson, Renardo Sidney, and now top 10 players Derrick Favors and Noel Johnson.

Is Cal awesome or what?!?

k2tigers Wrote:

ChattTiger Wrote:rivals article today on 5 star wing Noel Johnson, 2009, from Fayette, Co, Ga.

Memphis, LSU, GaTech, UConn, and Florida leading. Cal and Tom Izzo are the only two head coaches to so far see him play, per his HS coach.

Quoted as saying he and Favors have talked about going to the same school. That puts Memphis, UConn, eorgia, and GaTech in the best position, based on that, as those are the 4 schools that they both share interest in.

thanks. Great find. So in the 2009 class, we are after local star top 10 Leslie McDonald, top 5 player Xavier Henry, top 5 players Lance Stephenson, Renardo Sidney, and now top 10 players Derrick Favors and Noel Johnson.

Is Cal awesome or what?!?

6 out of 10? I'll take that percentage.

Thanks for the info on Johnson, guys. Some pretty interesting stuff in this Curtis Bunn blog in the AJC:

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-...ars_s.html

His father is Lynbert "Cheese" Johnson, who played at Wichita State (presumably with Xavier McDaniel, who is his godfather--but that's not confirmed) and saw a little NBA time with the Golden State Warriors. According to this, Noel basically plays anywhere he wants to on his high-school team: PG, SG, SF.

If his favorites list continues the way it is now (Georgia Tech, Memphis, Connecticut, LSU, Florida), the Tigers would seem to have a decent shot at him. Georgia Tech as the local school will probably be tough competiton for him. But with Cal's NBA credentials, and all the ex-NBA people associated with this kid (McDaniel, Nate Archibald, Mike Glenn, and Charlie Scott), that will be a help to the Tigers.

I figured after hearing the father's nickname at the beginning of the blog that it wouldn't be long before the blogger couldn't resist working in the word "Cheddar". And the ending was pretty predictable: "He has always enjoyed the game. Now it's serving him well." Probably a pun. lol

boss man Wrote:(or the new AD)

We can dream, can't we?