ESPN Recruiting Nation Basketball

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- This week’s Friday notebook is chock full of info from the NBPA Top 100 Camp, which began Thursday at the University of Virginia. Included this week are recruiting nuggets on new ESPN 100 prospects Tyler Ulis, Myles Turner, Devin Robinson, Brekkott Chapman and much more.

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The new player rankings are out, and that means the 2016 class of rising sophomores enters our rankings for the first time with our debut of the 2016 ESPN 25. It’s still extremely early for this group, but here are five things you need to know about the Class of 2016.

1. Giles is a generational talent

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The new player rankings are out and the 2015 class of rising juniors has expanded from the ESPN 25 to the ESPN 60. With these prospects halfway through their high school careers, here are 10 things you need to know about the Class of 2015.

1. There’s a big man invasion

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The new player rankings are out, and the 2014 class of rising seniors has graduated from the ESPN 60 to its initial full ESPN 100. As this group of prospects takes center stage in a new recruiting cycle, here are 10 things you need to know about the Class of 2014.

1. Potential landscape-altering package deal

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There's no better way to begin a weekend than to win a national recruiting battle. Thad Matta's Ohio State Buckeyes found themselves in position to pop a cork Friday night when ESPN 60 guard D'Angelo Russell (Louisville, Ky./Montverde) popped for Matta's crew.

The Buckeyes edged Michigan State and national champion Louisville for the services of a versatile, highly regarded guard. Russell, known best for his catch-and-shoot effectiveness and scoring acumen for National High School Invitational champion Montverde Academy (Fla.), brings a dual-threat element to Matta's backcourt. He is ranked the nation's No. 24 overall prospect in the Class of 2014

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This week’s Friday notebook is highlighted by the standout performance of 2015 recruit Thomas Bryant at Team USA U16 tryouts, a pair of high-profile visits for ESPN 60 small forward Justise Winslow and the growing interest in juco stud Kadeem Allen.

Thomas “Beast” Bryant will have his pick
If I learned one thing last week, it’s that 2015 power forward -- and I stress the power part -- Thomas Bryant flat out loves to play basketball. When he walked onto the court in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the Team USA U16 tryouts, he did so with a single mindset.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Last weekend, 30 of the nation’s top young basketball talents from the 2015 and 2016 classes gathered in Colorado for the USA Basketball U16 national team tryouts. Following the training camp, a 12-player roster was chosen to compete for Team USA in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship June 11-15 in Uruguay.

The 12 players named to the U.S. squad were: 2015 power forward Thomas Bryant, 2016 shooting guard Terrance Ferguson, 2015 center Daniel Giddens, 2016 power forward Harry Giles, 2016 small forward Josh Jackson, 2016 shooting guard V.J. King, 2015 combo guard Malik Newman, 2015 power forward Ivan Rabb, 2016 point guard Devearl Ramsey, 2015 center Diamond Stone, 2016 small forward Jayson Tatum and 2016 point guard Seventh Woods.

Here were the top 10 things I learned from the USA Basketball U16 tryouts, including Newman’s star-making performance and why I think Giles is the best prospect in all of high school basketball.

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This week’s Friday notebook includes a breakdown of the common schools on the lists for top-10 juniors Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow, recruiting updates from last weekend’s Under Armour Invitational and additional recruiting news and notes.

Cross-referencing lists for Okafor, Jones and Winslow

I’m about to tell you why Baylor, Duke or Kansas could hit the jackpot in 2014.

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ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the second time in three weeks, the Dallas area played host to a major travel team event as the Under Armour Invitational rolled through Texas last weekend. There were plenty of star recruits on display, in addition to several up-and-coming and under-the-radar prospects who continue to boost their stock this spring.

Here were the top 10 things I learned from the UA Invitational.

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In this week’s notebook, we’ll touch on where Indiana goes after coming up short in its pursuit of Theo Pinson, an upcoming visit for ESPN 60 swingman Kameron Chatman and how relationships may influence where several of the top prospects land.

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If you’re reading this blog, we’re going to assume that you’re somewhat of a hoops junkie. Well, no more of an addict than I am, and that’s why the spring captivates us. It’s the time of year when our beliefs about the big-timers are either confirmed or quashed. As we sort through the rubble of the evaluations, new names emerge. Some of them are players who ascended their games, while others essentially emerged without notice.

There are a few players on this list who you’ll know. We recognize them for taking the next step. There are equally as many prospects who bumped and pushed their way to the front of the line. It’s their time, and they seem intent on announcing their presence.

Here are my top 10 late bloomers in the 2014 class.

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There is a late addition to the 2013 best-available recruits list.

ESPN 100 center Dominic Woodson (Huntington, W.Va./Huntington Prep) is back on the open market after being granted a release from his Letter of Intent by Baylor. After signing with Scott Drew’s Bears in the fall, Marshall and Memphis are expected to play a big role in his next move.

“It was mutual,” said Prep coach Rob Fulford. “He asked for his release and he received it. Baylor didn’t anticipate having two pros come back and they were interested in Dominic redshirting, and he wasn’t interested in that.”

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This week’s Friday notebook includes all the latest news and notes from the basketball recruiting world, including how a recent commitment impacts Florida’s recruiting plans, final thoughts on Andrew Wiggins, recruiting updates from last weekend’s Dallas Nike EYBL and much more.

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DALLAS -- Big D played host to the third Nike EYBL session of the spring, and the nation’s top talent was on full display, highlighted by the mega-point guard showdown between Tyus Jones and Joel Berry. Also making waves were ESPN 60 wings Justin Jackson and Daniel Hamilton, who committed late Saturday night.

Here were 10 things I learned from the Dallas EYBL.

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