ESPN.com presents College Basketball Recruiting http://espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/ 60 en-us Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:12:55 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 This past Saturday was an important date on the recruiting calendar. On June 15 it became permissible for college coaches to call, text or send private messages via social media to prospects in the Class of 2015. That made it a big day for coaches and players alike, as prospects felt the excitement of their first recruiting calls and coaches looked to make an early impression with some of their top underclassmen targets. Predictably, it wasn’t long before many of these phone conversations were soon documented on the internet, with Twitter timelines essentially keeping a running log of exactly who was talking to whom.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=7203 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:12:08 EDT 7203 The Florida Gators are on the board in the Class of 2015 after receiving a pledge from ESPN 60 PF Kevarrius Hayes (Live Oak, Fla./Suwannee) Monday night. Hayes chose to play for Billy Donovan over interest from Alabama, Kansas State and Miami (Fla.), among others. Hayes recruiting was really starting to pick up of late but when the Gators stepped up with an offer, he knew it was time to pull the trigger on his decision. “Florida was my dream school; it is close to home and it has a great medical program because I want to be a doctor.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=7195 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:50:14 EDT 7195 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – This year’s NBPA Top 100 Camp was littered with skilled prospects from top to bottom and was overall a very strong and deep collection of talent. Former NBA coach John Lucas served as the director of scouting at the camp, which annually attracts high-level prep prospects from all over the country. The contests were extremely competitive as the players really took pride in their performances. Making the most noise at the camp were the event’s big men, who stood out due to their length in blocking and altering shots, overall efforts in rebounding and ability to run the floor and finish.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=7183 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:30:45 EDT 7183 Penn State landed two commitments last week -- the first from 2015 big man Mike Watkins (Philadelphia/Imhotep Charter) and the second from 2014 guard Shep Garner (Philadelphia/Roman Catholic) -- as Nittany Lions head coach Pat Chambers continues to demonstrate his program’s growing presence in Philly. Chambers is a Philadelphia guy, having played at Philadelphia University and then coached under Jay Wright at Villanova. He relied on those local ties even when recruiting at Boston University and has brought a similar approach to University Park.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=7181 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:58:49 EDT 7181 Momentum is a powerful thing in the world of college basketball recruiting. While it tends to be a constant for a select few national powerhouses like Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina and Kansas, virtually all other programs in the country are constantly competing for any edge that can push them to that next level. In the wake of our initial 2014 ESPN 100 player rankings release last week and as we start a team-by-team breakdown of 2014 recruiting targets by conference over the next two weeks, here’s a look at five college hoops programs that are trending in the wrong direction on the momentum meter heading into the 2014 recruiting class.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=7178 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:13:41 EDT 7178 Momentum is a powerful thing in the world of college basketball recruiting. While it tends to be a constant for a select few national powerhouses like Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina and Kansas, virtually all other programs in the country are constantly competing for any edge that can push them to that next level. In the wake of our initial 2014 ESPN 100 player rankings release last week and as we start a team-by-team breakdown of 2014 recruiting targets by conference over the next two weeks, here’s a look at five college hoops programs that are heading into the 2014 recruiting class with some very positive momentum.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=7176 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:03:25 EDT 7176 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- There have been a number of terrific performances at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, but here are quick-hitting scouting impressions on more than 30 players who have caught my eye on a consistent basis outside of P.J. Dozier, Elbert Robinson and Jordan McLaughlin, whom I already did individual blogs on. 2014 PF/C Payton Dastrup: Attacks the rim with great energy and urgency, finishing and competing at a high level. He simply didn't take plays off.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=7174 Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:31:16 EDT 7174 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The NBPA Top 100 Camp features many of the nation’s top high school basketball players. Our staff has already weighed in on what we learned from Day 1 and Day 2 at the camp, here’s a sampling of what some of the best players had to say about their peers and who impressed them. Joel Berry (Apopka, Fla./Lake Highland) On Isaiah Whitehead (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln): “He can really score the ball. He did something I've never seen before.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post/_/id/7167/nbpa-camp-what-players-are-saying Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:13:17 EDT 7167 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- ESPN 100 point guard Jordan McLaughlin (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Etiwanda), who is competing this week at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, is a smart, smooth and very efficient point guard who can run a team, is a good decision-maker, and makes his teammates better with his ability to deliver the ball on time and on target. The No. 18 overall player in the Class of 2014 has some outstanding programs after his services, including Kansas, UCLA, Indiana, UConn, Gonzaga, San Diego State, USC and UNLV.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=7162 Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:50:59 EDT 7162 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Combo guard Perry "P.J." Dozier (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley) is a high IQ prospect with a nice feel for the game and a solid skill-set on the perimeter. The nation’s No. 22 rising junior had his talents on full display at this week’s NBPA 100 Camp, giving evaluators a glimpse of a potential very productive future college player. The 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard has nearly 10 teams pursuing him, with that number likely to rise significantly this summer and into his junior high school season.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=7155 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:32:59 EDT 7155