ESPN.com presents College Basketball Recruiting http://espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/ 60 en-us Wed, 16 May 2012 12:59:44 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 By adding ESPN 100 PF Amile Jefferson (Philadelphia/Friends Central), Duke helps fill its void in the frontcourt left by the departure of Miles Plumlee. Jefferson isn't likely to be an immediate starter -- those frontcourt roles are likely to be filled by Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee -- but he will be in the running for first big off the bench along with Alex Murphy, Josh Hairston and Marshall Plumlee. Regardless, the McDonald's All-American gives the Blue Devils immediate depth.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=2138 Tue, 15 May 2012 17:22:03 EDT 2138 Times are tough right now for programs still looking to add pieces in the Class of 2012 and the domino effect is well underway. High-major schools are settling for mid-major talent and the ripple effects are being felt throughout all levels of college basketball. That being said, there are still a couple of mid-major programs which have managed to find some late value: Georgia State There’s rebuilding and then there’s what Ron Hunter is doing down at Georgia State.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=2135 Tue, 15 May 2012 09:57:32 EDT 2135 I had an opportunity to speak this past weekend at the fifth-annual International Middle School Combine that was held at St. John's High School in Houston. The combine was under the direction of former University of Maryland All-American, No. 1 pick in the 1976 NBA Draft and former NBA head coach, John Lucas II. Just over 100 very talented players from the 2016 and 2017 classes were in attendance. The post players (about 20 were 6-foot-6 or taller) were mobile and athletic, the wings had very good skill level and the point guards displayed excellent speed, quickness and high basketball IQs.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=2133 Mon, 14 May 2012 18:21:37 EDT 2133 FRISCO, Texas – Four-star wide receiver and Texas A&M commit Derrick Griffin (Rosenberg, Texas/Terry), a projected tight end in college, is the top-ranked hybrid tight end in the 2013 class for a reason. His speed, athleticism, playmaking ability and overall bounce highlight his football résumé. However, those same categories also make Griffin equally dangerous on the basketball court. At 6-foot-7 and 220 pounds, Griffin was a go-to player for Terry's basketball team and currently is a key contributor on his AAU team, the Houston Hoops.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=2127 Mon, 14 May 2012 17:40:22 EDT 2127 DALLAS -- There were many great matchups over the course of the weekend during the third session of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League. Here is a look at who stood out during the event: Standout players Julius Randle (Plano, Texas/Prestonwood) 2013, PF, 6-foot-8, 240 pounds Before anointing anyone the No. 1 player in the 2013 class, we need to make sure we don’t dismiss Mr. Randle. He is still the most unstoppable force in the class.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=2114 Mon, 14 May 2012 13:44:37 EDT 2114 Anthony Bennett is one of the biggest recruits in the history of the UNLV program because of his high national ranking (No. 7), his ties to the program and his ability to come in and elevate the program right away. The five-star power forward from Brampton, Ontario, who played his high school ball at Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, regularly attended UNLV's home games during its 26-win season. "I felt a great relationship with the coaches," Bennett said.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=2107 Sat, 12 May 2012 17:19:50 EDT 2107 On Friday, it was reported by the New England Recruiting Report that the nation’s top post-graduate basketball league would be losing two of its eight schools. Both the Winchendon School and Maine Central Institute have left class AAA of the New England Preparatory Athletic Council (NEPSAC). Only six schools - Brewster Academy, Bridgton Academy, New Hampton School, Northfield Mount Hermon School, South Kent School, and St. Thomas More School – will remain next year as the league has now lost 40 percent of its membership in the last three years, following reclassifications of Phillips Exeter Academy and Worcester Academy in the realignment of 2010.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=2103 Fri, 11 May 2012 14:53:58 EDT 2103 Abdul-Malik Abu (Marblehead, Mass./Kimball Union) was one of New England’s biggest winners of the April live period. Coming into the month the sophomore big man was considered by many to be on the verge of a breakout. Coming out of the month and that breakout is a thing of the past, as he has now solidified himself as a high-major frontcourt target in the class of 2014. Abu now holds offers from Iowa State, Michigan State, Providence, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Temple, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island according to his Expressions Elite head coach Tyron Boswell.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=2100 Thu, 10 May 2012 15:52:14 EDT 2100 There will be a fresh face taking the court for Texas PRO this weekend in Dallas at the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League. Class of 2013 point guard Isaiah Taylor (Oakland, Calif./The Village School (Houston)) will be making his debut for coach Marland Lowe and I have been getting good reports. "I am very excited about playing in the Nike EYBL this weekend," he said. Taylor, who played for the Oakland Rebels and coach Shawn Hadnot in California, has been in Texas since September where he averaged about 16 points and 8 assists per game for The Village School, where he also had a 3.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=2097 Wed, 9 May 2012 12:30:11 EDT 2097 One of the most common complaints about the grassroots schedule is that kids play so many games that winning and losing becomes devalued. A similar complaint is that by the time the best teams in the field actually match up, it’s typically on Sunday afternoon when they’re worn down from multiple games already played, resulting in sloppy and anti-climatic championship rounds that are often hard to evaluate. Nike became the first to address this concern with the way it constructed its Elite Youth Basketball League.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbrecruiting/national/post?id=2093 Tue, 8 May 2012 15:25:15 EDT 2093