Tobias Harris Q & A

Special thanks to C.J. Watson of GrassRootsBallin’ and Premo Hoops recruiting for providing this interview with ACC target Tobias Harris (PF, 6’7″, 2010)

Tobias Harris Q&A
Contibuted By: C.J. Watson
Premo Hoops Recruiting

PHR: What schools have offered you a scholarship?
TH: Arizona, Baylor, UConn, Florida State, Indiana, Louisville, Marquette, Maryland, Miami, Rutgers, St. John’s, Syracuse, Texas, Virginia, Wake Forest, WVU, Xavier, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Notre Dame, Providence, USC and Georgetown.

PHR: What schools do you have on your list?
TH: I have a top 11 as of right now but this list could definitely change. Louisville, Marquette, UConn, Maryland, Virginia, Syracuse, Wake Forest, Rutgers, Georgetown, WVU and USC.

PHR: What are some of the deciding factors for you when picking a school?
TH: The coaching staff and academics along with me feeling comfortable with the area.

PHR: Can you talk a little bit about the recent school visits you have taken and things you liked about each one?
TH: I went to Louisville and really liked the program they have and coach Pitino is a great guy. They play in a tough conference so that is a plus also. Maryland, Virginia and Georgetown were all great schools with great coaching staffs and atmosphere as well.

PHR: How was your summer on the AAU circuit?
TH: My summer went well I thought I played well at the events and really impressed many people.

PHR: How was your experience at the RBK All-American camp?
TH: The RBK camp was probably one of my best experiences this summer. I thought I played really well in a camp where everyone is an elite player.

PHR: What parts of your game did you focus on improving the most this summer?
TH: My defense and speed.

PHR: What do you feel are the strengths to your game?
TH: My versatility and shooting along with finding ways to score.

PHR: What do you feel are the weakest parts in your game?
TH: I don’t call out a true weakness; I just call it something to improve on the most which is my defense which I am working on.

PHR: What were some of the deciding factors on you transferring to a new high school?
TH: I wanted to play better competition and to be pushed to the limit.

PHR: What goals have you set for your junior season?
TH: I want to win a state championship.

PHR: Who are the biggest role models in your life?
TH: My father and George Gervin.

PHR: If you’re not playing ball what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
TH: As weird as it sounds I love to sleep it’s like a hobby for me.

Florida State lands a Recruit

The FSU Seminoles landed another recruit on the heels of getting Michael Snaer(SG/SF, 6’5″, 2009), this time it’s forward Okaro White (SF/PF, 6’8″, 2010), who also had offers on the table from Clemson, Georgia Tech and Miami. White is an intriguing player; he’s got the size to play in the post but plays a little more like a small forward. It’s hard to tell where he’ll be used, in the limited time I’ve seen him play, he’s looked like he has some offense and ability to put the ball on the floor, but really wasn’t using his size like a big man.

Of course, White is a 2010 player and will have time to develop more of his game by the time he reaches Florida State. He should be a player that can get some minutes in the ACC. He plays for Clearwater High School in, naturally, Clearwater, FL and here’s a video preview of his upcoming high school season:

Not a whole lot of basketball footage, but you can see Okaro talking to the camera right in the first few seconds, and then he’s being interviewed for most of the clip. This video was not during a game, so it’s mostly just Okaro dunking for footage, but it still shows his length and how he can play facing the basket.

Michael Snaer Comes Through for Florida State

FSU got their wish yesterday when they landed Michael Snaer (SG/SF, 6’5″, 2009), top player who will probably get major minutes for the Seminoles. Florida State has made major recruiting gains over the past two years and could be a team to watch.

Snaer brings scoring to the Seminoles, and can shoot from outside, although at this point he’s probably more small forward than shooting guard.

ACC Basketball Recruiting Roundup

Jamil Wilson (SF/PF, 6’7″, 2009) eliminates the ACC, and according to Scout.com, he’s cut his list to Oregon State, Marquette, Texas and Michigan State. Wilson had at one time listed Duke as a possible destination, but did not receive a reported offer and Duke is no longer an option. Thus, we’re no longer tracking Jamil as an ACC prospect.

Trae Golden

Trae Golden (PG/SG,6’1″,2010) the player who de-committed from Ohio State over the summer, seems to have completely fallen out of touch with the Buckeyes, but has Georgia Tech, Clemson, Wake Forest and now Virginia Tech following his recruitment. Kentucky has also been in the mix for Golden. North Carolina and Florida State have also been mentioned as possible options.

Clemson and Georgia Tech have reportedly already offered Golden, as has Kentucky.

Ryan Kelly

Rumors abound that Ryan Kelly (PF, 6’10”, 2009) will make a decision this week.

Elijah Johnson cuts list

Elijah Johnson (PG/SG,6’2″, 2009) is another player cutting his list and had eliminated the ACC some time ago, but we’re making it official as he’s trimming his list to Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma.

Derrick Favors, Derrick Favors

Has Derrick cut his list to five. His recent comments to Alex sure seem to indicate it:

Georgia Tech, Georgia, Memphis, North Carolina State, and Florida State

If you didn’t spot the missing school…it’s Kentucky. In fact, Favors tells Alex that reports of him considering Kentucky are inaccurate.

As always, if you’re a college basketball fan who can’t get enough of this stuff, sign up for the email list.

Michael Snaer: Basketball recruit to visit kansas

Micheal Snaer (SG/SF, 6’5″, 2009) a player who Florida State has been heavily recruiting, will visit Kansas for their Late Night event. The ‘Noles basketball recruiting has been on the upswing lately, but the battle for Snaer is one where he is carefully considering several schools.

Terrence Shannon Commits to Florida State Basketball

Terrence Shannon (PF, 6’7″, 2009), the tough rebounder who plays AAU ball with Derrick Favors has decided to play his college ball at Florida State. At one time, Shannon was in the mix with Georgia and Georgia Tech, as well as Memphis and Maryland.

In the end, it came down to the ‘Noles.

Michael Snaer waits, and Boost Mobile Elite 24 on ESPN

Florida State target Michael Snaer (SG/SF, 6’5″, 2009) was originally intending to announce his college destination in the middle of August, but now has decided to wait until a few more visits. UCLA is still in the mix for Snaer despite reports that it was down to Missouri and FSU.

Boost Mobile Elite 24 on ESPN2

UNC commit Dexter Strickland (SG, 6’3″, 2009) and several ACC targets will be participating in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 event, which will be at fabled Rucker Park.

You can catch the action Live on ESPNU at 8 p.m. EDT, Friday August 22
*Re-air on ESPN2 late night Monday, August 25 at midnight EDT.

As always, if you’re a college basketball fan who can’t get enough of this stuff, sign up for the email list.

Michael Snaer is Still Looking; Robinson Trims List

Maybe you heard that Michael Snaer (SG/SF, 6’5″, 2009) was about to make a decision to play for Missouri. Or maybe you heard that he was about to choose Florida State. You probably also heard that UCLA was out of it.

None of it is apparently accurate:

There have been rumors in the past week that Snaer had already reached a decision. One had him headed to Missouri, where he’s attended the Tigers’ Elite Camp the past two seasons and where AAU coach with Inland Reebok, Elvert “Kool-Aid” Perry, has a long-standing relationship with associate head coach Melvin Watkins. Another had Snaer heading to Florida State.

“He’s emphatically denied both of those,” Showalter said. “They just got started somewhere, and I don’t even think it was anything that he said to anybody. I think somebody just got it going.”

Note that Snaer is going to visit UCLA to talk with Ben Howland as well.

Thomas Robinson down to five

Thomas Robinson (PF, 6’8″, 2009) has cut his list to five and the only ACC school still being considered is Miami, along with Memphis, USC, Kansas and Texas. Robinson does have an offer from the Hurricanes.

The Obligatory John Wall Update

NBADraft.net has an interview with John Wall (PG, 6’4″, 2009), everybody’s top choice to be one-and-done in 2010. The interview is lenghthy, does not mention the current thinking that he’s a Baylor lock, but does offer this tidbit which gave me a chuckle:

Q: OK, you’re playing a 3-on-3 tournament at Rucker Park and you can take any two teammates to run with you. Who are you running with?

A: Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant. Nobody would beat us.

Heck, if I had Iverson and Bryant, I think I could play anyone, too. I can pass and set screens as well as anyone.

Under the Radar: Rodney Blount

To be honest, it’s a little surprising that Rodney Blount (PG/SG, 6’0″, 2009) isn’t listed on any of the major recruiting sites, despite having played at the 2008 Reebok All American Camp and regularly training and working out with Mr. Reebok Pump himself, former NBA player Dee Brown.

Blount has the size to play guard at the college level, can handle the ball and shoot. A skilled combo guard, Blount is apparently completely under the radar with only a couple of schools really following him. He’s got good court awareness as well, and plays his high school ball at Ocoee High School in Ocoee, FL. A player that could play for a lot of schools, but hasn’t gotten the looks he should be getting.

With looks from American University and Brevard already, he’s also interested in Alabama, Ole Miss,Auburn, FSU, UCF, Jacksonville, Villanova, Maryland and Michigan.

Here is some video of his solid play:

Michael Snaer’s List of Schools

Scout.com is reporting that Michael Snaer (6’4″, SG/SF, 2009) has several schools on his current list, including Stanford, Marquette, Florida State, Missouri, UNLV, USC, UCLA,Washington, Kansas, Arizona and Cal.

Snaer, a west coast kid, reportedly has offers from ACC schools Miami and Florida State.

Emmanuel Negedu’s visit to Indiana

Doug Wilson and Chris Korman have a fantastic update on Emmanuel Negedu (6’7″, PF, 2008 ) and his visit to Indiana:

So the Indiana visit, I’ve been told, is much more of a fact-finding visit for Negedu. You’ve heard kids talk about the “feeling” they get about a school, and that’s what so many of them are hoping to find when they step on campus. So coaches do whatever they can to create the feeling: they show off the banners, they drive through the campus on golf carts, they hang a jersey with the prospect’s number in the middle stall of the locker room.

More Bad News for Maryland Terrapins

Recently Gary Williams lost troubled recruit Tyree Evans, and now it appears he’s losing another. Gus Glichrist (6’9″, PF, 2008 ) has asked for a release from his LOI with the Terps.