Derrick Favors narrows it down

Basketball recruiting’s top prize for 2009, at least by some opinions, is Derrick Favors (PF, 6’9″, 2009), and several programs have been anxiously waiting for him to start cutting his long list of potential schools.

Looks like the rumors that Georgia and Georgia Tech are the teams to beat still will be around, as Favors new list includes both the Bulldogs and the Yellow Jackets, as well as Kentucky, Memphis, Connecticut and Florida State.

It seems like Georgia Tech is the likely place for the probable pro player, but some schools, like Georgia, have been recruiting Derrick for some time.

ACC Basketball Recruiting Roundup, 6/17/2008

So lots of stuff to get into…

Emmanuel Negedu, Memphis dunkasaurus session

Emmanuel Negedu (6’7″, PF, 2008 ) is expected to make his decision this week. So far the quietest visits were Tennesee and Georgia Tech, but lots of writers chimed in on his Indiana and Memphis visits. The consensus from the outside looking in has been that Indiana did not impress him as much as they wanted but the Memphis visit went well. One highlight of the Tiger visit was Negedu showing off his dunkability:

After the practice was over, Negedu stepped on the court and demonstrated his jumping ability. I had heard a rumor that he could stand underneath the basket, jump up and touch his forehead on the rim. While I did not see him do this, I can say that I think it is very possible. Negedu, while wearing flip flops, showed off a variety of windmill and backwards dunks.

Okay, flip-flops? I am equally impressed and worried that he would slip and fall, probably tearing his ACL in a season ending collapse. I seriously hope the ‘flip-flops’ weren’t those flimsy shower slippers and maybe something with a buckle? I mean, windmill dunks in flip-flops…who are you, Evel Knievel? (for all you kids out there, Mr. Kneival was a daredevil motorscylist from way back in the day…)

Meanwhile, Adam Zagoria has spoken to Negedu’s prep schoool coach, who plays it close to the vest…but this should all be over this week.

John Henson and the national team

So it turns out John Henson (6’10”, SF/PF, 2009, UNC) wasn’t snubbed for the US basketball U-18 team:

One of the fastest-rising prospects in recent years, Henson was asked to compete for a spot on the national team but didn’t want to miss Nike’s LeBron James Skills Academy in Akron from July 5-9.

So Henson just decided to go a different way, NOT USA Basketball ignoring him.

image courtesy Scout.com

Doron Lamb’s ‘dream school’

Meanwhile, it looked like Doron Lamb (6’4″,SG,2010) a Duke, Maryland and Georgia Tech target, was favoring Louisville, but now he says there is no leader although Syracuse is his ‘dream school’. Looks like it will be tough to get him away from the Big East. Maybe, if that that’s true, Maryland has the best shot?

Dante Taylor

Our boy Alex Schwartz is the man when it comes to talking to some of the best prospects in the East. Check out this awesome interview with offensive stud Dante Taylor (6’8″, PF, 2009), who is a Maryland target. Although it seems like he’s gettin’ a lot of Big East love, Maryland needs an inside scorer in the worst way.

Derrick Favors Recruiting

Recently it was reported that Derrick Favors (6’10”, PF, 2009) has a list of fifteen schools. The Fayetteville Observer reports that Favors probably won’t decide until April 2009, and that his current list includes ACC schools Georgia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke and Miami.

J.T. Terrell, John Wall at the Pangos

CSTV discusses the play of several ACC recruits at the Pangos All-American, including J.T. Terrell (6’3″, SG, 2010) who has a Wake Forest offer:

J.T. Terrell 6-foot-4 SG (2010) Burlington Cummings (N.C.) – This solid shooting wing guard can score from three or take it to the rim and finish with thunderous dunks. He is a long and rangy defender and rebounder who does little things to help squad win.

John Wall, who has solidified his status as the highlight PG to follow up Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings:

John Wall 6-foot-4 PG Raleigh Word of God (N.C.) – He has dominated everyone he’s faced off the dribble with his explosive quickness. He has left them shoeless with his crossover and spin move and confuses opponents when he sets it up with solid jumper from beyond the arc.

Kenny Boynton lists five

The Miami Herald is reporting that Kenny Boynton (6’2″, PG, 2009) is down to a list of five, which does not include Miami but does have some ACC schools: Florida, Memphis, Duke, Texas and Georgia Tech.

Most of the attention recently has been about Florida and Duke, so only time will tell if those schools emerge as the leaders. This list knocks out the Hurricanes, who are recruiting the PG position hard.

Emmanuel Negedu, assistants a factor?

As expected, Tennessee is an option for Emmanuel Negedu (6’7″, PF, 2008), the best available player now from the 2008 class, and it seems that one of the reasons being cited for his pulling out of his commitment to Arizona is the turnover in assistant coaches.

If that’s true, it would seem that Memphis might have the edge considering that Josh Pastner, the AZ assistant who recruited Negedu to the Wildcats is now with Memphis. Of course, Pastner is aware of this and has made overtures to convince Negedu to stay at Arizona, and often with these situations, the players do not follow the coaches as you might think.