Vega

"His role for the Bulls is similar to that of Jordan Taylor, formerly of Wisconsin. South Florida’s game-plan is to dribble out the shot clock on every possession and then put the ball in Collins’ hands." Biggest reason why recruiting hasn't seen a spike so far even with last season's success and an awesome place to practice and play home games. Also because USF is so unattractive to watch play most of the time, is why Collins was over looked by Adam Zagoria who does a good job of covering the Big East. Which that article wasn't written because it doesn't help USF sign future talent.

Not really trilled about this one. To start we are to have 6 open scholarships for the 2013 class. We had to use 2 of them in order to get John Egbunu committed because USF had to take Drew Davis also. Harris would take up another leaving us just 3. The comparison between him and Rudd is logical but in reality Harris lacks the aggressiveness and athleticism of Victor. I do wonder if the courtship of Harris indicates that the 2013 class is going the way the coaches want.

My stance on where USF should spend most of their recruiting budget is well documented. However if they are hard after a guy in Maryland or any other place I will post it on the bullspen since this is what I do best on here.

I hope his play at the 1:30 point was because he had 4 fouls ... No it was just a soft ass play by him. You see that at times during those all star type games unless the guy is just a defense first kind of player.

That is one big mother. Yeah that stood out to me too. Morgan's daddy was a lucky man. Of course Dwayne will probably end up being 6-10 or taller before he is through growing

2014 Dwayne Morgan interest rises, has UNLV, Seton Hall, NC State, USF offers Right now, Dwayne Morgan is 6-7. That makes him about the same height as his mother, and he’s only a sophomore in high school. The 2014 forward from Baltimore City College High School (Md.) has college coaches taking notice, not only because of the skills he has now, but because, down the line, he could end up being close to seven feet tall. He currently holds offers from UNLV, Seton Hall, South Florida, and NC State, and says he is drawing interest from schools that include Texas, Maryland, and Syracuse. “I want a team that lets me play,†Morgan told NBCSports.com this past weekend about his college desires. “Sometimes I play in and out.†He was impressive over the weekend, showing his length in blocking shots defensively and getting to the rim offensively. He is still raw, but considering how much he can grow and how high his ceiling is, his stock should continue to rise. As he matures on the court and understands the full breadth of his talent, the high-major offers will keep coming. “Sometimes I get really nervous because I want to play good. I’m comfortable with it, it’s just I get so excited that I rush a little bit,†he said. “I think it’s a positive now, but as time progresses, it’ll get better.†Morgan says, as far as his recruitment, he is not bound to any geographical area, and mentioned what he is looking for in a coach and program. “I want a coach that will tell me the truth, a guy who will tell me if I played good or played bad,†said Morgan. “Pretty much, a hard-nosed guy because that’s how my AAU coach is.†http://collegebasket...ate-usf-offers/

Why would he? More likely his minutes go nowhere but up now, right? True he'll get more playing time, but his teamis now unlikely to go dancing. Well USF was the better situation but Cassell Jr just wasn't going to leave his home area. Luckily there is yet another PG who just became available and our coaching staff is very familiar with him. P.J. Hardwick a PG out Houston, Tx has gotten his release from MSU and is looking for a new home. The Bulldogs beat out USF for Hardwick right before the early signing period. PJ has just visited North Texas and apparently Larry Brown is trying to get in on him.

No it's not if you are serious about building a title contender. Only a few schools can wait to the last minute to offer kids and have a good chance at landing them.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes of CIA Bounce put on an offensive show this past weekend in the opening leg of Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League in Minneapolis (MN). The timing could not have been better as the NCAA reinstated the April open evaluation period and college coaches were in the building to see Rathan-Mayes fill it up all weekend. All in all 40 NIKE affiliated AAU teams participated in the opening weekend and CIA Bounce was one of just six to finish the weekend with a 4-0 record. Rathan-Mayes finsihed the four games with an 18 points per game average, good enough to be tied for 7th in the league in scoring overall. “It felt great to be able perform in front of the coaches, it’s an opportunity I’ve prepared for all my life since I was a small kid†Rathan-Mayes told NBE this morning, “[and it] felt great being out there with the guys winning games.†The opening weekend of the EYBL seems to brin out the best in teams as they figh for spots in the championship round held at the Peach Jam in July. The college coaches being in the building added an extra level of excitement for onlookers, but Rathan-Mayes said it was business as usual on the court aseveryone wanted to get that W. “I don’t really think there was an added level because the intensity is always at a high level playing in the EYBL,†he said. “It’s the best league in the country and those are the events all coaches come to see.†This past weekend Rathan-Mayes had a goal to show coaches he can be a consistent scorer. Having a reputation of a scorer that can get on a roll and be unstoppable, he wanted to prove he can produce in a consistent manner. Point proven as he put up games of 28,22 and 16 points in his four outings. His 28 point explosion got the event started off in CIA Bounce’s 20-point dismantling of Team Final, an expected EYBL championship contender on Friday. “I just wanted to come out and have a strong weekend, really wanted to come out and make a statement prove to everyone what I’m truly capable of doing on a night in and night out basis,†he said. A strong performance like that with college coaches looking on certainly brought more attention to his recruitment. Offers and contact have been flowing in since the games wrapped up on Sunday. “Since the weekend I have received offers from South Florida, Seton Hall, LSU, UCLA, Baylor, Oregon and SMU,†he said. “Other schools that I know have been in contact have been Missouri, Memphis, Syracuse and a few others.†It was not as though Rathan-Mayes was not on anyone’s recruiting radar before the weekend. Back in February he told NBE he already had offers from Louisville, Kansas, Arizona, Florida State, NC State, Penn State, Marquette, USC, St. John’s, Texas, Washington, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Villanova, Connecticut, Arizona State, Virginia Tech and Kansas State among others. Rathan-Mayes is just adding the new offers and interest to the previous schools and taking it all in. “Right now I’m considering every school [and] I’m still wide open,†he said. “No favoritess or leaders right now and don’t have a time or date for when I will make a decision.†Xavier Rathan-Mayes and his CIA Bounce teamates will once again be in front of college coaches this weekend when the EYBL rolls into Hampton (VA) for the Boo Williams leg of the tour. Can they continue their undefeated winning ways? Plenty of interested onlookers will be waiting to see. http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2012-0425/hot-weekend-for-xavier-rathan-mayes-in-eybl-translates-to-hot-recruit/

Looks like Xavier Rathan-Mayes is starting to blow up. New offers from UCLA, USF, Gonzaga, Seton Hall & LSU with Baylor interest. http://twitter.com/#...929160173522944 Mayes is friends and teammates with Javontae Hawkins at Huntington. I have no idea why it has taken Heath so long to extend a scholarship offer to a talent like Mayes, who I'm sure he has seen play plenty of times while watching Hawkins.

The one thing that worries me and probably is another season Stan so badly wanted another PG type for next season is health concerns. Aleem hasn't played competitive basketball in over a year because of a stress fracture. Since he was hurt and not just red shirting, he wasn't even able to practice or go through a full workout for a long stretch either. We don't know how physically and mentally he'll be ready to go at the start of the season. Also having to play PG with all that rust he has won't be easy. Collins is 1 of the top PGs in the nation but he is a guy who gets beat up a lot and is an injury waiting to happen. He isn't the biggest or strongest guy out there. I don't know what's out there left to sign for the 2012 class that will help, but I'm sure Heath and his staff are still looking.

Problem is that any pg that's above average probably doesn't want to be a backup for 3 years. Next year we've, hopefully, got Davis coming in which would even make us more unattractive to a legit pg. So, 38 minutes a game for AC this year? Davis won't scare any PG from coming in. If Davis was a great PG then Heath wouldn't be so hard after every quality PG in the 2013 class. Remember he tried to sign other PGs for the 2012 class before the dance with Cassell Jr, who Stan was recruiting as a scorer that could play PG when needed. I believe that Stan was going to alternate Cassell Jr and Aleem as the main ball handlers after Collins since those two would have been the only combo guards on the roster. I saw Davis play in the USA vs the World game and he wasn't the person bringing the ball up the court or running the offense. He just floated around the perimeter until he was passed the ball. If he got an opening then he would pull the trigger. The guy can shot the deep ball and projects to be a spot player for USF like Noriega is right now. Egbunu is the reason why Davis has an offer from USF. Stan will sign a PG in this next class and he won't be projected as an average player either. Hopefully Davis will greatly improve before he gets to USF. You can never have enough talent.

Well unfortunately that basically was all there was. Sam Jr was going to Maryland regardless of what a great opportunity he could have had here. Some kids decommit from a school and they really never look back. While others like Sam Jr decommit only in words but the heart and mind never did and end up staying with the schools after enjoying a few free trips. I said it before and I'm saying it again, it is time for Heath to basically give up recruiting that area, because those valuable dollars spend on flights, hotels, etc. in the state of Maryland is a total waste. The time, effort, and money spend is better served in states like Texas, Tenn, Georgia, and Florida. Basically recruit the south. USF can occasionally takes shots up north but only when there is a real interest from that player about coming down south. This dance with Cassell Jr has set the program back a step. During that time other players that have high D-1 potential have either signed or already trimmed their list down to the 2 or 3 schools they are considering. It's never good to put all your eggs in 1 basket, which is something I thought this program has gotten past doing.

He transferred from the University of Maryland after decommitting from Virginia Tech before that.

That's about where I'm at. If any knows Brock real well he/she should ask him, I bet he knows where Jr is going. Also should we lose out on yet another state of Maryland prospect Heath and the athletic department needs to seriously consider backing off some from recruiting there. Since Stan has been at USF probably the majority of our recruiting budget has been used to recruit up there. I struggle to think of 1 player we have signed. It has been well documented that USF either has the lowest budget or next to the lowest budget to spend on recruiting then any other BE school. Imo USF needs to recruit Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Tenn the hardest. Those 4 states can pretty much supply all the talent we need to build a consistent winner.

Btw I think this is a sign that he committed back to Maryland. The tease is on USF here and just waiting for the announcement. If the unbelievable happened then Jr is one tough and cold S.O.B. It would seem that way, except why would we then back off from Applewhite? Nash also did not announce he was transferring until after Cassell made his visit to USF. I wonder how much influence Casell Sr has on his decision. He was quick to announce that his son was not a Maryland commit and, so, couldn't have been that happy with his decision to go there in the first place. I agree with you on the timing of those events happening. No it doesn't seem to make sense on USF part to separate from Nash and not continue to go after Applewhite w/o any assurance that Cassell Jr will not be a Bull. However there are a few other angles to look at. I do not think Nash was going to be a part of this team going forward if he really wanted PT. Heath has already stated that Aleem can play PG so I expect to see that, Cassell Jr or not. According to Jr USF is actually recruiting him as a scorer first. There's also the 2013 class where USF is on some top PGs and maybe for 1 season Aleem can help out at the point good enough until a permanent solution is here. The backing off of Applewhite is the curious one IF we don't get Sam and Aleem has to expend his game into a PG role.

Edgar Walker †@Edgar_Walker Basketball recruiting analyst for MD High (Rivals Network)...Hoop Group digital media, BSR staff writer. Baltimore, MD I'm hearing that Sam Cassell Jr will announce his commitment to Maryland at the Capital Classic, but as we saw earlier, anything's possible.

Btw I think this is a sign that he committed back to Maryland. The tease is on USF here and just waiting for the announcement. If the unbelievable happened then Jr is one tough and cold S.O.B.

Gary Simpson †@gsimp83 “@TerrapinNation: Sam Cassell Jr definitely doing his best to keep the suspense alive....he's practicing today in a USF t shirt.†Pathetic.

If it was actually IN Maryland, I'd agree ... but maybe he's choosing there to announce us for that very reason .... He's not IN Maryland. It's less then an hour drive from Alexandria to Baltimore and 6 minutes from the D.C. area. It will be a lot of Maryland fans there as usual, especially with their interest in the signed players participating in that game.

Sam Cassell Jr. interview at Capital Classic Practice 4/19/2012

Suppose to announce at the Capital Classic where he'll be playing with 4 other Terps recruits. I'll be stunned if Sam Jr says he's signing with USF right there in front of all those Maryland fans and his friends. In fact it will be the most shocking thing in recruitment I have seen in some time if that were to happen.

+1

Here is some more info. You can read the stories at the links. Antravious Simmons †@Antravious32 My Choice for college Is down to 3 now 1.Cuse 2.USF 3.Murray St 1:13 PM - 4 Mar 12 via web https://twitter.com/...#!/Antravious32 http://247sports.com...s-Simmons-13835 http://www.floridaho...ntent&Itemid=57 http://www.nunesmagi...ravious-simmons Mama_Bull I saw an article on Henry somewhere that stated Stan Heath tried hard to get him committed as part of the 2012 class. Of course he reclassified to the 2013 class in order to get more ready prepared for college. Henry has a long list of suitors but USF is still right near the top for him. He is a guy with an extremely high ceiling and the determination to be the best. He's already considered 1 of the best PFs in the class. Also it's time to start following the recruitment of PG Will Ferguson who has USF on his short list.

mama_bull via twitter copy I notice that #143 is 6'9" Center/PF Antravious Simmons. Coach Heath supposedly visited with him the other day. http://rivals.yahoo....XD7m.s_CJPVO5B4 From Temple Board: Per Source Hoops 6'9 Antravious Simmons of South Miami HS had visits from Temple, USF, Alabama & Memphis in the last 24hrs. Also an update on Henry coming.