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- Thread starter jwinslow
- Start date
casey_buckeye
3rd time is a charm! Miami in January!
The info on BN was from a SportingNews article. The article is a little iffy because there are no direct quotes from Young. My money would be on Memphis to get Young.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Let me clarify my last post......I have not seen any direct quotes from Young in reference to his favorites. Young and his camp have been very tight lipped so to speak.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Just a tidbit of information, do not listen to these other boards who say that Young has "baggage", that is not accurate. This is a great kid with a 4.0+ GPA.
ScoutHoops.com$
7/7/05
The ankle injury is slowing him down during camp, but he is still proving he is very talented on the court.
ScoutHoops.com$
7/7/05
Young has denied a report that he has trimmed his list to three schools.
ScoutHoops.com$
7/7/05
The ankle injury is slowing him down during camp, but he is still proving he is very talented on the court.
ScoutHoops.com$
7/7/05
Young has denied a report that he has trimmed his list to three schools.
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From a post by BB73 on another thread...
On Page 29 of the current issue of SI, there's a small article titled OSU-Turn.
After talking about Oden's verbal, it says "Second-year coach Thad Matta has received commitments from three other top 35 recruits, and he is confident that Memphis forward Thaddeus Young, one of the nation's 10 best, will follow."
It then mentions the name "the Thad Five".
On Page 29 of the current issue of SI, there's a small article titled OSU-Turn.
After talking about Oden's verbal, it says "Second-year coach Thad Matta has received commitments from three other top 35 recruits, and he is confident that Memphis forward Thaddeus Young, one of the nation's 10 best, will follow."
It then mentions the name "the Thad Five".
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Its obvious to everyone that Young is the #1 target to round out the class. Its just hard to get a read on the situation.
rivals.com$
7/8/05
Young again denies that he has narrowed his list of schools.
rivals.com$
7/8/05
Young again denies that he has narrowed his list of schools.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Matta was apparently in Georgia on Friday to catch up with Young.
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Link
Coaches dial Young's number with hope
But Mitchell star isn't identifying any favorites for now
By Jim Masilak
Contact
July 9, 2005
SUWANEE, Ga. -- Thaddeus Young received his first recruiting letter when he was in the eighth grade. There's no telling how many trees have been sacrificed in the pursuit of his coveted signature in the three-plus years since that initial form letter landed in his mailbox.
Mitchell's sensational 6-8 senior forward figures the collective correspondence recruiters have sent him would "probably fill up a whole room."
Young receives so much mail from breathless college coaches that he no longer has the time or patience to sort through it all.
Indeed, to get through to a player regarded as one of the top three in the class of 2006, it takes something extra.
Something special.
Something personal.
"It got to the point a while ago where I had to start throwing stuff away," said Young after participating in a game at the adidas Superstar Camp on Friday morning at the Suwanee Sports Academy. "If it's the kind of letter they send to everybody, I don't read it."
Young has long since passed the point where a letter from a college coach makes a big impression on him. He fields about 20 phone calls a day from coaches and media and, because he travels around the country with his summer team, Memphis Pump'N'Run, he's easy for scouts to find.
Young is so guarded about his intentions -- he said he hasn't named his list of favorites publicly in at least two years -- that it's difficult to get an accurate read on which schools lead for his services.
As a result, the correspondence continues unabated, and it has led to some interesting tactics.
"One school sent me something with my picture on it saying, 'Thaddeus Young: The No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft after one year in college,'" Young said, flashing his trademark ear-to-ear grin at the idea.
"Another school sent me a wanted poster with my picture on it. It said, 'Wanted: For posession of deadly ballhandling skills. Last seen breaking somebody's ankles.'"
Young's stated plan of action is to compile a list of five schools by the end of the summer, visit them and then sign a letter of intent before the start of his senior season in November.
He's so careful about ensuring all his options remain open that he refuses even to say which schools sent the wanted poster and the draft prediction.
As frustrated as fans might be about his unwillingness to talk about specific schools, coaches are sometimes even more so.
"They keep calling and telling me, 'We want you, we want you. Are we in your top five?'" Young said. "I'm just like, 'We'll see at the end of the summer. Just wait.' They want me to commit, and I tell them they're gonna have to wait like all the other coaches."
Of course, even if Young follows his course of action and reveals his list of finalists in August, it is unlikely to dissuade those who don't make the cut.
"I think it might make it easier this way," Young said. "Coaches say that, 'Once you say your top five, if we're not in it we'll leave you alone.' I guess some of them will and some of them won't."
So what is Young looking for in a school?
He's visited face-to-face with approximately 40 different teams. The ones most often mentioned in connection with Young of late include the University of Memphis, North Carolina and Ohio State, but the player will confirm or deny virtually none of it, saying he's considering "dozens" of schools.
He plans to sit down later this month with his father, Felton Young, Mitchell coach Jerry Johnson and other family members in an effort to narrow his choices.
"People still say I have favorites, and college coaches call and say, 'We hear you're counting us out.' Well, right now I don't talk to anyone about my college choices except my dad and my uncle (Ken Carter, a New Orleans attorney who has been advising the family)," Young said. "I'm kind of blank right now. Narrowing it down is gonna be kind of hard."
Felton Young declined an interview request Friday afternoon, but Thaddeus denied reports that he will soon add his name to the impressive recruiting haul being lined up by Ohio State coach Thad Matta.
Several top seniors, including the nation's consensus No. 1 recruit, Greg Oden, have committed to the Buckeyes.
"That's not true at all," said Young when asked whether he was leaning toward OSU. "Somebody was telling me (there was a report) that I had a top three, and that's not true either.
"(Ohio State) is very intriguing. Greg and those guys have been asking me to come with them. 'Come on over there with us,' they tell me. I'm like, 'It ain't that easy.'"
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
Coaches dial Young's number with hope
But Mitchell star isn't identifying any favorites for now
By Jim Masilak
Contact
July 9, 2005
SUWANEE, Ga. -- Thaddeus Young received his first recruiting letter when he was in the eighth grade. There's no telling how many trees have been sacrificed in the pursuit of his coveted signature in the three-plus years since that initial form letter landed in his mailbox.
Mitchell's sensational 6-8 senior forward figures the collective correspondence recruiters have sent him would "probably fill up a whole room."
Young receives so much mail from breathless college coaches that he no longer has the time or patience to sort through it all.
Indeed, to get through to a player regarded as one of the top three in the class of 2006, it takes something extra.
Something special.
Something personal.
"It got to the point a while ago where I had to start throwing stuff away," said Young after participating in a game at the adidas Superstar Camp on Friday morning at the Suwanee Sports Academy. "If it's the kind of letter they send to everybody, I don't read it."
Young has long since passed the point where a letter from a college coach makes a big impression on him. He fields about 20 phone calls a day from coaches and media and, because he travels around the country with his summer team, Memphis Pump'N'Run, he's easy for scouts to find.
Young is so guarded about his intentions -- he said he hasn't named his list of favorites publicly in at least two years -- that it's difficult to get an accurate read on which schools lead for his services.
As a result, the correspondence continues unabated, and it has led to some interesting tactics.
"One school sent me something with my picture on it saying, 'Thaddeus Young: The No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft after one year in college,'" Young said, flashing his trademark ear-to-ear grin at the idea.
"Another school sent me a wanted poster with my picture on it. It said, 'Wanted: For posession of deadly ballhandling skills. Last seen breaking somebody's ankles.'"
Young's stated plan of action is to compile a list of five schools by the end of the summer, visit them and then sign a letter of intent before the start of his senior season in November.
He's so careful about ensuring all his options remain open that he refuses even to say which schools sent the wanted poster and the draft prediction.
As frustrated as fans might be about his unwillingness to talk about specific schools, coaches are sometimes even more so.
"They keep calling and telling me, 'We want you, we want you. Are we in your top five?'" Young said. "I'm just like, 'We'll see at the end of the summer. Just wait.' They want me to commit, and I tell them they're gonna have to wait like all the other coaches."
Of course, even if Young follows his course of action and reveals his list of finalists in August, it is unlikely to dissuade those who don't make the cut.
"I think it might make it easier this way," Young said. "Coaches say that, 'Once you say your top five, if we're not in it we'll leave you alone.' I guess some of them will and some of them won't."
So what is Young looking for in a school?
He's visited face-to-face with approximately 40 different teams. The ones most often mentioned in connection with Young of late include the University of Memphis, North Carolina and Ohio State, but the player will confirm or deny virtually none of it, saying he's considering "dozens" of schools.
He plans to sit down later this month with his father, Felton Young, Mitchell coach Jerry Johnson and other family members in an effort to narrow his choices.
"People still say I have favorites, and college coaches call and say, 'We hear you're counting us out.' Well, right now I don't talk to anyone about my college choices except my dad and my uncle (Ken Carter, a New Orleans attorney who has been advising the family)," Young said. "I'm kind of blank right now. Narrowing it down is gonna be kind of hard."
Felton Young declined an interview request Friday afternoon, but Thaddeus denied reports that he will soon add his name to the impressive recruiting haul being lined up by Ohio State coach Thad Matta.
Several top seniors, including the nation's consensus No. 1 recruit, Greg Oden, have committed to the Buckeyes.
"That's not true at all," said Young when asked whether he was leaning toward OSU. "Somebody was telling me (there was a report) that I had a top three, and that's not true either.
"(Ohio State) is very intriguing. Greg and those guys have been asking me to come with them. 'Come on over there with us,' they tell me. I'm like, 'It ain't that easy.'"
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
rivals.com$
7/11/05
Not much here.....Young says he is close to 100%. Apparently, the reports by the media that Young has narrowed his choices has angered his father. According to his father, Young is still looking at each school equally at this point.
7/11/05
Not much here.....Young says he is close to 100%. Apparently, the reports by the media that Young has narrowed his choices has angered his father. According to his father, Young is still looking at each school equally at this point.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
link
7/12/05
Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Preps talk camps, colleges, NBA
By Christopher Lawlor, USA TODAY
TEANECK, N.J. — The summer high school basketball circuit was in full swing last week as three events — Reebok ABCD Camp, Nike All-America and Adidas Superstar USA — featured the nation's top boys players.
<TABLE class=sidebar cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=4>
</TD></TR><TR><TD rowSpan=2>
</TD><TD rowSpan=2>
</TD><TD class=sidebar vAlign=top width=75>Greg Oden, who attended Reebok ABCD camp last week, drives in the Indiana High School All-Star game.</TD><TD rowSpan=2>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=bottom align=left>By Joshua Smith, AP</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Six campers shared their thoughts on issues such as recruiting, the value of summer camps and the NBA age restriction.
Taking part:
• Guard O.J. Mayo, North College Hill (Cincinnati), who was at ABCD.
• Guard Javaris Crittenton, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, Adidas.
• Forward Thaddeus Young, Mitchell (Memphis), Adidas.
• Center Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis), ABCD.
• Guard/forward Wayne Ellington, Episcopal Academy (Merion, Pa.), Adidas.
• Guard Tywon Lawson, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Nike.
Q: Is it necessary to attend one of the top camps to get noticed by colleges?
Crittenton: No doubt. Most of the big schools want to see you play against the best competition.
Ellington: Most definitely. Coaches usually find players they never knew about. Personally, it gave me a lot of recognition when I played well at Adidas a year ago.
Lawson: If you plan on attending a top college you better be there. Camps put you in front of the top Division I coaches, and you're competing against the best players.
Mayo: It's good to play against the top players, but in some cases camps can hurt players. Sometimes there's a point guard that likes to shoot first and that takes away from a shooting guard who's suddenly out of rhythm.
Oden: I think so because it gives you a chance to measure yourself against other players your size. Two years ago I attended Nike camp in Indianapolis, and I was scared to death. I didn't know what to expect, but I had good teammates and that gave me confidence.
Young: More so for the unknown players who have all to gain by performing against the best (players). That's where players make a name.
Q: What do you think about the NBA's (recently adopted) age minimum?
Crittenton: It's unfair, but I understand why it's being done. The NBA is guarding against players that are not ready mentally, physically or spiritually. College (he selected Georgia Tech) will make me a better man.
Ellington: There are two views. First, it's sad for the high schoolers that were ready and capable of making the jump. Then there are the NBA veterans that are trying to hold a job.
Lawson: It's unfair because there are some ready for the NBA. The NBA makes rules for good reasons, but I know a few guys who won't attend college. Instead they'll play a year of prep school ball and then declare. Eventually you'll see someone challenge this in court.
Mayo: At least for me it's not unfair because I want to attend school.
Oden: There's no reason to be mad; it's here and not going away. I know some guys don't like it and those are the same ones that don't like school. They'll probably try the prep school route before jumping to the NBA.
Young: It goes both ways. Some are ready and some aren't (for the NBA). What you will see is more players headed to prep schools for a year before declaring for the draft.
Q: If you could change one thing about recruiting, what would it be?
Crittenton: Coaches need more opportunities to call recruits. As it is, coaches aren't allowed to speak that often with players, but given the opportunity the players could get a better feel for the coach and their program.
Ellington: Leave it alone. It's all good.
Lawson: Lengthen the summer live period for coaches. Give them a full month instead of breaking it up in parts. With more time, coaches and players benefit. Selecting a college is a big decision.
Oden: Change the rules regarding (visits). My two official visits, Ohio State and Wake Forest, went great. I was taken to great restaurants and had a chance to meet with the coaches in a real social setting. When I visited North Carolina, Michigan State and Indiana on unofficial visits, it was different. Basically I sat in the coach's office and talked. It just didn't have the same feel as the official ones.
Young: More restrictions on phone calls. There's this one time of the month when all they do is call ... call ... call. It's crazy, non-stop calls.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
7/12/05
Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Preps talk camps, colleges, NBA
By Christopher Lawlor, USA TODAY
TEANECK, N.J. — The summer high school basketball circuit was in full swing last week as three events — Reebok ABCD Camp, Nike All-America and Adidas Superstar USA — featured the nation's top boys players.
<TABLE class=sidebar cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=4>
Six campers shared their thoughts on issues such as recruiting, the value of summer camps and the NBA age restriction.
Taking part:
• Guard O.J. Mayo, North College Hill (Cincinnati), who was at ABCD.
• Guard Javaris Crittenton, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, Adidas.
• Forward Thaddeus Young, Mitchell (Memphis), Adidas.
• Center Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis), ABCD.
• Guard/forward Wayne Ellington, Episcopal Academy (Merion, Pa.), Adidas.
• Guard Tywon Lawson, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Nike.
Q: Is it necessary to attend one of the top camps to get noticed by colleges?
Crittenton: No doubt. Most of the big schools want to see you play against the best competition.
Ellington: Most definitely. Coaches usually find players they never knew about. Personally, it gave me a lot of recognition when I played well at Adidas a year ago.
Lawson: If you plan on attending a top college you better be there. Camps put you in front of the top Division I coaches, and you're competing against the best players.
Mayo: It's good to play against the top players, but in some cases camps can hurt players. Sometimes there's a point guard that likes to shoot first and that takes away from a shooting guard who's suddenly out of rhythm.
Oden: I think so because it gives you a chance to measure yourself against other players your size. Two years ago I attended Nike camp in Indianapolis, and I was scared to death. I didn't know what to expect, but I had good teammates and that gave me confidence.
Young: More so for the unknown players who have all to gain by performing against the best (players). That's where players make a name.
Q: What do you think about the NBA's (recently adopted) age minimum?
Crittenton: It's unfair, but I understand why it's being done. The NBA is guarding against players that are not ready mentally, physically or spiritually. College (he selected Georgia Tech) will make me a better man.
Ellington: There are two views. First, it's sad for the high schoolers that were ready and capable of making the jump. Then there are the NBA veterans that are trying to hold a job.
Lawson: It's unfair because there are some ready for the NBA. The NBA makes rules for good reasons, but I know a few guys who won't attend college. Instead they'll play a year of prep school ball and then declare. Eventually you'll see someone challenge this in court.
Mayo: At least for me it's not unfair because I want to attend school.
Oden: There's no reason to be mad; it's here and not going away. I know some guys don't like it and those are the same ones that don't like school. They'll probably try the prep school route before jumping to the NBA.
Young: It goes both ways. Some are ready and some aren't (for the NBA). What you will see is more players headed to prep schools for a year before declaring for the draft.
Q: If you could change one thing about recruiting, what would it be?
Crittenton: Coaches need more opportunities to call recruits. As it is, coaches aren't allowed to speak that often with players, but given the opportunity the players could get a better feel for the coach and their program.
Ellington: Leave it alone. It's all good.
Lawson: Lengthen the summer live period for coaches. Give them a full month instead of breaking it up in parts. With more time, coaches and players benefit. Selecting a college is a big decision.
Oden: Change the rules regarding (visits). My two official visits, Ohio State and Wake Forest, went great. I was taken to great restaurants and had a chance to meet with the coaches in a real social setting. When I visited North Carolina, Michigan State and Indiana on unofficial visits, it was different. Basically I sat in the coach's office and talked. It just didn't have the same feel as the official ones.
Young: More restrictions on phone calls. There's this one time of the month when all they do is call ... call ... call. It's crazy, non-stop calls.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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0
OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
scout.com$
7/13/05
Young played in the Adidas Showtime Nationals and scored 17 points.
LINK
7/12/05
Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Five stars you could see shooting in college</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By Mike DeCourcy - SportingNews
<TABLE id=ysparticleheadshot cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 align=left border=0 hspace="5" vspace="5"><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Not every top prospect in high school basketball will head to college as the result of the NBA's new draft entry regulations. But some of the best probably will wear Division I uniforms.
Top talent scouts Dave Telep of Scout.com and Van Coleman of Hoopmasters.com assess the elite from the class of 2006.
1. GREG ODEN Details: 7-0, C, Lawrence North (Indianapolis).
College: Committed to Ohio State.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Telep's take: "He's a go-to move away from being a completely dominant center. He's a big-time defensive intimidator."
Coleman's take: "We know he would be the No. 1 guy in the draft. With his size, his skill level and his work ethic -- that's a big key for him. His athleticism may be beyond Tim Duncan's. He scores and passes the ball extremely well."
2. KEVIN DURANT
Details: 6-10, SF, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.).
College: Committed to Texas.
Telep's take: "It's almost an anomaly that a guy that big can shoot the ball the way he does. He's starting to really feel himself and become competitive now."
Coleman's take: "He's thin but stronger than most people would think. Normally, he's very consistent from beyond the arc. He can score on the blocks against a smaller wing, and a bigger player cannot guard him on the perimeter because his jumpshot sets them on their heels."
3. BRANDAN WRIGHT
Details: 6-9, PF, Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy.
College: Considering Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke and others.
Telep's take: "I compare him to a younger Chris Bosh. He's got some work to do on his perimeter game, but he's bouncy at the rim and seems to have a nose for the basketball."
Coleman's take: "He's a power forward at the NBA level, with the ability to face up at 15 to 17 feet and score -- especially off the elbow. He's really effective there. He runs the floor really well and beats a lot of people upcourt."
4. THADDEUS YOUNG
Details: 6-8, SF, Mitchell (Memphis).
College: North Carolina seems to be in the lead, but he's looking at nearly a dozen schools.
Telep's take: "One of the top student-athletes to come along in a long time. He's a slasher, a shooter, a scorer -- a terrific perimeter prospect with a lot of tools."
Coleman's take: "He's more of a question mark. He's got to prove himself. The jump shot is still the one thing I would like to see him take to another level. He has the ability to put it on the floor and get to the hoop, no question about that."
5. PAUL HARRIS
Details: 6-4, SG, Niagara Falls (N.Y.) High.
College: Syracuse and Pitt are his top choices.
Telep's take: "I call him the nuclear weapon. You don't exactly know what he is, but you don't want anybody else to get their hands on him. He's a beast, a man, maybe the best 6-4 rebounder I've seen."
Coleman's take: "The jump shot is the major concern. You get a 6-5 guy on him, he'll destroy him on the low block. He does have the ballhandling skills. He really has to be a guy who works at 300 to 500 shots a day until he's ready for the draft." Senior writer Mike DeCourcy covers college basketball for Sporting News. Email him at [email protected].
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
7/13/05
Young played in the Adidas Showtime Nationals and scored 17 points.
LINK
7/12/05
Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Five stars you could see shooting in college</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By Mike DeCourcy - SportingNews
<TABLE id=ysparticleheadshot cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 align=left border=0 hspace="5" vspace="5"><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Not every top prospect in high school basketball will head to college as the result of the NBA's new draft entry regulations. But some of the best probably will wear Division I uniforms.
Top talent scouts Dave Telep of Scout.com and Van Coleman of Hoopmasters.com assess the elite from the class of 2006.
1. GREG ODEN Details: 7-0, C, Lawrence North (Indianapolis).
College: Committed to Ohio State.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Telep's take: "He's a go-to move away from being a completely dominant center. He's a big-time defensive intimidator."
Coleman's take: "We know he would be the No. 1 guy in the draft. With his size, his skill level and his work ethic -- that's a big key for him. His athleticism may be beyond Tim Duncan's. He scores and passes the ball extremely well."
2. KEVIN DURANT
Details: 6-10, SF, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.).
College: Committed to Texas.
Telep's take: "It's almost an anomaly that a guy that big can shoot the ball the way he does. He's starting to really feel himself and become competitive now."
Coleman's take: "He's thin but stronger than most people would think. Normally, he's very consistent from beyond the arc. He can score on the blocks against a smaller wing, and a bigger player cannot guard him on the perimeter because his jumpshot sets them on their heels."
3. BRANDAN WRIGHT
Details: 6-9, PF, Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy.
College: Considering Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke and others.
Telep's take: "I compare him to a younger Chris Bosh. He's got some work to do on his perimeter game, but he's bouncy at the rim and seems to have a nose for the basketball."
Coleman's take: "He's a power forward at the NBA level, with the ability to face up at 15 to 17 feet and score -- especially off the elbow. He's really effective there. He runs the floor really well and beats a lot of people upcourt."
4. THADDEUS YOUNG
Details: 6-8, SF, Mitchell (Memphis).
College: North Carolina seems to be in the lead, but he's looking at nearly a dozen schools.
Telep's take: "One of the top student-athletes to come along in a long time. He's a slasher, a shooter, a scorer -- a terrific perimeter prospect with a lot of tools."
Coleman's take: "He's more of a question mark. He's got to prove himself. The jump shot is still the one thing I would like to see him take to another level. He has the ability to put it on the floor and get to the hoop, no question about that."
5. PAUL HARRIS
Details: 6-4, SG, Niagara Falls (N.Y.) High.
College: Syracuse and Pitt are his top choices.
Telep's take: "I call him the nuclear weapon. You don't exactly know what he is, but you don't want anybody else to get their hands on him. He's a beast, a man, maybe the best 6-4 rebounder I've seen."
Coleman's take: "The jump shot is the major concern. You get a 6-5 guy on him, he'll destroy him on the low block. He does have the ballhandling skills. He really has to be a guy who works at 300 to 500 shots a day until he's ready for the draft." Senior writer Mike DeCourcy covers college basketball for Sporting News. Email him at [email protected].
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Per Lamb on BN.....Young is getting pressure to play at Memphis....and that playing time at OSU could possibly be an issue.
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