UT gets another top 50 player

[freethrow]

Pearl has a pretty good class coming in.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/ncaa/04/13/bc.bkc.tennessee.smith.ap/index.html

[Swimmer4uk]

i believe the SEC and UK have another powerhouse on its hands. Besides UK and FL, Bruce Pearl is doing probably the best out of all the coaches. His team is going to be absolutely top notch. I can't wait for basketball to start....anyone have the countdown?

[Buddah]

Off topic, but i read that Lance Thomas is visiting Louisville during the derby classic for a suprise visit. I figured Fla would sign him, but he now looks like Rick is in the lead.. who knows

as far as the topic, yes bruce pearl is building a soild soild program. i thought this was another kid that signed, i knew about this kid. Pearl will have to do it in the post season, but he is getting some very impressive kids.. he is the type of used car salesman that you need in the world of recruiting... he also loves the media and loves to talk.

[NotFrank]

Perception meet reality:

Tennessee

Ramar Smith- 30

Duke Crews- 28

Wayne Chism- 42

Marques Johnson- 114

Josh Tabb- NR



Kentucky

Jodie Meeks- 34

Derrick Jasper- 35

Perry Stevenson- 59

Michael Porter- NR


And we likely aren't done. Again, we fanned on the PF AGAIN, but this class is better than everyone wants it to be.

[Lost Highway]

I wouldn't trade Jodie Meeks for any guard recruit in the country and I say that because he a a great talent and comes from a great family.He has character and a tremendous work ethic.

But I want a top notch forward to go with him.

[Will Lavender]

Lost Highway wrote: I wouldn't trade Jodie Meeks for any guard recruit in the country and I say that because he a a great talent and comes from a great family.He has character and a tremendous work ethic.

But I want a top notch forward to go with him.

Well-said. I agree with you 100%.

[Will Lavender]

I will add this, though:

I'm hoping that Perry Stevenson, with a little bit of body work, can become "top-notch."

[Lost Highway]

Will Lavender wrote: I will add this, though:

I'm hoping that Perry Stevenson, with a little bit of body work, can become "top-notch."

I agree and I am excited about his future. With the right strength coach he will blossom int a great talent. Remember Noah camefrom nowhere to the top of the college world in oneseason. I doubt anyone is going to repeat that in the near future but if Perrycan nail down a starting job as the season progresses, who knows what may happen. If he works hard good things will come.

That is why I like Jodie Meeks so much. He will work and make his team mates better.

[RaleighCat]

NotFrank wrote: Perception meet reality:

[highlight= #ffff88]Tennessee

Ramar Smith- 30

Duke Crews- 28

Wayne Chism- 42

Marques Johnson- 114

Josh Tabb- NR



Kentucky

Jodie Meeks- 34

Derrick Jasper- 35

Perry Stevenson- 59

Michael Porter- NR


And we likely aren't done. Again, we fanned on the PF AGAIN, but this class is better than everyone wants it to be.

OK, take these rankings for what they are- subjective numbers for 18-year old HS players.....But, UT still has 2 kids coming in rated higher than we do. They have 2 kids rated higher than anyone on our list. Their top 3 are rated higher than our top 3.

My question is WHY? Pearl came from a small school with one big NCAA tourney run on his resume. What is it about Pearl and UT right now that enables them to land a nice class so quickly? Tubby is a championship winning coach at a championship rich program. Pearl is a vagabond at a football school. Our incoming recruits are very solid- but we still need an impact power forward. We have for some time.

What gives? Honestly??

[Will Lavender]

RaleighCat wrote: NotFrank wrote: Perception meet reality:

[highlight= #ffff88]Tennessee

Ramar Smith- 30

Duke Crews- 28

Wayne Chism- 42

Marques Johnson- 114

Josh Tabb- NR



Kentucky

Jodie Meeks- 34

Derrick Jasper- 35

Perry Stevenson- 59

Michael Porter- NR


And we likely aren't done. Again, we fanned on the PF AGAIN, but this class is better than everyone wants it to be.

OK, take these rankings for what they are- subjective numbers for 18-year old HS players.....But, UT still has 2 kids coming in rated higher than we do. They have 2 kids rated higher than anyone on our list. Their top 3 are rated higher than our top 3.

My question is WHY? Pearl came from a small school with one big NCAA tourney run on his resume. What is it about Pearl and UT right now that enables them to land a nice class so quickly? Tubby is a championship winning coach at a championship rich program. Pearl is a vagabond at a football school. Our incoming recruits are very solid- but we still need an impact power forward. We have for some time.

What gives? Honestly??

Negligible difference, though.

[RaleighCat]

Will Lavender wrote: RaleighCat wrote: NotFrank wrote: Perception meet reality:

[highlight= #ffff88]Tennessee

Ramar Smith- 30

Duke Crews- 28

Wayne Chism- 42

Marques Johnson- 114

Josh Tabb- NR



Kentucky

Jodie Meeks- 34

Derrick Jasper- 35

Perry Stevenson- 59

Michael Porter- NR


And we likely aren't done. Again, we fanned on the PF AGAIN, but this class is better than everyone wants it to be.

OK, take these rankings for what they are- subjective numbers for 18-year old HS players.....But, UT still has 2 kids coming in rated higher than we do. They have 2 kids rated higher than anyone on our list. Their top 3 are rated higher than our top 3.

My question is WHY? Pearl came from a small school with one big NCAA tourney run on his resume. What is it about Pearl and UT right now that enables them to land a nice class so quickly? Tubby is a championship winning coach at a championship rich program. Pearl is a vagabond at a football school. Our incoming recruits are very solid- but we still need an impact power forward. We have for some time.

What gives? Honestly??

Negligible difference, though.OK, call them dead even. It still doesn't answer the question- how does Bruce Pearl in one year at UT recruit evenly with Tubby Smith in year 9 at UK?

[Will Lavender]

RaleighCat wrote: Will Lavender wrote: RaleighCat wrote: NotFrank wrote: Perception meet reality:

[highlight= #ffff88]Tennessee

Ramar Smith- 30

Duke Crews- 28

Wayne Chism- 42

Marques Johnson- 114

Josh Tabb- NR



Kentucky

Jodie Meeks- 34

Derrick Jasper- 35

Perry Stevenson- 59

Michael Porter- NR


And we likely aren't done. Again, we fanned on the PF AGAIN, but this class is better than everyone wants it to be.

OK, take these rankings for what they are- subjective numbers for 18-year old HS players.....But, UT still has 2 kids coming in rated higher than we do. They have 2 kids rated higher than anyone on our list. Their top 3 are rated higher than our top 3.

My question is WHY? Pearl came from a small school with one big NCAA tourney run on his resume. What is it about Pearl and UT right now that enables them to land a nice class so quickly? Tubby is a championship winning coach at a championship rich program. Pearl is a vagabond at a football school. Our incoming recruits are very solid- but we still need an impact power forward. We have for some time.

What gives? Honestly??

Negligible difference, though.OK, call them dead even. It still doesn't answer the question- how does Bruce Pearl in one year at UT recruit evenly with Tubby Smith in year 9 at UK?

(1) He won games. (2) He's a good salesman.

I think you're taking a football mentality. In football, if a guy came in to Kentucky and started recruiting with Phil Fulmer, then that would be shocking.

In basketball, though, it happens all the time.

Jamie Dixon took over at Pitt and immediatelypulled in a top 10 class, stealing a recruit away from Jim Boeheim. Dixon didn't have any D1 experience.

That's par for the course in college basketball, where recruits can go almost anywhere, get exposure, and then get to the pros in a more indirect fashion than they were doing 15 years ago.

[ukbob]

RaleighCat wrote: Will Lavender wrote: RaleighCat wrote: NotFrank wrote: Perception meet reality:

[highlight= #ffff88]Tennessee

Ramar Smith- 30

Duke Crews- 28

Wayne Chism- 42

Marques Johnson- 114

Josh Tabb- NR



Kentucky

Jodie Meeks- 34

Derrick Jasper- 35

Perry Stevenson- 59

Michael Porter- NR


And we likely aren't done. Again, we fanned on the PF AGAIN, but this class is better than everyone wants it to be.

OK, take these rankings for what they are- subjective numbers for 18-year old HS players.....But, UT still has 2 kids coming in rated higher than we do. They have 2 kids rated higher than anyone on our list. Their top 3 are rated higher than our top 3.

My question is WHY? Pearl came from a small school with one big NCAA tourney run on his resume. What is it about Pearl and UT right now that enables them to land a nice class so quickly? Tubby is a championship winning coach at a championship rich program. Pearl is a vagabond at a football school. Our incoming recruits are very solid- but we still need an impact power forward. We have for some time.

What gives? Honestly??

Negligible difference, though.OK, call them dead even. It still doesn't answer the question- how does Bruce Pearl in one year at UT recruit evenly with Tubby Smith in year 9 at UK?


I think our recruiting leaves a lot to be desired, but those comparisons are hollow to me. Pearl went after who he needed and got them. Until you pit his recruits against Porter, Stevenson, Meeks and Jasper, then we can compare. I like this group we have and so do the analysts. Good class with athletic players who seem to have basketball smarts. Lord knows we could use a ton of that. We are still missing the one ingredient to make us contenders, however...PF. Having only one solid recruit at that position and nobody on the roster currently will kill us once again, I fear. (I am still amazed we cannot sign a true PF in 3 years.)

Just because he "matched" our class, it should not be a knock on Smith whatsoever. The real issue is the consistency of recruiting. We had a seemingly great 04 class(overrated, IMO, but still great on paper), a weak 05 and a good 06 class. We need a really outstanding 07 class to be competitive. If Pearl continues to "match" us then it will have to be decided on the court, which it should be anyway.

UT's players have to perform just like ours have to perform. Rankings are nice, but the rubber meets the road when they put on the uniform, IMO.

[Lost Highway]

FCFS82 wrote: Again, lots of love for a team and coach that lost in the second round and was a Lofton prayer/walk away from losing in the first.




Speaking of losing in the second round. lol :)

[Stretch]

Downright embarrassing :lol::lol::lol::lol: to lose by four to UConn. UT, on the other hand, gave that juggernaut Wichita State all they wanted and nearly pulled off the upset :?:?:?:?.

[Cincy110]

Watson, Patterson, and Asunu are all gone. Bradshaw and Wingate will be seniors next year. Other than Lofton and Smith, they really didn't play anyone else. There are 7 players with 5 going to be gone in the next 2 years, he can offer PT right away, that is why he gets these players.

Someone explain to me why a HS player would want to go to a football school instead of a basketball school?