The BasketVols Thread

Memphis is to Tennessee coaches what the Russian winter was to Napoleon, Hitler, and Charles XII of Sweden. We never learn.
 
Oh, I certainly don't think we should ignore Memphis. Just that as we allocate time & resources towards recruiting, we need to be realistic about what our track record is like there. These coaches come in and look at the map and I don't think think they have any understanding of just how far away Memphis and Knoxville are, both geographically and culturally. Knoxville might as well be on the other side of the moon.
 
Stokes came to tennessee because we had a scholarship available mid year.

Don't make something out of nothing.

However, Bruce Mother****in pearl would have definitely poached stokes out of memphis because he could. Maybe Donnie Knoxville will grow into the type of character with that ability.
 
"COME TO KNOXVILLE, PLAY FOR YOUR STATE SCHOOL, SPEND FOUR YEARS FSCKING WHITE GIRLS! ROCKY TOP!!"

20140201_lbm_ac6_155.0_standard_730.0.jpg
 
With just seven scholarship players on*Tennessee’s tentative 2014-15 basketball roster, Vol fans are wondering “Who is new coach*Donnie Tyndall*recruiting to fill the holes?” A better question might be: Who*isn’t*he recruiting?

Between post-graduate transfers, junior college transfers and a few high schoolers, the Vols’ head man seems to be linked with just about every unsigned prospect in America these days.

Tyndall said on Friday’s*Erik Ainge*radio show that he is looking at “a couple of fifth-year transfer-type guys that could come in and plug a hole for a year.” One of these is believed to be 6-foot-3 shooting guard Jalen Steele, a former Knoxville Fulton High standout who projects to graduate from*Mississippi State*in June with one year of collegiate eligibility remaining after missing the 2013-14 season due to a torn ACL.

Steele was the Bulldogs’ second-leading scorer as a junior in 2012-13, averaging 10.1 points per game. He played in just 18 games due to a fractured wrist, a three-game disciplinary suspension and the ACL tear. Still, he flashed his potential in a Jan. 12, 2013 win at*Georgia, producing 21 points and 7 rebounds in an MSU win. Steele is a good 3-point shooter who hit 39.3 percent (70 of 178) from beyond the arc in 2011-12 and 32.9 percent (28 of 85) in 2012-13. He is almost automatic from the foul line, sinking 91.4 percent (31 of 35) as a sophomore and 92.3 percent (36 of 39) as a junior.

Despite announced plans to attend Middle Tennessee in 2014-15, Steele probably can be swayed to play his senior season in his hometown of Knoxville. As a post-graduate transfer he would be eligible immediately.

Another fifth-year senior who could be relocating to Knoxville is*Ian Chiles, a 6-foot-1 guard from IUPUI. He averaged 15.8 points per game for the Jaguars in 2013-14, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from 3. He reportedly has visited*Auburn*and also is considering Tennessee,*Maryland,*South Florida*and*Western Kentucky.

Now for the high school prospects …

Tariq Owens, a Scout four-star power forward out of Mt. Zion Prep in Laurel, Md., recently secured a release from the scholarship he signed with*Ohio*University last November. Owens was not happy when head coach Jim Christian bolted for*Boston College. Tyndall is reportedly in hot pursuit of the 6-foot-9, 185-pound Owens, along withGeorgetown,*Miami*and Virginia Commonwealth.

Elijah Minnie has been flying under the radar due to scholastic problems. The 6-foot-8, 211-pounder from Lincoln Park High in Midland, Pa., missed his entire freshman season and part of his junior season due to academic issues. He still averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and 7 blocks as a junior, then led Lincoln Park to the Class A title as a senior, producing 24 points, 16 rebounds and 11 blocks in the title game. He reportedly has scholarship offers from*Virginia Tech,*Temple, St. Joseph,*Duquesne, Rhode Island and Robert Morris. Tennessee’s staff supposedly is planning to visit him soon.

Another high school senior being linked with Tennessee isCameron Johnson, a 6-foot-7 wing from Our Lady of Sacred Heart in Coraopolis, Pa. He committed to Pitt, his dad’s alma mater, on April 21 and reportedly signed the same day. The Panthers have five newcomers and only four roster spots, however, so he could be reconsidering. Johnson grew from 6-feet-2 to 6-feet-7 between the start of his junior year and the end of his senior year, yet he adapted well enough to average 27.8 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists last winter. He supposedly has offers from UMass,*Rice*and Wofford, plus interest from Tennessee,Kansas State,*Dayton*and*Memphis.

JaQuel Richmond, a 6-foot point guard from Wesleyan Christian in High Point, N.C., got a release Wednesday from the scholarship he signed last November with the University of*Houston. Once rated the No. 51 prospect in America by Scout.com, Richmond subsequently slipped from four-star to three-star status. Tennessee was among the teams recruiting him hardest until*Cuonzo Martin*got a commitment from*Larry Austin*of Springfield, Ill. Now that Martin and Austin are no longer affiliated with the Vols, Richmond could resurface on the Vol radar.

One high school player who may have earned a look from the Vols is now off the table.*Jackie Davis, a 6-foot-2 point guard prospect from Rolling Hills Prep in San Pedro, Calif., committed Saturday to*Washington State. He averaged 23 points per game as a Rolling Hills senior last winter.

With Tennessee’s roster clearly in need of a quick fix, Tyndall conceded in the Ainge interview that there are “a couple of really good junior-college players available that we’re involved with that I think could impact our team.”

One of these appears to be*Jordan Goodman, a 6-foot-9, 200-pounder from Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pa. He averaged 18.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in leading his team to a No. 4 national ranking in 2013-14. He played just 24.9 minutes per contest, meaning his scoring average would project to 30.2 points over the course of a 40-minute game. Goodman launched 220 shots from behind the arc this season, making 32.3 percent (71). He still managed to average 2.2 assists per game. By comparison,*Antonio Barton*averaged 2.0 as Tennessee’s starting point guard in 2013-14.

Goodman helped Harcum produce 96.1 points per contest en route to a 32-5 record and a berth in the NJCAA Final Four. He reportedly is being pursued by*Oklahoma State, Tennessee,*Ohio State,*Gonzaga, Virginia,*West Virginia,Washington, Oklahoma State and Auburn.

The Vols also are believed to be a possible landing spot for several players mentioned in previous posts on this site: 6-foot-7, 195-pound*Willie Carmichael*(Wekiva High in Apopka, Fla.), 6-foot-10*Octavius Ellis*(Trinity Valley Community College in Missouri), 6-foot-10, 220-poundEdson Avila*(Seward County Community College in Kansas), 6-foot-3 point guard*Rasham Suarez*(College of Central Florida) and 6-foot-9*Arkeem Joseph*(Monroe College in Brooklyn).

Carmichael, Avila and Suarez signed with Tyndall’s Southern Miss program last November and may elect to follow him to Tennessee. Ellis and Joseph were being recruited by Tyndall while he was still coaching the Golden Eagles.

It appears that only one member of Tennessee’s November signing class remains salvageable.*Phil Cofer, 6-foot-8 power forward from Whitewater High in Fayetteville, Ga., reportedly still considers the Big Orange a possibility. Conversely, the Vols seemingly have little chance at re-signing 6-foot-1 point guard Larry Austin (Springfield, Ill.), 6-foot-6 small forward*Jordan Cornish*(New Orleans) and 6-foot-8*C.J. Turman*(Madison, Ga.). Turman, who reportedly has refused to meet with Tyndall, could wind up at*Florida Atlantic, which recently filled a staff vacancy by hiring Turman’s high school coach, Charlemagne Gibbons.




Donnie Knoxville out hurrr cruitin
 
Not sure if it is the first game or not but this will be the VCU game:

@Ben_Fred: #Vols expected to announce another noteworthy noncon game soon. In negotiations to participate in season-opening hoops event @ Naval Academy

Maybe my buddy was mistaken when he said it would be the opener.
 
Scotty's Flat Top said:
Not sure if it is the first game or not but this will be the VCU game:

@Ben_Fred: #Vols expected to announce another noteworthy noncon game soon. In negotiations to participate in season-opening hoops event @ Naval Academy

Maybe my buddy was mistaken when he said it would be the opener.
Click to expand...

Probably. He seems to have good info
 
wU-Tang Vol said:
Probably. He seems to have good info
Click to expand...

He is legit. His basketball connections aren't as direct as his football connections. He works directly with the football team on a daily basis, special teams to be exact. Also does a lot of the equipment. He has a sweet gig.
 
Scotty's Flat Top said:
He is legit. His basketball connections aren't as direct as his football connections. He works directly with the football team on a daily basis, special teams to be exact. Also does a lot of the equipment. He has a sweet gig.
Click to expand...

Sounds like it. Semi-jelli
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 50 (members: 0, guests: 50)

Share this page

Back
Top