November 13, 2010

What to take away from the basketball early signing period

By Admin

 

 

The basketball early signing period has come and gone and some big names, Norvel Pelle, Damiene Cain, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Ronnie Stevens have made their decision.

 

 

Pelle, Cain, Dinwiddie and Bailey all spurned big time Pac 10 offers and there are many interesting messages to take away from this weeks actions.

 

 

 

 

Colorado makes noise with three top California recruits

 

 

 

Electric Price point guard Askia Booker was the first top 25 player in California to choose the Buffs and Booker and Colorado head coach Tad Boyle's system seem to be a perfect fit. Booker is an push the pace type player who can put up points in bunches and is incredibly athletic. Boyle wants to wear opponents out and visiting teams will really be worn down by the altitude and style of play that Boyle employs.

 

 

 

However Boyle didn't just stop at one great California recruit, as during the signing period he picked up Taft guard Spencer Dinwiddie and Harvard-Westlake power forward Damiene Cain. Dinwiddie turned down Oregon and Georgetown offers to join the Buffaloes while Cain chose Boulder over rising Pac 10 school Oregon State and ACC power Boston College.

 

 

 

What do this week's commitments mean for the Buffs?

 

 

 Well Colorado will be competing for a Pac 12 championship in their first season in the new power conference. Most Pac 10 schools rely on the bevy of talent in California to sustain their basketball programs and all of a sudden Boyle nabbed 3 of the top 25 players in the state. The fact that Booker, Cain and Dinwiddie all chose Colorado sends a message to other recruits that Colorado is a legitimate destination for top talent. Taft, Harvard-Westlake and Price are all basketball factories that produce 2-3 D1 players every year and all those younger students at those schools will see their senior leaders packing their bags and heading to Colorado.

 

 

 

 

Lavin is back

 

 

During his time at UCLA, Steve Lavin's recruiting abilities were never in doubt. He always brought in top tier talent to Westwood but could never advance past the sweet 16. Well Lavin hasn't had a chance to show his coaching abilities have improved at St. John's but he has shown his flair for getting great players hasn't disappeared. After shocking the high school world last year and grabbing Westchester big man Dwayne Polee, Lavin got another super talented, super athletic big man in Norvel Pelle.

 

 

 

Pelle is the form of a young Amare Stoudemire. A 6'10 guy who can hit jumpers, run the floor like a guard and can absolutely jump out of the gym. A combo of him and Polee next year is frightening and St. John's is definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with in the Big East. Not to mention Pac 10 schools now know they have to compete with Lavin again for great recruits.

 

 

 

Hawaii basketball is on the rise

 

 

When Ronnie Stevens first verbally committed to the Warriors, Hawaii fans thought it might be too good to be true. Then Stevens pledged his loyalty to the Warriors and signed his letter of intent. Stevens is the type of explosive big man Hawaii has never had before and will make an immediate impact from day one.

 

 

The Warriors were hoping to get the commitment of Damiene Cain but even though Cain didn't commit the fact that such a big prospect had Hawaii so high on his list shows the program is growing in prestige.

 

 

Privately Cain told friends that it was between Hawaii and Colorado and that Hawaii was definitely higher on his list then Oregon State, Boston College and San Diego State. If Cain hadn't been forced to cancel his visit at the last minute due to a family conflict who knows if the big man who have eventually chosen the Warriors.

 

While Hawaii didn't land Cain the commitment of Stevens is huge for the program and it is clear Hawaii basketball is on the rise like it has never been before. 

 

 

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