Article from 10.11 but MU leads?
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/columnist/harrington/2007-10-11-harrington_N.htm?csp=34Elite seniors from Class of '08 prepare to call their winnersBy Rob Harrington
While the opening of the college basketball season is set to begin this weekend as colleges throughout the country conduct practices to kick off the 2007-08 campaign, another season is nearing its final stages.
The recruiting cycle for the Class of 2008, which formally began immediately after the Final Four in early April, is drawing to a close. The November signing period is just weeks away and the heat of fall campus visits is causing uncommitted players to end their recruitments prior to the beginning of their own basketball seasons.
RANKINGS: Rob Harrington ranks the Class of 2008
Sure, some players will defer until the spring signing period, but for over a decade the overwhelming majority of elite seniors has committed and signed in the fall. That trend doesn't appear it will slow anytime soon.
With that in mind, here's a look at the best uncommitted players in the Class of 2008 and where they stand heading down the stretch.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Tennessee | North Carolina | Kentucky | Kansas | Memphis | Florida State | School | Georgetown | Official | Warren | Chris Singleton | Scenario
No. 1 Greg Monroe
College choice: Georgetown
The Scenario: Signing the nation's No. 1 prospect offers rewards that extend far beyond a player's direct contribution. For an immediate example, just look at how Ohio State's recruiting soared — and continues to soar — after the Buckeyes scored a pledge from Greg Oden two years ago. Let's be honest: Virtually no one believes Monroe — or anyone else in the Class of 2008 — measures up to a rare center prospect such as Oden. Still, Monroe is the torch-bearer for the entire country, and even if he plays college basketball for only one year, he'll have a chance to exert heavy influence.
With the commitment, the Hoyas make a strong statement that the glory years have returned.
No. 3 Tyreke Evans
School List: Louisville, Memphis, Villanova, UConn, Texas, Seton Hall
Official Visits: None firmly scheduled.
The Scenario: It wasn't that long ago that Evans appeared ticketed for either Louisville or Villanova. Fast forward just a bit, however, and now there's a full-fledged, five-team battle. The Cardinals still loom as the slight favorite, but considering how volatile Evans' recruitment has been this fall, don't bet on it.
Each the schools recruiting Evans understands the situation. What they will get is a big-time scorer for one season, after which Evans likely will explore his NBA opportunities.
No. 12 Chris Singleton
School List: Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgetown, Florida State
Official Visits: Florida State (9/8), Tennessee (10/6), Kentucky (10/13), Georgetown (10/20)
The Scenario: For many months, Singleton's recruitment was among the most difficult to track. He had changed high schools and seemed to list every major college east of the Mississippi, so this fall when he narrowed his list to four, the group left standing suddenly became serious contenders. Singleton did at one time name Tennessee his leader, but now he insists that all four finalists stand on equal ground.
Georgetown appears to be the outlier here, but after securing Greg Monroe for the Class of 2008, the Hoyas would make a national statement if they could cruise into Georgia and rip a recruit away from the SEC and ACC. Whichever program gets Singleton will enjoy his ferocious athleticism, strength and size (6-8) for the wing forward position.
No. 17 Tyler Zeller
School List: Purdue, North Carolina, Indiana, Notre Dame
Official Visits: North Carolina (9/15), Indiana (9/22), Notre Dame (10/13), Purdue (10/20)
The Scenario: Zeller's formula has been simple. The four schools comprising the Indiana product's list include three major in-state programs and one national power outside the state. He has been very diplomatic through the process, and all four programs — with perhaps the Irish trailing — appear to have a realistic shot.
Zeller is the modern college big man, able to run the court very swiftly and simply out-hustle his opponents. He has 15-foot shooting range as well, and his lack of muscle is likely to keep him in college for at least two seasons and perhaps longer.
No. 21 Iman Shumpert
School List: Marquette, Georgia Tech, North Carolina
Official Visits: North Carolina (9/15), Georgia Tech (9/29), Marquette (10/13)
The Scenario: Shumpert has employed a very methodical approach to his recruitment. He settled on three finalists back in the summer, and he has been very studious about each visit. The conventional thinking has been that Marquette may lead, but obviously when a list is that small and three programs receive official visits, none of the three would be a surprise.
Shumpert is the kind of good, well-rounded college player who likely still needs at least three seasons of college basketball before he could become a high NBA draft pick. There's no one aspect of his game that stands out, yet he has the strength and quickness to match up effectively against virtually any style of opponent. While he doesn't fall into the category of scoring machine, he offers enough perimeter pop to loom as a consistent scoring threat as well.No. 22 Elliot Williams
School List: Memphis, Virginia, Duke, Tennessee
Official Visits: Duke (9/8), Virginia (9/22), Tennessee (10/6), Memphis (10/13)
The Scenario: The Williams recruitment has featured a healthy blend of basketball and academics. The quiet leader has been rumored at one point or another to be each of the four finalists, depending upon who's doing the speaking.
Williams has the great length and intelligent, unselfish mentality to step right in and play major minutes for any of the four schools, despite his lack of strength. He'll need to become a more consistent shooter, but ultimately he may prove to be underrated at No. 22.
No. 28 J'Mison Morgan
School List: Kansas, LSU, Alabama, UCLA, Kentucky
Official Visits: LSU (9/8), Kansas (9/15), UCLA (9/22), Alabama (10/6)
The Scenario: Morgan technically maintains a larger list than the schools listed above, but at this point it appears likely that he'll choose one of the programs to receive an official visit. Under NCAA rules, he can make one more official trip, and Kentucky looms as the most likely candidate.
A true center who brings power and aggression rather than speed and finesse, Morgan has the style of NCAA champion centers from this decade such as Lonny Baxter and Sean May. At 6-9, 260 pounds, he certainly won't need to gain additional bulk to compete in the low post.
No. 34 Terrelle Pryor
School List: Ohio State, Florida, West Virginia, Penn State, Texas, Tennessee (football)
Official Visits: Ohio State (11/3)
The Scenario: Arguably the nation's No. 1 football prospect, the race for Pryor will be run on the gridiron track. Pryor is a blue-chip quarterback/athlete and will have a chance to play both football and basketball in college, and with exclusive dedication to hoops, he likely would rank in the national top 25. Still, he'll be able to walk on to the basketball team and won't tie up a scholarship. Ohio State, Florida and West Virginia are the current leaders.
No. 43 Wesley Witherspoon
School List: LSU, Texas, Clemson, Memphis, Illinois, Virginia, Colorado, George Washington, Bradley
Official Visits: LSU (9/8)
The Scenario: Witherspoon's recruitment hasn't evolved as quickly as that of others. He has said for months that he intends to sign in the spring, although he did travel to Baton Rouge officially this fall. Nothing in recruiting is terribly surprising, but in his case it does appear he'll bypass the November signing period.
The wait will be worth it for one lucky program. Witherspoon's speed and length on the perimeter make him a potentially devastating defensive weapon. Even if he needs time to improve his suspect jump shot, that defensive ability should enable him to become an early factor.
No. 44 Willie Warren
School List: Oklahoma, Kansas, Cincinnati, UConn
Official Visits: Oklahoma (10/13), Kansas (10/20)
The Scenario: It's fitting that a Texas native would have a recruitment resembling that of the Wild West. Warren told reporters one night during the summer that he had committed to Baylor, but that pledge never materialized. He has added and removed schools at various points in the process, but now it appears he is steamrolling toward a decision. This weekend's visit to Oklahoma will be critical, and the Jayhawks hope he makes it back from Norman without making a commitment.
Warren has the big game and even bigger personality to win affection from fans right away. He likes to shoot and does so with explosive success, and once he rounds out the other aspects of his game, he should become a very good college player.
No. 45 Markieff Morris
School List: Kansas, Villanova, St. John's
Official Visits: Kansas (10/13), Villanova (10/27)
The Scenario: A former Memphis commitment with his twin brother Marcus (who also is a very good prospect), Morris backed off that pledge and reopened his recruitment several weeks ago. Kansas hopes to snare a pledge from the Morris teams in the aftermath of their official trip to Lawrence for Midnight Madness.
Both Morris twins are strong, skilled, athletes, and Markieff — a true power forward — already occupies his future college position. Marcus is the more versatile of the two, and it's conceivable that Markieff could play the center position while Marcus would inhabit the space beside him in the frontcourt.
No. 47 Gus Gilchrist
School List: West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Georgetown, others
Official Visits: None scheduled
The Scenario: A Virginia Tech signee last year who re-classified and obtained a release from his letter of intent, Gilchrist essentially is starting fresh. The Hokies had hoped that he would reconsider asking for a release, but stress related to the spring shooting tragedy in Blacksburg ignited his departure. He'll provide a sturdy interior presence wherever he eventually lands, and he may be able to enroll in college at mid-semester.
