Bryant...MU not out of it, but on the outside

[Boone]

March 25, 2009
Heath visiting Oak Hill forward Bryant

With the start of the spring signing period now just three weeks away and a key weekend for official visits coming up, USF coach Stan Heath is expected to be in Virginia today, watching practice at prestigious Oak Hill Academy, where the Bulls are in the final three for small forward Glenn Bryant.

Bryant, 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds, is Oak Hill's No. 4 scorer at 11.3 points per game. But two of the players scoring more are also Division I recruits -- one, Keith Gallon, is headed to Oklahoma, while point guard Lamont Jones just backed out of a commitment to Seth Greenberg and Virginia Tech and could be headed to USC.

Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said Bryant is likely down to three schools: USF, Arkansas and Detroit. It's a recruiting battle that puts Heath up against his former school, with a recruit from his own backyard -- Bryant played his first two years of high school in the Detroit suburb of Clinton Township, Michigan.

Smith said Heath has been up to see Bryant in person, and was expected back at Oak Hill's campus today for practice. Bryant's done a little of everything for Oak Hill this season, playing more as a power forward, but Smith said his best skills are rebounding and shot-blocking.

"He's a big-time shot-blocker," Smith said. "He's a guy that goes out and blocks jump-shooters. He's right-handed, but he blocks shots with his left hand, which is unique. He can drive and slash, and he's improved his outside shot (14 of 33 on 3-pointers this season)."

Smith said Bryant is lined up to visit USF the weekend of April 10, a key date because it's the last weekend before the spring signing period begins. He has visited UAB officially and has been to Michigan and Marquette unofficially. Smith said Marquette and Arkansas are both trying to line up visits before USF's, but Oak Hill is still playing games, making it hard to work a trip into Bryant's schedule.

[ecompt]

6-7, 190 sounds suspiciously like Blackledge.

[nyg]

If he doesn't want us in top 3, so be it. Let him got to Detroit. Try for Darius Smith, if not, bank it for 2010 where we are in good graces with many stud guards. 

[kmwtrucks]

I wonder if he did not put us in the TOP 3 becuase we have not offered yet?  Are we sure we have offered?  That would be my guess.   

[Big Papi]

I think this might be more of a situation where he is our backup plan more than a target.

Things should get very interesting over the next few weeks.  We still don't know who if anyone is leaving from our roster so we don't know how many scholarships we still have available for next year. 

Then there is the whole coaching carousel and potential commits backing out.  Gillespie might be out at Kentucky.  Then does Donovan leave Florida.  THere is Kent possibly out at Oregon.  Arizona has an open position with further implications at possibly Pitt, Gonzaga, Xavier, or Missouri if any those head coaches take the other gigs. 

So what I am saying is that there is the potential for some really good players being back out on the market so we don't necessarily have to rush into getting a recruit just to get one.  Bryant is an all right talent but we have the possibility of getting someone who is a lot better.

[jfmu]

Let's just use hazel as an example. If in fact he is transferring when would we most likely hear about it?

[VegasWarrior77]

Didn't someone say this was a "no contact" period?

[lurch91]

I think Kentucky would be silly to fire Gillespie so soon after luring him away from Texas A&M, but those Kentucky fans can sure get impatient.

I think the most intriguing opening has to be Arizona, that position could start a series of domino's like UNC did back in 2005 when Williams left Kansas.

[ForstK]

     It's Gillispie not Gillespie.

[lurch91]

     It's Gillispie not Gillespie.

Sorry, I used mufanatic's spelling....