T-Black

[ATWizJr]

If your 6'8 and can rebound and play down low like he can in college, you don't need to worry about playing time no matter where you go

Really?  I thought that some on this board felt that his stock had dropped a bit.  Maybe I got the wrong impression.

[Blackhat]

I'm not sure if his rep has taken a hit or not but I remember Rosiak reporting multiple sources telling him Black was pretty dominant during his scrimmage session with the team. 

[GOMU1104]

Really?  I thought that some on this board felt that his stock had dropped a bit.  Maybe I got the wrong impression.

When it was announced that Black would be coming to MU for Madness, (instead of Memphis,) Dan Wolken said some things about Black.

These things suggested that the recruitment was dirty, and that Memphis was moving on from him, he wasnt that good, blah blah blah.  "He doesnt want to come here, we didnt want him anyways..." That kind of stuff...

[chapman]

When it was announced that Black would be coming to MU for Madness, (instead of Memphis,) Dan Wolken said some things about Black.

These things suggested that the recruitment was dirty, and that Memphis was moving on from him, he wasnt that good, blah blah blah.  "He doesnt want to come here, we didnt want him anyways..." That kind of stuff...

Bo Pastner cooled on him.  Probably didn't think he could handle the rigor of playing teams like Rice and Southern Methodist night in and night out.

[Aughnanure]

From another Dan Wolken article earlier this year:

"Tarik Black (6-7 center, Ridgeway/Memphis): For Pastner, getting two high-level local prospects in his first full recruiting class would send a powerful message about the direction of the program under the new regime. In fact, if Calipari was still coaching at Memphis, Black would have practically been a lock to go elsewhere. Academics are a priority for Black and his family, so Duke and UCLA could end up being seriously involved. Having Elliot Williams on campus will be helpful for Pastner, who can make the case that an academically oriented player fits well with his program. Black, ranked No. 43 by Rivals, is a powerful athlete but will need to do a lot of skill development to be an elite college player."

Doesn't sound like it would be an academic issue...

[jono21]

Does anyone have rivals insider access for the  Whispers: Leader emerging for Black? article?  I know that the Memphis blog had us as the leader, just wondering if this had some more info about that.  Also I see Tony Mitchell is down to 3 on rivals, Georgtown, Mizzou and Marquette.  He has Marq listed has medium interest but he had many more schools listed just a couple days ago. Does anyone know if he has unofficially visited or plans on visiting here?

[bma725]

The Rivals article does nothing but restate the speculation that was in the Memphis blog without actually citing them as a source.

[Pakuni]

Does anyone have rivals insider access for the  Whispers: Leader emerging for Black? article?  I know that the Memphis blog had us as the leader, just wondering if this had some more info about that.  Also I see Tony Mitchell is down to 3 on rivals, Georgtown, Mizzou and Marquette.  He has Marq listed has medium interest but he had many more schools listed just a couple days ago. Does anyone know if he has unofficially visited or plans on visiting here?

Not sure if Mitchell has been on campus, but the coaching staff has had an in-home visit with him.

[wadesworld]

Not sure if Mitchell has been on campus, but the coaching staff has had an in-home visit with him.

I would love to have him on the team.  Rivals/Yahoo has him rated as a 5 star and the number 15 player overall for 2010. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-Tony-Mitchell-84314
ESPN has him rated at 94 and has some pretty high remarks for himhttp://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=73058&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fplayer%3frecruitId%3d73058
He's a Dallas kid.  Use your Texas connection, Buzz!

Also interesting, rival's front page for basketball recruiting is an article on Tarik Black.
http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/

[muwarrior87]

Mitchell fits the mold of what Buzz is looking for. 6'6" small forward from Texas. 

[Todd Warner]

I have insider on rivals

TARIK BLACK

During the travel team circuit, conventional wisdom had Memphis Magic teammates Joe Jackson and Tarik Black pegged as a package deal - most likely to Memphis.  Jackson did commit to Memphis almost two months ago. Black, however, has yet to follow.

In fact, it now appears as if Marquette might be the front-runner out of a group of five schools for Black, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound post player from Memphis Ridgeway High School.

Now that the travel circuit is over and the high school season is gearing up, Ridgeway coach Wes Henning has taken a much more prominent role in guiding Black through the recruiting process.

Henning has strong ties to the current Marquette coaching staff, and Black took his first visit of the fall to Marquette for its midnight madness festivities.

Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Memphis are the other schools in the hunt for Black, the No. 47-ranked prospect in the Rivals150. Black is coming off a weekend visit to Tennessee and has also visited Alabama. Florida and Memphis might also receive visits from Black.

TONY MITCHELL

Speaking of bursting onto the national scene, no prospect's stock increased more over the summer than Dallas Pinkston forward Tony Mitchell. A freak athlete but also a skilled wing player, Mitchell unofficially visited Georgetown this past weekend.

Those close to the situation say that ultimately it will be a battle between Missouri and Georgetown for Mitchell's signature. Marquette is also in the mix.

[Blackhat]

thanks todd.

[nyg]

I like the word "frontrunner".  Looking good with Black, close the deal Buzz...

[radome]

This is a big if, but IF we get TB, who do we want next?  A JC big still, back PG, a project big, or someone else?  I think that Buzz will go after best player regardless of position, which is a pretty solid strategy, IMO.

[MUUM794]

This would be huge.

[Henry Sugar]

Henning has strong ties to the current Marquette coaching staff, and Black took his first visit of the fall to Marquette for its midnight madness festivities.

Can anyone elaborate?

[NavinRJohnson]

This is a big if, but IF we get TB, who do we want next? 

IDK. That Tony Mitchell kid sounds pretty good to me. Freak athlete...Skilled wing...sign me up.

Seriously, man would it be sweet if Black were to commit just before the season started. Snatching Blue out of Madison, and then a player like that out of Memphis? Come on.

[rocky_warrior]

Can anyone elaborate?

I don't know about the strong connection, but it's possible Buzz and Henning stayed at the same Holiday Inn Express back in May...
http://www.camppros.com/register/detail.aspx?ListingId=724&OrgId=84

[muarmy81]

This is a big if, but IF we get TB, who do we want next?  A JC big still, back PG, a project big, or someone else?  I think that Buzz will go after best player regardless of position, which is a pretty solid strategy, IMO.

A lights out shooter...

[Sir Lawrence]

More in today's NBE basketball report, similar to the Rivals note above:

In a small, but significant recruiting update, Dan Wolken writes in his Short Weekend Update for the Memphis Edge that reliable people in recent days have told him that Tarik Black is leaning to Marquette. The 6-foot-7, 230-lb Memphis (TN) native visited the Golden Eagles for Marquette Madness recently. He is also considering Tennessee, Florida, Alabama and the local Memphis program, which many thought he would ultimately end up with. Ridgeway High School coach Wes Henning has close ties to the MU coaching staff and those ties have put Buzz Williams' program in good position in this race.

link:  http://w3.nbebasketball.com/2009/11/04/big-east-news-notes-1142009-2/

[MU_Iceman]

A lights out shooter...

IF a Novak-type shooter is available then yes, I agree that that would be a good snag.

But I think that the other real need is a JUCO PG to come in an provide some minutes at the 1.  Jeff Goodman from Fox Sports said it himself, DJO is NOT a true PG and looks a little uncomfortable there and the same goes for Buycks.  We don't know what kind of player Cadougan is going to be yet and we have several versatile 2's and 3's on next year's roster (Blue projects as more of a 2)...I think we need to bring in a TRUE PG to provide some reliability and depth at a position that will really be an unknown for us next season.

But again, if a LIGHTS OUT shooter is available (who isn't 6'0" tall)...it's hard to pass on him...either of those scenarios would be fine with me...

[kmwtrucks]

Someone to Keep an eye on this year who looks to be a good shooter would be Kahlil McDonald.  He is back at Blinn JC in TEXAS and they list him at 6-4, and he shoot 53% from the 3 point line last year.  He was also a 1st Team Pre-season Juco which just means people expect him to have another good year.

If we take a JUCO I want him to be one of the TOP 3-4 player's in the JUCO ranks.  Which I would say Dwight and DJO would fall in that category.

Trend, Lott, would not.

[HoopsMalone]

A PG is definately needed.  Particularly, we need someone who can step up and play defense on a quick point guard.  Ideally, it would be nice if Jamail Jones can really guard PGs.  Then it would be like having Scottie Pippen as a big player putting pressure on point guards.  Maybe we can even teach him to play a point forward if he is an athletic, good shooter like some of his reviews say.

Black would be such a good get for Buzz though.  He can come in and be that missing piece.  

[jono21]

Does Coleman have to go to JUCO, does anyone have new info about him because just today ESPNs recruiting page main story has Coleman on the front.  The article http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=4619108  and it seems as though he has always had Marquette has his first choice.

[bilsu]

Someone to Keep an eye on this year who looks to be a good shooter would be Kahlil McDonald.  He is back at Blinn JC in TEXAS and they list him at 6-4, and he shoot 53% from the 3 point line last year.  He was also a 1st Team Pre-season Juco which just means people expect him to have another good year.

If we take a JUCO I want him to be one of the TOP 3-4 player's in the JUCO ranks.  Which I would say Dwight and DJO would fall in that category.

Trend, Lott, would not.

I was wondering if he was still in the picture. The thing about him was he was something like one credit short to be able to play this year. As I remember the story you need two full-time years at a junior college and his first semester he took one less credit than fulltime and therefore did not qualify under the two year fulltime rule. The question this raises in my mind is if he would be eligible after the first semester of this year? I believe MU has an open scholarship?