April 2012 Basketball Wiretap

Wiggins Nearing Decision On Whether To Jump To Class Of 2013

Jul 30, 2012 10:42 PM

Andrew Wiggins will make a decision sometime soon on whether to jump to the class of 2013.

 “He does understand that when he makes the jump into the college world, everything changes. Life changes,” Wiggins’ AAU coach Mike George said. “It’s not just a basketball decision. It’s a life decision. You have to do what makes the most sense for your life.”

Wiggins will consult with his family and coaches over the next few weeks before making a decision.

Amid talk of reclassification, John Calipari traveled to Brampton, Ontario on Saturday to catch the 6-foot-7 small forward at the Caribana Classic Basketball camp.

“It’s who’s recruiting him hardest. That’s what counts. That’s what he wants to see,” George said. “If he’s playing, you better have a coach there front and center. And it better be the head coach. And if it’s not – you have a problem.”

Ben Roberts/Lexington Herald-Leader

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Kentucky Wildcats, Southeastern Conference, High School, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting, NBA, High School Misc Rumor, NCAA Misc Rumor

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Kentucky Extends Offer To Cliff Alexander

Jul 25, 2012 10:59 AM

Cliff Alexander recently received a scholarship offer from Kentucky, adding to his list of Michigan State and Ohio State.

"I talked to (Calipari) the day before the offer and he said he wanted to coach me," Alexander said. "The next day I got a text from Coach Orlando (Antigua) that I have a scholarship offer. It is something I've been waiting for a long time."

The 6-foot-9 Alexander, who is considered a top-10 prospect in the class of 2014, is believed to be favoring Kentucky and Michigan State.

"That is not the case," Alexander said. "I just like the coaching staffs (at Michigan State and Kentucky). That's it."

Mike Helfgot/Chicago Tribune

Tags: Kentucky Wildcats, Southeastern Conference, High School, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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BeeJay Anya Considering Visit To Indiana

Jul 23, 2012 9:56 PM

BeeJay Anya, a 6-foot-8, 275-pound center who is ranked as a top-35 prospect in the class of 2013, will likely take an official visit to Indiana later this summer.

“I’m very interested in them,” Anya said. “I’m not sure, but I think I want to take an official visit there.”

Anya has had several discussions with Hoosiers head coach Tom Crean and assistant coach Kenny Johnson.

“He’s a really good guy,” Anya said of Johnson. “I’ve known him for a little while now. He knows my family very well.

“They just say how I can be special if I was to go there. They say how much better I could get working with their coaches and strength and conditioning people and how much bigger and stronger I could get.”

Wayne Staats/Inside The Hall

Tags: BeeJay Anya, Indiana Hoosiers, Big Ten Conference, High School, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Aaron Gordon To Take Trip To Kentucky

Jul 23, 2012 11:04 AM

Aaron Gordon returned to action for the first time in two months during last week's Peach Jam.

Gordon said this weekend that Arizona, Washington and Kentucky are his top-three schools.

"I'm definitely going to go up to Kentucky to see what that's about," said Gordon on Sunday.

Gordon is also considering Kansas, Oregon and New Mexico.

Gordon averaged 13.5 points and 9.4 rebounds over eight games in the Peach Jam.

Ben Roberts/Herald-Leader

Tags: Aaron Gordon, Kansas Jayhawks, Washington Huskies, New Mexico Lobos, Arizona Wildcats, Oregon Ducks, Kentucky Wildcats, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Andrew Wiggins Receiving Most Fervent Recruiting From Florida State, Kentucky

Jul 23, 2012 10:36 AM

Andrew Wiggins is the No. 1 ranked player in the class of 2014.

Wiggins said on Sunday that Kentucky and Florida State have recruited him the hardest so far.

Both of Wiggins' parents were athletes at Florida State.

Ben Roberts/Herald-Leader

Tags: Florida State Seminoles, Kentucky Wildcats, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Chris Walker Commits To Florida, Predicts National Title

Jul 22, 2012 9:11 PM

Chris Walker committed to Florida on Sunday.

Walker, a 6-foot-10 power forward, will play with his travel team point guard, Kasey Hill. Both Walker and Hill are ranked among the top 10 players in the 2013 recruiting class.

“I will be teaming up with my teammate off the AAU squad, Kasey Hill,” Walker said. “Together we will be the best duo in college and we will win a national championship. You heard it here first.”

Walker chose the Gators over Louisville and Kansas.

Sporting News

Tags: Chris Walker, Florida Gators, Southeastern Conference, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Aaron Gordon Still Has Arizona, Washington As Top Two Choices

Jul 21, 2012 10:04 AM

Aaron Gordon confirmed this week that Arizona and Washington remain his top two college choices.

Sean Miller has made adding Gordon for the 2013 recruiting class his top priority.

Scott Coleman/SB Nation

Tags: Aaron Gordon, Washington Huskies, Arizona Wildcats, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Julius Randle Stresses Versatility, Doesn't Want To Be Limited To Specific Position

Jul 19, 2012 10:04 PM

Julius Randle doesn't think he should be pigeonholed into either the small forward or power forward position in college.

"I'm just a basketball player, so let me be me," Randle said Thursday after leading his Texas Titans AAU team to an 81-72 victory against Wisconsin Playground Elite. "I have a unique skill set and can do a lot of different things, so just let me show my skills within the team."

Randle, who stands at 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds, wants to play for a coach "who lets me be me and will push me to be the best I can be."

Kentucky's John Calipari, North Carolina's Roy Williams, Baylor's Scott Drew, and Duke assistant coach Jeff Capel were on hand to watch Randle on Thursday.

Bret Strelow/ Fayetteville Observer

Tags: Julius Randle, High School, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting, NBA

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Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor Plan To Attend Same School

Jul 17, 2012 11:20 PM

Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor, two of the top-5 recruits in the class of 2014, plan to attend the same college.

"We're most definitely excited to do it," said Jones, who won a gold medal with Okafor and Team USA on July 8 at the FIBA U17 World Championship in Lithuania. "We're very serious about doing it and think it's going to happen.

"Jahlil and I have a real good relationship, a real good friendship. We've gotten pretty close over the last two years. That's just made us want to go to college together even more. We kind of talk about it a lot, comparing schools and what we're looking for."

Okafor said playing together "is something we plan on doing," because "we want to win a national championship."

Jones and Okafor first met as third-graders when Okafor's team defeated Jones' team in the semifinals of the AAU national championships.

Marcus R. Fuller/Pioneer Press

Tags: Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor, High School, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Jabari Parker Puts Emphasis On Offensive System, Wants To Play Both Forward Positions

Jul 16, 2012 3:06 PM

Jabari Parker talked about what he’s looking for in prospective colleges.

“I want to see what offense and system fits me the best,” Parker said. “I know that’s going to dictate how my stock is during the draft because everybody dreams about going to the NBA. And the relationship with the coach -- someone who treats me just like everyone else. But you still have that time where you can still talk to him and have a good relationship that can be built on.”

Parker, who stands at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, would like to play both forward positions at the collegiate level.

“I would like to play small forward and power forward too,” he said. “Power forward because I can get to face up a lot of guys that are bigger and take em’ on the perimeter too.”

Nima Zarrabi/SLAM

Tags: Jabari Parker, High School, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Tyus Jones Expected To Visit Baylor

Josh Friemel/Dallas Morning News

Jabari Parker Lists 10 Schools, Targets November Decision

Beth Harris/Associated Press

Andrew Wiggins May Reclassify To Class Of 2013

Adam Zagoria/ZagsBlog.com

Julius Randle Plans To Visit Kentucky, Ohio State

Rob Gates/Louisville Courier-Journal

Dave Rice Believes Association With USA Basketball Has Helped UNLV's Recruiting

Taylor Bern/Las Vegas Sun