Thoughts on the Jordan Brand All-Star Game

We can only glean so much from high school all-star games, but I'm sure as hell not going to waste my time watching no-hitters and historic pitching duels when I can see a bunch of giant minors refuse to play defense. My reaction to the Jordan Classic:

More of the Same…..

Jared Sullinger continues to look impressive. If you want to be critical of him, he does seem to have a lot Samardo Samuels in him, in that he tends to play below the rim. That’s really more of an NBA concern, though, and Sullinger should do just fine in the barbaric Big Ten.

I wish Terrence Jones was my son. He seems able to do everything…like a great big Swiss Army knife.

Harrison Barnes is a whole bunch of awesome, and he doesn’t care if you’re already sick of hearing about it. He had 20 points and 15 rebounds and shared co-MVP honors with Kyrie Irving.

Josh Selby announced that he’s going to Kansas. I really don’t know enough about the off-the-court allegations to judge him or make predictions about how he’ll work out based on that sort of thing. What I do think is that Selby is the most dynamic scorer in the entire class. He’s explosive, confident, and creative with the rock. He also picked a great school because Kansas has used shoot-first point guards with great success in the past. That said, there is a whole lot of mustard in his game, and he’s going to have to reign it in to help Kansas be successful.

Jay Williams seemed very impressed with Duke signee Kyrie Irving. The Admiral has pontificated on this point in the past, and I’ll steal his intellectual property for the purpose of this post. Coach K was embraced and lauded by Kobe, LeBron, et. al, following the Team USA Olympic experience. That seems to have given Coach K some sort of “street cred” that he had been lacking for a few years. Irving is the sort of player that Duke had been unable to corral since the likes of Jay Williams left Durham. He has shown that he is athletic, sharp-shooting, competitive, and from all indications, very coachable. Duke will miss a lot about Scheyer, but Irving will be a nice replacement, and one that should not take three years to develop.

Minor Revelations…..

C.J. Leslie’s motor is almost as impressive as his athleticism. He’s also got a much a better handle than I would have expected. If he play All-Star games exclusively, I think he might be one of the top three players in the class. I think his biggest issue is mental lapses. If his college coach can get him focused on playing through every possession, Leslie could be a potential one and done.

Will Barton was rated as one of the top prospects in the country going into the 2010-11 season, but curiously did not get selected for the McDonald’s Game. I figured his stock dropped a little for whatever reason. Whoever dropped his stock has his head up his ass. Barton can score in a variety of ways. Last night he showed that he has no problem scoring in traffic. Maybe his slight frame makes him a defensive liability? I didn’t see it last night, because nobody played any defense, but Barton has long arms and appears bigger than his listed height. Plus he wears an arm sleeve, and I’m pretty sure you have to be pretty damn good to pull off one of those things.

Grading the Performances from the High School All-Star Games

The high school all-star games are typically the first chance we get to see the highly-anticipated crop of incoming freshmen showcase their skills amongst equals. It's important not to get too carried away with showings in these games considering the national rankings are based on four plus years of organized high school competition and the gauntlet of AAU debauchery. Nonetheless, these games are the best fodder we have for the upcoming season of college bball, so we must acknowledge them. I listed a few of my winners and losers based on performances at the McDonald's game:

WINNERS

Harrison Barnes: This guy could not play anywhere but UNC. His game will be described as smooth so many times next year that it will make everyone sick (Brett Favre is a gunslinger and Jerome Bettis is from Detroit). The best part about Barnes is that his game is EXACTLY what UNC lacked last year. As the Admiral aptly noted, Larry Drew has been the whipping boy of Raleigh, but that is not completely fair. Drew obviously isn't as good as Ray Felton or Ty Lawson, but Ole Roy found a way to win a lot of games without those guys over the last twenty years. Barnes showed range, high basketball IQ, and an NBA-ready physique. I kind of felt the same about Xavier Henry last year, but hopefully Barnes doesn't prove to be as off-putting as Xavier.

Jared Sullinger: Sully was right at home at the McDonald's game, and put on quite a show for his strong contingency of fans. I was impressed until I got a little deja vu recalling Felipe Lopez's McDonald's performance in NYC before four disappointing years at St. John's. Dare I speculate that Sullinger is the type of man the Admiral would love to build his team around. Big, physical, and skilled. He's going to be a force in the Big Ten, and the knock on him coming out of college will probably be whether he is athletic enough to bang with NBA bigs. For the time being though, he looks impressive.

Tobias Harris: Harris got hurt in the McDonald's game, and will probably be out of commission for several weeks, so the fact that I included him as a "winner" is a testament to how impressed I was with him. Harris was bigger, more athletic, and more skilled than I anticipated. I think that after Barnes, he projects as the best NBA prospect in the class right now. Bruce Pearl has yet to actually develop an NBA prospect, so hopefully for Harris's sake, he hasn't already peaked.

Terrence Jones: I loved the efficiency and versatility of his game. Jones can shoot, put the ball on the floor, rebound, and pass. He seemed to have a high basketball IQ, and although he only grabbed three rebounds, his reputation as a solid rebounder gets him a pass for that game. Besides, who rebounds in all-star games? That's bush league.

LOSERS

Brandan Knight: Knight made the same mistake that many top flight players do at the McDonald's game. He tried to use it as a forum to show that criticisms of his game are unfounded. Therefore, he took way too many threes to try to prove that he's a shooter. He should have just played his game and found open teammates, and he would have been fine. The game-winning shot was a nice touch, though. If it's any consolation, I predicted that Mike Conley, Jr. and Jordan Farmar would be complete busts in college after underwhelming McDonald's performances. Unless I'm mistaken, neither of those guys finished a season in which his team failed to make the Final Four. If you're still reading this after that revelation, then you're probably just an old friend of mine. Thanks, I appreciate your loyalty.

While on the subject of Knight, I will get an obligatory dig in on the Worldwide Leader, if I may. ESPN re-ranked the top prospects and dropped Knight behind Kyrie Irving after the McDonald's game. That's kind of like when they dropped John Wall behind Avery Bradley and Favors after the McDonald's game last year. Sidebar: ESPN owns rights to the McDonald's game but not the Hoop Summit Game. Ergo, (in my humble opinion) in ESPN's eyes, great performances in the Hoop Summit game pale in comparison to putting on a show for the ESPN audience at the Hamburger Classic. It was fun watching ESPN repeatedly referring to John Wall as the third ranked player in the ESPN top 100 last winter when Wall became a national sensation. Hopefully Knight, who seems like a great kid, enjoys similar success.

Keith Appling: Apparently Appling has a scorer's mentality. He took fifteen shots in seventeen minutes in the McDonald's game, and may have actually played so selfishly, that remaining recruits would go out of their way to avoid standing around and watching Appling next season in East Lansing. Izzo hasn't had too much trouble with people playing for themselves instead of his team, but he's going to have a tall task in getting Appling to learn a thing or two about shot selection.J

The Rich Get Richer

Eric Bledsoe, the third ranked point guard, twenty-third ranked player overall by Rivals in the class of 2009 has chosen the University of Kentucky over Memphis. I imagine it wasn't a hard decision.

Coach Cal continues to impress even the demanding Cats fans with his ability to sell the program despite an already loaded class, limited scholarships, and claiming Lukas Orbzut as an alum. Bledsoe committed despite reports that John Wall, a point guard, and the nations number one prospect by pretty much anyone with a brain, is leaning towards UK. Coach Cal deserves a round of applause. I suggest creating a twitter account and begin following Cal's tweets as being the best round of applause.

Bledsoe has a history with another top recruit headed to Kentucky, DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is the top ranked Center in the class, and the number two ranked player overall. Bledsoe's high school team defeated Cousins' team in the state championship game in March. Bledsoe and Cousins will begin their Kentucky careers with Daniel Orton, Jon Hood, and Darnell Dodson. Daniel Orton is another five-star recruit, ranked the third best Center in the class, and the twenty-second best player overall. He underwent knee surgery that ended his senior season almost before it began, but looked to have recovered well in the Derby Classic held in Louisville last month. Jon Hood is a four-star recruit, ranked the fortieth best player in the class. If he wasn't from Kentucky he would have been at Duke, no doubt about it. Finally, Dodson is a four star recruit from junior college who had originally committed to play for Pittsburgh out of high school. It will certainly be the top ranked class entering college in 2009, but if Cal somehow finds a way to land Wall it will be considered one of the most talented entering classes in college basketball history.

With a new offense, and hopefully (and most likely) new uniforms, Kentucky is back to being the Fonzie of college basketball.

In related news, Jeremy Tyler is still planning on skipping his senior year of high school to play professionally in Europe before entering the NBA Draft.

The Pass-First Big Man

Duke's recent lack of success in recruiting has been obvious to college basketball fans. Whatever has occurred, it hasn't been due to the lack of McDonald's All-Americans. In 2005 Duke hauled in Josh McRoberts, Greg Paulus, and Eric Boateng, although Boateng left after his freshman season for Arizona State. In 2006 Duke landed Gerald Henderson, Lance Thomas and John Scheyer. 2007 saw Duke get Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, and Taylor King, who also transferred. In 2008 Duke signed Elliot Williams. Despite landing numerous All-Americans over the last four years, excluding the success of Gerald Henderson, none have been game-changing college players. Don't get me wrong, Duke has had success with these guys. But it's obvious that they have underachieved considering the influx of talent each year.

Captain Montana likely hit on the problem in his piece covering Duke's lack of a post presence the past few years in his piece that touched UK fans in a seductive manner. I know I enjoyed it. My only qualm was the lack of respect paid to Brian Zoubek. Maybe beginning with Shavlick Randolph, Duke post players have had trouble turning high school hype into college success. Josh McRoberts, ranked the number two prospect out of high school, did not live up to the hype in his two seasons at Duke.

However, I think the Duke fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief after the inking of two big-time recruits in the 09 class. Coach K has pulled in a "pass-first big man" known as Mason Plumlee. Personally, I've never heard a high school McDonald's All-American described as a pass-first big man coming out of high school, but I can't imagine it being a good thing when you are a McD's AA whose scoring in the post will be heavily relied upon for the next four years. Plumlee was described as a pass-first big man by a rivals scouting report of the post players in the class of 09. The best part, however, is that Plumlee is ranked as the fifth best post passer in the class of 09.

If that isn't enough for Duke fans to get excited about, Plumlee will have some help. The only problem is the help is this guy. Kelly has been described as an ugly-first dead-eye shooter. The future of Duke looks bright.

John Wall: Purveyor of the Secret Manna; Guardian of the Star Chamber; Slayer of Cryptids

I thought you should know that the guys over at freedarko felt the need to blog about how amazing fifth-year high school senior John Wall is. If you don't check out freedarko very often, then (1) you're missing out and (2) you should know that these guys rarely, if ever, blog about anything other than the NBA. I don't think they even really did anything on the NCAA tourney this year. And, if they did put up a post on March Madness, I'm guessing they just made fun of it.

Anyway, if you're interested, here's the link.

Oh, and in case you're too lazy to access the article, let me give you a little taste.

It starts off:

"It is almost impossible to explain how awesome John Wall is."

This from a blog that, as the New York Times noted, somehow managed to work the Fibonacci Sequence into an examination of Tim Duncan's career numbers. And yet for some reason, the task of describing this Wall kid's myriad talents gives them writer's block.

Also, during the course of the rather short article, Wall is compared to:

(1) Derrick Rose; (2) a Chris Paul-Lebron James hybrid being; and (3) Jesus Christ.

Oh, and the fellas over at freedarko, in their search for John Wall trinkets on the interweb, stumbled upon a rather confusing blog that freedarko's Bethlehem Shoals likens to "a masterpiece of high-concept psychedelic caveman prayer." As it turns out, this is the very same blog that plagiarized Captain Montana's A Plea to John Wall approximately one week ago. Needless to say, the Mariners of Roundball Portfolio don't take too kindly to such acts of digital piracy. If we encounter the marauding raiders of radiolaluna on the high seas, there will be hell to pay.

So that this post doesn't end with a reference to the thieving bags of horse crap over at radiolaluna, here's some John Wall for that *** courtesy of One Entertainment.



Yikes.

A Plea to John Wall

Sorry about all the Duke hate, but this factors prominently into UK’s next season, ergo, it’s eminently important for college basketball in general. Much to the Admiral’s chagrin, I will compose another University of Kentucky-related post, but all in all it’s just another post on John Wall. John Wall is the top point guard in the country and it looks like he will be attending either Duke, Kentucky, or possibly Johnny come latelys, Kansas or UNC. It's hard to believe that Wall will end out at Miami, Baylor, or NC State now that college basketball's headliners have really entered the picture. Right now, it seems like Duke and UK are the leaders, so I'll leave consideration for the other suitors for another post and restrict this to his interest in becoming a Wildcat v. a Blue Devil. Wall is 6’4” and has an unbelievable handle. More importantly for Duke and Kentucky, he is neither Greg Paulus nor Michael Porter. UK has a chance to be a preseason top 10 team with Wall, and may be outside the top 25 without him, so Wall is an absolute must for the Wildcats. But how can you convince a young man like John to come to UK over Duke? Well I present to you, my friends, my plea to Mr. Wall. And just to show you it’s from the heart, I will be doing this post with ZERO internet research to compile this data.

Going back to the Bobby Hurley days, Coach K has signed seven (7) McDonald’s All-American point guards. Now I’m not going to sit here and tell you that those guys weren't any good in college, but if I know John Wall like I think I do, then he’s much more interested in going someplace that will prepare him to dominate in the League. So we’ll walk through Duke’s hamburger All-American PGs in chronological order.

Bobby Hurley: Hurley was undoubtedly one of the best college point guards in the last twenty years. I didn’t root for his NBA career to get derailed by a car accident, but the fact remains that he never did anything in the NBA.

Wojo: Sure wasn’t an injury that stopped Wojo from making it to the league, unless you count his chronic case of Douchism.

William Avery: Showed great potential in college, but left early, got sabotaged by Coach K during predraft workouts, and never made it onto an NBA roster

Jay Williams: One of the most talented players to ever play for Duke. Looked to be a star in the making but his career was also cut short by an injury. In interest of this non-objective exposé, I’ll mention that he struggled his rookie season, and Duke haters reveled in the frequency of offensive fouls called on him after he went down the lane like a tidal wave for three seasons in Durham.

Chris Duhon: He had a great career at Duke as a consummate winner, although he sort of plateaued and never quite reached the potential many saw in him during his freshman year. He was a second round pick by the Bulls, and notable member of the Menudo-esque Baby Bulls.

Shaun Livingston: He never played at Duke, but we’ll include him just to point out that Wall apparently has a near 50% chance of sustaining a horrendous injury by marrying himself to the Duke program.

Greg Paulus: The Sack Lodge of college basketball. This petulant Dukie is the envy of no one, and a quick glimpse into my seeing stone reveals that John Wall is hoping for a greater professional career than how Greg Paulus’s is going to pan out.

While Coach K has been wrecking the bright futures of young point guards, John Calipari has coached two point guards in the last two seasons who are likely to have better careers than any point man from Krzychewskiville.

Now UK has only inked two McDonald’s All-American point guards since the Hurley days: Wayne Turner and Rajon Rondo. Turner had limited NBA experience after a very memorable college career. So he’s sort of like Wojo, except he gets the edge for historically annihilating him in the 1998 regional final. Rondo, meanwhile, is merely starting at point for the reigning NBA champs, and is also clearly better than any of Coach K’s guys have been at the next level.

Now it could be really fun down in Durham, watching the Plumlee brothers roaming the paint and the throwing the ball to Jon Scheyer and Jon Scheyer, but play the historical averages, Mr. Wall. Restore Lexington to its Camelot mystique and prepare yourself to make a lot of money for a really long time in the NBA.

Quarter Pounder with Cheese: 2009 McDonald's All-America Game

Let me start by saying I'm not sure doing a post on the McDonald's All-American Game is a good idea. There's really not a worse format from which to evaluate talent. (No one plays defense. No one blocks out.) However, grainy YouTube videos aren't exactly ideal either. So, please take these evaluations with a grain of salt. I'm sure the majority of these players will be fine college players. However, these are my early impressions.

Best in Show

Derrick Favors
Georgia Tech 6-9 235
The game's MVP wasn't flawless, but I now see what the big deal is. Wonderful feel for the game. Nice frame. Knack for being in the right place at the right time. Never seemed to be pressing but was still the star of the show. If I had to guess, I'd say he'll end up being the best of the bunch.

Wow

Avery Bradley
Texas 6-3 180
Very athletic. Fast with the ball in his hands and a nice finisher. Can really get to the basket. I would imagine he will be more than an adequate replacement for A.J. Abrams. Perhaps a more fluid Jarryd Bayless.

Xavier Henry
undecided 6-6 225
I really like his game. Great body. Has the upper body strength to get to the basket at will. Appears to excel in every phase of the game. With his advanced physical development, he might not have the upside of some of these other kids. Looked a little slower than I thought he would, but now I'm just nit-picking.

Dominic Cheek
Villanova 6-6 185
There's no herky-jerk in Cheek's game. Extremely fluid and sneaky athletic. Quietly had a really nice game. Didn't force anything and scored in a variety of ways. Silky smooth jump shot. I really like this kid.

Almost Wow

DeMarcus Cousins
undecided 6-11 265
Cousins has the herky-jerks. Not a fluid athlete, but he does have size. Also plays like a basketball player as opposed to someone who plays basketball simply because he is big. To his credit, he was a standout in the All-Star game format, which is difficult for post players. Played with energy and looks like he has room for further development.

Keith Gallon
Oklahoma 6-9 293
Almost a “man among boys” situation with Gallon. Just a monster, and I was surprised to see that he runs the floor well. (By the way, Chris, when I say that someone runs the floor well, it means that I think they do a nice job of getting up the floor on the break and back down the floor on defense.) I'm convinced he's going to be an impact player for the Sooners from the day he steps on campus.

John Henson
North Carolina 6-10 200
I was prepared to hate this kid's game. But Henson has a nice skill-set and a ton of upside. With his slight build, I expected the future Tar Heel to get pushed around. It really didn't happen all that much. If the kid develops physically, he could be special. And, if he doesn't, he's still going to be a good.

Better than Expected: Tier 1

Peyton Siva
Louisville 6-0 175
Rajon Rondo-type vertical at the point and waterbug quick. Loves to dribble, which has to change at the next level. Finished with nine assists, but it's clear the guy likes to score. With his top-shelf athleticism, I think his game benefited from the All-Star game format.

Dante Taylor
Pittsburgh 6-9 230
Awkwardly efficient. The fact that he likens himself to David West makes me happy. Will fit in nicely at Pitt. I'll be interested to see how he plays in a non-All-Star game setting, as I think he has the potential to be a gritty banger (which makes sense since he is going to playing for Jaime Dixon). I think Taylor could end up being dominant on the glass, though I thought he'd be more physially imposing.

Better Than Expected: Tier 2

Tommy Mason-Griffin
Oklahoma 5-11 192
With Mason-Griffin and Gallon, the Sooners are getting extra beefy. His stats weren't great, but I like his court presence. He's going to cause problems for defenders with his girth. I don't think the All-Star game format lends itself to Mason-Griffin's strengths.

Renardo Sidney
USC 6-10 250
Seemed a little out of shape, but I like what I saw early. Smooth athlete for a man of his size. As the game progressed, Sidney stopped banging and started hanging around the perimeter. He also wore long-sleeved Under Armour under his jersey. Not a good look.

Mason Plumlee
Duke 6-11 220
I can't believe I'm saying this, but Plumlee is alright. I expected this kid to be completely over-shadowed by the competition, but he more than held his own. Nice finisher around the basket. But still isn't going to provide the Blue Devils with the back-to-the basket threat (or the banger) they so desperately need.

Withholding Judgment

Abdul Gaddy
Washington 6-3 183
I liked Gaddy more than the rest of the guys in this category, but I didn't see enough to really have a strong opinion. Actually played like a point guard which is a plus. Appears to be a patient, heady player. Reminds me a little of Jordan Farmar.

Dexter Strickland
North Carolina 6-3 180
Surprisingly, Strickland was a bit of a no-show. Hard to get a feel of what he's capable of. He did seem to be pretty comfortable in the open floor. Have to believe this guy is legit, though, with all the hype surrounding him.

Maalik Wayns
Villanova 6-1 185
Seemed to be a little overwhelmed by all the athleticism. Played even smaller than his measurements suggest. To his credit, he did dish out eight assists.

I Expected More

Lance Stephenson
undecided 6-6 220
I thought Stephenson might blow up a la Tyreke Evans, but Born Ready was ultimately underwhelming. Seemed heavy-footed and, dare I say it, a tad unathletic by comparison. I still think he's going to be a very solid college player.

Michael Snaer
Florida State 6-5 200
I was excited about Snaer, but he didn't show me much. Seemed to be pressing.

Underwhelming

Milton Jennings
Clemson 6-9 215
Jennings seemed outmanned by the competition from a purely athletic standpoint. Played weak and, when interviewed, said he'd rather play on the perimeter. He'll get the chance next year with Trevor Booker and Raymond Sykes in the post, but you never like to hear that from a 6-9 kid. Didn't really show the range that he is known for.

Alex Oriakhi
Connecticut 6-9 240
Reminds me a little of Ike Diogu. However, Alex thinks of himself as being Emeka Okaforesque. I didn't see it tonight. Seemed a little awkward at times, but he's got a big frame to work with. Plus, he seems to have a nice motor. As he is tall and will be playing for Jim Calhoun at UConn, I have to think things will ultimately work out just fine for Oriakhi.

Kenny Boynton
Florida 6-3 190
Apparently, Boynton's nickname is KB, so that's what I'll go with. Didn't think KB was overly impressive tonight. Kind of forced things. Didn't appear to have a diverse offensive repertoire. Had trouble with his jumper, so he kind of just put his head down and went.

Ryan Kelly
Duke 6-10 217
Perhaps the least impressive of all the participants. Then again, I can't imagine the format fits his skill-set. To his credit, he did look very comfortable with the ball in his hands out on the perimeter.

The Wear Twins

David Wear
North Carolina 6-10 225
Not bad but also not good?

Travis Wear
North Carolina 6-10 230
See above.

MIA

Wally Judge
Kansas State 6-9 230
Didn't play due to injury and didn't get the memo that Bob Huggins is now at West Virginia.

The Perfect Storm sans Mark Wahlberg

I realize I've been hitting you (Chris or John Wall?) over the head with all of this UK related blogging, but it really is a story that has shaken up the college basketball landscape. In all likelihood, parity may soon be a lost art. The top six (Kentucky, North Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, Duke and UCLA) all seem to be in perfect hands for the next 15 to 20 years. I will be the first to concede, as much as I love him, Coach K may be the first to slip. I suspect the black dye may be seeping into his brain. UCLA was the first to begin slipping in the late 90's under the direction of Steve Lavin, but have entrenched themselves as a national power under the direction of Ben Howland since 2003. North Carolina then began to slip in the early 2000's with Matt Doherty at the helm, but quickly turned things around with the hire of Roy Williams and a national championship in 2005. Indiana fell back during the loss of sanity years of Bobby Knight, the tenure of Mike Davis (despite a Final Four), and now the violations under Kelvin Sampson. They appear to be headed in the right track with the _______ (insert word here Jameson Sax) hire of Tom Crean.

Kentucky's departure from the top began in Tubby's last years as he brought in two abysmal recruiting classes in 2003 and 2005. A guy named Clyde was hired and stuff happened that I'm too happy to discuss at this point. But now, by all indications the perfect storm could be brewing in Lexington, Kentucky.

Several weeks ago, Sax hit you with an entry discussing the incredible recruiting class Calipari was set to bring in at Memphis. It included already signed Xavier Henry (Rivals #3, Shooting Guard #1), recent verbal commitment Demarcus Cousins (Rivals #2, Center #1), and the possibility of landing John Wall (Rivals #1, Point Guard #1), a Memphis-lean at that point. That's what we in the business like to call a trifecta, or menage a trois. Calipari would have been bringing in the top three ranked players in a class - a feat never before accomplished. However, Tyreke Evans was likely gone to the NBA and Memphis' prospects for next season would have been high on potential, but ultimately an uknown in terms of team success.

Calipari's move to Kentucky now raises some very important questions in the Bluegrass that could have national implications. Kentucky desperately needs a point guard, and all would have to believe Calipari will be making a hard push for Wall to join him in Lexington. Wall originally was interested in Kentucky, but cut the school from his list when he narrowed it to four. Most likely Wall will rethink NC State, and consider his recent offer from Duke, but Kentucky should be somewhere on his list. Wall would start from Day 1 and be playing in a system designed for talents like his. If Cal is able to wrangle Wall into the Bluegrass over the next few days, Kentucky is immediately better next year and contends for the SEC crown.

Xavier Henry signed a letter of intent with Memphis, but it contained a clause that granted his release if Calipari were to leave. Cal's left, and so has Henry by all indications. His parents stated Cal contacted them and wants Xavier and his brother to join him at Kentucky. Henry will also take a long look at Kansas again, as that was his other top choice, and both of his parents attended, but his decision will be either Kansas or Kentucky. Henry's choice might be the most complicated with Jodie Meeks obviously occupying the two spot next season. It would mean less shots and less time for Henry. He would start right away at Kansas, but Lance Stephenson's decision could also play a factor. He is looking at Kansas and is a very similar player. This should be an interesting development over the next few weeks.

Finally, Demarcus Cousins was a verbal commit, but has re-opened his recruitment. Cousins is an important player because he would give UK a four that was capable of handling the ball on the perimeter, a key for Cal's system. He would open things up for Patterson in the middle and would likely start from Day 1. Cousins may be looking at Alabama now with the hire of Anthony Grant, and he's also mentioned Washington. Cousins would play facing the basket at UK, an asset that could prove critical to his success at the next level. That might sell him on UK. Beyond that he once listed UK as a consideration and has visited the Elite Camps held by a former coach in the summers.

If Cal is able to pull all three, unlikely, but still worth considering, the perfect storm may have brewed. They would join Daniel Orton (Rivals #22, Center #3) and Jon Hood (Rivals #32, SG #6) and form an unbelievable class. This top recruiting class (certainly of the year, certainly of the decade, maybe of all time) would be joining two legitimate first-team All-American candidates in Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks. Shots would be limited, and they may need two balls to play with, but it is still a possibility. If that were to happen my psychiatrist would need to triple my daily dose of diazepam.

Now, why is it unlikely? It's just hard to imagine that actually happening. UK is limited on scholarships this year, and though, obviously there will be major roster overhauls, I don't see all three wanting to come here not knowing for sure the minutes or shots they could possibly get. It certainly does help that UK is receiving crazy attention on ESPN, and hopefully is discussed at the McDonald's All-American game tonite. If I'm Cal I get all three, or at least two of three in a room together, on campus, and sell them on the idea of starting together along with two other great college players.

If it happens - which I can concede is a slightly big if - to quote Gregg Doyell from CBS, "heaven help anyone who gets in our way."

Now, please let me know in the comments if I'm crazy and already need to double my dose of diazepam.

Perfect Storm Brewing in Memphis

With all eyes focused on Championship Week, Joe Lunardi, and the impending March Madness, recruiting has taken something of a backseat in the general roundball consciousness. Well, we may want to redirect our gazes (even if only briefly) to the world of blue chip recruits, AAU tournaments, and Sonny Vaccaro-type peddlers of fortune. Developments with the potential to shake the college basketball landscape are taking place in southwestern Tennessee.

On November 18, Xavier Henry, a 6-6 210-pounder rated as the third best player in the 2009 high school class and the nation's top two-guard, signed on as just the latest of John Calipari's high-profile, highly-skilled recruits. In doing so, Henry follows in the footsteps of Dajuan Wagner, Derrick Rose, and most recently, Tyreke Evans. One-and-dones (or probable one-and-dones) who selected the friendly confines of Conference-USA and Calipari's free-wheeling, improvisational dribble-drive offense to showcase their lucrative talents during a mandatory pit stop on their way to the Promised Land.

Yesterday, DeMarcus Cousins, a 6-9 250-pound native of Mobile, Alabama, decided that he would also spend a year in Memphis. Cousins is considered the second best player in class of 2009 and is widely regarded as the best power forward and post player in the country. So, if you're keeping count, that means Calipari has wrapped up two of the top three recruits from this year's graduating class. Cousins originally said he would attend UAB. However, after UAB refused Cousins' request for an escape clause that would allow Cousins to get out of his letter of intent if head coach Mike Davis should leave or be fired, he reopened his recruiting.

The final piece of the puzzle is Raleigh Word of God Christian Academy point guard John Wall. Wall, the number one player in all of high school basketball is still weighing his college options, and Memphis is on his short list. Rumor has it that Wall will reveal his intentions at the McDonald's All-American game.