In college basketball it's never too soon to be looking at the "next'' starting lineup, and that's especially true in this age of "one-and-done'' players and the NBA's willingness to draft underclassmen.
So while Tennessee is poised for another SEC title run this season with newcomers such as Scotty Hopson and Bobby Maze expected to make an immediate impact, the Vols are already looking further into the future.
The Vols already have one verbal commitment for the Class of 2009 with 6-foot-8 forward Kenny Hall of Stone Mountain, Ga., and expect to add another before the spring signing period ends.
UT assistant coach Steve Forbes indicated there's almost as much urgency in finding players out of the 2010 high school class as the final piece to the 2009 group.
"It's very important for us at this point, because we'll have several scholarships available in that class (2010),'' said Forbes, who played a major role in the Vols signing Hopson, Maze and Emmanuel Negedu in the most recent recruiting class, ranked No. 7 nationally by Rivals.com.
Tennessee figures to have four, and perhaps five, scholarships to offer in the Class of 2010.
Maze, Josh Tabb, Wayne Chism and J.P. Prince are all entering their junior seasons, and there's a chance that Hopson could be gone by the end of his sophomore year.
Forbes said scoping out talent that's still two years away from playing at the collegiate level isn't as difficult as it once was.
"Each year kids are getting more advanced in their abilities,'' Forbes said. "It's easier to evaluate kids at that age because they are so mature in their game.''
That's probably why nine of the top 14 players in Scout.com's Class of 2010 - seven of the top 14 in Rivals rankings - have already made verbal commitments.
"There's some projection involved in anyone you recruit, but the kids that are going to be juniors, you can go with what you see, especially the guards,'' Forbes said. "My philosophy has been to recruit offense and coach defense, but you're always looking for a certain dimension in their game that makes them a high major player.
"Dribbling, shooting and passing are all important, and in our system at Tennessee, the more versatile a player is, the better.''
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Comments » 127
budrhon writes:
One name - Joe Jackson, could be the best point guard coming out of High School.
Silent_Fulmer writes:
I miss the Buzzball days where we waited until the kids senior year and tried to steal Yale's recruits away from them.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
That's nothing. Kentucky is working on the class of 2016'-2017'!
eb502us#225637 writes:
Silent_Fulmer...Forget Yale, those guys were smart enough to know Buzz couldn't coach himself out of a paper bag. I think we stole more of Belmont's recruits than anyone else and when they arrived on campus, saw how clueless Buzz was, they transferred right back.
askUncleMaze writes:
TO CatscratchFever
Please get your facts straight Coach Billy G was trying to recruit B.Maze. Before B.Maze signed with UT he was scheduled a visit ti UK. But B.Maze declined after he signed with UT. What risk is B.MAZE? I think you need to worry about who's going to try and check him @ UK....
longtimefan writes:
nice to get in on some of the best recruits for a change! but why shouldn't we? everybody likes Bruces style! it wins, its exciting to watch and the players like it! U DA MAN BRUCE! become a legend at Tennessee! you dont need to go anywhere else!
2009SecChampions writes:
To Catscratchfever
Chech out this quote from Bobby Maze and tell me that you guys didn't want him. Plus if I was a UK fan it would make me feel pretty bad about the trend that is starting up there.
"Coach (Billy) Gillispie had come to see me, and I thought I was going there, with Kentucky having that basketball tradition,'' Maze said. "But right before I was ready to go public, Tennessee called.''
TopTenn writes:
Rather have Josh Selby than Joe Jackson. Jackson is leaning to Memphis. There's no need in spending time on him. While Selby is a better pg that we have already offered.
mempuss writes:
itsme- You never cease to amaze me with how dumb you are! Mempuss state= the 13th grade!
longtimefan writes:
hey it's you, Whats it feel like gettin beat by a bunch of rejects? more of same next time. might as well get used to it!
cobbwebb writes:
its great that the mighty big blue and that team out west (i forget their name) are getting worried about basketball, because of what bruce almighty is building in knoxville . get used to it boys this aint your daddys tenn program
cobbwebb writes:
how does it feel being third in the sec big blue ? and dont throw that runnerup phooey at me tigerhigh fan , cause runnerup is just first loser chump
vol4gzus writes:
Buzz is gone (yer happy),but don't jump someone when they can't answer back. Buzz did steal Lofton from Yale right? Buzz did steal Dane Bradshaw from Yale right? Buzz did steal Juan from Yale right? Buzz did steal Major from Yale right? Get the point? Not a bad recruiter, just a decent coach and great human being.
creepykev#228270 writes:
From what I saw from Maze in the RTL he looks like he could go pro within a year and not in Europe either, right here in the US of A.
vol4gzus writes:
oops sorry...I left out of my rant that Buzz stole those from not only Yale , but Belmont also. However, in light of the job the Belmont coach has done ,that might not be quite the jab you intended.
Colliervol writes:
I see that itsmepooh is visiting from Tiggerland again. Kid, you should simply be glad that we deem to play your sad-sack little mid major school from the Conference of the Little Sisters of the Poor and hush. (Trust me, 95% of our fans nor our budget give a darn one way or the other.) Once again, nobody around here could possibly take a Memphis fan seriously so why in the world would you waste your and my time?
As far as Maze goes, I hope he makes it one year but I have my doubts. Hope he proves me wrong.
TopTenn writes:
Bitesme...........Pearl motivate his team by hyping an underrated tiger team. That's why he owns memphis.
Ironcity writes:
The fact that Car Scratch brings up Mercer, Hord and Delk shows he's scared. Heck I think Hord was playing in the early 80's. As for itsme, its only a matter of time before Memphis is back on probation. No one outside of someone who grew up in Memphis would possibly choose to go there unless they were being paid BIG BUCKS!
TopTenn writes:
Bitesme..........tigers also rank right along with the Buffalo Bills as chokers. tigers have been to three Final Fours and choked. tigers choked to UCLA, Villanova, and Kansas. memphis will always be known as Choke U.
VOLS85 writes:
All of those national championship banners must look really pretty up there in Fedex forum! You play a national schedule, are an "elite" program and self-proclaimed "the most televised team in the NCAA", now where do you go to get those trophies?! Us silly wannabe's that won a MAJOR conference championship just can't claim any of that hardware! Ohh and your cute little references about "noxious noxville" and "uthugs" only got old after the first 400 times you said them...your schtick is worn out and ineffective.
I guess you missed it tonight, but Pearl was documented on "Under the Lights"...silly wannabe should know that he doesn't deserve half hour specials. After all what has he won? Ohh yeah, exactly what Coach Cal has...
Please continue to predict the future! Can you read tarot cards?! I bet you predicted Memphis to win the NC this year too...that went well!
But if you want to boast predictions, others disagree with lunardi...
http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/c...
http://www.sportsline.com/collegebask...
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/82...'09
Your Kool-aid must be delicious!
2009SecChampions writes:
catscratch--
I hope you are not serious. As of right now Kentucky is looking to have the worst backcourt in the SEC. I am supposed to believe that just because billy g didnt call you and tell you that he made an offer means that he didnt. My bet is right now Kentucky would take just about anyone that can call themself a point guard. As for Bobby Maze being cut, I have seen him play and I would say be will be our starter.
budrhon writes:
rckyx UT has to beat out some heavy hitters to get Selby. His list includes Memphis, Louisville, Texas just to name a few. I don't think Pearl will stop recruiting Jackson, that would be foolish. He has to make some inroads in the Bluff City. Too much talent instate to let these kids not even consider UT.
TommyJack writes:
Marc: you're kickin some buttz today, man.
b_neas writes:
catscratch - Funny the guys you mentioning stealing from UT are years in the past. Go and educate yourself. Since Pearl has been at the helm we have stole more guys from your state than you have from ours. Also, many from neutral states that KY was seriously looking at and KY made offers Pearl got them too. I understand your bitterness. Going from the dean of the sec east to now being the 3rd best team (behind UT and UF) would make anyone upset. But you keeping reeling in those kids for the 2018 class, that's how you build a program!! haha
TopTenn writes:
budrhon right now UT is the favorite and leader for Selby. He has attended two basketball camps at UT.
overatedvols writes:
Boy, come hear to read an article and can't help but notice the Memphis bashing continues. I'd have thought by now you would have realized that your place in the state of Tenn. basketball is second but evidently not. I'll copy and paste part of my post from another article so I don't have to type it again:
Tiger news. 2008 first round draft pick Joey Dorsey was called for a tech. foul from the bench in the Rockets summer league game which basically cost them the game. 2006 first round pick Shawne Williams has been warned by Larry Bird that he needs to stay out of trouble after the car he was driving was pulled over this weekend. A passenger in the car was charged with Marijuana possession. Unfortunantly not much good news this week for all the many many former tigers now playing in the nba. Does anyone have any news about current nba players from the vols. Oh...nevermind.
Other breaking news from the U. Of M. Tigers have been picked by the coaches of CUSA to finish 4th in the CUSA East Div. I thought they'd be 5th. Wow, is the program on the move or what.
One final note. Univ. of Memphis basketball. Best team in the country in 2007-2008 and all time best team in the state. Tigers,although a young team next season look to continue to dominate CUSA and remain unchallenged as the best team in the state for the 125th straight year.
-----------------
Otherwise, just skimming thru the many Tiger hate posts... let's see.. If Memphis's finish last year was "second loser" just what was Tennessee's? Then we have someone out there searching the internet for negative stories about the Tigers. Of course, ignoring the many positive ones trying to find that one negative story. Come on guys.
Basic fact. Tenn. Vols significance in the world of college basketball, in the entire history of college basketball = None. It's that simple. No final 4's, no nothing. Your biggest game in your history was last years Memphis game. That was it... just a regular season game who's only significance was state bragging rights...not any kind of a championship. You still gotta long way to go before you can swap stories with big brother on the other side of the state.
Volchaz writes:
If these Junior High UK signees don't pan out, Billy G. will be looking for work...
memphistenn2117 writes:
Colliervol, your a retard for the simple fact that you think having a 12-7 record vs. Memphis means something. You shouldn't worry about us bashing your joke of a basketball program that has taken 40 years to try and turn a corner, and still hasn't turned it yet. No final fours? ha, you don't even have an elite 8 to show for a season. You can't take us seriously? hahahhahahahhahahahha. We can't take you seriously since you have never even witnessed an elite 8 game with your team playing.....you sit at home and watch every March!!! Keep shinong in February but you might want to give your AD an update....the real meaningful games are played in the month of March hahahahahhahahaha
memphistenn2117 writes:
Hey TENNESSEE fans, you want to see the reality of your program. Go checkout ESPN.com and go to the Men's Basketball page. They are counting down the top 300 programs since the 84-85 season. They have gotten to 41 so far. They are updating 10 each day. Memphis has not been listed yet. Tennessee has though, coming in just barely before three digits. Congrats guys, you are the 99th best program since 1984-1985...truly a great honor for you!
b_neas writes:
Keep bringing up history memphis whiners. Only timeline I will recognize is the one that starts with Pearl. He is, and will make history for the Vols. It's all about what you are doing now, wanna talk the past go hang out in the chat room with the IVY league schools, or even KY.
memphistenn2117 writes:
brownsville, the fact that you wanted to correct my garmmatical errors humors me...i didn't know this was English class. Thanks for the lesson, I wasn't sure they taught your and you're in brownsville.
b_neas writes:
We stole the ones we wanted. Sorry but we do not recruit kids that have not yet grown a set. Therefore our inability to steal kids from KY. As far as you stating KY will get its fair share of recruits. True, you will, problem is you can not win the sec east with big time recruits and solid talent. Pearl has won with average talent and recruits no one wanted. What does that say about your coach? When Pearl gets big time recuits and big time talent (which he is now), we will "arrive".
memphistenn2117 writes:
Studied abroad in London for 1 year (good call) and been to Colorado many times...had no reason to go to Colorado Springs though...heard from many Coloradoans that its lame.
Lofton4Three writes:
catscratch...
Maze was too much of a risk??? Then what would promising a scholly to an 8th grader be? To me that would be much of a higher risk. You can't see out from behind your blue colored glasses to see that though.
memphistenn2117 writes:
Not a huge fan of New York City, but I am a huge fan of the green bills I get to work here...
b_neas writes:
memphis2117 - Yeah and an unreasonable amount of those green bills go to living and taxes. Which is why the mass exodus to the south. I have 15 families in my subD from Jersey, NY, or philly.
b_neas writes:
If you have to hang you hat on splitting with UT that shows how your program has dropped and our has rose. We all know its hard to win in Rupp no matter the team. If you really think BillyG can , or ever has outcoahced Pearl you are blinded with the blue glasses. Pearl has as high a winning % as any coach in america. He is splitting with UK with kids that no one wanted or recruited. You are splitting with us and finishing behind us every year in the east with high rated recruits. Go and share your homeristic opinions with Ashley Judd and you all can giggle and have false assurance in your program.
b_neas writes:
Until you can make it past the Sweet 16, begin to even come close to our number of SEC Championships, NCAA Championships, Victories and Tradition....Then you have NOTHING!!!!!
blah, blah, blah all in the past.......talk to me about something my 5 year old kid can remember.......yeah you have tradition but no one under the age of 80 remembers adolph Rupp and the one decent coach you had (Tubby) you let him go. BillyG is the most overpaid idiot in the SEC. Please sell me on his credentials, Texas A&M sure was a powerhouse, right?
b_neas writes:
Really? If it was good as it will ever get how have we won the SEC east the last 3 years? You can keep blabbing that sweet 16 talk all you want since it is all you have to go with your arguement, fact is we are on the rise and you all are sitting still and lying to yourselves that BillyG knows what he is doing.
b_neas writes:
BTW stop being a pansy and put your name in. Joe Smith, nice to meet you I am John Doe. Did they not let you have a profile when you entered your real name, Billy Bob Jethro Smith
Ironcity writes:
Lets see we had Jordan Howell starting at the point (arguably the worst PG in the conference) We had our best player coming back from cancer playing at about 60%, we had a 6ft 3in undersized forward. We had no real center. Yet we still won the SEC. I think UK will be tough, Gillespie is a good coach, however as Pearl starts attracting top talent from around the country (and he is) were only going to get tougher and more talented. Your best years are behind you UK. I know its hard to realize it behind the blue colored glasses but its true.
overatedvols writes:
Well, I was going to post something to try and irritate a few but I think i'll skip it. Can't beat the banter going on between b_nease and catscratch.
creepykev#228270 writes:
brownsvillevol yous too educamated for us raguler vowl fans.
mempuss writes:
You are all wrong about everyhting!
BSweet writes:
Over, I've given your team its props in the past. I've said despite the loss to us last year, the Tigers were the better team. But this whole talk about who's made it farther in the NCAA tourney is pointless. In the end, how far you make it is meaningless unless you win it all. That's something neither of our teams has done. Now, when/if your team does that, then you'll have something to crow about. If by some chance we do it first, then we'll have something to crow about. Facts are facts. Right now, because of recent success, Memphis has the more prestigious basketball program. That doesn't mean that will always be true. UT has gone from being a football school to trying to be a multisport school. So far, with CBP, we're having success. There is no reason with his current track record to think that he can't be as successful here as CJC has been there. I know you don't want it to be so, but we don't always get what we want. If both programs continue on their current paths, I think it's win-win for basketball in the state of TN. Wouldn't it be great if we are watching the birth of a new Duke/UNC type rivalry? Maybe it's just me, but I think that would be awesome.
BSweet writes:
CatScratch, I'm not going to get all rude and trade verbal barbs with you, but do you really believe Kentucky is even a shadow of its old self? I mean, I want the 'cats to succeed because it's good for the SEC and it's good for the Vols. If we're going to be a preeminent basketball conference, then the competition needs to be stiff from top to bottom. Now hopefully Billy G. can turn it around for you guys, but right now, you are nowhere near the team you once were. I've seen great KY teams play in TBA. I remember how good they were. They aren't that good anymore. As for the Vols, seriously, you have to admit CBP is doing a dynamic job. As I've seen great KY teams, surely you have seen some very poor TN squads. We're not that same team anymore. We're getting better, and we're drawing better talent. We are actually competing in the SEC instead of wasting space. It's an exciting time to be a Vol fan. I hope KY gets it turned around. I will always root for my TN Vols, but it just isn't as fun to beat a bad team. I want you guys at your best so it means something when we win. :)
b_neas writes:
Sorry if i got a little testy. Just kinda irks me when i have gave props to KY during their good times (Pittino and Tubby) and now most KY can do nothing but hate when UT is doing what we are doing. It pains them to give any credit. All they can bring up is the not past sweet 16. I agree with Bsweet when KY is solid the sec looks better. KY has not been solid the past few years, but big time inconsistent. I disagree that BillyG is a solid coach nor does he have a solid staff. IMO he is lucky to be in the top 4 of sec coaches. Obviously behind BillyD, Pearl, Kennedy, and Stallings, and Pelphrey and Gottfried are not far behind.
mattlock writes:
CatScratch, you forgot Bobby Maze, he was going to UK until Pearl called. And there are other recruits that had UK on their short list. That's at least 2 great players in 3 years for a UT program that you say is 2nd tier. I know it hurts to constantly take a butt-whipping in football, even when you get your hopes up that you might win. And before you had basketball to fall back on, now that you don't you're just bitter and lashing out. . .we understand.
memphistenn2117 writes:
Bsweet, you are exactly right...one of the few vol fans I have seen on here that can admit, we are the more prestigious program and we were the better team despite the loss, however, it isn't because of recent success. We had 2 final fours before the nasty three year run that we're on. It does mean something to make a final four. Yes, winning it all is the end goal and all that truly matters, but making it to a final four is where you wanna be, having a chance to win a game and play for the national title. Tennessee has a 12-7 overall record vs. Memphis and I'll give them props for that, they come to play everytime they play Memphis, but regular season games are just meaningful for seeding in a tournament and so far Tennessee has found a way to screw it up every year in March.
BSweet writes:
Memphis, I won't argue that last point, but even a blind man could see UT basketball is on an upswing. Memphis fans seem to like to try and tear CBP down, but he has shown that he is an up and coming coach. You won't hear me say CJC is a bad coach and that he can't measure up to CBP, but Memphis fans seem to be fond of doing that in reverse. They are both good coaches. And CJC has had quite a bit more time to rebuild Memphis than CBP has had to rebuild TN. Facts are that UT basketball was very low before CBP. Now we're rapidly rising and even breaking onto the big time recruiting scene. Is Memphis doing better at recruiting, sure, but they've spent more time with the big boys than we have. Look at CBP's recruiting progress and you will see an upward trend. He's not falling back, he's pushing forward. Put down the cool-aid for just a second and actually look at UT basketball in an unbiased way. We are an up and coming program and it is possible, no matter how much Memphis fans want it to be otherwise, that in a few years, our program will be just as good as yours. It's also possible we won't, but CBP's current progress supports the former more than the latter.
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