Griffith: Pearl, staff targeting pair of guards for 2010 class

Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl has been on the road almost as much as he has been at home since returning from the Maccabiah Games in July.

Kansas City, Atlanta, Memphis, New York, New Jersey, Indianapolis and North Carolina most recently have been canvassed. The NCAA allowed coaches back out on the road to recruit on Sept. 9.

It's all about building for the future, as the Vols will lose five seniors to graduation and potentially sophomore Scotty Hopson to the NBA after this season.

UT still has four scholarships to give out in the Class of 2010, with shooting guard Jordan McRae out of Liberty County, Ga., the sole verbal commitment.

Tennessee hosted two key recruits at the football team's 19-15 loss to UCLA on Saturday who could prove to be the future backcourt.

The Vols appear to have targeted point guard Trae Golden and combo guard Chris Crawford as two of the answers in the class of 2010.

It's a safe bet UT would like to have its backcourt signed in November.

Golden, a 6-foot-1 prospect at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Ga., is the No. 55 overall ranked player in the Rivals.com 150 rankings and is listed 12th among point guards.

UT is believed to be at the top of his list over Virginia, South Florida and Georgia.

Crawford, a silky-smooth 6-4 shooter from Memphis' Sheffield High School (No. 66 overall by Rivals.com), also is strongly leaning toward the Vols, according to various reports.

Two of UT's top frontcourt targets are New Yorkers Jayvaughn Pinkston and Tobias Harris.

Pinkston, a 6-6, 235-pound power forward out of Brookyln's Bishop-Loughlin High School, has made an unofficial visit to Knoxville.

Pinkston is rated No. 67 overall in the Class of 2010 and also is looking at Arizona, Connecticut, Marquette and St. Johns.

Harris, a 6-8, 220-pounder from Long Island, was at UT's elite basketball camp last summer and is at the top of many powerhouses' wish lists.

Harris is the No. 5 overall player in the Class of 2010 and has Connecticut, Louisville, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Syracuse and Maryland after him.

Rankings: Athlon's preseason basketball magazine is out and has the UT men ranked No. 8 in their preseason Top 25 and projected to reach the Elite 8. The Lady Vols are ranked No. 11 in Athlon's preseason Top 25.

Mike Griffith covers UT men's basketball. He may be reached at griffithm@knozxnews.com

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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