Thoughts of the day: June 29, 2010

Given its track record for taking complicating the rules to the point that a degree in rocket science is not only helpful  but necessary, any time the NCAA starts dabbling further into recruiting you have to hold your breath and hope they don't make an even greater mess of things. Still, the men in blue suits did get it right when they dropped the hammer on Southern Cal and they could be onto something with this new proposal that effects scholarship offers. 

Under the new proposal, there will be no scholarship offers until after July 1 between a kid's junior and senior years in high school and no offers will be allowed unless the interested school has the kid's five most recent semesters (or seven quarters) on an official transcript. This rules change applies to all NCAA sanctioned sports. 

These new rules wouldn't necessarily result in sweeping changes in the recruiting process, but they would slow things down considerably, forcing both the schools and the kids to take a little bit more time to evaluate things before decisions are made. Considering we've seen Lane Kiffin offer a ninth-grader a football scholarship and Billy Clyde Gillispie offer an eighth-grader a basketball scholarship with the last two years, it's obvious that something needs to be done to slow things down and force a bit more logic and thought into the process. 

Here is what I like about the proposal:

1. For football, we won't see offers going out until after the June camp season and I think that's a good thing. I think the kids will benefit by going on campus to camps where they can meet with prospective new coaches and get a feel for the college environment. I think coaches will benefit because they'll get a chance to see how a kid responds to their style of coaching.

2. If adapted, I think the new rules change will put a greater premium on scouting the AAU basketball tournaments in July. I think you'll see fewer scholarship offers early in July and more toward the end after the big tournaments and after the early August elite camps.

3. From an academic standpoint, I like that there will be no offers made unless coaches have transcripts in hand. Knowing they can't get a scholarship offer unless the coach has a transcript should inspire kids to work harder on their grades. I've been around the recruiting circuit way too long to see how kids use those scholarship offers as a badge of honor. If they don't have the grades already in order or close to it, there won't be any offer forthcoming. 

Let's hope the NCAA stays on a roll and puts these rules into place. I'd feel a lot better about the men in blue suits if I knew they had gotten it right two times in a row.

* * *

Gator basketball commit Brad Beal (6-4, 190, St. Louis, MO Chaminade Prep) scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the USA 17-and-under team in an exhibition loss to Russia's 18-and-under team in Kaunas, Lithuania. The USA team, which also features Gator targets Johnny O'Bryant (6-10, 248, Cleveland, MS) and Adonis Thomas (6-6, 211, Memphis, TN Melrose) is getting ready for the FIBA World 17-and-under championships. That Russian team they lost to will be heading to San Antonio to play in the FIBA World 18-and-under championships. The USA team for the 18-and-under event will feature Gator signee Patric Young (6-10, 237, Jacksonville, FL Providence) and also features former Gator commitment Austin Rivers (6-4, 192, Winter Park, FL), who still lists Florida as his number two choice behind Duke. 

I think that by the end of the summer, Brad Beal will be generally regarded as the best rising senior in the country. He is a great kid who makes the grades in the classroom and is an absolute sponge when it comes to absorbing coaching. I don't know when I've been more excited about a Florida basketball recruit. 

Gator assistant Rob Lanier will be in Germany to watch Brad play and his presence will definitely send a message to O'Bryant and Thomas, who both have the Gators on their short list. 

* * * 

With Brad Beal a solid and unshakeable commitment to go with Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario (already in school), there is room for two more in the Florida basketball recruiting class for 2011. My guess is the Gators go for one long, athletic wing and a post player to finish things off. Here are the kids I think Billy Donovan and staff have on their short list:

POST:

1. Rakeem Christmas (6-9, 222, Philadelphia, PA Academy of the New Church): This is the guy I think the Gators will get. He's a terrific defensive presence and lately, he's shown more of a motor. I think his mind is just beginning to catch up with his body. I'm encouraged that he's becoming more of an offensive factor. 

2. Mikael Hopkins (6-9, 215, Hyattsville, MD DeMatha Catholic): Every time I've seen this kid play on the AAU circuit, I've been impressed with him. I think he runs the floor as well as any big in the country and he's a natural safety in the full court press. Plus, he's from DeMatha, which means you don't have to teach him how to play the game. 

3. Cody Zeller (6-10, 210, Washington, IN): Butler has the inside track and at some point I figure Roy Williams will really amp up the pressure on him but for now, Florida is a solid number two and a growing presence. The kid knows the game and is extremely unselfish. 

4. Willy Kouassi (6-10, 225, Birmingham, AL Central Park Christian): Two weeks ago I thought he was all but a lock for Alabama but with Alabama landing 7-1 Swede Carl Engstrom and Auburn so limited in scholarship numbers, Kouassi has really opened things up and the Gators are a serious player. Kouassi is raw but he's got everything it takes to become a force. 

5. Johnny O'Bryant (6-10, 248, Cleveland, MS): If he had to choose right now, I think he would be a Gator but I've got a feeling he's going to wind up at Mississippi State. His mama really loves Rick Stansbury and Starkville is a lot closer to Cleveland, MS than Gainesville. When it comes to a motor, no  big in the country plays harder and with more energy than Johnny O'Bryant. 

6. Michael Chandler (6-10, 225, Indianapolis, IN Lawrence North): He's got Indiana, Kentucky and Cincinnati listed ahead of Florida, but this is one the Gators have a chance to steal away. Chandler was once committed to Louisville. His recruiter at Louisville? The same Richard Pitino who's on Billy D's staff at Florida. This is a very talented kid.

WINGS:

1. Sam Thompson (6-6, 190, Chicago, IL Whitney Young): No matter what you might have heard anywhere else, Florida is definitely the leader for Sam I Am. He's got a 50-inch vertical leap and the best defensive skill set of any perimeter player in the country. I think he's further advanced at this stage than Corey Brewer. Made a 29 on his ACT and wants to take it again because he's "embarrassed" that he scored that poorly. Maybe if he scores a 33 like he wants he could donate four points to some kid who needs them!

2. Adonis Thomas (6-6, 211, Memphis, TN Melrose): From an offensive standpoint, this is a guy you would love to have. If he has one offensive weakness it's the fact that he's sometimes too passive when he needs to take the game over. He's got a 4.3 in the classroom, too.

3. Dorian Finney-Smith (6-8, 190, Portsmouth, VA IC Norcum): Plays the point on offense and the four on defense. He's also one of Vern Macklin's best friends. He has grades, basketball smarts and the kind of length and quickness to be a disruptive force defensively. 

4. Ky Madden (6-5, 195, Lepanto, AR East Poinsett County): You can make a strong case for him as a point or as a wing guard. He's so athletic he can also play small forward. Arkansas leads and Baylor is making a push but Florida is definitely in the mix and the Gators aren't going away.